IlllS PRESENTED BY Scanned from the collections of The Library of Congress Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation www.loc.gov/avconservation Motion Picture and Television Reading Room www.loc.gov/rr/mopic Recorded Sound Reference Center www . I oc. g ov/ rr/reco rd The Leading Motio Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, Intelligent the In In All Branches VOL. 41. NO. 1 NEW YORK, SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 1937 TEN CENTS Disposal of RKO Claims Is Confirmed $9,637,595 Is Involved in Court's Action Federal Judge William Bondy on Thursday confirmed the disallowance ■ or reduction of claims against RKO amounting to $9,637,595, in accord- ance with the action taken on the claims in June, 1935, by Special Mas- ter Thomas D. Thacher. The court's action involved 27 claims which were filed against RKO in its reorganization proceedings for a total of $10,582,250. Of this amount only $954,655 was recommended for allowance to the claimants by Thach- er and confirmed by Judge Bondy. However, 13 of the 27 claims previ- ously either were withdrawn or set- tled. The principal claims were those of the Karl Hoblitzelle interests which were allowed for a total of approxi- (Continued on page 3) Breen Film in 2nd Week Does $108,000 "Rainbow on the River" tallied $108,000 in its second week at the Music Hall. The figure tops the first week by $28,000. Both takes are very good in comparison with previous years. "College Holiday" at the Paramount with Glen Gray and his Casa Loma orchestra garnered $60,000 in the first week. The Roxy on the second week of "Stowaway" and a stage show, did $44,000 in six days. This is about $8,000 above the first seven days. "Golddiggers of 1937" ended its first week at the Strand with $27,- 000, which is disappointing. Bob Weitman plans to hold the Paramount show a third week. Prices were boosted in a number of Broadway and neighborhood theatres on Thursday night. At 8 P.M., the Paramount boosted the admission price (Continued on page 2) Cammack RKO Chief For Latin America Ben Cammack, who has been in charge of South America for RKO, xhas been promoted to general man- ager of Latin America in charge of field operations in all countries be- low ihe Rio Grande. Cammack re- cently opened branches in the Argen- tine anfl Brazil which will begin re- leasing operations in the first quarter of the year. He will leave shortly to take over his new post. Finish Setup Simplification Of "IT, Radio Corporative Procedure Is Finally Effected Two of the majors — Universal and RKO — completed the simplification of their corporate structures on Thurs- day. Universal rounded out the process with the filing of papers in Delaware dissolving Universal Pictures Corp., the oldest company in the organiza- tion and one of the oldest in the in- dustry. The assets of Universal Pictures Corp. were taken over by Universal Pictures Co., Inc., of which the former company was a wholly-owned subsidiary. The dissolved company was organized in 1912 as Universal Film Mfg. Co. and its name changed to Universal Pictures Corp. several years later. It was the principal Universal holding company for many {Continued on page 3) Court Asks for Bids On Academy of Music Federal Judge William Bondy on Thursday directed Milton C. Weis- man, receiver for Fox Theatres Corp., to receive sealed bids for the Acad- emy of Music from prospective pur- chasers up to noon of Jan. 6. The court will issue further instructions in connection with the bidding there- after. Skouras Theatres recently offered $100,000 for the Academy of Music but attorneys identified with the Fox Theatres reorganization asked for the submission of bids in the hope of ob- taining a better offer. The court also authorized Weis- man to renew a lease on office space for the receiver at 1450 Broadway for another year at $3,000 rental. Ostrers to Remain For Several Weeks Isidore and Maurice Ostrer will not sail for London for several weeks, it was learned Thursday. This does not indicate that there will be any con- ference here with Nicholas M. and Joseph M. Schenck and Sidney R. Kent. Maurice Ostrer is now in Miami and there is no definite date set for his return. Arthur Lee, who is with Ostrer, is due to return Tuesday. Nicholas M. Schenck is now in Miami. He will remain there for three weeks and then go to the coast for an in- definite stay. Texas Clamps Down Austin, Tex., Jan. 1. — The Texas Supreme Court holds Bank Night is a violation of public policy and unconstitu- tional. "The plan clearly comes within the condemna- tory terms of the constitu- tion," said the decision, "be- cause it is a gift enterprise involving the lottery prin- ciple." The opinion was written by Chief Justice C. M. Cureton and involved an attempted enforcement of the city of Wink against the Griffith Amusement Co. The ruling is based on a constitutional provision classing gift enter- prises with lotteries. The last legislature taxed Bank Night and other chance games 20 per cent of the awards, but omitted any ref- erence as to their legality or otherwise. Houston, Jan. 1. — Two Bank Nights each week will continue in seven Interstate circuit houses and two Will Horwitz theatres here, de- spite the decision of the state supreme court. $162,636,250 Is Film Stock Gain in 1936 Led by an estimated increase of 10,000,000 admissions weekly over 1935 the industry recorded its greatest financial advances of the past five years during 1936. The improvement was reflected in a gain of $162,636,250 in market value of film shares on the N. Y. Stock Exchange during the year. Total market valuation of the issues at the close of 1936 was $829,456,250, as compared with a total valuation for the same issues at the close of the (Continued on page 4) Projector Business Gain Is 15% in 1936 The projector business increased in volume by 15 per cent in 1936 as com- pared with 1935, it is indicated by National Theatre Supply Co., which serves as a distributor of much of the equipment used in theatres. At the same time, Erpi reports a gain in the installation of Western Electric sound equipment of nearly (Continued on page 2) Bank Nights Legal, N. Y. Court Rules High Tribunal Says Game Not a Lottery Albany, Jan. 1. — Bank Night was ruled legal in New York State in a decision of the Court of Appeals handed down on Thursday here. The decision held in effect that a theatre which offers a cash prize, the award to be decided by a drawing, to persons who have registered at the house, is not to be considered operat- ing of a lottery. The court was divided, four to three, on the decision, which resulted from an appeal from the Monroe County Court, the latter being upheld in its reversal of the conviction of Samuel Shafer by the Rochester City Court for violation of the penal law last summer. It was indicated that the ruling of the state's highest court might have been different if the the- atre had included only purchasers of (Continued on page 2) Set Plans for Para, Production Meeting Hollywood, Jan. 1. — Final plans for the annual Paramount production meeting were completed here yester- day. The meeting will be conducted by William LeBaron with special ses- sions to be in charge of Adolph Zukor, Barney Balaban and Neil F. Agnew. A preliminary survey of the 1937- 1938 product will be made with spe- cial attention to such major produc- tions as DeMille's "Buccaneer," "Men with Wings," "Long Traverse," "Show Business" and others. In addition to the New York ex- ecutives the meeting will be attended by Paramount theatre partners John Balaban of Chicago, E. V. Richards of New Orleans, Karl Hoblitzelle of (Continued on page 3) Hold Mexico Station Violated Radio Act Houston, Jan. 1. — The Radio Con- trol Act of 1934 was upheld by Fed- eral Judge T. M. Kennerly here when he ruled that the act was violated by XENT, Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, in connection with broadcasting elec- trical transcriptions from phonograph records transported across the border. Norman Baker, F. R. Hood and Roy (Continued on Page 3) Radio on Page 3 MOTION P1CTURI DAILY Saturday, January 2, 1937 MOTION PICTURI DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 January 2, 1937 No. 1 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Pub- lishing Company, Inc., Martin (Juigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Avenue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copy- righted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc. Address all correspondence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publica- tions, Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, Teatro Al Dia, International Motion Picture Almanac and Fame: The Box Office Check-Up. Hollywood Bureau: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Streets, Boone Mancall, Manager; Chicago Bureau: 624 South Michigan Avenue, C. B. O'Neill, Man- ager; London Bureau: 4 Golden Square, London W 1, Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable Address "Quigpubco, London"; Berlin Bureau: Stuelerstrasse 2, Berlin W 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative; Parts Bureau: 29, Rue Marsoulan, Pierre Autre, Representative; Rome Bureau: Viale Gorizia, Vittorio Malpassuti, Representative; Aus- tralian Bureau: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins Street, Melbourne, Cliff Holt, Representative; Mexico City Bureau: Apar- tado 269, James Lockhart, Representative; Budapest Bureau: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest, II, Endre Hevesi, Representative; Tokyo Bureau: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken, H. Tominaga, Representative; Prague Bureau: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1, Harry Knopf, Rep- resentative; Shanghai Bureau: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Building, 142 Museum Road, /. P. Koehler, Representative; Rio de Janiero Bureau: Caixa Postal 3358, A. Weissman, Representative; Buenos Aires Bureau: Corrientes 2495, N. Bruski, Representative; Montevideo Bureau: P. O- Box 664, Paul Bodo, Representative; Moscow Bureau: Petrovski Per 8, Beatrice Stern, Representa- tive; Vienna Bureau: Neustiftgasse, 55, Vienna VII, Hans Lorant, Representative; Amsterdam Bureau: Zuider Amstellaan 5, Philip de Schaap. Representative; Helsing- fors Bureau: Fredriksgatan 19 C, Charlotte Laszlo. Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. 1J64 Theatres in Greater N. Y. Area Indicating an appreciable increase over last year, there are now 1,164 theatres in the Greater New York territory. This includes the list of closed theatres which total over 100. The New York Film Board is now working on its annual directory. Camille" Gets Permit Chicago, Jan. 1.— After consider- able discussion "Camille" was given a general permit by the censor board. The first vote of the board was di- vided, some wanting many cuts made and a "pink ticket" given it and others asking for a general permit. The final balloting resulted in a "clean bill of health" being given the filrm WANTED — ARTIST with trailer experience. One with modern idea of layouts and capable of supervising art de- partment. One who can plan animations and can tell camera man how to shoot them. Labora- tory experience preferred but not essential. Steady job with great future for right man. Must make his home in Chicago. See Irving Mack, Hotel Astor, Sunday. Bank Nights Legal, N. Y. Court Rules (Continued from page 1) admission tickets among those eligible for awards. Will Re-Hear Kansas Case Kansas City, Jan. 1. — The peti- tion of Roland Boynton, attorney for the Fox Kansas Theatre Co., for the privilege of filing an application for a re-hearing of the Kansas Supreme Court's decision on Bank Night has been granted by the high tribunal. Boynton has three weeks to file, and it will take the court about a week, it is estimated, to take action. The court held that Bank Night was in the nature of a lottery, that it indisputably had the lottery elements of chance and prize and that increased admissions admittedly resulting from use of the promotion was sufficient consideration to make up the third ele- ment of a lottery. The decision was made in a quo warranto proceeding filed by Attor- ney General Clarence V. Beck against the Fox Liberty at Fort Scott, Kan., specifically and all Fox Kansas the- atres in general, last spring. Boynton was assisted by Sam P. Halperin, Minneapolis, counsel for affiliated Enterprises, Inc., Bank Night patentees. Should the Kansas high tribunal uphold its decision, the case could be appealed to the U. S. Supreme Court. However, the Fox circuit will not take such an appeal, although Affiliated Enterprises may. In the meantime, only three or four Kansas exhibitors have discontinued Bank Night as a result of the de- cision, according to R. W. McEwan, Bank Night distributor, pending final settlement of the Fox Kansas Theatre Co. case. The presumption is that until that time, exhibitors may proceed with the promotion, although Beck two weeks ago told Motion Picture Daily he would not wait, that two of three weeks after the decision he would notify county attorneys to pro- ceed against such chance games. Gets Chicago Injunction Chicago, Jan. 1. — An injunction restraining Mayor Kelly and Chicago police from interfering with Bank Night at the Iris was granted by Judge Walter Stanton of Superior Court here Thursday, because the the- atre did not demand that registrants have tickets to the theatre to be elig- ible for the prizes. Other Chicago houses still are under the police ban. The co-owner of the Iris is Harry K. Smythe, local distributor for Bank, Night. Takes Three More Games Kansas City, Jan. 1. — R. W. Mc- Ewan, Bank Night distributor in Mis- souri and Kansas, has contracted for the distribution of three new chance games in Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas. They are Hollywood, Wahoo and Banko. "Theodora" Starts Well Portland, Ore., Jan. 1. — On its initial day at the Paramount, "Theo- dora Goes Wild," took in $2,000. In- dications point to an extended run. Projector Business Gain Is 15% in 1936 (Continued from page 1) 100 per cent in 1936 over 1935. Both figures are seen as strongly indicative of the improved business in theatres in 1936, especially in the last half of the year. The Herman De Vry Co., another equipment firm, although unable to give specific figures, declared that business showed a definite gain in 1936 as compared with the previous year. International Projector Corp., which manufactures the Simplex pro- jector, reported gains also, but indi- cated that National Theatre Supply, who handles their product, would be in a better position to supply figures. Erpi reported a total of 955 in- stallations of sound equipment in 1936, compared with 521 in 1935. The great- est part of the unusual gain in the year just ended came in the final four months, with the installation of 611 sound equipments of the new mirro- phonic type. Breen Film in Second Week Does $108,000 (Continued from page 1) to $1.50. At the same hour, the Strand adopted a new scale of $1.25 top. The Rivoli increased its regular 99-cent holiday admission to $1.50 at 6 P.M., while the Roxy from 6 to 8 P.M. charged $1.10 and from 8 P.M. to midnight, the tariff was $1.50. The Capitol, which usually charges 55 cents for midnight shows on week- ends, continued the 99 cents admis- sion, while the Music Hall for a spe- cial midnight show dropped the 99- cent price to 55 cents. Flash Previews "Green Light" — A story with deep emotional appeal and spiritual value, this film should be endorsed by the clergy, the laity and the medical pro- fession. "Woman Wise" — A romantic com- edy-drama drawn against a prize- fight background, slightly far- fetched but good average stuff. "Under Cover of Night" — A really exciting murder mystery woven from a threadbare story and helped by some excellent cast performances. "Yiddle With His Fiddle"— A Yid- dish film starring the inimitable Molly Picon, this is tuneful entertainment for those who know the language. These films will be reviewed in full in a coming issue of Motion Picture Daily. Import Film on Christ The Golgotha Corp., of which Cap- tain George McL. Baynes is head, has brought the film, "Golgotha," which tells the story of Jesus Christ, to' this country, and has completed an English version. It was produced in France by Jules Duvivier. Plans for its premiere in this country are being negotiated. Lehman to Attend Dance Governor Lehman has accepted an invitation of Harry Brandt to attend the annual ball of the I.T.O.A. at the Waldorf-Astoria Jan. 16. Morrison Talent Head Hollywood, Jan. 1. — Charles Mor- rison yesterday was named head of the talent scout department at Selz- nick International. i Purely Personal ► SI FABIAN, who received an invi- tation to attend the Zukor Jubilee dinner on the coast, can't make it. Harry Shiftman and George Walsh, local theatre partners of Paramount, are leaving by plane Monday. • Lily Pons, star of "That Girl from Paris," attended the opening of the film at the Music Hall on Thurs- day evening with a party of guests. A New Year's Eve party followed at Miss Pons' apartment. • Hal Horne left for the coast by plane last night for conferences with Walter Wanger after signing new talent here. Horne plans to be back here Tuesday night, also via the air- ways. • Francine Larrimore leaves today by train for the coast for additional scenes in B. P. Schulberg's "John Meade's Woman." She will return here in two weeks. • Al Margolies on Monday will as- sume his new duties as publicity head for G. B. Myron Beck is now in charge of publicity at U.A., succeed- ing Margolies. • Edward L. Alperson plans to head for Hollywood again around the middle of January. Ed Finney may go west about this time. • Frank Phelps, Warner theatre executive, will leave for the coast today to look over the circuit's Cali- fornia units. • Estelle Schrott, who has resigned from G.B., on Monday, will join the local Walter Wanger office, handling publicity. • Stephen Pallos, general manager of London Films, is due back from the coast Jan. 10. • Jules Levy, general sales manager for RKO, is back from those Chi- cago conferences. • Joe Rivkfn is in town from Holly- wood on talent acquisitions for the Roach studio. • I. Levinson of the Warner legal staff has returned from a business trip to Miami. • Fernand Gravet, French actor, leaves Hollywood next week en route to Paris. • Hamilton Basso's novel, "Court- house Square" has been purchased by M-G-M. • John Van Dycke's storyt "The Wildcatter" has been acquired by Uni- versal. • Bob Perkins will return Monday from a vacation at Virginia. Gates New 20th-Fox V-P William Gates, who has been act- ing as an assistant to Joseph M. Schenck and Darryl F. Zanuck on the coast, was elected a vice-president of 20th Century-Fox at the last direc- tors' meeting. MOTION PICTURE Saturday, January 2, 1937 RADIO DAILY RADIO Hold Mexican Station Violated Radio Act (Continued from page 1) Richardson have been indicted. The ruling is said to be the first of its kind. Alexander Quits WMCA A. L. Alexander on Thursday re- signed his position at WMCA, for which station he conducted the "Good- Will Court" sessions. Coincident with Alexander's resignation, WMCA s stated the "court" program, scheduled to return there as a sustaining fea- ture, would not be broadcast. It was indicated, however, that the "Good-Will Court" would be revived after the return from Europe of Don- ald Flamm, president of WMCA. He is expected back in three weeks. Colbert and MacMurray Claudette Colbert and Fred Mac- Murray have been set for the Lux program again, this time for Jan. 11. They will offer a version of "The Gilded Lily," in which they both starred on the screen. /. A. T. 5. E. Sued by Three Cameramen Los Angeles, Jan. 1. — Three cam- eramen filed suit in Federal Court here yesterday asking $204,750 dam- ages from I.A.T.S.E. and M. P. Machine Operators of the U. S. and Canada and others. The plaintiffs, who allege conspiracy to deprive them of the right to earn a livelihood, are: Roland C. Price, Philip E. Canton- wine and Arthur J. Fitzpatrick. The de- fendants named were : Local 659, LA. T.S.E., the A. F. L., the M.P.M.O., Harlen Holmden and a number of John Does. The cameramen also requested a court order requiring the defendants to show that they are a representative group of workers in the industry and commanding them to accept the mem- mership applications admitting the plaintiffs to union membership. The figure asked for special dam- ages is $109,750, plus $25,000 general damages and $25,000 exemplary dam- ages because of the fact that a five- year Paramount contract had been turned down at the behest of the I. A. during 1933 strike upon a promise of membership. Cantonwine and Fitz- patrick asked $25,000 each, claiming that they were informed by I. A. that the union was closed and membership therefore impossible. The action has been referred to Federal Judge Harry A. Hollzer for early hearing date. Set Plans for Para, Production Meeting {Continued from page 1) Dallas, N. A. Nathanson of Toronto, Frank Walker of New York; M. A. Schlessinger of Johannesburg, South Africa; Sam Pinanski of Boston, A. H. Blank of Des Moines, Martin Mullin of Boston, R. B. Wilby of At- ot; lanta, J. J. Fitzgibbons of Toronto, pra Sam Goldstein of Massachusetts and „ M. A. Lightman of Pennsylvania. Attending from the studio, in addi- tion to those presiding, are : Eugene ^ Zukor, A. M. Botsford, H. H. Hur- gi ley* Jeff Lazarus, Fred Leahy, Mel Shauer, George Bagnall, A. C. Mar- _7 tin, Bernard Herzbrun, Jacob Karp, 0 Manny Wolfe, Boris Morros and Sam aFrey- Powell Off "Hotel"; Hinted Change May Bring Him Back Billy Bacher, producer of "Holly- wood Hotel," on Thursday admitted that Dick Powell, as matters now stand, would make his final appear- ance on that program Jan. 8 and ex- plained in detail the steps that led up to the present situation and the changes which may follow. According to Bacher, Powell is be- ing returned voluntarily to Warners by the Campbell Soup Co., which has Powell under a two-year contract. It was to discuss the release that Bacher came east several days ago. Bacher states the player had signed the two-year radio contract five months ago, despite the fact that he had also signed a Warner contract previously, calling for his services both for screen and radio. With War- ners now planning to use Powell on its own radio chain, Campbell Soups could, if it so wanted, enjoin Powell from appearang on any other web, ac- cording to Bacher. There is a strong possibility, how- ever, that a change in air time from Friday to Sunday may result in keep- ing Powell on the "Hollywood Hotel" program. According to Bacher, War- ners' radio contract with Powell only has week-day jurisdiction. In the event that "Hollywood Hotel" can be shifted to a Sunday night spot, preferably a half-hour one, Powell will remain irrespective of his air con- tract with Warners, Bacher main- tains. From other sources it was learned that Transamerica, the Warner radio subsidiary which owns KFWB, Holly- wood has not made much progress in its efforts to build a new national radio chain. It is understood that several station purchases have been made, the drawback being, however, that none is sufficiently important to warrant serious consideration as net- work material thus far. One startling report has it that Warners, or Transamerica, will even- tually make a deal with the newly formed coast-to-coast Mutual-Don Lee chain, and in this way gain their obj ective. Schaeffer Signs Reisman Leo Reisman's orchestra and Ray Heatherton, baritone, have been signed for a new series by Schaeffer's Beer, which will be heard over WOR from 9 to 9:30 P. M. The starting time and day of the broadcast has not been set as yet. Batten, Barton, Durstine and Os- borne is the agency. New England CBS Signs Contracts for two new sponsored programs over six New England CBS stations were closed yesterday. "Homemakers Council of the Air," a Disposal of RKO Claims Is Confirmed (Continued from page 1) mately $4,200,000. The claims were filed originally for a total of $7,424,- 348 by Hoblitzelle Investment Co., Hoblitzelle Realty Corp. and Hob- litzelle Corp. The claims were based on an RKO guaranty on defaulted 25- year leases on three theatres located in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio, dating from 1930. The court allowed the claims on rentals due up to Sep- tember, 1934. A claim of $2,152,500 filed by Wal- ter Reade's Broadway & 47th St. Corp. on a disavowed lease on the May fair was reduced by the court to $337,500. The Hippodrome Bldg. Corp. petitioned the court to set an allowance on a Hippodrome lease claim, but the petition was denied and no allowance was made. Other claims and their disposition are Ft. Worth Properties Corp., $450,000 asked, $17,595 allowed; Mudd & Mooney, $115,832 asked, dis- allowed in toto ; Criterion Advertis- ing, claim of $4,903 allowed ; George B. Lamb, claim of $14,500 allowed; Proctor Holding Corp., claim of $50,- 000 disallowed; Illinois Central R. R. claim of $157 allowed; Cora E. Gregg, claim of $160,000 allowed, and Gor- don Burnett, claim of $200,000 disal- lowed. Decisions on these claims advance the status of the RKO unsecured creditor group to near completion. Finish Setup Simplification Of "IT, Radio (Continued from page 1) years. Five other Universal subsidiaries were dissolved earlier and there is a possibility of one more company being disbanded, except for which Univer- sal's program of corporate simplifica- tion is now completed. RKO's program of corporate sim- plification also was formally com- pleted with the filing of papers in Delaware merging seven RKO Radio and RKO Pathe subsidiaries with RKO Radio Pictures, Inc. No changes in officers of the latter com- pany are occasioned by the consolida- tions. R. F. Crawford Dies Des Moines, Jan. 1. — R. F. Craw- ford, 52, connected with the film busi- ness here since 1906 and for the past eight years a salesman for RKO, is dead of a heart attack. Mayer, S trickling East Hollywood, Jan. 1. — Louis B. Mayer, accompanied by Howard Strickling, is en route to New York on the Chief for home office confer- ences. Guild Show Closing "Prelude to Exile," which opened at the Guild Theatre Nov. 30, closes its run Jan. 9. It will have rounded out six weeks by that date. musical-script show, begins Jan. 19, and will be heard regularly thereafter Tuesdays and Thursdays. James Fay & Co. is the agency. "Margery Mills Home Hour," a twice weekly Tuesday and Thursday presentation, starts Jan. 5. Both programs will organize in the studios of WEEI, CBS Boston affili- ate, and will be broadcast over the network's stations in Providence, Worcester, Hartford, Springfield and Bangor. 3 Networks on F.D. R. Speech The nation's three national net- works, NBC, CBS and Mutual will carry the President's speech on the state of the nation on Wednesday, Jan. 6, when the Chief Executive ap- pears before the joint session of the Senate and House. The President will be heard from 2:00 to approxi- mately 2:45 P.M., E.S.T. Also scheduled for complete cover- age by the three networks is the open- ing of the 75th session of Congress on Jan. 5. The details are not yet com- plete, but it is expected that the broad- casts will be heard from 1 :30 P.M. to approximately 2:15 P.M., E.S.T. Change Phillip Morris Show The Phillip Morris Tuesday NBC program will undergo extensive al- terations Jan. 5, at which time the Eton Boys and the girl trio known as the "Sweethearts" will be dropped. They will be replaced by the "Rhythm Rascals" and a novelty trio. Phil Duey will be the only vocalist un- touched by the change in personnel. Bernie, Corwin, Et Al Short Shots: Herman Bernie has closed with the following to appear as guests on Ben Bernie's American Can program : Bert Wheeler and Ella Logan on Jan. 5 ; Gregory Ratoff Jan. 12, and Anna Sten Jan. 19. . . . Emile Corwin of NBC's local press division is back at his desk after a two-week Florida vacation. . . . Joe Thompson of NBC's San Francisco production staff, _ has been shifted to Hollywood handling the same assignments. . . . Amos 'n' Andy have sold their Chi- cago possessions and will reside per- manently in Palm Springs. Wall Street Slight Losses Spot Year End Board Net High Low Close Change Columbia 36% 36 36 Columbia, pfd. ... 42% 42% 42% -f- % Consolidated 5% 4% 5 — % Consolidated, pfd. 17 17 17 — % Eastman Kodak.. 175 173% 175 +3 Loew's, Inc 67J^ 65% 66% — % Paramount 24% 24% 24% — % Paramount 1 pfd.. 173% 170% 172J4 — 1% Paramount 2 pfd.. 22% 22% 22% — % Pathe Film 10% 9% 9% — % RKO 8% 8% 8% — % 20th Century-Fox. 35% 35% 35% — % 20th Century, pfd. 44% 43% 44 + % Warner Bros 18% 17% 17% — % Curb Gains Slightly Net High Low Close Change Grand National ... 3% 3% 3% — % Sentry Safety ... 13/16 % 13/16+1/16 Sonotone 2 2 2 + % Technicolor 21% 21% 20 Trans-Lux 4% 4% 4% + % RKO Bonds Gain a Point Net High Low Close Change Loew's 3%s '46.... 101% 101 101J4 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 100% 100% 100% + % RKO 6s '41 pp.... 115% 115% 115% +1 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 99% 99 99% — % (Quotations at close of Dec. 31) 4 MOTION PTCTURI DAILY Saturday, January 2, 1937 $162,636,250 Is Film Stock Gain in 1936 {Continued from page 1) preceding year of $666,820,000, and $402,973,125. at the close of 1934. Net gains in points ranged from J/2 to 80 in the film shares, with the most sensational increases in market values being registered during the two weeks immediately following the national elections in November. In that period film stocks soared $82,172,500. Resumption of dividend and bonus payments by leading companies, many of them the first in the past five years, occurred during 1936. Eastman Kodak declared dividends of $5,175,- 000 and distributed a bonus of $2,220,- 000. Loew's dividends amounted to $2,400,000 and an employes' bonus was paid. Paramount paid dividends of about $3,400,000 and an employes' bonus, and 20th Century-Fox paid $1 a share on its common, amounting to approximately $1,600,000, and a bonus to employes. Technicolor, Trans-Lux and Du Pont Film Mfg. Co. were others in the dividend paying columns. Earnings of other companies, such as Warners and RKO, reached their best levels in years. The 1936 attendance gain brings the estimated average weekly attendance figure to 81,000,000, as compared with 71,000,000 in 1935 and a low of 54,000,000 in 1933. Further gams in grosses and earnings appear to be assured for 1937. The total number of film shares traded on the N. Y. Stock Exchange during 1936 was 15,149,580, as com- pared with 9,169,000 shares in 1935; 1,937,600 film shares were traded on the Curb Exchange, as compared with 919,960 in 1935, while sales of film bonds aggregated $28,891,000. B. & K. Books Cagney Chicago, Jan. 1. — "Great Guy" will have its local premiere at the Chicago starting Jan. 22. This is the first Grand National pic- ture to play the B. & K. circuit and will be released in their subsequent run theatres after the Loop engage- ment. National-RCA in Deal National Theatres has closed a con- tract with RCA Mfg. Co. for High Fidelity installations in 12 Fox houses and for servicing 300 houses. The new installations are : California, Pom- ona ; Carthay Circle and Grauman's Chinese, Hollywood; Granada, On- tario, Cal., and the following Wiscon- sin houses: Majestic, Cudahy; Garrick and Orpheum, Madison; Roosevelt, Milwaukee; Vogue, Monroe; Adler, Reida and New Adler, Marshfield. Ponder McVickers Deal Chicago, Jan. 1. — Latest reports in- dicate the Chicago Board of Educa- tion will decide whether or not to lease the McVickers theatre at its next meeting, scheduled for this month. Stock Market Sales Reach 15,149,580 1936 Stocks and Dividends Sales High Date Columbia Pictures, vtc. (1A) 281,400 45% Tan 22 Columbia Pictures pfd. (2%) 35,400 51% Jan. 23 Consolidated Film 247,500 7% Feb. 13 Consolidated Film pfd. (2B) 166,500 20% Feb. 13 Eastman Kodak (5A) 128,400 185 Aug. 8 Eastman Kodak pfd. (6) 4,090 166 Jan. 18 Keith- Albee-Orpheum pfd. (12%B).. 2,100 110 Nov. 18 Loew's, Inc. (2A) 1,272,000 67% Dec. 31 Loew's, Inc. pfd 15,100 108% July 17 Paramount 3,667,200 25 Dec. 30 Paramount 1st pfd. (6) 399,100 174 Dec. 30 Paramount 2nd pfd. (60c B) 1,070,000 2254 Dec. 30 Pa the Film Corp.... 898,000 11% Apr. 2 Radio-Keith-Orpheum 1,659,000 10% Nov. 17 20th Century-Fox (2C) 716,000 38% Nov. 17 20th Century-Fox pfd. (1%) 389,200 47% Nov. 16 Universal Pictures pfd 15,390 115 Apr. 7 Warner Brothers 4,159,000 18% Dec. 14 Warner Brothers pfd 24,200 69 Dec. 16 Low 31 39% 4% 15% 156 152 80 43 104% 7% 59 5 22% 31% 50 9% 44 Net Date Last Change May 20 36 - 7y2 Dec. 19 4244 -s% Sept. 28 5 - % Apr. 30 17 — l Apr. 28 175 +18% July 24 163% + 3% Jan. 7 110 +30 Apr. 21 66% +1454 Feb. 28 107 Aug. 22 24% +14% June 3 172% +94% Aug. 19 22% +10% June 20 9% + 1% Jan. 2 8% + 3% June 1 35% +13% Apr. 27 44 +12 Jan. 7 101 +49 Apr. 30 17% + 77% Apr. 29 67 +16 1935 High Low 81 34% 49% 43% 7% 3% 22% 14% 172% 110% 164 141 90% 34 55% 31% 108% 102 12 8 101% 67 14J4 9% 8y8 4/8 6 1% 24% 13 32 245i 73 29 10% 2% 52 14% 1934 1933 1932 High Low High Low High Low 41% _ 21% 28 6% 14% 4% not listed not listed not listed 6% 1% 5% 1% 5% 1 20% 10% 14% 5% 11% 2% 116% 79 89% 46 87% 35% 147 120 130 110 125 104% 37% 20 25 8 30 7 37 20% 36% 8% 37% 13% 105 72 78% 35 80 39 not listed not listed not listed not listed not listed not listed not listed not listed not listed not listed not listed not listed 4% . 1% 5% 1 7% 1% not listed not listed not listed not listed not listed not listed 46% 16% 35 10 50 10% 8% 2% 9% 5% 4% % 31% 15 24% 15% 20 4 Sales in Curb Total 1,937,600 1936 Stocks and Dividends Sales High Date Low Date Columbia Pictures Common 2,200 45 Tan. 18 34 Dec. 19 Grand National Films 564,400 4% Sept. 8 2% July 9 Sentry Safety Control 64,800 1% Feb. 10 % Apr. 24 Technicolor (50c B) 784,500 32% Mar. 5 17% Jan. 4 Trans-Lux DPS (20c A) 460,200 5% Jan. Nov. 31 3% Jan. 6 61,500 16% 18 4% Jan. 10 Last 34 3% not 13/16 20% 4% 9% Net Change - 8% listed '35 —1 5/16 + 1% + 1 + 4 1935 High Low 73 38 not listed % % 27 115% 4% 2 8 2 1934 High Low 35 24% not listed % % 14% 7% 3% 1% 5% 3 1933 High Low 27% _ 8% not listed % % 14 2% 3% 1% 4 1 Bond Sales for Year $28,891,000 1936 Bond and Maturity Sales High Date Low Keith 6s '46 $ 963,000 100 Nov. 25 92 Loew's 354s '46 7,832,000 102 Nov. 12 96 Paramount 6s '55 8,896,000 101% Dec 8 83 Paramount-Broadway 3s '55 864,000 73 Dec! 8 55 Radio-Keith-Orpheum 6s '41 2,715,000 122 Nov. 25 63 Warner Brothers 6s '39 7,621,000 100% Dec. 14 86 A — Not including extras; B — Accumulated dividends; C — Paid this year. Net Date Last Change May 4 90% - 4% June 25 101% not listed '35 Apr. 27 100% + 8% Apr. 9 72% +15 Apr. 29 115% • +38% Jan. 2 99% +13% 1935 High Low 95% 67% not listed 97% 84% 63 54% 88% 26% 89% 48% 1934 High Low 73% 51 not listed not listed 47 30 41 18% 67 40% 1933 High Low 61 . 29% not listed not listed 38 27% 30 8% 48 12 1932 High Low 63 _ 24 not listed not listed not listed 19 14% 40 9% Comparison of Valuations of Stock Issues, 1935-1936 (As of December 28, 1936) Approx. Shares Stock Listed Columbia Pictures vtc 290,000 Columbia Pictures pfd 75,000 Consolidated Film 530,000 Consolidated Film pfd 400,000 Eastman Kodak 2,300,000 Eastman Kodak pfd 60,000 Keith-Albee-Orpheum pfd 65,000 Loew's, Inc 1,600,000 Loew's, Inc. pfd 140,000 Paramount 1,600,000 Paramount 1st pfd '.. 250,000 Paramount 2nd pfd 650,000 Pathe Film Corp 600,000 Radio-Keith-Orpheum 1,400,000 20th Century-Fox 1,600,000 20th Century -Fox pfd 1,000,000 Universal Pictures pfd 20,000 Warner Brothers 3,900,000 Warner Brothers pfd 100,000 Close 1935 43% 48% 5% 18% 156% 160 80 52 107 10% 78 12 8 5 22% 32 52 9% 51 Valuation $12,615,000 3,637,500 3,047,500 7,300,000 359,087,500 9,600,000 5,200,000 83,200,000 14,980,000 16,400,000 19,500,000 7,800,000 4,800,000 7,000,000 36,000,000 32,000,000 1,040,000 38,512,500 5,100,000 $666,820,000 Close 1936 35% 40% 4% 16% 172 160% 110 63 106% 225% 158 205% 9% 7% 35 43% 101 16% 67 Valuation $10,295,000 3,037,500 2,517,500 6,600,000 395,600,000 9,630,000 7,150,000 100,800,000 14,875,000 36,200,000 39,500,000 13,406,250 5,625,000 10,675,000 56,000,000 43,500,000 2,020,000 65,325,000 6,700,000 $829,456,250 Net Change — 8 — $2,320,000 — 8 — 600,000 — 1 — 530,000 — \y2 — 700,000 +15% + 36,512,500 + % + 30,000 +30 + 1,950,000 +11 + 17,600,000 — % — 105,000 +12|^ + 19,800,000 +80 + 20,000,000 + 85% + 5,606,250 + 1% + 825,000 + 2% + 3,675,000 +12% + 20,000,000 +11% + 11,500,000 +49 + 980,000 + 6% + 26,812,500 +16 + 1,600,000 +$162,636,250 The Leading Motio Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, Intelligent the In All Branches VOL. 41. NO. 2 NEW YORK, MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 1937 TEN CENTS G.B. to Have Own Exchange System Here Kent's Move Is Seen As Hastening Step G. B. will have its own exchanges in all key cities, it was learned on Saturday. Just when these branches will be established is a matter of time, but the move is certain in view of ex- pansion plans by the company. This season's G.B. lineup provides for 24 pictures, an increase of eight over last year. Included in the 24 are five from B.I. P., John Maxwell's company, five from Herbert Wilcox and one from Capital. Officials of 20th Century - Fox, through whose exchanges G.B. is phy- sically distributing its product, have notified G.B. that insufficient vault space in the 20th Century-Fox branch- es makes it impossible for the com- pany to handle other than G.B. prod- uct. Sidney R. Kent is said to have so (Continued on page 4) '36 Attendance Was Up 12V2%— Cochrane A \2y2 per cent increase in theatre attendance is estimated by R. H. Cochrane, president of Universal, to have been made during 1936 and is credited by him with the bulk of the industry's gain in gross receipts over 1935. Cochrane estimates the gross in- crease for 1936 at $250,000,000, bring- ing the figure for the year, he says, to approximately one billion dollars, the largest total of the past five years. Admission scales registered only "a very modest" increase during the year just closed, with the average for the country amounting to 24 cents, or about four cents higher than the pre- ceding three-year low level, according to the Universal president's estimates. The average admission just prior to the depression was 30 cents, he says. Cochrane points out that the princi- (Continued on page 4) Hays Tells Suvich Pact Pleases U. S. _ Washington, Jan. 3. — An expres- sion of the industry's satisfaction with the culmination of the new trade pact governing import and financial regu- lations between the industry and Italy was delivered here over the week- end by Will H. Hays to Fluvio Su- vich, Italian Ambassador to the U. S. Hays and Mrs. Hays arrived from (Continued on page 4) MGM Against Stars on Air During Good Theatre Hours Hollywood, Jan. 3.- — M-G-M is ex- pected to declare itself in opposition to the appearance of film stars on radio programs during hours which place them in competition with theatres, it was learned here today. The company's statement of policy on radio is expected to be made with- in the next few days and will include a declaration of general policy which it will put into effect for the guidance of its own players and clarification of its position insofar as exhibitors are concerned. Indications are that Metro's action will be the forerunner of similar dec- larations of policy by other studios which, it is assumed, will eventually crystallize into an established indus- try attitude on Hollywood's contribu- tion to radio competition with theatres. Metro recently rejected a deal prof- fered by the William Morris office under which its stars were to be made available exclusively for a one-hour (Continued on page 8) More on Radio — Page 8 Studios Busy with 41 Features Going Hollywood, Jan. 3. — Production registered only a slight drop last week showing 41 features and two shorts in work against 43 features and four shorts for the preceding week. Only three new pictures went into work due to the holiday. Five films finished and went into the cutting rooms. Twenty-seven pictures will start shoot- ing on the major and independent lots within the next two weeks, presaging a continuation of top activity for this time of the year. The new features starting were (Continued on page 5) Burroughs-Tar zan to Make 18 Next Season Burroughs-Tarzan Pictures will in- crease its production schedule from 12 to 18 next season, Jesse J. Goldburg, executive of the company, stated Saturday. He is now in New York. Donald Novis, who has been signed for three pictures, will appear in one on the current lineup and in two next season. Clyde Elliott will direct "Asia Roars" in the Malay jungles. He sails on the Asma Maru on Feb. 1. In addition to working on the new schedule, Goldburg is completing for- eign deals for "Tundra," one of the current releases, 675 Approved Hollywood, Jan. 3. — The Production Code Administra- tion approved and granted seals to 675 films in 1936. Of these, 115 were reissues and 318 short subjects. Congress May Act on Seven Picture Bills By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, Jan. 3. — A long pro- gram of important legislation will be faced by Congress when it convenes Tuesday for the 1937 session. Aside from measures aimed direct- ly at the film industry, many of the bills with which Congress will be asked to deal during the coming months will affect both producers and exhibitors. Although no program has yet been developed for the session, at least seven subjects of importance to films are certain to come up. They are : Block booking: With proponents claiming a greater following than ever before, anti-block booking legislation along the lines of the Pettengill bill on which hearings were held last ses- sion is due to receive consideration. The Indiana Congressman is expected to reintroduce his measure and un- doubtedly other members also will have bills embodying their ideas of how to deal with the booking prob- lem. While the legislation may have increased support among the civic and (Continued on page 4) Chicago Bank Night Resumed by B. & K. Chicago, Jan. 3. — Bank Night was resumed in eight B. & K. theatres here last night. Other houses are expected to follow, having decided to reinstate the games after the Iris gained an injunction preventing the police from stopping its drawings. B. & K. will now operate Bank Night under the original plan which does not require the purchase of a ticket for participation. Previously, all patrons were required to have tickets to be eligible for a prize. Walter Immerman, vice-president (Continued on page 5) Loew's Grants Ten Per Cent Cancellation Stands Firm, However, On Score Charges Loew's-M-G-M agrees to grant an unrestricted 10 per cent cancellation, to offer a short form of contract and to cooperate in the establishment of local conciliation boards as part of its participation in the M.P.T.O.A. trade practice program, Al Lichtman, vice- president of Loew's, Inc., advises Ed Kuykendall, head of the exhibitor or- ganization, in a letter released for publication today. The distributor characterizes the M.P.T.O.A. request for elimination of the score charge as "in effect, a re- quest to lower film rentals" and de- clines any concession on that point. No hope of relaxing M-G-M's policy of requiring preferred playing time for percentage pictures is offered in Licht- man's letter, and the right to estab- lish and maintain an individual short subject sales policy is reserved by the company in answering the M.P.T.O.A. request for assurances that shorts will not be forced with features. Cooperation is offered by the dis- tributor for the elimination of over- buying, unfair competition between theatres and non-theatrical competi- tion. Lichtman's letter also states that (Continued on page 5) UMPTO Date Strike Postponed in Phila. Philadelphia, Jan. 3. — The UMPTO's much advertised and pub- licized date strike against Loew's failed to materialize yesterday when it was scheduled to go into effect. According to George P. Aarons, secretary of the exhibitor organiza- tion, negotiations are pending be- tween the organization and home office officials of the distributor. "Be prepared in event of failure of satisfactory and acceptable terms to (Continued on page 4) $75,000 Roxy Record Seen for "Million" "One in a Million" is expected to wind up its first week at the Roxy with $75,000, a new high for the thea- tre under Howard S. Cullman's direc- tion. On Thursday and Friday, two new records were established under Cullman's regime, one in point of dol- lars and the other on attendance. On Thursday, Dec. 31, the picture (Continued on page 4) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, January 4, 1937 2 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 January 4, 1937 No. 2 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager ^Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Pub- lishing Company, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Avenue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copy- righted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc. Address all correspondence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publica- tions, Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, Teatro Al Dia, International Motion Picture Almanac and Fame: The Box Office Check-Up. Hollywood Bureau: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Streets, Boone Mancall, Manager; Chicago Bureau: 624 South Michigan Avenue, C. B. O'Neill, Man- ager; London Bureau: 4 Golden Square, London W 1, Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable Address "Quigpubco, London"; Berlin Bureau: Stuelerstrasse 2, Berlin W 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative; Paris Bureau: 29, Rue Marsoulan, Pierre Autre, Representative; Rome Bureau: Viale Gorizia, Vittorio Malpassuti, Representative; Aus- tralian Bureau: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins Street, Melbourne, Cliff Holt, Representative; Mexico City Bureau: Apar- tado 269, James Lockhart, Representative; Budapest Bureau: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest, II, Endre Hevesi, Representative; Tokyo Bureau: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken, H. Tominaga, Representative; Prague Bureau: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1, Harry Knopf, Rep- resentative; Shanghai Bureau: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Building, 142 Museum Road, /. P. Koehler, Representative; Rio de Janiero Bureau: Caixa Postal 3358, A. Weissman, Representative; Buenos Aires Bureau: Corrientes 2495, N. Bruski, Representative; Montevideo Bureau: P. O- Box 664, Paul Bodo, Representative: Moscow Bureau: Petrovski Per 8, Beatrice Stem, Representa- tive; Vienna Bureau: Neustiftgasse, 55, Vienna VII, Hans Lorant, Representative; Amsterdam Bureau: Zuider Amstellaan 5, Philip de Schaap. Representative: Helsing- fors Bureau: Fredriksgatan 19 C, Charlotte Laszlo. Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 1 0 cents. Legion Approves All Of Six New Pictures The National Legion of Decency, in its list for the current week, approved, either for general patronage or adults, all of the six new films reviewed and classified. Five were approved for general patronage, and one for adults. The new films and their classification follow. Class A-l, Unobjectionable for Gen- eral Patronage — "The Great O'Mal- ley," "One in a Million," "Reckless Buckaroo," "Sandflow," "White Le- gion." Class A-2, Unobjectionable for Adults — "Friesennot" (German) . Warner Fetes Ball Team Hollywood, Jan. 3. — The Univer- sity of Pittsburgh football team, Rose Bowl victors, will be guests at the Warner studios here tomorrow. Pat O'Brien will play host to the team. Brady Show Closes "Matrimony, Pfd.", which opened at the Playhouse Nov. 12, closed Saturday night after a run of seven and one half weeks. 4 Purely Personal ► NEIL F. AGNEW, J. J. Unger and Milt Kusexl were scheduled to leave for the coast Saturday via American Airlines. Although Agnew planned to go by way of Kansas City, where he would meet Bob Gillham, he took the southern route where the party was to pick up Charles Rea- gan. Gillham will continue to the coast from Kansas City. • Barney Balaban, president of Paramount, will leave for Chicago to- day and spend tomorrow there before heading for Hollywood. He is going by train with a party of home office executives. Balaban said Saturday he plans to spend 10 days on the coast. • William Goetz, and not William Gates as incorrectly published in Saturday's paper, has been elected a vice-president of 20th Century-Fox. • Sam Schwartzman, theatrical at- torney, is making a nice recovery from an appendectomy performed at the Park East Hospital late last week. • Mary Borden's recent novel, "Ac- tion for Slander," has been purchased by London Films. • Harry C. Arthur arrived from St. Louis on Saturday, via train. . . . London Walter Futter's discovery in a Soudanese village, Princess Kouka, to play opposite Robeson for Capitol, doing her stuff for the press at Cla- ridge's. Charles Laughton and Elsa Lan- chester playing "Peter Pan" in the Palladium revival of the Barrie stand- by. Sam Eckman in Switzerland for Christmas holidays. Jack Davis, C. F. Bernhard, and Syd Hyams all cruising. Cecil Hepworth, pioneer producer of the 'nineties, lecturing on trade his- tory at Newcastle. Robert Garrett recovering from flu. Finds Nebraskans Apathetic on Taxes Omaha, Jan. 3. — Charles E. Wil- liams, president of the MPTOA of Nebraska and western Iowa, has mailed letters to 100 members ask- ing them if they wanted to meet to discuss plans to combat any possible tax legislation which might arise in the session of the unicameral legis- lature, which opens Jan. 5. Announcing himself as "disgusted" with the apathetic attitude of exhibi- tors toward previous efforts to call the meeting, Williams said he mailed the letters only at the insistence of an exhibitor who has continued active- ly in the association. Williams said that exhibitors should prepare for any eventuality by organizing committees. The one-house legislature, which will have only 43 members and thus will shoot bills through almost before ob- jectors can rally their forces, is rather a worry to all organizations. Minneapolis Theatre Bills Less Drastic Minneapolis, Jan. 3. — Following- weeks of battling among members of the City Council committee on ordi- nances and legislation, a revised and less drastic ordinance won the unani- mous approval of the committee. The new theatre regulations will be given to the Council for vote at the next meeting. The softened provisions of the ordi- nance specify a distance of only 300 feet from church or schools for new theatres, similar to the restriction re- cently set for beer and liquor estab- lishments. Where originally the measure made mandatory the denial of a theatre li- cense to an applicant for a location in which it would create a greater traffic or fire hazard, the altered meas- ure substitutes the word "may" for "shall" and gives the Council dis- cretionary power. On receipt of application for a thea- tre license, the ordinance provides the city planning department shall investi- gate the district to determine whether the builders should also be compelled to provide parking facilities for patrons. Existing theatres will not be affected by the proposed ordinance and it would apply only to theatres outside the loop district. Theatre men who urged en- actment of the original ordinance de- clared frankly they were interested in limiting the number of theatres in the city. Argentina to Make 50 Films This Year Buenos Aires, Dec. 23 (By Air- mail).— More than 50 features will be produced in the Argentine during 1937, according to trade estimates here. The total working companies will be swelled by the indicated trans- fer of important production activities to this city from Spain, particularly Madrid and Barcelona, where virtu- ally all production has been halted as a result of the Spanish civil war. Metropolitan Studios here has en- larged its facilities and installed sound and photographic departments under American supervision to accommodate the expected influx. Negotiations are now under way with Spanish produc- ers for use of the rental studio, now the largest in South America. Dis- tribution offices of major American companies are discussing arrange- ments for adding a number of locally produced films to their South Ameri- can release schedules, such as has been done in the past by Universal and Paramount. United Artists also plans to enter the local production field dur- ing 1937. FWC Starts Drive Los Angeles, Jan. 3. — Fox West Coast has started a new 13-week drive, known as the "Managers' Drive." It will run to March 27. Named Tobis Associate Hollywood, Jan. 3. — Arthur Klein, Ltd. has been appointed west coast representative of American Tobis handling "Carnival in Flanders." Lenauer Takes Shorts Lenauer International Films has ac- quired American distribution to "Ski- ing with Hans Schneider," "Beautiful Tyrol" and "Rain," foreign shorts. Cleveland Pondering 1 Cent Admission Tip Cleveland, Jan. 3. — A petition is being drafted for signatures of all Cleveland exhibitors in an agreement to raise admissions at least one cent. A meeting of the Cleveland M. P. Exhibitors Ass'n, called originally to advocate passing on to the public the recently enacted three per cent gross receipt tax in the shape of a one cent boost in admission prices, developed into a general discussion of boosting prices six cents. Cashing in on the alleged tax-mindedness of the public members advocate odd-price scales such as 11 cent, 16 cents, 21 cents, 26 cents and 31 cents. To be effective, the policy must be universal, it was claimed and to that end, a petition will shortly be circulated for signa- tures. The plan to pass the three per cent tax on to the public is state-wide. P. J. Wood, business manager of the In- dependent Theatre Owners of Ohio says the passing of this tax will mean $1,500,000 saving to the exhibitors of the state. Wood for Increase Columbus, O., Jan. 3. — Members of the Ohio I.T.O. are being urged to discontinue absorbing the admission tax and pass it on to the public in the form of odd-rate admissions. If this practice is universally adopted through- out the state, exhibitors can save over $1,500,000 annually, it is pointed out by P. J. Wood. Seattle Cooperation On Censoring Agreed Seattle, Jan. 3. — Closer coopera- tion between the Seattle City Council and the board of theatre censors will prevail in 1937, it was stated follow- ing a meeting of the council license committee. The difficulty was brought to public attention a few weeks ago when the City Council directed John Danz to cease exhibiting "Ecstacy" at his Win- ter Garden, after the film had been approved by the censor board. In 1937, the council license com- mittee will be asked to assist in pre- viewing "questionable" films, and the word of the censor board following the preview will be final. Peter Magaro Dead Harrisburg, Pa., Jan. 3. — Peter Magaro, pioneer exhibitor here, who in 1906 opened the first film exchange in central Pennsylvania, died yester- day at Miami, Fla., according to word received here today. Magaro had been ill since 1935 when he was seriously injured in an automobile accident near Atlantic City. He was at one time a member of the executive board of the M. P. Operators of America. James H. McLaughlin Passes Tampa, Jan. 3. — James H. McLaughlin, 56 years old, former manager of Tampa theatres, is dead after a long illness. Mac came to Tampa years ago to manage the Franklin for Publix. RKO Takes DuWorld Film The DuWorld release, "The Crim- son Circle," has been booked by the RKO circuit, opening at the Terminal in Newark, Jan. 23. nd Did I U U Count How imes lour Radio "ALL'S FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR By Harry Warren & Al Dubin it Of to It's just one little part of the gigan- tic national exploitation bringing the season's biggest crowds to the 300 theatres now topping all pre- vious 44 Gold Diggers" grosses with WARNER BROS: By Harold Arlen & E. Y. Harburg Harms, Inc. Publishers Starring - n i r s PoWELL ?o£n blondell Farrell • Lee D.xo . ■ O-goo fey Rosalind Marqu^^Mu^ Harry Warren & Al lJut.. fey Arlen & E. Y. ■ Ha^»J« " NumberS LL°Y? by Butt Berkeley Created and D^J^ MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, January 4, 1937 Congress May Act on Seven Picture Bills (Continued from page 1) other organizations which have con- sistently fought for it, exhibitor sup- port may have been weakened by the recent agreement with the producers, and would undoubtedly be further abated if Congress enacted the Pat- man bill. Producer-exhibitors : The Patman bill, designed as a companion measure to the Robinson-Patman price dis- crimination act, of which the Texas Representative was co-author last ses- sion, would require producers to di- vest themselves of all theatre holdings within three years and would pro- hibit manufacturers or producers in any line from engaging in retail dis- tribution. Adoption of this measure would give a clear-cut solution to the problem brought up by charges of the independents that the producer-dis tributors favored their own houses. Sirovich to Renew Copyright: All set for another round in the copyright fight, Repre- sentative Sirovich of New York is expected to reintroduce his copyright bill, the subject now for several years of extended hearings but no action in the House. If, as in past years, his committee is split by dissension, the subject will get no further than the hearings which Sirovich is ex pected to call in the near future. As a matter of fact, there is little prob- ability that copyright legislation will be enacted this session, the Duffy bill, passed by the Senate in 1935, having died when Congress adjourned last summer, so that it must come up as new legislation if the Senate is to act. Industrial control : An involved sub ject on which many groups have as many views, probably a score of bills will be introduced, ranging from pro posals for a constitutional amendment giving the Government some of the authority to deal with labor condi tions which it thought it had under the NRA, through suggestions for ex pansion of the anti-trust acts to make low wages and long work weeks un fair methods of competition and the bill for Federal incorporation and li censing of concerns engaged in inter state commerce introduced by Senator O'Mahoney of Wyoming, to revival of the NRA itself in such form as to meet the criticisms of the Supreme Court on the original act. Taxes to Be Considered Taxes : The admission tax is ex- pected to remain unchanged ; some of the nuisance taxes producing little or no revenue in excess of costs of col lection will be dropped ; holes in the administrative provisions of the 1936 tax on the undistributed income of corporation will be plugged up but the principle of that tax will be retained, Social Security : Amendments to the social security act designed to avert court invalidation as unconstitutional and to make it more workable are ex pected to be offered, but the principl of the legislation will be retained and if it is held invalid by the Supreme Court new legislation along the same lines will immediately be sought. Tariff : The reciprocal tariff act Hollywood, Jan. 3. — The David O. Selznicks, the Gene Markeys, Dr. and Mrs. Joel Pressman, Robert Riskin and George Cukor among those who spent New Year's at Sun Valley, Ida., the new winter resort. John Stone vacationing at El. Paso. . . . Hal Roach to celebrate ,23rd anniversary in picture business Jan. 8. ... Ed Sedgwick and Mal St. Clair both down with influenza. . . . Barney Carr, assistant Roach direc- tor, missed that fatal plane from San Francisco by five minutes and took the one which followed. Brian Donlevy and Marjorie Lane to repeat their civil marriage with a religious ceremony next Thurs- day. . . . Jack Warner to entertain the visiting Pittsburgh football team at lunch Jan. 4. . . . Walter Wanger starts Technicolor tests of furs to be used in "Vogues of 1937," with Rich- ard Jaeckel of New York assisting. . . . Oscar and Elmer, radio team, signed by Republic to do sketch in "Hit Parade" . . . Print of C. B. DeMille's "The Plainsman" shipped to Manila by Pan American plane. . . Jack LaRue's sister, Emily, Out Hollywood Way signed for role in "The Love Trap" by B. P. SCHULBERG. Casting — ■ Slim Summerville, Spring Byington, Ferdinand Gotts- chalk and Lionel Atwill in "The Road Back," Polly Rowles in "Night Key," Universal. . . . Miles Mander and Douglas Fowley in "Wake Up and Live," 20th Century-Fox. . . . M-G-M castings include Ian Wolfe and Claude King in "Mantime," Harry Lash in "Dangerous Num- ber," and Claudia Colman in "Men of the People." . . . Nine players cast in "Fifty Roads to Town," 20th Cen- tury-Fox— Don Ameche, Jane Dar- well, Walter Catlett, Stepin Fetchit and Douglas Fowley among them. + Director — Leon Barsha given long term contract by Columbia ; first as- signment "Edit or Supervise." Title Change — "We, the Jury" changed to "We're on the Jury" by Radio. G.B. to Have Own Exchange System Here (Continued from page 1) advised Arthur Lee, vice-president of the American G.B. company who is in Miami Beach and due back tomor- row. Queried as to his plans, in view of the outside commitments, Lee tel- egraphed Motion Picture Daily, as follows : "Have not had any notice from Kent as yet or the opportunity of see- ing him, but if 20th Century-Fox will not physically distribute what we have exhibited, we will then open our own offices right away as it is only a mat- ter of time before we would have to do this anyway, due to our growing business." That the English company would organize its own exchange system in this country for the handling of G.B. and B.I.P. has been reported since Oct. 5, but Lee's statement is the first official acknowledgement that the com- pany may set up the branches im- mediately. Hays Tells Suvich Pact Pleases U. S. (Continued from page 1) New York on New Year's day and attended the President's diplomatic re- ception at the White House Saturday night. They will return to New York today and plan to leave Monday for Los Angeles where they will arrive in time to attend the jubilee dinner there for Adolph Zukor on Thursday. Hays plans to remain in Hollywood until early in March, returning east for the annual meeting of the M.P.P.D.A. during that month. To Study Air Conditions The scientific study of correct tem- peratures in theatres is to be under- taken by the American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers as part of a research program to extend over the next two years. Set "Robber" Opening "The Robber Symphony" will have its New York premiere on Jan. 18. No theatre has been set but it is re- ported the film may open at the Venice, formerly the Jolson. under which President Roosevelt has negotiated reciprocal trade agreements with various countries will expire on June 30, next. Its continuance is to be asked by the President, who, how- ever, will oppose proposals which are anticipated for amendments in the law restoring to the Senate its former power to ratify or reject all treaties. In addition to these major issues, bills will probably be introduced to lift the ban on the importation or inter- state transportation of fight films, and a number of other subjects, of inter- est but of lesser importance to the picture industry, will be brought up. With the appropriation bills, relief and other routine matters, Congress is expected to have a very heavy schedule which will keep it in session for at least six months. '36 Attendance Was Up 12V2%— Cochrane (Continued from page 1) pal upward scaling of admissions was confined for the most part during 1936 to putting the advanced afternoon and evening scales into effect at earlier hours and eliminating "bar- gain" or "early bird" shows. Further moderate increases of this kind may be expected during 1937, he says, but will be limited by new theatre build- ing in many localities as well as by the operation of the Federal amuse- ment tax above the 40-cent level. With the average weekly attendance having gained 9,000,000 over the 1935 average of 72,000,000, according to Cochrane's estimates, the peak levels prevailing prior to the depression have about been regained, he says. While he estimates the average attendance gain for the year at 12^2 per cent over 1935, Cochrane points out that atten- dance at the close of 1936 was running 15 per cent ahead of the corresponding period of the year before and repre- sented a recovery of 50 per cent from the depression low of approximately 54,000,000 in 1933. "The Best 12 Months" Estimating the total domestic and Canadian theatre gross for 1936 at $900,000,000, Box Office, a weekly regional trade publication, calls the period "the best all-round 12 months which the industry has ever had." The publication estimates that dis- tribution companies grossed approxi- mately $300,000,000 during the year, "of which $200,000,000 would be ap- plicable to the credit of producing companies." RCA in 13 F. & M. Spots RCA Photophone has completed ar- rangements for the replacement of sound equipment in 13 F. & M. thea- tres with the new high fidelity ap- paratus. Twelve houses are located in St. Louis, the other in Granite City, 111. UMPTO Date Strike Postponed in Phila. (Continued from page 1) be offered by M-G-M, to go out on strike," a message to members said. Following a meeting of William F. Rodgers, general sales manager of Loew's ; Tom Connors, eastern divi- sion manager; Bob Lynch, district manager ; and Salem Appelgate, for | Loew's ; and Lewen Pizor, president of UMPTO; Charles Segall, and Abe Sablosky, at Rodgers' office last week, the sales head stated there was no mention of a strike, although dis- cussions revolved around the problems of independent exhibitors in Philadel- phia. It was pointed out that Segall and Sablosky had purchased M-G-M pro- duct and that their mission did not concern complaints on their behalf, but for others in the territory. $75,000 Roxy Record Seen for "Million" (Continued from page 1) garnered $21,000. The New Year's Eve price was scaled as high as $1.50. On Friday, $14,000 was taken in when 23,179 persons paid their way into the theatre. Leon Errol and his Holly- wood Revue comprises the stage at- traction. Mariano Named Referee Supreme Court Justice Cotillo on Saturday appointed John Mariano, an attorney, official referee to take testi- mony in the suit for $13,796 brought by Monogram against Pathe. The plaintiff charges breach of contract alleging the money is due for dis- tribution of certain short subjects made by Pathe and other companies. No date has been set for ensuing hear- ings. General Opens in Hub Boston, Jan 3. — General Pictures, whose franchise in this territory is now held by Harry Asher, has opened an exchange. Monday, January 4, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 5 4 Distributors Reply to Date; MPTOA Finished Talks Last May M.P.T.O.A.'s score against major distributors on its 10-point trade practice program, tallied since the close of its roundtable conferences with sales heads here in May of 1936, follows in the order in which each was made: Nov. 8 — Universal, first company to reply, offers an unrestricted 10 percent cancellation, elimination of the score charge, support for establishment of local conciliation boards and cooperation for other phases of the program. Nov. 26— 20th Century-Fox offers an unrestricted 10 percent can- cellation, approves the establishment of conciliation boards but offers no score charge relief. Dec. 7— United Artists agrees to eliminate the score charge and approves the establishment of local boards. Holds that its indi- vidual producer contracts make the granting of a cancellation privilege impossible. Jan. 4 — Loew's offers an unrestricted 10 percent cancellation, a short form of contract and approves establishment of the local boards. Declines score charge of preferred playing time relief and reserves the right to sell shorts on its own basis. Loew's Grants Ten Per Cent Cancellation {Continued from page 1) the company is opposed to unreason- able clearance but declares that the problem relates to individual cases and no general rule to cover all is prac- ticable. Lichtman's letter covering the dis- tributor's position on the 10-point pro- gram follows : "1 — Loew's commits itself to the proposition that it will grant an unre- stricted ten per cent (10%) cancella- tion on all contracts whenever the ex- hibitor leases all the product that is offered to him for exhibition. "2 — We are in thorough sympathy with your request for the establish- ment of local conciliation boards and a central appeal board in New York City. The principle is an excellent one and its promotion shall receive our hearty support. "3 — We are also opposed to unrea- sonable clearance. No general state- ment, however can be applicable to all cases. The question of what is rea- sonable clearance depends upon the facts in the individual case and can only be determined with those facts before us. Opposes Overbuying "4 — We are in complete harmony with your viewpoint on the question of over-buying and will gladly lend our aid in its elimination. This is one of the questions in respect to which the conciliation boards could render most effective service. "5 — We will give our utmost co- operation in the elimination of unfair competition between theatres. Here again the conciliation boards can be most helpful. "6 — Our position in regard to non- theatrical exhibitions is, I am sure, very well known to you and in thor- ough accord with your desires. "7 — We favor the idea of a short form contract ; in fact, our legal de- partment is now endeavoring to re- vise our contracts so that we may achieve this purpose. Can't Eliminate Score Change "8 — In setting film rental in license agreements the exhibitor and the salesman have invariably taken into consideration the provision for score charges. Consequently, your request for the elimination of score charges is in effect a request to lower film rentals. We do not think that this request could consistently be made since it has always been and must be a question of negotiation between the individual exhibitor and the sales de- partment what the individual exhibitor shall pay for his film license. "9 — The request for the elimination of preferred playing time for percent- age pictures is not now well grounded. With the adoption of the strict produc- tion code, all pictures are appropriate for exhibition on any day, and surely quality pictures are entitled to pre- ferred play dates. "10 — It has been our desire to pro- vide for balanced programs, realizing that a substantial percentage of the theatres requires short subjects. We are certain that you desire that short subjects shall be provided so that the remaining theatres shall not be com- I Chicago Bank Night Resumed by B. & K, {Continued from page 1) of B. & K., stated, "We are instruct- ing our managers to operate under the plan sanctioned by the injunction granted the Iris." Corporation Counsel Barnet Hodes stated that he expected that trouble would result if the plan is started again. Hodes said, "Judge Stanton's Iris decision does not cover all the- atres in the city and the city's legal department will continue to prosecute all violators of the city code which is against any gifts being offered in theatres." Hodes added that the plan of action regarding the Iris injunction would be determined next week. An appeal may be taken or dissolution of the injunction asked. Meanwhile, police officials stated that they will continue to hand out summonses to violators. Theatres of the Warner circuit and others are expected to start Bank Night immediately in accordance with the revised plan. Would Call Bank Night Gambling Milwaukee, Jan. 3. — Announce- ment of a bill to be introduced into the 1937 Wisconsin legislature defining slot machines and Bank Night as gambling has been made by Assembly- man Martin Franzkowiak. The proposed measure would pro- vide for a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $500 fine. As- semblyman Franzkowiak has declared that the regulation of these games must be on a state-wide basis rather than through municipal ordinances. Four in Jackson Suspend Jackson, Miss., Jan. 3. — Declaring recent adverse court decisions affect- ing Bank Night have caused untold confusion, four local theatres have suspended further weekly drawings. The announcement read : "Rather pelled to go to double features in order to provide an evening's program. The short subjects, of course, will have to be supported if produced. We have adjusted our short reel product to meet not only the requirements of the theatres using only single features but to those using double features as well." than run the hazard of jeopardizing the confidence and goodwill of our patrons, and the public in general, Bank Night drawings will be sus- pended until such time as the atmo- sphere has been cleared and the situ- ation thoroughly clarified." However, the statement asserted that the manner in which the draw- ings were conducted took them out of the lottery class. Proxy Card Angle Dropped Beloit; Wis., Jan. 3— T. M. Ellis, Jr., operator of the Majestic and co- operator of the State theatres here, has advised the district attorney's of- fice that he is discontinuing proxy card privileges in connection with Bank Night at his houses. As a result of this stand, District Attorney John H. Matheson has moved for dismissal of two state ac- tions aimed at the prize drawings, which has been granted by the court. Matheson had sought an injunction re- straining the operation of Bank Night and had also filed suit for judgment against a recent Bank Night prize winner. Elimination of the proxy card fea- ture together with the announcement of all prize winners outside the theatre will bring bank night operations with- in the scope of the law as outlined by the state attorney general, Mathe- son believes. Restrain Auto Giveaways Beatrice, Neb., Jan. 3. — Granting the application of a number of local business men who charged operation of a lottery, District Judge F. W. Messmore has issued a temporary in- junction against J. D. Petty and Louis B. Sponsler of the Rivoli and George W. Spiegel of the Spiegel Automobile Co. restraining them from conducting auto giveaway nights. Hearing on an application for a permanent restrain- ing order will be held later. Discontinues Bank Night Camilla, Ga., Jan. 3. — The Camilla has discontinued Bank Night for the present. At the last drawing, the money was divided into small amounts in 16 drawings. Ask Ruling in N. C. Charlotte, N. C, Jan. 3. — State's Attorney General A. A. F. Seawell Studios Busy With 41 Features Going {Continued from page 1) "Murder Goes to College" at Para- mount, "Stepping Toes" at Radio and "Diamonds and Bullets," a Maurice Conn production. M-G-M had the heaviest activity with eight pictures before the cameras. Columbia had two features in work, four preparing and nine editing. M-G-M had eight, two and 10; Par- amount, six, five and seven ; Republic, two, two and four ; Radio, five, three and five ; Roach, one, zero and two ; Selznick International, zero, zero and one ; 20th Century- Fox, six, three and four ; Universal, three, two and two ; Walter Wanger, one, zero and one ; Warners, six, five and 12; independ- ents, one, one and two. In the shorts division Columbia had none shooting, two preparing and three in the cutting rooms. M-G-M had one, one and five; Radio, one, one and one ; Roach, zero, one and one. Memphis Drops Previews Memphis, Jan. 3. — Previews have been discontinued last week by Mem- phis loop district theatres by agree- ment. The Warner and the New Strand were the only city theatres using a regular preview schedule, showing each new picture after the last show on the night before the regular en- gagement. Buchanan Joins Malco Memphis, Jan. 3. — M. M. Buchanan, formerly associated with Erpi, has been named a district manager of M'alco Theatres. Buchanan will su- pervise Lightman theatre activities in Tupelo, West Point and Columbus, Miss., and Helena, Ark. Headquarters will be maintained at Columbus. Allow Charity Show Beatrice, Neb., Jan. 3. — Sunday films are forbidden here by "blue law," which several special elections have failed to remove from the books, but the law was overlooked to allow the American Legion to sponsor a complete program at one house in the interests of charity. Sparks Pays Bonus Tampa, Jan. 3. — Employes of the Sparks circuit received an extra week's pay, in the form of a holiday bonus. It went to every one in the organization from manager to scrub- women and was the first the theatres had given since 1930. Graham Baker Better Hollywood, Jan. 3. — Graham Baker has returned to the Wanger studio after a severe case of pneumonia. He will leave for an extended vacation in Mexico City shortly. has been flooded with requests for a ruling on the legality of chance games in the theatres of the state, following the banning of Bank Night by Chica- go police. Seawell said that in some cases he had ruled that the theatres were vio- lating the anti-gambling laws of the state, while in others the games were handled in such a way as to be with- in the law. / MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, January 4, 1937 Variety Club Cleveland Cleveland, Jan. 3. — M. B. Hor- witz has been elected president of the Cleveland Variety Club for the coming year. He succeeds I. J. Schmertz. Other officers elected at the annual business meeting were : First vice- president, Dave Miller ; second vice- president, Frank D. Drew ; treasurer, J. S. Jossey ; secretary, Frank H. Boyd. Directors for the year, in addition to the officers, are : Col. Harry E. Long, Nat Holt, Jerome Fried- lander, Harry H. Goldstein and Jack Schulman. Des Moines Des Moines, Jan. 3. — Lew Levy manager of the local Grand National office, was elected chief barker at the annual meeting of the local Variety club. Other officers elected were : G. L. Friedman, first assistant barker ; Harry Hiersteiner, second assistant barker ; David H. Dewey, secretary, and L. McKechneay, treasurer. These officers and Lew Elman, Ray Copeland, Jack Kennedy, G. Ralph Branton, Harry Hermann and Joe Deitch compose the board of direc- tors.. Detroit Detroit, Jan. 3. — H. M. Richey, president-elect of Variety Club, has appointed the following committees to serve during the coming year : Entertainment — William Carlson, chairman ; Carl Buermele, Milton Cohen, William Flemion, Charles Perry. House — Charles Perry, chairman ; George Berger, William Hurlbut, Harlan Starr, Lester Sturm, Mac Krim. Welfare — Alex Schreiber, chair- man; William Flemion, E. E. Kirchner, Ralph Ruben, Arthur Robinson, Jack Stewart, Harris SlLVERBERG. Bar management — J. O. Brooks. Slot machines — E. E. Kirchner. Membership — R. E. Moon, chair- man ; Nat Levy, Jack Ryder, Joe Lenaha, Frank Downey, Charles Komer, M. Gottlieb, Carl Shalit. New members — Gottlieb, chair- man ; Wade Allen, Tom Eland, Irving Pollard, Carl Shalit, Charles Nathanson, Bert Tighe, Eddie Wescott, George McCoy. Publicity — Gene Rich, chairman ; Frank Smith, W. G. Bishop. Two Get RCA Licenses Bell & Howell and the Oscar Depue Co. have been licensed under RCA patents to manufacture and market improved non-slip printers, which are said to insure accurate processing of the sound track for uniform release prints. Induction Jan. 6 Induction of new officers of the New York Film Board of Trade will be held Jan. 6 at the Lincoln Hotel, fol- lowing which local exchange man- agers will see "The Show Is On." Deal with Felder Leo Brecher has closed a deal with Max G. Felder for the Theatre Profit Sharing plan in six theatres in Har- lem. MOTION PICTURE DAILY5 HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Green Light" (First National) Hollywood, Jan. 3. — With the dignified tone of a well preached sermon, this film offers endless exploitation possibilities. By nature the picture is an intelligent discourse on material versus spiritual value, yet a sympathetic love story is cleverly interwoven which should cap- ture the interest of the masses, making the offering suitable to both for its prestige and entertainment. The emotional appeal is not unlike that of "Pasteur" or "The Miracle Man," and in many respects, the picture resembles each. The story concerns a fatal surgical operation performed on Spring Byington. Errol Flynn, a young surgeon, is charged with the error which cost the patient's life, although the blame really rests on Henry O'Neill. Their lives changed entirely by the tragedy, Flynn, Anita Louise, daughter of the victim ; Margaret Lindsay, a nurse ; Walter Abel, a bacteriologist, and O'Neill become involved in a long fight to conquer spotted fever in the west. Hovering importantly in the back- ground is Sir Cedric Hardwicke, a minister, whose spiritual ministra- tions contrast with the scientific efforts of the others. The direction of Frank Borzage blends the elements in the best taste and Milton Krim's screen play from the Lloyd C. Douglas novel trans- poses the speeches of the characters effectively, also making the romance between Flynn and Miss Louise a powerful motivating force. The pro- duction by Hal Wallis and Henry Blanke, his associate, supplies a deluxe mounting and the musical score arranged by Max Steiner adds to the spiritual illusion. The St. Luke Choristers, appearing briefly, are spotted effectively. Both the clergy and the medical professions should endorse the pic- ture and be of consequent help in attracting attention. Production Code Seal No. 2,450. Running time, 85 minutes. "G." "Woman Wise" {20th Century-Fox) Hollywood, Jan. 3. — Although new angles have been added to the familiar sports world-newspaperman theme the result accomplished here is not likely to stir any excitement. Essentially the film is a combination of romantic drama, comedy and exciting action against a prize fight background. Much in the nature of a racket expose yarn, Sports Editor Michael Whalen has two objectives. The first is a vigorous attempt to show up shyster promoters who pit "has been" pugs against promising newcomers and so fix things that they can clean up on bets. The second is to make a man of publisher George Hassell's son, Thomas Beck. Aiming to get Alan Dinehart, king pin of the racket, Whelan uses a punch drunk fighter, Pat Flaherty, as chief stooge. To bring Beck under the proper influence, Whelan hires Rochelle Hudson as a reporter. Things move along until Whelan, who is not averse to occasional graft, finds himself behind the eight ball. To blast his threat to the racket, Dinehart frames Beck into gambling, but Miss Hudson is the wise woman and also pretty much of a two-fisted battler who digs up the in- formation along with Flaherty. There ensues a battle between Whalen and Dinehart in which the former demonstrates he is quite a fighter. With the racket smashed, Beck, on a fair way to regeneration, realizes he has loved Miss Hudson all the time. While the film has topical value, its far-fetched motivation is at times difficult to follow. Under Allan Dwan's intensive direction, however, the cast, principally Dinehart, Whelan, Miss Hudson, Flaherty, Beck and Virginia Field, contribute performances acceptable in "B" type at- tractions. Sports writer Mark Kelly did the original and Ben Mark- son the screenplay. Production Code Seal No. 2,981. Running time, 75 minutes. "G." Arrange Union Party New Haven, Jan. 3. — Committees have been appointed for the show be- ing planned in cooperation with Harry- Shaw for the annual ball of Local 74. I.A.T.S.E., at the Hotel Taft on Jan. 9. William P. Barry, president is gen- eral chairman ; Morris Wasserman, program chairman ; Harry Feldman, tickets and Samuel Wasserman, fin- ance. A. S. Stolte Promoted Des Moine, Jan. 3. — Arthur G. Stolte, manager of Tri-States Para- mount and Strand in Waterloo, la., since August, has been named district manager in the Des Moines district that includes Des Moines, Newton, Ottumwa and Waterloo, to replace Rockey Newton, who has resigned to go into business for himself in Cedar Rapids. Short Subjects "Ski-Esta" (Pictorial Films) Interesting, but nothing unusual. This subject embraces the winter sport — skiing — and shows various scenes which have been on the screen more than once. The narrative is un- exciting. It is timely because of the skiing season. Previewed without a production code seal. Running time, 10 mins. "G." Daigler Is Advanced In Evergreen Shifts Seattle, Jan. 3. — Hal Daigler, ar- rived in this city to become assistant to John Hamrick. Daigler was for- merly associated with Hamrick locally, but for two years has been connected with Evergreen State theatres in the Portland territory. He was at one time director of Paramount- Publix theatres in the Minneapolis and St. Paul regions. He replaces Ted Barbour, who has resigned. George Appleby, manager of Ham- rick-Evergreen's Coliseum, will move to Portland to become managing di- rector of the Music Box, Blue Mouse and Playhouse theatres, Evergreen's second run theatres there. Appleby will succeed Herbert Sobottka in that position. Sobottka will become man- ager of the Paramount, Portland's key first run in the Evergreen circuit. Named Drama Editor Washington, Jan. 3. — Katherine Hillyer has been named drama editor of the Scripps Howard Daily News, replacing Don Craig, who has been promoted to the Congressional staff. Larry Moran to Frisco Hollywood, Jan. 3. — Larry Moran, formerly with Warners in New York as a theatre booker, will go to San Francisco as a booker for Universal. Moran will take over the job Jan. 1. Wall Street Paramount Issues Off Slightly Net Close Change High 35/ ?/ 17 175/g Columbia Columbia, pfd. . . . Consolidated Film Eastman Kodak.. General Theatre Equipment 30'/& Loew's, Inc 66/ Paramount 24/ Paramount 1 pfd.. 173/ Paramount 2 pfd. Pathe Film RKO 20th Century -Fox. 20th Century, pfd. Universal, pfd Warner Bros 22'/s m 35 437/$ 102 175/6 Low 35/ 5/ 17 175/s 30 65 23/ 170/ 21/ 9/ 8 34?^ 43/ 10O 17^ 35/ - / 5/ + / 17 175/ + / 30/ 65/ 24/ 170/ 213/ 9/ 8/ 347^ 4374 102 17/ -1/ -/ -2/ +1 - / Little Curb Movement Net High Low Close Change Grand National... 3/ 3VS 354 Sonotone 2 2 2 Technicolor 213^ 21/ 21/ — / Trans Lux 4/ 4/ 4/ Bonds Decline Lightly Net High Low Close Change Loew's 3/s '46... 101/ 101/ 101/ Paramount Pic- tures 6s '55 100/ 100/ 100/ — / Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 99/ 99 99 — / (Quotations at close of Jan. 2.) Monday, January 4, 1937 MOTION PICTURI DAILY "Rembrandt" Los Angeles Hit, $9,113 Los Angeles, Jan. 3. — "Rem- brandt" topped a week which proved to be excellent in spite of the holiday competition and heavy rain. It grossed §9,113 at the 4 Star, over normal by $5,863. "Three Men on a Horse" and "Fugi- tive in the Sky" went $3,900 above par at Warners' Downtown and $3,000 over at the Hollywood. "Stowaway" and "Charlie Chan at the Opera" did $2,479 above par at Loew's, but dropped below the line at the Chinese. With "Rainbow on the River" and "The Plot Thickens" the Hillstreet beat average by $1,200 and the Pant- ages was up by $700. Total first run business was $105,- 179. Average is $107,950. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Dec. 30 : "LLOYDS OF LONDON" (20th-Fox) CARTHAY CIRCLE — (1,518), 50c -$1.50, 7 days, 5th week. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $17,000) "STOWAWAY" (20th-Fox) "CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA" (20th-Fox) CHINESE — (2.500), 30c-55c, 6 days. Gross: $11,387. (Average, $12,500) "REMBRANDT" (U.A.) 4 STAR— (900), 30c-55c, 6 days. Gross: $9,113. (Average, $3,250) "ECSTASY" (Eureka) (Return Engagement) GRAND INTERNATIONAL (750), 35c- 40c, 7 days. 3rd week. Gross: $1,700. (Aver- age, $1,200) "RAINBOW ON THE RIVER" (Radio) "THE PLOT THICKENS" (Radio) HILLSTREET— (2,700), 30c-65c, 6 days. Gross: $9,200. (Average, $8,000) "STOWAWAY" (20th-Fox) "CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA" (20th-Fox) LOEW'S STATE— (2,500), 30c-55c, 6 days. Gross: $16,479. (Average, 514,000) "RAINBOW ON THE RIVER" (Radio) "THE PLOT THICKENS" (Radio) PANTAGES — (3,000). 30c-65c, 6 days. Gross: $8,700. (Average. $8,000) "PENNIES FROM HEAVEN" (Col.) "EASY TO TAKE" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (3,595), 30c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week. Stage: F. & M. revue, Famous Meglin Kiddies. Gross: $19,200. (Average, $18,000) "3 MEN ON A HORSE" (F.N.) "FUGITIVE IN THE SKY" (W.B.) WARNER BROS. (HOLLYWOOD) - (3,000), 30c-65c, 6 days. Gross: $17,000. (Average, $14,000) "3 MEN ON A HORSE" (F.N.) "FUGITIVE IN THE SKY" (W.B.) WARNER BROS. (DOWNTOWN) — (3.400), 30c-65c, 6 days. Gross: $15,900. (Average, $12,000) Take Baltimore Theatre Baltimore, Jan. 3. — Title to the Rivoli has been taken by the East Baltimore Theatre Corp., of which Joe B. Field is president. It was sold by the Savings Bank of Baltimore for about $175,000. There is a small ground rent. Humphries in New Job Vienna, Ga.. Jan. 3. — Oliver Humphries of Toccoa has recently been named manager of the Vienna to succeed A. F. Avey, who has re- signed. W. E. Griffin, owner of the local theatre of Hogansville, has been acting as manager. Manages Georgia House Macon, Ga., Jan. 3. — John Young- blood is the new manager of the Capi- tol here, succeeding Harvey H. Whaley, transferred to the Grand. MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Under Cover of Night" (M-G-M) Hollywood, Jan. 3. — Under the capable direction of George B. Seitz and with good portrayals by the cast, a mediocre story is made into thrilling murder drama. The picture should be tops in neighborhood, small town theatre duals and do well as a programmer in the first runs. Lucien Hubbard, producer, departs from usual formula by identifying the murderer at the beginning. It is set in a college where the head of the physics department, Harry Davenport, is resigning. From his assistants, a successor will be chosen. The most likely candidate is Henry Daniell, a widely-known authority on physics but really dependent upon Sara Haden, his wife, for her re- search work. Learning of Daniell's intimacy with Maria Shelton, one of his students, Miss Haden condenses her notes into a small book and threatens to leave him, taking the book. Daniell, knowing of his wife's weak heart, frightens her to death but is unable to find the book. With the aid of Miss Shelton he starts a search. In succession he murders three people. Edmund Lowe, an alumnus turned detective, is at the school for commencement and is soon on the trail of the murderer. He captures him as he is about to murder his fourth victim, Florence Rice, the president's daughter, who, unaware of it, has been in possession of the book. Lowe, rapidly becoming typed as a debonair detective, handles his part in agreeable fashion, as does Miss Rice. Dean Jagger, who with Miss Rice supplies the romantic lead, shows well. Nat Pendleton's portrayal of the dumb detective is well done and Daniell, as the murderer, is con- vincing. Minor parts by Harry Davenport, Dorothy Peterson, Theodor Von Eltz and Frank Reicher deserve mention. Production Code Seal No. 2,954. Running time, 71 minutes. "G." Looking 'Em Over "Les Petits" "The Children" (Franco- American) The tragedies and comedy of childhood form the story basis of this French film, produced by Cid Co., and not to be considered an outstand- ing contribution to the importations to this country from foreign studios. The film has its moments of drama, its amusing incidents, but, in gen- eral, has little that might be expected to hold the attention in more than casual fashion. The tragedy of one lonely child in a boarding school has been done before and in rather better style. A word of praise is warranted for the work of the child, E. Roncier, as the small boy who is placed in the school by his widower father when the latter finds it too much of a burden to take care of him. But when his father falls in love, he neglects the child, who turns to a little girl for the affection which he needs. Notes the two had written to each other, in which he calls the girl his "wife," are found and the two are sent home. Running away from a servant, the boy throws his belongings into the river, his father, becomes frantic at police word, and the boy is found, a happy home assured for both him and the girl. Reviewed without production code seal. Running time, 80 min- utes. "G." Walton Gets Ad Post Pittsburgh, Jan. 3. — Herbert Walton has just been named chief advertising artist for Warners under Publicity Director Joe Feldman. He comes from New York, where he has spent the last 10 years working in various film offices. Walton succeeds Sam Stern, who has been transferred to Warners' New York headquarters. For a going-away gift, Stern, who has been in Pitts- burgh since 1932, was presented by the local office a traveling bag and portfolio. More Free Shows at K. C. Kansas City, Jan. 3. — Beginning Jan. 10, the Katz brothers, Isaac and Michael, cut rate drug store operators, will sponsor a series of Sunday after- noon concerts by the municipal or- chestra of Kansas City in the new Municipal Auditorium, admittance free. The orchestra played last sum- mer in the city's parks, to big audi- ences. The Auditorium has radio sta- tion KCMO's community sing every Sunday evening, which is free, and which goes out over the air. The sing has been drawing big crowds. 'Dance" Only Draw of Week At Cleveland Cleveland, Jan. 3. — "Born to Dance," in its second week at Loew's Stillman, was the only attraction in town to get to first base in the face of the Christmas shopping competition. It grossed $8,500, up by $2,500. All other houses were below par. Total first run business was $38,800. Average is S5 1,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Dec. 24 : "WITHOUT ORDERS" (Radio) ALLEN— (3,300), 30c-35c-42c, 6 days. Gross: $4,300. (Average, $5,000) "JUNGLE PRINCESS" (Para.) LOEW'S STATE— (3,400). 30c-35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average. $15,000) "BORN TO DANCE" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STILLMAN— (1,900), 30c-35c- 42c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $8,500. (Av- erage, $6,000) "POLO JOE" (W. B.) RKO PALACE— (3,100), 30c-42c-60c, 7 days. Stage: "Holiday Revels." Gross: $10,000. (Average, $15,000) "THEODORA GOES WILD" (Col.) WARNERS' HIPPODROME — (3.800), 30c-35c-42c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $8,000. (Average. $10,000) Arlington Opens Sundays Boston, Jan. 3. — Sunday shows in Arlington, favored at a recent refer- endum, have gotten under way with the granting of special Sunday licenses. Licensing authorities are limiting the permits they grant to apply to one Sunday at a time. Title New Davis Film Hollywood, Jan. 3. — "Marked Woman" has been selected as the final title for the new Bette Davis picture which has resumed production at the Warner studios. THEATRE ACCOUNTING by WILLIAM F. MORRIS Tells all the facts about your business each week. • Payroll data for Social Security Taxes. • Profit at a glance — Daily or Weekly. • All expenses deducted — In- cluding Rent, Taxes and Depreciation. • Complete record of ad- vance bookings. • Itemized Schedule of All Assets and Equipment with Table of Depreciation Rates. • Does not require a book- keeper to handle it. $3 ENOUGH FOR A FULL YEAR'S BOOKKEEPING QUIGLEY BOOKSHOP ROCKEFELLER CENTER NEW YORK MOTION PICTURE RADIO DAILY RADIO On the Air Victor Moore, Helen Broderick and Buddy Rogers' orchestra bowed in as the new stars of the "Twin Star" re- vue, Hollywood's latest radio offering, Friday night. The series, sponsored by the National Biscuit Co. was heard over the NBC-Blue network from 9:30 to 10 P. M., E.S.T. The chief feature of the opening script was an argument between the moon-eyed musical comedy president and his chief comic foil, Miss Brod- erick, as to which one was actually the star of the program. It was a futile argument, for whatever ac- colades were earned on the opening session belong to Buddy Rogers, who sang acceptably several choruses of currently popular numbers and whose band, if not startlingly rhythmic, was at least better than average. And the radio average for binds, remember, is uncommonly high. Moore's halting, uncertain style of reading lines does not lend itself hap- pily to the microphone. Beyond that, the script was as barren of funny lines as a Congressional report. On stage and screen it may be possible for a comedian to get by despite the weak- ness of the script ; in radio this is im- possible. Some day perhaps the radio tycoons may realize the foolhardiness of signing a million dollars' worth of talent and then entrusting the destinies of the program and stars to 5-and-10- cent store scripts. "Twin Stars" will have to improve considerably if it wants to hold its listeners. Banner Rex Chandler's First Stepping into his first big-time air shot, Rex Chandler got off to a gener- ally auspicious start in his first 30- minute "Universal Rhythm" program for Ford Friday night. Filling the 9 to 9:30 P.M., E.S.T. period over the NBC-Blue, held for so long by Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians, the debut show was tuneful and well- geared in the modern musical tempo. When Chandler and his aggregation of 42 tunesmiths played, the show was lively and well-done. When Robert, the butler, and Milady piped in to bridge the various numbers in what was designed as comedy interlude, the show began not to fare so well. The idea may have been all right, but the execution was something else again. Even the studio audience failed to re- spond after one particularly flat gag and the result was one of those painful dead spots on the air which those in radio have learned long since to dread and to shrink from. Rather Tactless The usual sponsor plug, of course, was there. But there was also an effort by a male trio singing "The Nut That Holds the Wheel." In jingle and tune, it poked presumably good- natured fun at the bad boys of the road, the drivers who cut in and the like. It occurred to this reviewer that, psychologically, a happier mood might have been struck. Taking the air audience and, presumably, prospective customers in it to task on the one hand and trying to sell them the next minute failed to total any great volume of salesmanship. But Chand- ler's orchestra is very good, if some of the other interludes were ques- tionable. The conclusion ought to be obvious. Metro Against Stars on Air In Film Hours (Continued from pane 1) weekly program to be sponsored by Ford Motor Co. The program was to have replaced the Fred Waring program and was to run for 52 weeks at $25,000 per week. In addition, E. J. Mannix of Metro recently was made chairman of the Producers' Ass'n radio committee which declined to approve a proposal of General Mills Corp. for exclusive broadcasting rights from Hollywood studio stages. The naming of the Pro- ducers' Ass'n radio committee is the only move which the organized indus- try _ has made to date in response to nationwide protests from exhibitors on the competition with theatres afforded by film star broadcasts during hours of peak theatre attendance. A recent survey by Motion Pic- ture Daily revealed "that 80 per cent of the film personalities participating in broadcasting appear on radio pro- grams between the evening hours of 8:00 and 9:30, the peak attendance period for theatres. Air Contracts Set On Baseball Games Chicago, Jan. 3. — Deals were com- pleted last week with Chicago base- ball clubs for broadcasts of games next season. For the first time the Chicago Cubs and White Sox will receive payment from radio stations for broadcasting rights. Stations WBBM and WGN will pay $15,000, or $7,500 to each club, for permission to broadcast. Stations WCFL and WIND, which are of lower power, will pay $6,000, or $3,000 to each club for the broadcasts. All disputes regarding the broadcasts will be settled by arbitration, the contracts state. "Showboat?' Has New Guest Star Policy The Maxwell House "Showboat" program inaugurates a new guest star policy Thursday, when Robert Bench- ley and Margaret McCrea will be the featured guests. It is expected that many film stars will appear as guests on subsequent "Showboat" broadcasts during the winter. Another new "Showboat" feature beginning Thursday will be the use of players selected from the studio audience to portray leads in a melo- drama written especially for the pro- gram each week. Weismuller on Cook Bill Johnny Weismuller, the "Tarzan" man, and Babe Ruth, are the headline guests whom Joe Cook will feature in the second broadcast of his new Shell Chateau show Saturday, Jan. 9. Others who will be featured on the program are Paul Gallico, sports writer ; William Moran, former head of the U. S. Secret Service ; Ray Dooley, musical comedy star, and Jean Lussier, whose chief claim to fame is that he has gone over Niagara Falls in a barrel. With Nobody Home Chicago, Jan. 3. — Adverse weather conditions have caused several postponements of the broadcast from Ex- line, 111., during which all 20 of the town's residents will fly over their deserted village in a plane. The latest date set for this special broadcast is Jan. 5 at 10:30 a.m. CST over the NBC-Red. The broadcast will be from the airplane telling how things look at Exline while every- one is away. Three NBC Programs Renewed for Year Three NBC programs were re- signed for 52-week renewal periods as the sand in the hourglass of 1936 was running out. The programs are Lowell Thomas' news broadcasts for Sun Oil, the Cities Service sessions, and "Sidewalk Interviews." Thomas, heard Mondays through Fridays from 6 :45 to 7 P. M'.( E.S.T. over the Blue, renews as of Feb. 2. Roche, Williams & Cunnyngham is the agency. Cities Service, 8:30 to 9 P. M., E.S.T., Red network, renews as of Feb. 5. Lord & Thomas is the agency. "Sidewalk Interviews" for Molle Shaving Cream, 9 to 9:30 P. M., E.S.T., Red network, renews as of today. Stack-Goble is the agency. Air Waves Mixed Up Radio antics have never been as be- wildering as they are of late. First the "Good- Will Court" plays hide and seek on the air. Then Jimmy Brad- dock fades from his program without even so much as a chirp in the way of explanation and now, to cap the climax, Jimmy is returned to his pro- gram, still without an explanation and without advance notice. A week ago Tuesday Braddock ar- rived in the NBC studios, prepared to go on with his program, only to find that his services were no longer re- quired. Additionally, there had been a change in agencies, the Tastyeast account being transferred from J. P. Muller to the Peck Advertising Agency. Tuesday night Jimmy was recalled. The present indication is that he will remain on the show until his 13-week contract is up. Radio Row yesterday was lending ear to the report that the sponsor had been unable to dis- cover any flaws in Braddock's $1,500 a week contract and, therefore, has, returned the champ to the program. Planning Jungle Broadcasts Jesse J. Goldburg, executive of Bur- roughs-Tarzan, is completing negotia- tions with a national sponsor to broad- cast a series of talks by Clyde E. Elliott from the interior of the Malay jungles during the production of "Asia Roars." The series, one a week, is expected to start in February, the first broadcast being from the N.Y.K. liner. Asama Maru, on which Elliott will sail Feb. 1. Gish, Logerman, Et Al Short Shots: Lillian Gish will guest star on the "Magazine of the Air" program Jan. 8 and will discuss "The Future of the Movies" . . . Don Logerman and Marge Brunell of the WABC publicity division are bedded with flu . . . Paul Douglas has been signed to "em cee" the new Hal Kemp Chesterfield cigarettes program . . . Milton Berle's Loew State open- ing has been deferred until until Jan. 15 . . . Anne Jamison is in the hospi- tal as a result of an appendectomy . . . Cornelia Otis Skinner begins her per- sonal appearance tour Jan. 14 . . . Song publisher Jack Mills and his wife are en route to England . . . Ferde Grofe's associates will honor him with a cocktail party Jan. 8. Grofe's Carnegie Hall concert has been set for Jan. 19 . . . Les Ma- whinney, former news editor of KNX (Hollywood) has taken his new du- ties as manager of the Los Angeles Press-Radio bureau. John Clark, for- merly his assistant, has taken over the KNX editorship. . . . Connie Boswell arrived in Hollywood over the weekend to start her featured vocalist spot on the "California Hour." . . . Lucille Ball, Hollywood find who is now ap- pearing in the Lily Pons picture, "That Girl from Paris," will be Tom- my Dorsey's guest on the WOR "Morning Matinee" program this Thursday. . . . George Damerel, Jr., Myrtle Vail's 18-year-old son, will join the cast of "Myrt and Marge" tonight when the program debuts over the CBS network. ... Dr. Allan Roy Dafoe will be medaled by Parents Magazine on his Friday, Jan. 15 pro- gram. The medal will be accepted by Edward Plaut, president of Lehn and Fink, sponsors of Dr. Dafoe's program. . . . Dr. Victor Heiser. au- thor of "An American Doctor's Odyssey" will be interviewed between tonight's Lux Radio Theatre scenes by Cecile B. DeMille. . . . Bert Lahr, Paul Whiteman, Edgar Bergen, and Elsworth Vines and Fred Perry have been set as guests on the Rudy Vallee program this Thursday. . . . Glen Morris of NBC's special events de- partment, has been awarded the an- nual Sullivan Memorial Trophy as the outstanding amateur athlete of 1936. . . . Arthur Whiteside, WBT (Char- lotte) announcer, has resigned. And in Hollywood Short Shots - — Jackson Wheeler joins the Joe Penner show as chief announcer. . . . Phil Kramer to the same program as Penner's stooge. . . . Andy Devine, the gravel voiced comedian, in all probability, will join the Jack Benny program. . . . Milton Berle is due on the coast shortly and will do a picture for Radio as well as his broadcasts. Longest Remote Control Pickup Milwaukee, Jan. 3. — Broadcasting of the Marquette-Texas Christian Cotton Bowl football game New Year's day over WISN from Dallas, marked the longest remote control pickup in the history of any local station. With WISN as the key sta- tion, other Wisconsin stations carry- ing the game included WTAQ, Green Bay; WIBA, Madison, and WKBH, La Crosse. Alan Hale, WISN ace sports announcer, handled the broad- cast. Providence Stations Shift Providence, Jan. 3. — Providence radio stations swung into a new line- up New Year's Day. WPRO now is the outlet for Columbia with WJAR retaining the Blue NBC network. WEAN, which formerly was the CBS station here, has the Red NBC network now. The Leading Motio Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, Intelligent the Industry In All Branches VOL. 41. NO. 3 NEW YORK, TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1937 TEN CENTS Wage and Hour Bills Holding Capital Stage Regulation Seen Feature Of Congress Opening By CLARENCE LINZ Washington, Jan. 4. — Industrial regulation legislation tonight bid fair to take the center of the stage when Congress convenes tomorrow, with proponents of various methods of re- viving Federal control prepared im- mediately to introduce their bills. While Senator Black of Alabama introduces his bill for the 30-hour week in the upper house, Representa- tive Ellenbogen of Pennsylvania will re-introduce his measure providing an NRA for the textile industry, to be followed by similar legislation for other industries if his initial effort is successful. On Wednesday, Industry Coordina- tor George L. Berry will meet with his legislative committee to whip in- to shape a bill which will cover the recommendations made last month at the meeting of the Council for In- dustrial Progress. While a number of bills on indus- trial control are expected to be intro- duced at the opening of the session, the views of President Roosevelt will not be made known until Wednesday afternoon, when he delivers his annual message. The actual form taken by the legislation to be enacted of course will depend upon the President's rec- ommendations in his message. iV. Y. Critics Select "Deeds," "Carnival" The New York Film Critics had a time of it yesterday, but in a session which ran into the early evening voted "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," the best English-speaking picture of 1936 and "La Kermesse Heroique," ("Carnival in Flanders") best in the foreign-lan- guage division. Under the by-laws or whatever it is by which the critics govern themselves and their ballots, a two-thirds vote is (.Continued on page 28) Two Pictures Here N earing New Marks "Great Guy" at the Criterion and "One in a Million" at the Roxy are heading for new house records, it was indicated yesterday after a checkup on weekend business at both theatres. For the first three days of "Great Guy," the Criterion took in $20,000 (Continued on page 28) Paramount Product Meet Starts Friday Hollywood, Jan. 4. — The annual production conference of Paramount executives and theatre partners will be held at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles on Friday and Saturday, im- mediately following the Adolph Zukor silver jubilee dinner to be held at the studio Thursday evening. William LeBaron, managing direc- tor of production, will conduct the meetings, with special sessions in charge of Barney Balaban, president ; (Continued on page 28) Broadway Merchants Plan a Zukor Dinner The Broadway Merchants' Ass'n will tender Adolph Zukor a testi- monial dinner in New York in com- memoration of his silver anniversary on or about Jan. 25. The date is con- tingent on Zukor's arrival in New York from the coast. The association met yesterday and discussed preliminary arrangements and is now awaiting word from Zukor when he will arrive in the east. Wil- liam Brandt is chairman of the film division. The affair most likely will be held at the Waldorf. Soskin Sails with Columbia Deal Set Having completed arrangements with Columbia for borrowing talent and for a call on scripts, Paul Sos- kin, head of Soskin Prod., which will make seven pictures in England next season for Columbia international re- lease, will sail today on the Beren- garia after three months in this coun- try. Negotiations are continuing for the services of Monta Bell, Soskin said yesterday. While here Soskin also signed a number of players. He will make an official announcement upon his arrival in England. RKO Heads to Hold Talks on the Coast RKO executives will hold a general production conference in Hollywood Jan. 14-15 at which plans for 1937- 38 will be roughed out. Leo Spitz already is on the coast while Ned E. Depinet leaves Monday and Jules Levy the end of this week. Nate J. Blumberg, general theatre operator for the RKO circuit, will likewise attend. He leaves Thursday accompanied by his wife and, addition- ally, will inspect circuit houses in Los (Continued on page 28) Denver Flu Spreads; Theatres May Close Denver, Jan. 4. — Along with the warning from health officials advising adults to stay away from public gatherings during the influenza epi- demic, came hints that theatres may be closed until the outbreak is over. Public and parochial schools in Denver and several surrounding counties are closed this week. Hos- pitals are being forced to refuse more patients. Members of the police force still on duty were deprived of days off, more than 50 being on sick leave. Sixty firemen are also off duty. Cinema Club Ends; Members Apathetic The Cinema Club, founded original- ly as an organization for film ex- ecutives in New York, has ceased all activity, following the expiration of the lease on the club quarters at the Hotel Algonquin. The club was formed early last year. It was explained that the reason for the demise of the organization was not one of finances but was due to lack of interest and attendance on the part of members. Efforts to restore interest in the club proved unavailing and it was decided to cease all activity. FCC Study Expected to Ask New Broadcasting Control By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, Jan. 4. — A new broadcasting setup will be recom- mended to the Federal Communica- tions Commission next week in a pre- liminary report of the engineering division on the October broadcasting hearings, it was forecast today by the National Ass'n of Broadcasters. The report will be based purely on the technical evidence submitted at the hearings, which were devoted to a consideration of broadcasting prob- lems, and will recommend the re- moval of the present power limitation of 50,000 watts and a reduction in the number of clear channels, now 40, to 28 or 29. It is also anticipated that the (Continued on page 26) Additional Radio — Page 26 Sale Tax Case To Be Heard During Month Frederick W. Wood at Work on His Brief The distributor's appeal from the Appellate Court's decision holding film rentals derived from theatres within New York City limits to be subject to the two per cent municipal sales tax has been placed on the Court of Appeals calendar for argument on Jan. 18. Although the case may not be reached on that date, any delay that may be encountered is not expected to defer the hearing more than a day or two, attorneys identified with the ap- peal said yesterday. Frederick H. Wood of Cravath, de Gersdorff, Swaine & Wood, special counsel for the distributors, completed his appeal brief yesterday and indica- tions are that it will be served on the corporate counsel today. Wood was retained on behalf of all major distributors to oppose the ap- plication of the sales tax to local film rentals. The appeal, however, is ac- tually being taken by the local United Artists exchange, against whose rev- enue a tax assessment was levied by the city some time ago, thus providing a test case for all local distributors. The law firm of O'Brien, Driscoll & Raftery represents United Artists in the action. An appeal is being taken simultan- eously by the city from that part of the Appellate Court's decision which exempted from the tax rentals derived by local exchanges from theatres lo- cated beyond the city limits. 306-ITOA Agreement Is Near Completion Attorneys representing Local 306 and the I.T.O.A. are nearing the com- pletion of the final form of the agree- ment on wage scales and the like which virtually will end the multiple union situation in New York, it was learned yesterday. It was explained that following .the completion of that arrangement, another will be made be- tween Local 306 and the Allied Union, (Continued on page 28) Predicts Best N. E. Business in 8 Years New Haven, Jan. 4. — James W. Hook of this city, New England Council president, predicts that 1937 New England business will be "the most promising in eight years." He foresees a 10 per cent improvement in (Continued on page 27) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, January 5, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 January 5, 1937 No. 3 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Pub- lishing Company, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Avenue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copy- righted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc. Address all correspondence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publica- tions, Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, Teatro Al Dia, International Motion Picture Almanac and Fame: The Box Office Check-Up. Hollywood Bureau: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Streets, Boone Mancall, Manager; Chicago Bureau: 624 South Michigan Avenue, C. B. O'Neill, Man- ager; London Bureau: 4 Golden Square, London W 1, Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable Address "Quigpubco, London"; Berlin Bureau: Stuelerstrasse 2, Berlin W 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative; Paris Bureau: 29, Rue Marsoulan, Pierre Autre, Representative; Rome Bureau: Viale Gorizia, Vittorio Malpassuti, Representative; Aus- tralian Bureau: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins Street, Melbourne, Cliff Holt Representative; Mexico City Bureau: Apar tado 269, James Lockhart, Representative; Budapest Bureau: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest, II, Endre Hevesi, Representative; Tokyo Bureau: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken, H. Tominaga, Representative; Prague Bureau: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1, Harry Knopf, Rep resentative; Shanghai Bureau: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Building, 142 Museum Road. /. P. Koehler, Representative; Rio de Janiero Bureau: Caixa Postal 3358, A. Weissman, Representative; Buenos Aires Bureau: Corrientes 2495, N. Bruski, Representative; Montevideo Bureau: P. O. Box 664, Paul Bodo, Representative; Moscow Bureau: Petrovski Per 8, Beatrice Stern, Representa tive; Vienna Bureau: Neustiftgasse, 55, Vienna VII, Hans Lorant, Representative; Amsterdam Bureau: Zuider Amstellaan 5. Philip de Schaap. Representative; Helsing- fors Bureau: Fredriksgatan 19 C, Charlotte Laszlo, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Lesser May Not Build Hollywood, Jan. 4. — Sol Lesser may not build a new studio after all, as announced in New York. He is understood to be negotiating for one of the local plants and will probably close the deal upon his return from Europe late in February. Lesser will continue to make nine features next season, three of which will star Bobby Breen and six outdoor westerns for distribution through 20th Century- Fox. MITCHELL MAY, Jr. CO., INC. INSURANCE Specialists To The Motion Picture Industry • 75 Maiden Lane, N. Y. City 510 W. 6th St., Los Angeles, Cal. i Purely Personal ► TIM ENGLANDER of the M-G-M »J advertising department is due back today with his family from Havana. Sam Forgotston of the same depart- ment is down with the grippe. Ditto for Mel Heymann of the publicity department. Pat Reiss has just re- turned after being away three days with a bad cold. • A. W. Smith, Jr., and Monroe Greenthal back on the job yesterday, following a quick warm water cruise on the Champlain. • J. Robert Rubin, Jr., has switched from the M-G-M publicity department to the scenario department, under Bertram Bloch. • Toots Shor has taken over the Tav- ern from Billy LaHiff, who will leave for the coast in about a week. • Martin Moskowitz and Aubrey Schenck returned yesterday from an 11 -day cruise to the West Indies. • A-Mike Vogel left for Scranton yesterday to speak to the Comerford managers in convention today. • Reg Wilson, central division mana- ger for G. B., has left for his terri- tory after a 10-day visit here. • Bill Sussman, eastern division sales head for 20th Century-Fox, left yesterday for Miami, via car. • Charles Einfeld has again delayed his departure to the coast. It's getting to be one of those things. • Barney Briskin, general sales manager for Sol Lesser, will return to the coast on Sunday. • The Earl of Warwick will leave by plane for Hollywood and the M-G-M studios today. • George Schaefer returned to his desk yesterday after being out a few days with the grippe. • Louis B. Mayer and Howard Strickling are due from the coast sometime this week. • Walter Cassell will head for the Warner studio today via American Airlines. • Ed Finney went to Boston yester- day for one day. He is due to return today. • Robert W. Perkins will return from a vacation at his Virginia home today. • Harry Ham of the Myron Selznick office sails today on the Berengaria. • O. Henry Briggs, president of Pathe, has returned from Miami. • Moss Hart has been signed by M- G-M to do an original musical. Etta Klein on the mend after an attack of the grip. Sonja Henie leaves today for a skating tour. Hy Daab ill at home with the flu. TAMES A. FitzPATRICK and «J Norman G. Loudon left for the coast yesterday via train. Just before he boarded a train, Fitz Patrick com- pleted recording three new Traveltalks for M-G-M: "India on Parade," "Bombay, the Gateway to England," and "The Rocky Mountains." He is due back Feb. 10 to sail on the Queen Mary for England to start production on "The Life of William Shakes- peare." • Edgar Moss, 20th Century-Fox, Philadelphia; Sam Wheeler, 20th Century-Fox, Washington; Joe Feld- er, Sidney Picker, Nat Cohn, Moe Kurtz, Louis Nelson, Abe Leff and Herman Weingarten of New York are among the film people in Miami. Nelson and Weingarten have pur- chased a lot at Sth St. and Shore Rd., where they will build an eight-story hotel. • Abe Blumstein, Richard Gled- hill, Seymour Florian and Will Schutzer, all salesmen at the local 20th Century- Fox exchange, returned yesterday with their families from two-week vacations at Miami. • Victor Heiser, author of "The "Odyssey of an American Doctor," current non-fiction best seller, sails tomorrow on the Franconia for a five- month trip around the world. • Sophie Tucker, fresh from a three- month tour of England, will leave to- day for a week's engagement in Chi- cago after which she will head for Hollywood. • Spyros Skouras, William T. Pow- ers, Ed Zabel and Irving Barry will leave Jan. IS on a two- week swing of National Theatres key operating points. • Stephen Pallos, general manager of London Films, has delayed his de- parture east from Hollywood indefi- itely. • Arthur Greenblatt left Miami yesterday for Washington where the will visit the GB. exchange. • Will H. Hays left for the coast yesterday to be gone about two months. • Whitford Drake, executive vice- president of Erpi, is confined to his home with the flu. • Max Cohen of Universal leaves Miami today to resume his duties at the New York exchange. • Noah Beery and Dr. Herbert Er- langer sail today on the Champlain. • . . . Pittsburgh Ben Jaffe is ill at his home and George Jaffe, his father, is managing the Casino again. Joe Feldman's parents have gone back to New York after spending the holidays with him. Florence Fisher Parry has re- turned to her critic's post on the Press after a two-week absence. Sol Goldberg, the Elkins, W. Va., exhibitor and father of Pitt's sensa- tional halfback, Marshall Goldberg, bet $1,000 on the Panthers in the Rose Bowl game. Quigley Says Deal Made for 12 Films Contracts calling for the production of 12 features in Keller-Dorian color to be produced during the current year were closed with a large produc- tion company yesterday, George E. Quigley, fiscal agent for financial in- terests identified with the Keller- Dorian process, stated. Quigley declined to identify the pro- ducing company, asserting that it had requested the right to make the an- nouncement when it had completed arrangements for the first of the pro- ductions. Quigley leaves for Europe today on the Berengaria and will make ar- rangements in France, where the color process was originated, for technical aid to be brought here to supervise the Keller-Dorian color work for the American producer. About six tech- nicians will be sent here under the cooperative arrangements between the Keller-Dorian company and the Amer- ican producer. The color concern plans to open a laboratory here and another in Hollywood during the next few weeks, it was said. To Consummate Financial Deal While abroad, Quigley will also complete arrangements for the acqui- sition of control of approximately 450,000 shares out of 600,000 shares, or 75 per cent, of the Keller-Dorian stock outstanding. The purchasing group, whom Quigley represents, has already paid a substantial amount for its option, it was said. The group consists of French and English finan- cial interests. Quigley will be gone about five weeks. Eastman Kodak has until Feb. 22 to meet the royalty requirements for the retention of its exclusive license for the manufacture of the special film stock used in the Keller-Dorian proc- ess, it was stated yesterday. If the royalty requirements are not met, the manufacturing rights become non-ex- clusive. Under the color process, a special sensitive stock and color fil- ters for camera and projection ma- chine are said to be the only special equipment required. Using B. N. in Chicago Chicago, Jan. 4. — Bank Nights are being conducted here in violation of police orders by all circuits with the exception of Essaness. No arrests are being made but summonses are being given to all managers who violate the existing rule. Alexander Rites Friday Hollywood, Jan. 4. — Funeral of Ross Alexander, star of the forthcom- ing "Ready, Willing and Able," who died by his own hand Saturday night, will be conducted next Friday. De- tails are being held in abeyance pend- ing the arrival of his parents. The coroner's inquest into the death of the actor will be held tomorrow. Charles Hertzman Dies Louisville, Jan. 4. — Funeral ser- vices for Charles L. Hertzman, 54, formerly of this city, who died in At- lantic City, were held here yesterday. KansasManager Replaced Kansas City, Jan. 4. — Frank Whittam has replaced R. S. Helson as manager for the Glen W. Dickinson circuit at Osage City, Kan. MOTION PICTURE DAILY MOTION PICTURE DAILYS HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Off to the Races" (20th Century-Fox) Hollywood, Jan. 4. — Continuing the entertainment quality established by the preceding members of the "American Family" series, this stacks up with a desirable attraction for the family trade. The film blends humor and youthful romance with the thrill of harness horse racing. Slim Summerville and Russell Gleason have been added to the cast which features all the usual players in the series. The show moves swiftly and teems with surprises. It winds up with an action climax. As the Jones family, Jed Prouty, Spring Byington, Shirley Deane, Kenneth Howell, George Ernest, June Carlson and Florence Roberts journey to a county fair. Summerville appears as an irascible uncle who owns a trotting horse. He is accompanied by a glib-tonged daughter, Ann Gillis. An unwelcome guest because he has a shady reputation and is broke, Summerville is the center of a family turmoil and provokes plenty of laughs. Hornswoggling Miss Deane's fiance, Gleason, into using his marriage money to pay for his horse's feed bill and entrance fee, Summerville starts some hectic confusion when Ruth Gillette, a honky tonk dancer, has him arrested for alimony default. To redeem the family honor, Prouty drives Summerville's steed to victory in a race packed with thrills, thereby saving Gleason's money and bringing some semblance of order to the family affairs. Played with zest by the entire cast, the show has the earmarks of a surprise feature that will enthuse many other than the regular 'Ameri- can Family" clientele. It was adapted from an idea furnished by Kath- erine Kavanaugh. The screen play is by Robert Ellis and Helen Logan. It is replete with humorous dialogue and provides pleasing situations in which the cast appears to advantage. Frank R. Stiayer's direction ac- centuates the comedy. Production Code Seal No. 2,928. Running time, 60 minutes. "G." Looking 9Em Over "Yiddle with His Fiddle" (Green-Kalich) This is tuneful, amusing entertainment, in Jewish but with plentiful English subtitles, which should be enjoyable screen fare for any audience understanding the language. Made in Poland by Joseph Green and distributed here by Green and Jacob Kalich, the film's greatest asset is the inimitable star of the Jewish stage and screen, Molly Picon. She is an asset both from the standpoint of quality of production, and as a selling feature for Jewish audiences. Supported by an able cast and with excellent music, both as to back- ground and rendition by Miss Picon, the film tells of a girl who dresses as a boy in order to make things easier in her effort to help her aged father earn a living for them as street players, she with her violin, he with his bass 'cello. They meet and merge with a father and son combination earning their way in the same fashion. Romance enters, with difficulty, and the four save a young girl from a marriage she detests. Miss Picon be- comes jealous, but it is all straightened out when she gets her chance on the stage and is a tremendous success. No production code seal. Running time, 80 minutes. "G." Tuesday, January 5, 1937 Birmingham Women Review West Picture Birmingham, Jan. 4. — Whether or not Mae West in "Go West, Young Man," will be permitted to show in Birmingham will be decided by a com- mittee of 10 women appointed from the general reviewing committee named by Mrs. Harriet B. Adams, city amusement supervisor. Five members of the special com- mittee will be appointed by Mrs. Adams and five by R. M. Kennedy, manager of the Wilby Theatres. This decision was reached by the City Commission at conference with Ken- nedy and Mrs. Adams recently. Com- mission members said they would abide by the decision of the special committee which will be asked to make its report on the picture in writ- ing. Kennedy informed the commis- sion that Mrs. Adams notified him several weeks ago that the picture would be banned. Confirm RKO Claims Three claims filed by Karl Hob- litzelle interests in the RKO reorgan- ization proceedings for a total in ex- cess of $5,000,000 have been allowed at approximately $500,000 under a decision handed down late last week by Federal Judge William Bondy, confirming an earlier ruling by Spe- cial Master Thomas D. Thacher. It was erroneously reported in Motion Picture Daily on Saturday that the claims had been allowed at $4,200,000. 20th-Fox Denies Plagiarism A general denial was issued yester- day by William C. Michel, vice-presi- dent of 20th Century-Fox, and Frank- lin Underwood, eastern story editor of the producing organization, in answer to the suit of Morgan Wallace and Lawrence Shubert Lawrence charging plagiarism of their story, "Congratulations," in the preparation of 20th Century-Fox's "Thanks a Million." Michel testified that the story of "Thanks a Million" was prepared by employes of 20th Century-Fox. Un- derwood admitted having received the play, "Congratulations," on Jan. 2, 1934, and testified that he returned it on Jan. 30, 1934. The suit asks $500,000 and an in- junction against the showing of "Thanks a Million." Television Hearing Off Hearing on an application by Attor- ney General Bennett for an injunction restraining Television Corp. of Ameri- ca, its president and six other defend- ants from transactions in the com- pany's stock, was postponed yester- day by N. Y. Supreme Court Justice Lydon until Jan. 18. Flash Preview "Revolutionists" — In which Amkino gives its version of the founding of the Bolshevists' movement which resulted in the present U.S.S.R. This film will be reviewed in full in a coming issue of Motion Picture Daily. Loew's Transfers Two Boston, Jan. 4. — Joseph Boyle has been brought in from Loew's State in Providence and made treasurer of Loew's State here. Robert Etch- berger has been transferred to Provi- dence. Conn. Allied to Meet New Haven, Jan. 4. — Allied Thea- tres of Connecticut will meet Jan. 12 at headquarters in the Film Bldg. Dr. J. B. Fishman, elected to represent Connecticut on the Allied board, will attend the board meetings scheduled Jan. 21 and 22 in Baltimore, and will give a report on his return. Creditors' Meeting Set A creditors' meeting in the bank- ruptcy of Bud Pollard will be held in the office of Referee Irwin Kurtz at noon Jan. 15. Creditors may prove claims and examine the bankrupt. G. T. E. Loan Repaid General Theatres Equipment Corp. has paid off a $2,000,000 loan from the Chase National Bank made to finance the company's reorganization expenses, Earl G. Hines, president, stated. Funds for repayment of the loan were derived largely from the sale of subscription warrants for capi- tal stock of the company, Hines said. Hoffberg Gets "Jungle" World distribution of "Queen of the Jungle," a 12-chapter serial with Reed Howes and Mary Korman has been acquired by J. H. Hoffberg. 3 Short Subjects "Worm Turns" (Disney-U .A.) Mickey Mouse appears as a chemist. He concocts something in a test tube that sizzles, turns color, makes the tube bounce around and raise hob generally. He tries a shot of it on a fly caught in a spider's web and the fly winds the spider up in his own web and hangs him from a rafter. Then he douses a mouse being pur- sued by a cat, with riotous results. Pluto, the pup, gets a shower bath of the mixture after he is captured by the dog-catcher. The kids will howl. The grownups will try not to. Some may succeed. Production Code Seal No. 2,496. Running time, 8J/2 minutes. "G." "Don Donald" (Disney-U.A.) It's up to par — maybe over. Noth- ing else need be said, except that Don- ald Duck shows up on a mule in a cactus-studded background and starts a serenade with accompanying tango and rhumba music. The girl friend bounces him over the head with his mandolin and he trades the donkey — or burro — for a motor car to make himself solid again. Donald is good, the music is good, the color is good. Production Code Seal No. 2,342. Running time, 8y2 minutes. "G." Elvey Does Stage Play London, Jan. 4.— Maurice Elvey, British director, resumed stage work with his direction of '"Night Sky," now current at the Savoy. Ann Harding will make her Eng- lish stage debut in "Candida." Sterling Board to Meet Sterling directors will meet Thurs- day to decide whether to adopt Mono- gram as the name for the distributing company for 32 pictures planned next season. All directors are in the east. Block Takes Trailer Job Mark Block, New Jersey theatre owner and president of Theatre Trail- er Service, has assumed the duties of general sales manager of the trail- er company. Walter Frudenfeld re- cently resigned the post as sales head. Bryant in Wanger Post Hollywood, Jan. 4. — Frederick Bryant today joined the staff of Wal- ter Wanger as executive in charge of all color films. He resigned from Technicolor to accept his present post. G. B. Signs Samuels Lesser Samuels has been signed by G. B. to do the screenplays for the next two musicals to star Jessie Matthews. Van Praag Takes House Morton Van Praag, former general sales manager for National Screen, is now an exhibitor. He has taken over the Howard, Howard Beach, L. I., with D. Herschkowitz. Both are offi- cers of the new operating company, Alibar, Inc. Skouras Acquires Victory Skouras Theatres has taken over the Victory, Bayside W., L. I. The house formerly was operated by the late Jack W. Springer. MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, January 5, 1937 'Hideaway" Is High in Lull At St. Louis St. Louis, Jan. 4.— The pre- Christmas lull had its usual adverse effect on box-offices. "Hideaway Girl" and a stage show at the Ambassador took $11,500, or about $2,500 above par, but this was far below what the house had been doing in recent weeks. None of the other first runs man- aged to equal their box office pars, al- though "Born to Dance" in its sec- ond week at Loew's came through with $9,500, which was only $500 be- low the house average. Total first run business was $53,050. Average is $58,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Dec. 24: "HIDEAWAY GIRL" (Para.) AMBASSADOR— (3,018), 25c-40c-S5c, 7 days, with pit orchestra and stage show. Gross: $11,500. (Average, $9,000) "BANJO ON MY KNEE" (20th-Fox) "CAREcR WOMAN" (ZOth-Fox) FOX— (5,038), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $14,000) "BORN TO DANCE" (M-G-M) LOEW'b— (3,162), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $9,500. (Average, $10,000) "BENGAL TIGER" (W.B.) "MAN WHO LIVED TWICE" (Col.) MISSOURI — (3,214), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,600. (Average, $9,000) "THREE MEN ON A HORSE" (W.B.) "P£NNIfc.S FROM HEAVEN" (Col.) ORPHEUM— (1,950), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $6,000) "PRESIDENT'S MYSTERY" (Republic) "HEARTS IN BONDAGE" (Republic) SHUBERT-RIALTO— (1,725), 20c-25c, 7 days. Gross: $2,200. (Average, $3,500) "BIG BROADCAST OF 1937" (Para.) ST. LOUlS— (4,000), 25c-40c, 7 days, 2nd run. Stage: Vaudeville. Gross: $5,250. (Average, $7,000) "Diggers" At $18,000 Top In Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Jan. 4. — "Gold Dig- gers of 1937" at the Penn set a fast pace, with $18,000 against an average of $11,000, as the city's theatres had the best Christmas-New Year's week they have had in years. The total gross for the week went $20,000 over par. "Banjo on My Knee" at the Alvin did $10,500 against a house average of $5,50U ; "Sing Me a Love Song" with a stage show at the Stanley went over the $18,500 average by $5,750. Total grosses in five first-run houses were $65,300. Average is $44,500. Estimated takings for week ending Dec. 31 : "BANJO ON MY KNEE" (20th-Fox) ALVIN— (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. .Gross: $10,500. (Average, $5,500) "STOWAWAY" (20th-Fox) FULTON— (1,750), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,350. (Average, $4,500) "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (W.B.) PENN— (3,300), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $18,000. (Average, $11,000) "SING ME A LOVE SONG" (F.N ) STANLEY — (3,600), 25c-60c, 7 days. Stage: Herbert Mundin, Johnny Perkins, Eleanor Holm, Arthur jarrett, Dick, Don and Dinah, Madelyn Killeen, Halliday and Clark, Balabanow Six. Gross: $24,250. (Average, $18,500) "ALL-AMERICAN CHUMP" (M-G-M) "FUGITIVE IN THE SKY" (W.B.) WARNER — (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days Gross: $6,200. (Average, $4,500) .4 Thin Man" Proves Houston's Best Bet Houston, Jan. 4. — "After the Thin Man" shot far ahead of the field Christmas week to take $10,500, which was $3,500 above par at Loew's State. "College Holiday" raised Metropoli- tan grosses from $7,000 to $7,700, and " Rose Bowl," playing three days at the Kirby, raised that theatre's $5,000 weekly average to $5,250. "Gold Diggers of 1937" at the Ma- jestic failed to click, taking only $6,- 300. Average is $7,000. "Polo Joe" and "Three Cheers for Love" at the Kirby drew normal business. Night clubs, hotels dances and home parties gave theatres little competi- tion. Rainy but warm weather failed to halt holiday crowds. Total first run business was $29,750. Average is $26,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Dec. 26: "POLO JOE" (W. B.) KIRBY— (1,450), 15c-35c, 3 days. Gross: $2,000. (Average, 7 days $5,000) THREE CHEERS FOR LOVE " (Para.) KIRBY— (1,450), 15c-35c, 1 day. Bank Night. Gross: $1,000. (Average, 7 days, $5,000) "ROSE BOWL" (Para.) KIRBY— (1,450), 15c-35c, 3 days. Gross: $2,250. (Average, 7 days, $5,000) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE— (2,750), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $10,500. (Average, $7,000) "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (F. N.) MAJESTIC— (2,250), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $6,300. (Average, $7,000) "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) METROPOLITAN— (2,600), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $7,700. (Average, $7,000) "Smartest," Show ,000 at Spokane Spokane, Jan. 4. — "Smartest Girl in Town," with five acts of eastern vaudeville, first in six months, at in creased prices gave the Orpheum the week's lead with $4,000 for three days, $1,500 above par. "Stowaway" and "Wedding Pres ent" grossed $8,000 at the Fox, $1,000 over average. "Love on the Run,' for five days in its second week at the State, barely pulled $3,200, not up to par. Total first run business was $20,500 Average is $17,100. Estimated takings : Week Ending Dec. 28: "LOVE ON THE RUN" (M-G-M) STATE— (1,000) 30c-40c, 5 days, 2nd week. Gross: $3,200. (Average, 7 days $4,800) "POLO JOE" (F N.) FLYING HOSTESS'' (Univ.) ORPHEUM— (1,200), 20c-30c, 5 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $3,000) "TUGBOAT PRINCESS" (Col.) GRANADA— (600), 15c-25c, 3 days. Gross $600. (Average, $500) Week Ending Dee. 30: "STOWAWAY" (20th-Fox) "WEDDING PRESENT" (Para.) FOX— (2,300), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $7,000) "SMARTEST GIRL IN TOWN" (RADIO) ORPHEUM— (1,200), 30c -40c. Stage: Five acts vaudeville. Gross: $4,000. (Average, at 20c-30c, $2,500) ''BIG SHOW" (Republic) GRANADA— (600), 15c-25c, 4 days. Gross: $700. (Average, $600) "Stowaway" Leads Louisville Takes Louisville, Jan. 4. — "Stowaway" made the best comparative showing at the Rialto on a short week, and pulled $6,500, $2,000 over the line. "Three Smart Girls" at the Strand tallied $3,900, helped in a large meas- ure by a fine Christmas Day business. This was $400 over the normal take. It will be moved to the Brown for a holdover. "Gold Diggers of 1937" at the Mary Anderson made a fair showing, tak- ing $3,800, over average by $300, and will be held for a second week. "The Garden of Allah" at Loew's State, coupled with "Sinner Take All," did $5,800, to top the usual take by $300. The weather has been mild. Oppo- sition was active, and included box- ing and wrestling shows, charity per- formances, and a one night show by the Princeton Triangle Club at Mem- orial Auditorium. Total first run business was $25,600. Average is $21,800. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Dec. 31 : "BORN TO DANCE" (M-G-M) BROWN— (1,500), 15c-25c-40c, 6 days, 3rd downtown week. Gross: $2,600. (Average, $2,500) "BIG BROADCAST OF 1937" (Para.) "15 MAIDEN LANE" (ZOth-Fox) KENTUCKY— (900), 15c-25c, 6 days. Gross: $2,300. (Average, $1,500) "THE GARDEN OF ALLAH" (U. A) "SINNER TAKE ALL" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE— (3,000), 15c-25c-40c, 6 days. Gross: $5,800. (Average, $5,500) "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (F N.) MARY ANDERSON— (1,000), 15c-25c-40c, 6 days. Gross: $3,800. (Average $3,500) "DEVILS DOGS OF THE AIR" (W. B.) "ROMANCE IN MANHATTAN" (Radio) "TWO FOR TONIGHT' (Para.) "PAGE MISS GLORY" (W. B.) OHIO— (900), 15c, 6 days, split week. Gross: $700. (Average, $800) ''STOWAWAY" (ZOth-Fox) RIALTO — (3,000), 15c-25c-40c, 6 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $4,500) "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) STRAND— (1,500), 15c-25c-40c, 6 days. Gross: $3,900. (Average, $3,500) Dickinson Men Shifted Kansas City, Jan. 4. — J. K. Shan- ahan has replaced Charles Hendrix as manager of the Dickinson, Olathe ; while John Krieger has gone to Paola, Kan., to manage the Dickinson there. Three Films, Show Leader in Lincoln Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 4. — Major Bowes' amateur all-girl unit with three films, "Career Woman," "Our Relations" and "Follow Your Heart" on a split took the highest profit mar- gin at the Orpheum this week. The $2,800 take was $1,050 above normal. "More Than a Secretary" was strong at $1,800, $700 up, and "Born to Dance" hit pretty well with $3,700, $600 over par. These films were at the Varsity and Stuart, respectively. Total first run business was $11,950. Average is $9,000. Estimated takings : Week Ending Dec. 30: "KING OF THE PECOS" (Republic) DON'T TURN 'EM LOOSE" (Radio) "MYSTERIOUS CROSSING" (Univ.) "THREE OF A KIND" (Invincible) LIBERTY— (1,200), 10c-15c, 7 days. Gross: $950. (Average, $850) Week Ending Dec. 31: "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para ) LINCOLN— (1,600), 10c-20c-25c, 7" days. Gross: $2,700. (Average, $2,200) "CAREER WOMAN" (20th-Fox) "OUR RELATIONS" (M-G-M) "FOLLOW YOUR HEART* (Republic) ORPHEUM — (1,350), 10c-15c-20c-25c-40c, 7 days. Stage: three days of Major Bowes' amateur all-girl unit. Gross: $2,800. (Av- erage, $1,750) "BORN TO DANCE" (M-G-M) STUART— (2,000), 10c-25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,700. (Average, $3,100) "MORE THAN A SECRETARY" (Col.) VARSITY— (1,100), 10c-20c-25c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $1,800. (Average, $1,100) $17,200 Dual Best Draw in Frisco Week San Francisco, Jan. 4. — "Pennies from Heaven" and "You Can't Get Away with It," dualled at the Or- pheum, led the parade here with $17,200, which was $7,700 over par. Generally it was a smash week for local houses, all of them going over average. "Gold Diggers of 1937" and "Fugi- tive in the Sky" in a dual at the Fox, went $7,000 over the $16,000 average to take $23,000. "College Holiday" and "Join the Marines" was good for $18,000 against a house average of $13,000 at the Paramount. Severe rainstorms hurt business. Total first run business was $119,700. Average is $85,000. Estimated takings : Week Ending Dec. 29: "ISLE OF FURY" (W.B.) "DOWN THE STRETCH" (W.B.) EMBASSY — (1,400), 15c-30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,800. (Average, $4,500) "RAINBOW ON THE RIVER" (RKO) GOLDEN GATE— (2,850), 15c-30c-35c-40c- 55c, 7 days. Stage, vaudeville. Gross: $21,000. (Average, $16,000) "PENNIES FROM HEAVEN" (Col.) "YOU CAN'T GET AWAY WITH IT" (Univ.) ORPPHEUM— (2,440), 15c-30c-35c-4Oc-55c, 7 days. Gross: $17,200. (Average, $9,500) Week Ending Dec. 30: "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (W.B.) "FUGITIVE IN THE SKY" (W.B.) FOX — (5,000), 15c-30c-35c-4Oc-55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $23,000. (Average, $16,000) "STOWAWAY" (20th-Fox) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,200), 15c-30c-35c- 40c-65c, 7 days Gross: $10,500. (Average, $7,000) "EAST MEETS WEST" (G.B.) "SMART BLONDE" (W.B.) WARFIELD— (2,680), 15c-30c-35c-40c-55c- 75c, 7 days. Gross: $15,500. (Average, $13,000) Week Ending Dec. 31: "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) "JOIN THE MARINES" (Rep.) PARAMOUNT— (2,740), 15c-30c-35c-40c- 55c-75c. 7 days. Gross: $18,000. (Average, $13,000) "THREE MEN ON A HORSE" (W.B.) "MAD HOLIDAY" (M-G-M) ST. FRANCIS— (1,400), 15c-30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 3rd downtown week. Gross: $8,400. (Average, $6,000) Week Ending Jan. 1: "PA SOLSIDAN" (Scandinavian Talking Pictures) CLAY— (400), 15c-30c, 8 days. Gross: $1,300. (Average, $1,000) Complete Beecroft Setup Madison, Wis., Jan. 4. — The last step in financial reorganization of the Beecroft Bldg. Co., owner of the Or- pheum, Parkway, Strand and New Madison, was taken with the filing of a final report showing successful op- eration of the theatre company during the period of litigation. According to the report, the com- pany now has $37,000 in cash, of which about $20,000 has been placed in a bond redemption fund. In addi- tion, the company met its interest pay- ments on Dec. 1. The rate of interest is four per cent per year on bonds totaling $839,000. Smith Back at Dallas Dallas, Jan. 4.— John Smith, for many years associated with Interstate in various capacities, has returned to the executive staff after a period with Warner theatres in Wilmington, Del. Smith's new title is home representa- tive and his duties will include direc- tion of exploitation on special pictures. 1912-37 ADOLPH ZUKOR resents ADOLPH ZUKOR azor keen, bold, a dreamer, a builder.. . today, as always, the grandest showman in the business By his deeds shall you know him The story of Adolph Zukor's twenty- five years in motion pictures is the story of the motion picture industry itself. From old files, from the old prints, come the stills on the following pages, which, quaint to our 1937 eyes, yet mark brilliant moments in our motion picture past. From today's prints, from tomorrow's plans, come the stills which promise equally brilliant moments in our present and in our future. In every one of these, old and new, you will see great stars, joining with great produc- tions to etch ever deeper, ever clearer, that famous hallmark of motion picture success: "Adolph Zukor Presents." While a conservative and timid show world holds its breath, Adolph Zukor pays the record high of $35,000 to bring the first big time feature to the screen, the French four reeler, "Queen Elizabeth", starring the one and only Sarah Bernhardt, grandest actress of the day . . . the picture is a smash hit ! [1] Motion picture advertising gets under way. The poster Adolph Zukor had de- signed for the Bernhardt picture. [2] How the Divine Sarah looked to the high hat audience jamming the Lyceum Theatre in New York for the invitation pre- miere of "Queen Elizabeth", July 12, 1912. [3] The historic old Lasky barn where Showman Zukor's new partner made "The Squaw Man". [4] When one showman meets another. Adolph Zukor and Jesse Lasky plan the new Famous Players-Lasky lot in Holly- wood. AMOUS PLAYERS GETS UNDER WAY With Daniel Frohman's aid, Adolph Zukor goes after the big names of the legitimate theatre . . . and gets them for the first Famous Players feature pictures ... in a series which has the whole show world standing on its head with amazement. [1] America's Sweetheart talks it over with the Chief. An old pho- tograph, printed through the courtesy of Photoplay Magazine. [2] The first actor to star in a Zukor picture. James O'Neil, father of playwright Eugene 0'Neil,in "Count of Monte Cristo" [4] Fannie Ward and Sessue Hayakawa together in the rip- roaring melodrama/The Cheat". [3] Greatest American actress of her generation, Minnie Maddern Fiske brings her "Tess of the D'Ubervilles" to the screen. [5] Mr. Zukor shoots the works with Geraldine Farrar bringing her "Carmen" to the screen. A S25.000.000 CORPO H 0 U P Bigger and better pictures making bigger and better profits cause Famous Players-Lasky to purchase Paramount, distributing unit . . . and now it' s Zukor . . . Lasky . . . Gold wy n . . . De Mille . . . with the Paramount flag at the mast head.. .the grandest lineup of showmen ever under one banner. [1] "The Miracle Man", with Thomas Meighan and Lon Chaney, marks a new high in mo- tion picture drama. [3] Enter Wallace Reid! His star rises for the first time in 1916 in "The Affairs of Anatol". [21 Marguerite Clarke, one of the earliest box-office finds, in her fa- mous picture, "The Goose Girl". [4] Gloria Swanson as she ap- peared with members of the huge cast in Cecil B. DeMille's spec- tacular "Male and Female". OUNT PROUDLY PRESENTS Exciting years . . . epic years . . . years which knew the glories of Rudolph Valentino, of Pola Negri . . . years which gave the world such mighty pictures as 'The Sheik", "The Affairs of Anatol", "Manslaughter", "The Ten Commandments","The Covered Wagon . . . years which saw Adolph Zukor's com- pany become the greatest in the industry. [1] Adolph Zukor and Rudolph Valentino talk it over on the Paramount lot. [3] Typical shot from the glorious story of the pioneers, "The Covered Wagon". [2] Cecil B. DeMille, maker of miracles, rehearses part of the huge cast of"TheTenCommandments". [4] Harold Lloyd in one of his earliest money makers for Para- mount, "For Heaven's Sake". \A E GREAT S. R. O. . . COAST TO COAST. . . [1] Will Hays congratulates Adolph Zukor on the completion of the new Paramount Building. [4] Marlene Dietrich and Gary Cooper show a Legionnaire's life is not an unhappy one in "Morocco". [2] The defense of the fortress in the first great Foreign Legion pic- ture, "Beau Geste". [5] Gary Cooper in his first star- ring vehicle, Owen Wister's American classic,"The Virginian". [3] In with a bang! with Clara Bow, of course, in her first box- office smash "It". [6] The first great aviation pic- ture and, incidentally, the first Gary Cooper picture, "Wings". ROMANCE MODERN STYLE [1] Maurice Chevalier, Mr. Zukor's famous import from La Belle France, with Claudette Colbert in the smash hit "The Smiling Lieutenant". [2] Gary Cooper and Franchot Tone in "The Lives of a Bengal Lancer". . . one of the grandest action pictures. [3] The first box-office success in Technicolor, Fred MacMurray and Sylvia Sidney, in the Henry Hathaway version of "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine". [4] Gary Cooper and Helen Hayes send Hemingway's best seller,"A Farewell to Arms", into the heavy money. [5] Charles Laughton shows, with the aid of Charles Buggies that "Ruggles of Red Gap" is still one of the best American stories ever written. t^diHiJN THE 5*11 HAND ON THE THROTTLE... Full steam ahead] ADOLPH ZUKOR'S Silver Jubilee in Motion Pictures Celebrating Adolph Zukor's twenty-five years in motion pictures, Paramount proudly presents the SILVER JUBILEE GROUP OF PICTURES o produced under his personal supervision. Adolph Zukor presents COLLEGE HOLIDAY in with Jack fiddles while Martha yearns . . . Jack Benny, George Burns and Gracie Allen, Mary Boland, Martha Raye, Marsha Hunt, Eleanore Whitney, Johnny Downs, Ben Blue Directed by Frank Tuttle Adolph Zukor presents . . . Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur Cecil B. DeMille s "THE PLAINSMAN with James Ellison, Charles Bickford, Helen Burgess, Porter HalL Adolph Zukor presents . . . Gladys Swarthout and Fred MacMurray m "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ" with Jack Oakie, Veloz and Yolanda, Herman Bing, Vivienne Osborne, Frank Forest, Benny Baker, Ernest Cossart. Directed by A. Edward Sutherland "Dance. ..dance ...dance. ..little lady . . ." Adolph Zukor presents . . . Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray in Frank Lloyd's MAID OF SALEM" with Harvey Stephens, Gale Sondergaard, Louise Dresser, Edward Ellis, Virginia Weidler, Bonita Granville. Directed by Frank Lloyd Produced by Howard Estabrook Strum fun for Bing and old Hawaii Adolph Zukor presents . . . "WAIKIKI WEDDING" with Bing Crosby, Bob Burns, Martha Raye, Shirley Ross, George Barbier Directed by Frank Turtle Adolph Zukor presents . . . Irene Dunne in "HIGH, WIDE AND HANDSOME A Rouben Mamoulian Production with Randolph Scott, Dorothy Lamour, William Frawley, Akim Tamiroff, Benny Baker, Cbarles Bickford Directed by Rouben Mamoulian Music by Jerome Kern and Adolph Zukor presents Edward Arnold and Francine Larrimore in JOHN MEADE'S WOMAN" Wl th Gail Patrick, George Bancroft, John Trent, Sidney Blackmer Directed by Richard Wallace a B. P. Schulberg Production He tried to buy her love... HAROLD LLOYD PRODUCTION starring HAROLD LLOYD The point is . . . it's another Lloyd laugh hit! Adolph Zukor presents . . . Claudette Colbert in "I MET HIM IN PARIS" (Tent. Title) Produced and directed by Wesley Ruggles Adolph Zukor presents . . Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray in SWING HIGH, SWING LOW" with Charles Butterworth, Jean Dixon, Dorothy Lamour, Harvey Stephens Based on a play by George Manker Watters and Arthur Hopkins Directed by Mitchell Leisen Adolph Zukor presents . . . Gary Cooper and George Raft in SOULS AT SEA with Frances Dee, Henry Wilcoxon, Olympe Bradna, Robert Cummings, Porter Hall, Harry Carey Directed by Henry Hatbaway "This old sea ain't got me Yesterd a7 Today Always If it's a Paramount Picture it's the best show i Tuesday, January 5, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 'Holiday" Is Top Draw in Twin Cities Minneapolis, Jan. 4. — "College Holiday" led the way as theatre pulled out of the pre-Christmas slump, and with all houses in the Twin Cities doing better than average business. The film at the local Minnesota did |13,000 against an average $10,000. "Three Men on a Horse" at the St. Paul Orpheum grossed $6,000, better- ing the average by $2,000. "Banjo On My Knee" beat an aver- age $3,500 by $1,500 at the Riviera and "A Midsummer Night's Dream" returning at popular prices grossed $3,300 as against an average $2,500 at the Minneapolis World. "Gold Dig- gers of 1937" boosted the average of $6,000 at the Minneapolis Orpheum by $2,000. Total first run business in Minne- apolis was $32,600. Average is $25,500. Total first run business in St. Paul was $20,500. Average is $14,500. Estimated takings : Minneapolis: Week Ending Dec. 30: "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) MINNESOTA— (4,000;, 25c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $10,000) "RAINBOW ON THE RIVER" (Radio) STATE— (2,300), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $5,500) "MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM" (W.B.) WORLD— (400), 25c-3Sc, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $3,300. (Average, $2,500) "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (W.B.) ORPHEUM— (2,900), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $6,000) Week Ending Dec. 29: "ROSE BOWL" (Para) LYRIC— (1,239), 20c-25c, 7 days. Gross: $1,800. (Average, $1,500) St. Paul: Week Ending Dec. 30: "THREE MEN ON A HORSE" (F.N.) ORPHEUM — (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $4,000) "BANJO ON MY KNEE" (20th-Fox) RIVIERA— (1,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $3,500) Week Ending Dec. 31: "LOVE ON THE RUN" (M-G-M) PARAMOUNT— (2,300), 2Sc-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $5,500) "POLO JOE" (W.B.) TOWER— (1,000), 15c-25c, 7 days. Gross: $2,000. (Average, $1,500) Missouri House Burns Kansas City, Jan. 4. — The Lam- bert, Frank Lambert's house at Prince- ton, Mo., burned to the ground last week after a fire in a lumber yard next door got out of control. The theatre, partially protected by insur- ance, was a total loss, which was estimated at $20,000. Lambert plans to rebuild. Circuits Buy Theatres Salt Lake City, Jan. 4. — Purchase of the Fox-Orpheum and leasing of the Studio Theatre in Salt Lake City by Intermountain Theatres, Inc., is set. C. Clare Woods will manage the Orpheum and Paul Hendry will man- age the Studio. M. and P. in Hull, Mass. Boston, Jan. 4. — M. and P. has taken over the Bayside, Hull, from Daniel Murphy who has run the thea- tre for the past quarter-century. Murphy also runs the Loring Hall, Hingham, where he is taking a Sun- day ban to the public by referendum. "Banjo" at $9,200 Cincinnati Leader Cincinnati, Jan. 4. — Grosses for the last week of the year were the best in many weeks, with "The Plot Thickens" plus the Olsen and Johnson unit on the RKO Shubert stage lead- ing the field with $14,000 for six days, compared with a seven-day average of $12,000. "Banjo On My Knee" played to a fine $9,200 for the best gross in months at Keith's and was held. Nor- mal is $6,500. "Gold Diggers of 1937" did $13,000 for the RKO Albee, up $1,000, and moved to the RKO Lyric. The weather was good. The Federal Theatre project provided competition. Total first run business was $64,800. Average is $58,700. Estimated takings for the week ending Dec. 31 : "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (F.N.) RKO' ALBEE — (3,300), 35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $12,000) Moved to RKO Lyric. "THE STOWAWAY" (20th-Fox) RKO PALACE— (2,700), 3Sc-42c, 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $10,000) Moved to RKO Capitol. "THE PLOT THICKENS" (Radio) RKO SHUBERT— (2,150), 40c-60c, 7 days. Stage: O'lsen and Johnson unit. Gross: $14,000 (Average, $12,000) "BORN TO DANCE" (M-G-M) RKO CAPITOL— (2,000), 35c-42c, 7 days, 2nd downtown week. Gross: $5,700. (Aver- age, $6,500) Moved to RKO Grand. "RAINBOW ON THE RIVER" (Col.) RKO LYRIC— (1,400), 35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $5,800. (Average, $6,500) "PENNIES FROM HEAVEN" (Col.) RKO GRAND— (1,200), 25c-40c, 7 days, 3rd downtown week. Gross: $3,100. (Aver- age, $2,750) "BOSS RIDER OF GUN CREEK" (Univ.) RKO FAMILY— (1,000), 15c-25c, 4 days. Gross: $1,650. (Average, $1,250) "NORTH OF NOME" (Col.) RKO FAMILY— (1,000), 15c-25c, 3 days. Gross: $1,450. (Average, $1,200) "BANJO ON MY KNEE" (20th-Fox) KEITH'S— (1,500), 30c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $9,200. (Average, $6,500) "Diggers" Leads in Portland at $8,700 Portland, Jan. 4.— "Gold Diggers of 1937" in its second week at United Artists continued to draw heavily with take of $8,700, over par by $3,700. "College Holiday" and "Charlie Chan at the Opera" were held for the holidays and a second week at the Paramount, securing $7,000, over house average by $2,000. The weath- er was clear and cold. Total first run business was $37,- 300. Average is $24,700. Estimated takings for week ending Dec. 26: "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) "DOWN ON THE STRETCH" (F. N.) BROADWAY— (1,912), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $5,000) "CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE" (W. B.) "LADY BE CAREFUL" (Para.) BLUE MOUSE— (1,700), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days (5th Week). Gross: $2,000. (Aver- age, $1,700) "LIBELED LADY" (M-G-M) "CASE OF BLACK CAT" (F. N.) MAYFAIR— (1,700), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days, (8th Week). Gross: $4,000. (Average, $3,- 000) "STOWAWAY" (20th-Fox) "SMARTEST GIRL IN TOWN" (Radio) ORPHEUM— (1,700), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,100. (Average, $5,000) "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) "CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA" (20th-Fox) PARAMOUNT— (3,008), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days, (2nd week). Gross: $7,000. (Aver- age, $5,000) "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (W. B.) UNITED ARTISTS— (945), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days, (2nd week). Gross: $8,700. (Average, $5,000) Thin Man' $16,500 Providence Winner Providence, Jan. 4. — A bonanza week followed the Christmas holidays with all of the downtown houses doing well. Loew's was tops at $16,500 with "After the Thin Man," bettering the usual take by $4,500. "Stowaway" at the Majestic was $3,000 to the good on a gross of $10,000 and "College Holiday" and "Gentleman From Lousiana" caught $9,000, over by $2,500, at the Strand. "Rainbow on the River," on a dual with "The Plot Thickens," brought in $8,500 to the RKO Albee, bettering average by $1,500, and Fay's garnered $7,200 with "King of Hockey" and five acts of vaudeville. The weather was warm and rainy with hockey and pro boxing providing most of the competition. Total first run business was $51,200. Average is $39,500. Estimated takings for the week ending Dec. 31 : "STOWAWAY" (20th-Fox) MAJESTIC— (2,400), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $7,000) "KING OF HOCKEY" (W B.) FAY'S— (1,600), 15c-40c, 7 days. On stage: Five acts of vaudeville. Gross: $7,200. (Average, $7,000) "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) "GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA" (Republic) STRAND— (2,300), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $6,500) "RAINBOW ON THE RIVER" (RKO) "THE PLOT THICKENS" (RKO) RKO ALBEE— (2,300), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,500. (Average, $7,000) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE— (3,800), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $16,500. (Average, $12,000) "College Holiday" Big in New Haven New Haven, Jan. 4. — Holiday prices on Christmas and a good week- end shot. The Paramount, with "College Holiday" and "The Accus- ing Finger" up from a $4,800 average to $8,300. "Three Smart Girls," on a dual with "Fugitive in the Sky," took $7,800. Normal is $4,700 at the Roger Sherman. The College grossed $4,000 with "Old Hutch" and "Can This Be Dixie." Although matinee business was good, "Stowaway" and "Laughing at Trouble" at the Poli fell slightly under par with a $6,500 gross. The weather continued mild and business was conceded to be at least 10 per cent over Christmas week last year. Total first run business was $26,600. Average is $19,300. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Dec. 31 : "OLD HUTCH" (M-G-M) "CAN THIS BE DIXIE?" (20th-Fox) COLLEGE— (1,499), 25c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $2.8001 "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) "THE ACCUSING FINGER" (Para.) PARAMOUNT — (2,348), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $8,300. (Average, $4,800) "STOWAWAY" (20th-Fox) "LAUGHNG AT TROUBLE" (20th-Fox) POLI— (3,040), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $7,000) "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) "FUGITIVE IN THE SKY" (W. B.) ROGER SHERMAN— (2,200), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $7,800. (Average, $4,700) Assign McGuinness Hollywood, Jan. 4. — James K. McGuinness' first as an associate pro- ducer at M-G-M will be a remake of "Madame X," starring Gladys George. 25 "Theodora"Up As Washington Grosses Slide Washington, Jan. 4. — Washing- ton theatres took it on the chin with only two houses showing anything like normal business. The Metropolitan, playing "Theo- dora Goes Wild" on the second week of a return engagement, took $5,400 to top the first run average by $1,100. "Rose Bowl" was a surprise at Loew's Columbia where $3,800 was taken, over par by $200. Total first run business was $52,500. Average is $76,700. Estimated takings, exclusive of tax : Week Ending Dec. 22: "WE WHO ARE ABOUT TO DIE" (Radio) RKO -KEITH'S— (1,836), 25c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $7,400. (Average, $10,600) Six Days Ending Dec. 24: "DON QUIXOTE" (Nelson Film & Vandor Film) (Revival) "THE LIFE OF EDWARD VIII" (G. B.) (Second week) BELASCO— (1,140), 25c-65c, 6 days. Gross: $1,400. (Average, 7 days, $3,000) Week Ending Dec. 24: "POLO JOE" (W. B.) EARLE— (2,218), 25c-77c, 7 days. Stage: Josephine Huston, Claire & Shannon, Eli- zabeth Houston & Dan Harden, Ray Wil- bert, Loyal's Royal Arabian Stallions. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $18,400) "CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA" (ZOth-Fox) LOEW'S CAPITOL— (3,434), 25c-66c, 7 days. Stage: Elida Ballet, George Beatty, St. John Brothers, Lunnie & Lattenz, Moore & Revel. Gross: $14,500. (Average, $20,900) "ROSE BOWL" (Para.) LOEW'S COLUMBIA— (1,243), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,800. (Average, $3,600) "THEODORA GOES WILD" (Col.) METROPOLITAN— (1,591), 25c-40c, 7 days (return engagement, 2nd week). Gross: $5,400. (Average, first run, $4,300) Eight Days Ending Dec. 24: "BORN TO DANCE" (M-G-M) LOEW'S PALACE— (2,370), 35c-55c, 8 days, (2nd week, plus 1 day on third). Gross: $7,000. (Average, first week, $15,- 900) "Hideaway" Is Top In Montreal Slump Montreal, Jan. 4. — "Hideaway Girl" at Loew's brought out the best crowds and grossed $9,500 with the help of vaudeville. "Polo Joe," one of two features at the Princess, drew $5,500, under av- erage by $1,500, to earn second place in the weak pre-Christmas standing. "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the Capitol took $6,500, $3,000 under. Total first run business was $32,500. Average is $43,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Dec. 26: "MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM" (W. B.) CAPITOL— (2,547), 25c-35c-40c-50c-60c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $9,500) "SPY OF NAPOLEON" (British) "IN TOWN TONIGHT" (British) HIS MAJESTY'S— (1,700), 25c-35c-40c-50c. 7 days. Gross: $3,500. (Average, $5,000) "HIDEAWAY GIRL" (Para.) LOEW'S— (3,115), 25c-34c-40c-50c-60c, 7 days. Stage: Vaudeville. Gross: $9,500. (Average. $10,500) "OLD HUTCH" (M-G-M) "MR. CINDERELLA" (M-G-M) PALACE— (2,600), 25c-35c-40c-50c-65c, 7 days. Grossi $7,500. (Average, $11,000) "POLO JOE" (W. B.) "FUGITIVE IN THE SKY" (W. B.) PRINCESS— (2,272), 25c-30c-35c-50c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $7,000) MOTION PICTURE 26 RADIO DAILY RADIO Tuesday, January 5, 1937 Londoners See First Theatre Television London, Jan. 4. — Londoners saw the first television program to be put on in a theatre tonight. It was warm- ly received. George Lansbury made an intro- ductory speech from the screen, and Billy Bennett, comedian, and Hamer and Lee did a cross-talk act, one from the stage and the other from the screen. J. L. Baird also spoke from the screen. Future bills will include various celebrities. See New Air Setup Urged in FCC Study {Continued from page 1) engineering division will recommend that broadcasting stations be divided into six classes, consisting respectively of clear channel stations with a mini- mum of 50,000 watts power; joint-fre- quency stations, two or more of which would operate on the same channel with 50,000 watts power ; regional stations with power ranging from 10,000 to 50,000 watts; stations with power of 1,000 to 5,000 watts ; stations of 250 to 1,000 watts, and local sta- tions of 100 to 250 watts. Officials of the N.A.B. do not be- lieve that the report will recommend that power increases be made manda- tory if the present 50,000-watt limita- tion is removed but rather that it will suggest allowing such changes to be brought about gradually. WOAI Sale to CBS Off San Antonio, Jan. 4. — The pro- posed sale of WOAI to CBS by the Southland Interests is "off," according to G. A. C. Halff, head of the latter company. Exceptions to an examin- er's adverse report on the sale were filed to place in the record answers to the adverse report, Halff said. The proposed sale was said to involve $825,000. WOAI will continue to be operated by Southland Industries, it is reported. NBC programs are used. Robert Jennings Marries Cincinnati, Jan. 4. — Robert Jen- nings, assistant to Frank Smith, gen- eral sales manager WLW, will be married to Page Crosley the middle of January. Miss Crosley is the daughter of Powell Crosley, Jr., presi- dent of Crosley Radio Corp., operat- ing WLW and WSAI here. Sol Fleischman Weds Tampa, Jan. 4. — Sol Fleischman, chief announcer of the Tampa Times station WDAE (CBS) was married to Paulyne Leibovitz, daughter of a Tampa merchant. Thornburgh, Keston Leave L. A. Hollywood, Jan. 4. — Donald W. Thornburgh and Paul Keston, officials of CBS, left today by plane for San Francisco on expansion business. Kes- ton will return to New York Wednes- day, completing two weeks of confer- ences here. Waring on Coast Hollywood, Jan. 4. — Fred Waring arrived here yesterday for conferences with two prospective sponsors. He will return to New York tomorrow. On the Weekend Air "Follow the Moon" Another set of long absent radio favorites, Nick Dawson and Elsie Hitz, returned to the airways yester- day afternoon in a new series entitled "Follow the Moon." Their debut was an auspicious and pleasing one. The opening chapter introduced Elsie as Jean Paige, a runaway bride who leaves the groom at the altar and flees to "Moonstone," her ranch in the Sierras. En route she is met by her colored maid, Calley Johnson, and by Sheriff McGill, who warn her that a notorious bandit, "The Parson," has been seen prowling about the ranch. However, Elsie and her maid continue on to the ranch where a voice from the dark gives hint that they have met "The Parson." Perhaps the plot thus far treads on familiar ground, but with neat direc- tion coupled with good lines spoken well, it sounded believable. Nick Daw- son wasn't formally introduced in the opening script but the voice in the dark, one suspects, is Nick's. "Follow the Moon" is a five-time- a-week presentation over the NBC- Red, from 4:30 to 5 P. M., E.S.T. Woodbury Soap sponsors. Myrt and Marge Return The Myrt and Marge premiere yes- terday afternoon was almost utterly ruined by the sponsor's high-powered, lengthy, and scarey commercials. Im- mediately after the opening theme, an- nouncer Jean Paul King delivered an almost two-minute blurb which left little doubt as to who was sponsoring and the benefits to be derived by using the product. Worse still was the in- ference that unless the housewife used Super Suds, the germs would get her. To this reviewer it seemed poor psy- chology to try to sell a product by frightening the listener. Getting into the program itself, Myrt and Marge offered little, if any- thing new, in the way of script. In- stead of taking the audience behind the footlights as was done when broad- casting for Wrigleys, the program this time was set in a broadcasting studio. The story within a story opened in a radio playhouse as Myrt and Marge were rehearsing for Super Suds. The rehearsal was interrupted by a gabby woman reporter, Mrs. Twitty ; even the screen's silliest sob sisters are Dorothy Parkers compared with her. The interview was curtailed by a silly character named Tiffinghuffer — how or why he crashed the script is one of those mysteries — who convinced Mrs. Twitty that he was a better subject for an interview than Myrt and Marge. One of the better features of the program was Marge's song "Trip- away," and the manner in which it was worked into the script. Billy Artz's orchestral background was thin, but serviceable. To get back to the commercials — the closing announcement ran a little less than a minute and a half. The program is offered five times each week, Mondays through Fridays over the CBS network, from 2:45 to 3 P. M., E.S.T. Colgate-Palmolive- Peet, for Super Suds, sponsors. Cook and Shell Chateau Somebody must have told the pro- duction man on the Shell Chateau program that there is strength in numbers, for in the opening session of the refurbished series (Saturday from 9 :30 to 10 :30 P.M., E.S.T., over the NBC-Red) he tossed in everything but trained seal in an effort to get the program launched auspiciously. In addition to Joe Cook and the inevitable supporting orchestra, this one piloted by Ernie Watson, the pro- gram featured "Bojangles" Bill Rob- inson. Admiral Richmond Pearson Hobson (he bottled up the Spanish fleet by sinking the Merrimac in the narrow channel of Santiago Harbor in the Spanish- Ameriean War), the "Three Horsemen" of Notre Dame (the fourth was unable to appear), radio's Vass Family, the non-radio but numerically staggering families of Don Rose and Mac Parker (28 strong), and a special band composed of some of the most famous maestri in radio, comprising Rudy Vallee, Ozzie Nelson, B. A. Rolfe, Dave Rubinoff, Ray Noble, Harry Sosnick, Guy Lombardo, Eddie Duchin and Ferde Grofe. Just what the man who planned the program had in mind when he booked the "Horsemen" and the Parker and Rose families is not yet clear. Neither act had anything to offer. From the latter we learned that it was jolly to have a large family, but the jollity was somewhat dampened for us when it was revealed that it takes 700 pounds of butter, 98 pairs of shoes, a half-ton of bread, etc., etc., to feed and clothe 24 children each year. And considering that the "Horsemen" were graduated from Notre Dame 10 years ago, the warmed-over stories of their exploits were a bit aged. Dusky Bill Robinson stole the hon- ors of the evening as easily and as effortlessly as he dances. "Bojangles" offered several tap routines that drummed out of the loudspeaker flaw- lessly, keeping up a running fire of chatter and song as he danced. The re-enactment of Admiral Hobson's heroic achievement was good melo- drama, considerably heightened by the fact that the episode is based on his- tory. Cook was an affable and pleas- ing "em cee," while Ernie Watson's band put to shame the aggregation of bandleaders. "1937 Radio Show" The first of the Mutual-Don Lee sponsored programs was offered over the nation's newest coast-to-coast net- work Sunday at 6 P.M., E.S.T. For- merly known as the "National Ama- teur Hour" and piloted by Benny Rubin, the series bowed in as the "1937 Radio Show" with a new cast headed by Ray Knight and his "Cuckoos." The results were a bit disappoint- ing. Knight is a network veteran and when good he is very, very good. Sun- day night he was far from his usual standard. Arnold Johnson's band, too, suffered a let-down from its usual effi- cient musical level. Probably the boys were trying too hard. An excellent Knight feature, how- ever, was the "Firing Squad" idea, created to do away with national pests. The victim was the back-thumping Old College Pal. This feature is bound to prove popular. Two additional comedy dramatiza- tions by Knight and his "Cuckoos" {Continued on parte 27) Initial Lee-Mutual Show Begins Sunday The first of the Don Lee offerings over a partial Mutual network begins Sunday from 10 to 11 A.M., E.S.T. The series is sponsored by the Gospel Broadcasting Ass'n. Originating in the studios of KHJ, Los Angeles, the program will be broadcast over the additional Don Lee stations and over Mutual stations WMT, Cedar Rapids; KSO, Des Moines; KOIL, Omaha; KVOD, Denver; and WIND, Chicago. Heatter in 2 Weeks Shot A short-short in radio contracts has just been secured by Gabriel Heatter, who will be on the air daily for two weeks for the Modern Industrial Bank of New York beginning tomorrow afternoon at 5:15 P.M., E.S.T. The program will be heard over WOR. Berle, Eton Boys, Et Al Short Shots : The entire cast of Milton Berle's "Community Sing" pro- gram goes to Hollywood late this month and the program will continue from the studios . . . The Eton Boys have been set as Ed Wynn's guests this Saturday . . . Jimmy Fidler to- night will introduce the two screen players who, in his estimation, will attain stardom in 1937 . . . Buck and Bubbles are the first guests set for Sunday's RCA "Magic Key" pro- gram . . . The "Hit Parade" has been renewed for an additional 13 weeks . . . Carmella Ponselle will open a dramatic school of her own next week . . . Walter Huston will appear on Kate Smith's "Bandwagon" program Jan. 14 . . . Walter Cassel flew to Hollywood yesterday to be color-test- ed by Warners . . . Johnny Davis, Fred Waring's "scat" singer, has quit the band and will join up with the "Three T's," who are heard twice weekly over WEAF . . . Ferde Grofe will guest appear or. the "Modern Romance" program Jan. 13 . . . Jack- son Wheeler, announcer on Joe Pen- ner's series, has been re-signed for an additional 13 weeks . . . Joe Cook will play host to the New York baseball writers at his "Sleepless Hollow" home next week . . . Kay Kyser's band, now touring the south, returns to Chicago Feb. 15, where he will have a Mutual wire. From San Francisco Short Shots — Darrell Donnell, Ex- aminer radio editor, will be back broadcasting news flashes over KYA, local Hearst station, soon. Donnell's throat went back on him some weeks ago. . . . New Year's Day saw several well known NBC network offerings, heard locally on KPO, moved over to KGO, the Blue outlet, among them the "House of Melody," Lum and Abner, Ben Bernie, Bob Ripley and Easy Aces. . . . Gordon Brown, who made his local reputation as Night Owl for Ralph Brunton's KJBS tran- scription programs, in the future will change his sleeping hours to conduct KJBS "Alarm Klok Klub," which airs at 7 A. M., P.S.T., every day. . . Bill Pabst, at KFRC, has been pinch-hitting as station manager for the Don Lee outlet now that Tom Breneman has shifted to Columbia's new KSFO. The Don Lee offices have not appointed a new station man- ager yet. Owen Dresden, well known in California air circles, was offered the job, it is understood, but turned it down. Tuesday, January 5, 1937 MOTION PICTURfc DAILY 27 McClure Top Man in Fox Midwest Contest Kansas City, Jan. 4. — Harry Mc- Clure, manager of District No. 2 for Fox Midwest, was top man in the 17- week contest ending Dec. 26 con- ducted by the circuit. Fred Souttar, manager of District No. 4 at St. Louis, placed second. These two dis- trict managers and 21 house managers participated in the prize money awarded. "McClure Week" in Topeka, Kan., key town of McClure's district, won for him, McClure said. During this promotion the mayor of Topeka issued a proclamation urging Topekans to aid McClure and Topeka units of the Fox circuit in winning top prize money by attending Fox shows during the period; the newspapers plugged the idea with plenty of free publicity, and the theatres built all their adver- tising around the theme. McClure's district is made up of 28 houses in 14 towns, most of them in Eastern Kansas, three in Missouri and one in Nebraska. Lewis Spons- ler, manager at Beatrice, Neb., placed first among McClure's managers, with Tom Steele, Coffeyville, Kan., second. District Managers Edward Shan- berg (outstate Missouri), H. E. Jameson (Wichita and that part of Kansas), and Martin Finklestein (Kansas City houses) placed in that order. K. C. Tower Boosts Scale; Shifts Show Kansas City, Jan. 4. — Coincident with an increase in admission from straight 25 cents to 25-35 cents, the Tower, William Reinke-Fox Mid- west first run, has shifted its policy. Bigger names will appear in the stage shows and the dance ensemble has been increased from 10 to 12. Ruth Wynn, formerly with F. & M., recently at the Paramount, Los An- geles, becomes dance director with Ernie Rayburn. Ted Cook has ben engaged as m.c. for an indefinite period. He has just completed 65 weeks at B. & K.'s. Oriental, Chicago. The house will begin reseating the lower floor (1,260 seats) immediately and within the next several weeks will reseat the entire theatre. Fox Midwest Theatres, Inc., today increase admissions in approximately 25 to 30 theatres throughout the cir- cuit. There will be no increase in Kansas City units other than the Tower. The increase will be five cents in each instance. Cut Price in Omaha Omaha, Jan. 4. — After experi- menting with its first attempt in this territory to return to a single fea- ture, 55-cent top policy, Tri-States has cut admission for the recently re- opened 2,900-seat de luxe Paramount to 25 cents to 6 P. M. and 40 cents evenings. The single feature policy is retained, however. Tip Baltimore Ad Rates Baltimore, Jan. 4. — Starting Jan. 1, the Sunday Sun and Hearst's Sun- day American here will raise the film rate 10 cents per agate line, making the rate 45 cents and the Evening Sun will raise its amusement rate 10 cents per agate line to 60 cents, thus con- forming with the News-Post rate. Out Hollywood Way Hollywood, Jan. 4. — Hal Horne left by plane today for New York following completion of a conference with Walter Wanger yesterday. Final shooting scripts on four Grand National features to start in January are completed. They are : "23%S Hours Leave," "Gold," "Texas Terror" and "Two Shall Meet" (tentative title). Milton Bren, former agent, has been installed at the Hal Roach Studio as an assistant producer in charge of directors and writers . . . Bert Kal- mar and Harry Ruby signed by Hal Roach to write one song during 1937 with an option for one in 1938 . . . Felix Feist spending two weeks at the M-G-M studio before returning to New York to start a Robert Bench- ley short, "Romance of Indigestion." Production halted on "Robber Bar- ons," Radio, because of illness of Alexander Hall, director . . . War- ners halt "Marked Woman" because of Lloyd Bacon's illness . . . Charles R. Rogers and Harry Rapf at Yosemite for winter sports. Terry Walker borrowed by Doug- las MacLean from Paramount for feminine lead in "23^2 Hours Leave" . . . Omar Kiam back from New York . . . Brandon Tynan spending New Year's in New York with fam- ily .. . Ronald Colman to report to Selznick International Feb. 1 for "The Prisoner of Zenda." + Casting — Raymond Walburn and Vesy O'Davern in "Weather or No," Columbia . . . Kitty Gallian in "Stepping Toes," Radio . . . Paramount castings include Francis Sayden in "Souls at Sea," Roscoe Karns replac- ing Ray Milland in "Murder Goes to College," Charles Judels in "Swing High, Swing Low," and Nick Lu- kats and Terry Ray in "Internes Can't Take Money." Arthur Lake in "23%! Hours Leave," Douglas MacLean . . . Franklin Pangborn and Bob Mur- phy in "Dangerous Number," Betty Furness, Ted Healey and William Henry in "The Old Soak," and Skeets Gallagher, Ann Ruther- ford and Margaret Marquis in "Epionage," M-G-M . . . Joan Blon- dell assigned to feminine lead in "Marry the Girl," Warners. + Writers — Frank Kohner on adap- tation of "Of Lena Geyer," Colum- bia .. . Carl Harburgh to collabo- rate with George Waggoner on "Three Legionnaires," General Pic- tures . . . A. D. Otvos and Paul Perez given term contracts by Uni- versal. + Story Buy — Universal acquires "Immortal Love," an original by John Rich. + Title Change — Robert Benchley's "How to Eat" retitled "Romance of Indigestion." Reopen Northwest Club Seattle, Jan. 4. — The newly-re- modeled quarters of the Northwest Film Club will be opened this week with an elaborate pre-holiday open house. During the past two weeks the bar- room has been entirely redecorated and refurnished, and the social quar- ters remodeled and enlarged. B. Mar- cus Priteca, theatre architect, planned and supervised the alterations. Cinema Club to Meet Boston, Jan. 4. — The Cinema Club, industry organization, is scheduled to hold a business meeting Jan. 20. A charity dance is being planned, ac- cording to William Cuddv Nat Wolf to Run Ball Cleveland, Jan. 4. — Col. Nat Wolf, Warner zone manager, has been appointed chairman of the committee on arrangements for the President's Ball to be held Jan. 30. On the Weekend Air (Continued from page 26) fell flat. The first consisted of a bur- lesque on Shirley Temple playing op- posite Leslie Howard in a mythical picture, "The Eternal Triangle." If Ray doesn't receive a barrage of pro- tests from Shirley Temple lovers be- cause of this we'll be badly mistaken. The second was a burlesque of the perennial "Uncle Tom's Cabin." 'Nough said. Anne Lester, a hot rhythm singer, offered several numbers, as did Charles Bolton. Average is the category in which their voices must fall. The "1937 Radio Show" will have to improve considerably if it expects to rank as a "big-time" unit. The series is sponsored by National Health Products, makers of Feenamint. The KNX-KSFO Salute All dedicatory programs are alike. A lot of big name stars, plenty of speech making and self-praise and routines that are warmed over from previous offerings on other programs. The CBS salute to its latest additions, KNX and KSFO (Saturday, 10:30 P.M. to 12:30 A.M., E.S.T.), was no different from its predecessors. The program was divided in two equal parts, the first hour coming from New York, the second from Hollywood. In- terspersed between the New York and Hollywood point-of-origin switches were the speeches of William S. Paley, president of CBS, and Donald W. Thornburgh, each of whom extended felicitations to the incoming stations. Headed by Major Bowes as "em cee," the strong cast offered Milton Berle, Benny Fields, Pick and Pat, Phil Baker, Nino Martini, Rubinoff, Burns and Allen, East and Dumpke and Al Pearce. From Hollywood came offerings from Eddie Cantor and Al Jolson in a duet, Joe Penner, Cecil B. DeMille, Jack Oakie, Ger- trude Niesen, Bobby Breen, Deanna Durbin, Martha Raye and Sid Silvers. Banner Predicts Best N. E. Business in 8 Years (Continued from page 1 ) trade, 10-15 per cent in industrial activity and 15 per cent in earnings. The increase in new automobile sales for 1936 in New England was computed at 32 per cent, building at 60, and department store and other retail sales at 10 per cent. Reports Trade Brisk Omaha, Jan. 4. — E. R. Cummings, district manager for Tri-States, re- ports the best holiday business in his district since he has been connected with the industry. Houses in Sioux City and Omaha suffered but little from the usual Christmas slump, but the business in smaller out-state towns was of record- breaking proportions during the holi- day season. Jobs Gain in Wisconsin Madison, Wis., Jan. 4. — Private employers absorbed over 40 per cent more workers placed on jobs by the Wisconsin state employment serving during November than they did during that month last year, according to a report by E. R. Davis, manager of the agency. Theatre Men Enthusiastic Chicago, Jan. 4. — New England's theatre business is definitely on the upgrade, Samuel Pinanski and M. J. Mullins, largest operators of theatres in that section, declared on their ar- rival in Chicago from Boston en route to the coast to attend the Adolph Zukor jubilee celebration. Sue Insurance Firm Bucyrus, O., Jan. 4. — Otto and Eva Vollrath, owners of the Vollrath Opera House, which burned a year ago, have brought suit in Common Pleas Court against the Richland County Insurance Co., seeking to col- lect $5,000, claimed to be due as in- surance on the building. Wall Street Most Off; "U" 2 Points Net High Low Close Change Columbia 34% 34% 34% — % Columbia, pfd. ... 43 42 43 + % Consolidated SA 5 5% — % Consolidated, pfd.. 17 16% 17 Gen. T. Equip. . . 30 29% 2954 — % Loew's, Inc 65 64% 64% — % Paramount 24% 2}l/z 2AA, Paramount 1 pfd.. 170 166 170 — % Paramount 2 pfd.. 22 21% 22 + % Pathe Film 10% 9% 9% 4- % RKO 8% 7% 8% + % 20th Century -Fox. 34% 34J4 34% — A 20th Century, pfd.. 43 43 43 — % Universal, pfd. ...102 100 100 —2 Warner Bros. . . . 17% 17 17% — % Warner, pfd 67% 67% 67% + % Curb Has Small Losses Net High Low Close Change Grand National . . 3V& HA 3% — % Sonotone 2 2 2 + % Technicolor 21 20% 20% — % Trans-Lux 4% 4% 4% — A Bonds Rise Slightly Net High Low Close Change Keith B. F. 6s '46 98% 98 98 — % Loew's 3%s '46...101!4 101 101% + % Paramount Pict. 6s "55 100% 100J4 100% RKO 6s '41 116 116 116 4- % Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 99% 99 99% 4- % (Quotations at close of Jan. 4) MOTION PICTURE DAILY 28 N. Y. Critics Select "Deeds," "Carnival" {Continued from page 1) required. Eighteen critics, represent- ing 13 New York daily newspapers, represented the constituency. "Mr. Deeds" won on two ballots and "La Kermesse Heroique" on the first. The best female performance of the year when to Luise Rainer for "The Great Ziegfeld" on four ballots. The best male performance was adjudged to have been Walter Huston's for "Dodsworth" on five ballots. Huston always has been a favorite in this pro- cedure, but, nevertheless, it took five castings to send him across the line. Opposition to him centered largely around Spencer Tracy which means some of the critics apparently like Tracy. However, the battle of the torrid session really raged over the best di- rection of the year. It took 10 bal- lots to assemble the necessary two- thirds for Rouben Mamoulian in rec- ognition of "The Gay Desperado." Fritz Lang for "Fury" was the Ma- moulian nemesis in this division. This year, taking on tone, the critics will signalize their own awards with a cocktail party at the Waldorf on Jan. 24. No particular program was evolved last night and probably there won't be one. A party will be held, it seems. Arrangements also are under way for a coast-to-coast NBC broadcast, probably from 4:30 to 5 P. M., E.S.T., on that same day when Richard Watts, Jr., will be master-of- ceremonies. The designation went to him as dean of the New York film critics prior to his appointment as dramatic critic of New York Herald- Tribune, succeeding the late Percy Hammond. Assistants Also Voted While 13 papers were represented, they totaled 18 critics. Some time ago, it was determined to admit the sec- ond-string reviewers, although in the instance of the double-headers , the papers generally cast their votes as a unit. The ballot-casting roster in- cluded: Ed Price, Brooklyn Citizen; Win- ston Burdett, Brooklyn Daily Eagle; Leo Miskin, Morning Telegraph, who voted by telephone from a sickbed ; William Boehnel, New York World- Telegram; Kate Cameron and Wanda Hale, Daily News; Regina Crewe and Robert Garland, New York American; Irene Thirer and Archer Winsten, New York Evening Post; Rose Pels- wick, New York Evening Journal; Seymour Roman, Brooklyn Times- Union; Howard Barnes and Mar- guerite Tazelaar, New York Herald- Tribune; Dorothy Gates, The Daily Worker; Bland Johanesen, New York Daily Mirror ; John T. Mc- Manus and Frank Nugent, Nezv York Times. Withdraw Carewe Report Washington, Jan. 4. — The Securi- ties and Exchange Commission today revealed the withdrawal of the regis- tration statement of Edwin Carewe Prod., Inc., at the request of the registrant. "Woman Alone" Here G.B. is releasing "Sabotage" with Sylvia Sidney as "The Woman Alone" in this market. "Sabotage" is the British release title. He Wonders Maurice McKenzie, execu- tive assistant to Will H. Hays, the other day, received a post-Christmas card from Terry Ramsaye, editor of Motion Picture Herald, who is on his annual pilgrimage to Hollywood. It was postmarked Oracle, Ariz. Now McKenzie wonders if there isn't something pro- phetic in the circumstance. 30S-ITOA Agreement Is Near Completion (Continued from page 1) by which the membership of Allied will be absorbed by 306. The completed agreement between the theatre group and the union will require ratification by the full mem- bership of both bodies before becom- ing effective, and the same is true of the Allied-306 agreement, which is described as in the nature of a for- mality, made necessary by legal pro- cedure, the initial arrangement being the important one. The final drafting of an agreement, now in progress, fol- lows a recent meeting with the mem- bers of the survey board appointed by Mayor LaGuardia to solve the mul- tiple union situation in the city. Points in dispute between the two groups in their original negotiations were set- tled at that time. Pommer-Laughton Unit London, Dec. 26. — Charles Laugh- ton will in future make his British films for a new production unit in which he will be associated with Erich Pommer. They will make four pictures a year, Laughton playing in one of them, at London Films' Den- ham studio for United Artists world release. Beck in U. A. Post Myer P. Beck has been started as publicity manager for United Artists, working under the supervision of Monroe Greenthal, advertising and publicity director. Louis Berg has been placed in charge of the writing staff and Arthur Jeffrey in charge of newspaper contacts. Spokane Tax Is Lumped Spokane, Jan. 4. — The City Coun- cil has decided that theatres and junk dealers will pay their licenses in a lump sum starting 1938. The current practice is for theatres to pay in quar- terly installments and junk dealers twice a year. Signs More Rights Al Friedlander of Fortune Films, who originally closed for the distribu- tion of "The Robber Symphony" for the United States only, now has the rights for all of North and South America. Erpi Increases Prices A 10 per cent increase in price for W. E. Mirrophonic sound equipment will be placed in effect on Feb. 1, C. W. Bunn, Erpi general sales manager, has stated. Paramount Product Meet Starts Friday (Continued from page 1) Zukor, board chairman, and Neil F. Agnew, vice-president in charge of distribution. A study of planned product for 1937-38 will feature the sessions. Among the studio executives who will attend will be Eugene Zukor, A. M. Botsford, Harold Hurley, Bo- gart Rogers, Jeff Lazarus, C. J. Dun- phy, Fred Leahy, Mel Shauer, George Bagnall, A. C. Martin, Henry Herz- brun, Jacob Karp, Manny Wolfe, Boris Morros and Sam Frey. From New York will be Balaban, Agnew, J. J. Unger, Charles Reagan, Russell Holman, Austin Keough, Robert M. Gillham, Y. Frank Free- man, Albert Deane, George Weltner, John Hicks, Jr., Milton Kusell, John Graham and Walter Cokell. Gillham arrived today. Paramount's theatre associates who will attend include John Balaban, Chicago ; E. V. Richards, New Or- leans ; Karl Hoblitzelle, Dallas ; N. A. Nathanson, Toronto; Frank Walker, New York; M. A. Schlessinger, Jo- hannesburg, South Africa ; Sam Pin- anski, Boston ; Martin Mullin, Bos- ton; A. H. Blank, Des Moines; R. B. Wilby, Atlanta ; J. J. Fitzgibbons, Toronto ; Sam Goldstein, Springfield, Mass., and M. A. Lightman, Mem- phis. John Balaban May Not Attend Chicago, Jan. 4. — John Balaban, ill with influenza, may cancel his pro- posed trip to the Paramount meeting on the coast unless approval is given by his physician. Columbia Meet Sunday Columbia will hold its fourth and final mid-season divisional sales meet- ing Saturday and Sunday at the St. Moritz. Abe Montague, general sales manager, will preside at the gather- ing of eastern sales forces. Nu- merous home office executives will at- tend. Loew Auditors Convene First of a series of meetings of Loew's field auditors got under way yesterday at the Astor with Alan Cummings presiding. Every year the field auditors convene in New York for a three-day discussion of the year's activities. RKO Heads to Hold Talks on the Coast (Continued from page 1) Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Kan- sas City, Chicago, Cleveland, Roches- ter and Syracuse. Reisman to Australia Phil Reisman, head of the RKO foreign department, will sail today on the Berengaria for - Australia. He said yesterday he did not know how long he would be away. Belmont a Film House The Belmont, former legitimate house on W. 48th St., will open the middle of this month as a film house. It will be operated by S. S. Krellberg, with Edward Kern, former press rep- resentative of the Filmarte, in asso- ciation with him. First run films in all languages will be the house policy. Tuesday, January 5, 1937 Two Pictures Here N earing New Marks (Continued from page 1) and is expected to do another $20,000 before the first week is ended. If the James Cagney picture gets the $40,000, it will top "Give Me Your Heart," which opened the house, by more than $2,000. The picture will run three weeks. "One in a Million" tallied $58,000 in four days at the Roxy and yes- terday got approximately $6,000, in- dicating a possible $80,000 week, a rec- ord under Howard S. Cullman's man- j agement. According to 20th Century- Fox, 114,134 persons visited the the- j atre during the first four days. The j picture will be held for a second and final week. Leon Errol is the stage headliner. "That Girl from Paris" garnered \ a buxom $80,000 in the first four days at the Music Hall. According to RKO-ites, the week will probably end with close to $115,000. This film, like- wise, will be held over. College Holiday Strong The Paramount grossed $50,000 in five days of the second week of "Col- lege Holiday." The picture is being held a third week and Glen Gray and his Casa Loma orchestra will be re- placed on the last seven days by Mario Braggiotti and his band. On Jan. 13, "The Plainsman" will open with Ray Noble on the stage. "After the Thin Man" at the Capi- tol got $78,000 in its first week and approximately $40,000 on the three- day holiday weekend. The picture is definitely set for three weeks. The Astor, for the fifth week of "Lloyds of London" on a two-a-day policy, grossed $13,000. It is possible the picture may be held beyond Jan. 17, when the 20th Century-Fox con- tract expires. Loew's is not ready to put in "The Good Earth" for at least j another month or six weeks. "The Man Who Lived Again" got about $11,000 at the Rialto. "Jungle j Princess" took in around $9,000 the week before. "Thin Man" Going Big In 39 of the 42 key cities where "After the Thin Man" is current, , grosses are running ahead of "San ! Francisco," according to Loew's. In Tulsa and Oklahoma City new house j records were established. Musicians' Union Elects Cincinnati, Jan. 4. — Oscar F. Hild was elected president of the Musi- j cians' Local No. 1 at the annual meet- ing here. Others elected were : Wil- K Ham Bell, vice-president ; Volney L. jj> j Hofmann, secretary ; Charles Joseph, I treasurer ; Frank Yago, sergeant-at- i \ arms. Directors are : Arthur Bowen, t V, Theodore Hahn, Joseph Lugar, Rob- | 1: ert P. Moore and Robert Snyder. Imperial Set in 2 Weeks Imperial Distributing Co. is ex- pected to complete its exchange or- ganization, with officers in 26 cities over the country, in about two weeks, it was indicated yesterday. Thus far, branches have been established in 14 | cities. "Thin Man" Going Big In 39 of the 42 key cities where "After the Thin Man" is current, grosses are running ahead of "San Francisco," according to Loew's. In Tulsa and Oklahoma City new house records were established. In comparison with "Libeled Lady," the previous Powell-Loy combination film, "After the Thin Man" is 30 per cent ahead in the 42 cities. The Leading MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert. Intelligent the In In All Branches VOL. 41. NO. 4 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1937 TEN CENTS National Poll Grades Benny As Radio Top Papers Pick Champions For Fame Ballot By JACK BANNER Jack Benny is the super-colossal radio champion of the year— the net- work star of stars, a scintillant among scintillants. Which is the way a radio announcer might reveal that the stock comedian who long has guided the destinies of the Jello program has walked off with the 1936 top honors in the first annual poll to determine the radio champions of the year. The balloting was conducted by Motion Picture Daily on behalf of Fame: The Box Office Check-Up which is now in distribution and the outcome is only one of many features in this annual Quigley Publication. More than 400 radio editors in the United States and Canada were con- sulted in determining the results of the Fame poll. Fred Allen, the radio funster with the "down east" drawl, was voted second all-around best behind Benny but by a considerably lesser margin. Rudy Vallee, a seasoned veteran of innumerable popularity contests, placed a comfortable third. Significant is the showing made by Major Bowes, whose name appears but once in all the 13 programs and personality categories set aside by Fame. While the decline of amateur programs has been duly commented (Continued on page 10) Constitutionality Of Sales Tax Hit The constitutionality of the city sales tax is challenged in the brief prepared by Frederick H. Wood of Cravath, de Gersdorff, Swaine & Wood for the appeal being taken by major distributors from the Appellate Division's ruling that rentals collected by New York exchanges from theatres within the city limits are subject to the tax. Wood's brief was served yesterday on the corporation counsel who has until Jan. 15 to reply. The distribu- tors have an additional three days thereafter in which to file any further answer. The case has been scheduled for argument before the Court of Ap- peals at Albanv on Jan. 18, or as soon thereafter as it can be reached. The prior contentions of United Artists, whose appeal from the sales (Continued on page 13) Zukor: A Success Story By RED KANN THE marquees will blazon forth. By limitless box-offices, past limitless ticket-takers will parade the world's audience on its way, once again, to capture and to get respite from its cares of the day. The show will be on tomorrow night as on all other nights, unfolding in uninterrupt- ed continuity the matured and maturing accomplishments of an industry rich in progress and in fulfillment. Within the industry, January 7, however, marks something far beyond. It signalizes the sixty- fourth birthday of Adolph Zukor, the observance of his silver jubi- lee as a force in motion pictures. It reassures for him, on the in- disputable computation of deeds achieved and made more formid- able by the arrival of their twen- ty-fifth year, a permanency in whatever celluloid Valhalla may be created or discussed for men, their tasks well done. T For the romance which is in motion pictures is largely the business romance of Zukor. Down through the years and from the days when he launched his un- precedented experiment, another name for "Queen Elizabeth," here is a name persistently and con- stantly associated with major (Continued on page 2) Station Total Of 656 Nears 1928 Figures By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, Jan. 5. — With more broadcasting stations licensed than at any time since 1928, the number of broadcasters bids fair in the near fu- ture to exceed even the 681 that were operating during the "period of chaos" in 1927 which led to the creation of the original radio commission, it is in- dicated by the annual report of the Federal Communications Commission, submitted to Congress today. At the close of the fiscal year on June 30, last, the report disclosed, there were 656 stations licensed, an increase of 33 over the corresponding date in 1935 and the largest number since 1928, when there were 677. The scarcity of frequencies for the various radio services continues to be a problem of the first magnitude, the commission told Congress. "Even though the useful radio spec- trum in the next seven years will be (Continued on page 12) A. J. Balaban, Chicago Group Enter F. & M. St. Louis, Jan. 5. — A. J. Balaban, a founder of the B. & K. circuit in Chicago with Sam Katz, will return to the exhibition business with Jules Rubens, head of Great States, as part- ners of all F. & M. interests here, it is understood from reliable sources. The deal will preclude the possibility of B. & K. building or entering this city on its own, it is said. Negotiations are reported under way for Balaban and Rubens to ac- quire a substantial interest in F. & M. Arthur Greene, who is interested financially in several Chicago circuits and who recently objected to the court sale of the St. Louis Amusement Co. to the first mortgage bondholders, will also be interested. Greene, Rubens, I. B. Perlman and Sam Meyers, brother-in-law to the Balabans, are said to have conferred here last week with Harry C. Arthur, operating head of F. & M., on the possibility of a (Continued on page 16) Congress Gets Started with 2,000 Bills No Action to Be Taken During the Week By CLARENCE LINZ Washington, Jan. 5. — Introduction of some 2,000 bills and resolutions to- day marked the opening of the 75th Congress, from which President Roosevelt, believing the urgency of the depression to have passed, will ask legislation to carry out the second and permanent half of his program. '] he President's desires on indus- trial control and other legislation will be made known in his annual mes- sage, to be delivered by him in person tomorrow afternoon. Today's session was short and de- voted to the formalities incident to the inaugural of a new Congress and little or no actual work will be under- taken this week. This annual message tomorrow will be followed on Friday by the budget message, which will out- line the Administration's financial needs for the fiscal year beginning July 1, next, and disclose the rev- enues which the Treasury anticipates. A sorely pressed Government Print- ing Office was today unable to cope with the flood of bills and it will be several days before the details of most of them will be known. The opening of the session, however, saw the sub- mission of a number of measures af- fecting the film industry, with more prepared for introduction. Most of the important- film (Continued on page 13) Still bills Patman to Revise Theatre Measure Washington, Jan. 5. — Complete re- vision of the Patman bill, which would prohibit producers from engag- ing in retail distribution, will be un- dertaken before it is introduced into the House of Representatives, it was made known today by the Texas Con- gressman. Instead of a flat prohibition against (Continued on page 13) G. B. to Start Own Exchanges Shortly Opening of G. B. exchanges throughout the country will get under way within the next few weeks with the possibility the company will be represented with its own distribution (Continued on page 16) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, January 6, 1937 MOTION PICTURI DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 January 6, 1937 No. 4 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Pub- , lishing Company, Inc., Martin ffM Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Avenue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copy- righted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc. Address all correspondence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publica- tions, Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, Teatro Al Dia, International Motion Picture Almanac and Fame: The Box Office Check-Up. Hollywood Bureau: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Streets, Boone Mancall, Manager; Chicago Bureau: 624 South Michigan Avenue, C. B. O'Neill, Man- ager; London Bureau: 4 Golden Square, London W 1, Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable Address "Quigpubco, London"; Berlin Bureau: Stuelerstrasse 2, Berlin W 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg , Representative; Paris Bureau: 29, Rue Marsoulan, Pierre Autre, Representative; Rome Bureau: Viale Gorizia, Vittorio Malpassuti, Representative; Aus- tralian Bureau: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins Street, Melbourne, Cliff Holt, Representative; Mexico City Bureau: Apar- tado 269, James Lockhart, Representative; Budapest Bureau: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest, II, Endre Hevesi, Representative ; Tokyo Bureau : 880 Sasazuka. Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken, H. Tominaga, Representative; Prague Bureau: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1, Harry Knopf, Rep- resentative; Shanghai Bureau: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Building, 142 Museum Road, J. P. Koehler, Representative; Rio de Janiero Bureau: Caixa Postal 3358, A. Weissman, Representative; Buenos Aires Bureau: Corrientes 2495, N. Britski, Representative; Montevideo Bureau: P. O. Box 664, Paul Bodo, Representative; Moscow Bureau: Petrovski Per 8, Beatrice Stem, Representa- tive; Vienna' Bureau: Neustiftgasse, 55, Vienna VII, Hans Lorant, Representative; Amsterdam Bureau: Zuider Amstellaan 5, Philip de Schaap, Representative; Helsing- fors Bureau: Fredriksgatan 19 C, Charlotte Laszlo. Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Lesser Is Expected To Buy Back Studio Hollywood, Jan. S. — Sol Lesser will probably buy back his former studios, now known as Educational Studios, and resume production at the plant when he returns from Europe. Negotiations are now under way. In addition to his own productions, nine a year, Lesser will rent out space to independents. Barney Briskin, general sales man- ager, is due back from New York next Wednesday. Close Washington House Washington, Jan. 5. — The Belas- co here closed today after nearly two years of films. It is scheduled to open Jan. 18 under a new policy combining some form of legitimate attraction in addition to pictures. It is considered likely that the present management, headed by Jack Thoman, will be con- tinued. Nuovo Mondo Moves Nuovo Mondo Pictures have moved from the RKO to the Film Center Bldg. Zukor: A Success Story (Continued from page 1) steps forward. Any review or history, automatically and by the facts, veers toward him. When he did not make history, the history in the making failed to complete itself without him. Present at the start, he recognized the oppor- tunity, peered into the future and made for himself always a vital and significant part of that which was going on. The success story of Zukor is also the success story of motion pictures. It has had its pitfalls, setbacks, disappointments, and, of course, its mistakes. But the volatility and the refusal to be permanently downed has been as much a characteristic of the man as it has of the business which he has done so much to advance. Many men have contributed to the development of Paramount, but over all of them, sometimes wrong and usually right, stands the one and his name is Adolph Zukor. ▼ His was the final responsibility during those many years when he was president and operating executive of the company. Sidney R. Kent did the sales job; Sam Katz, the theatre spread eagle; Jesse L. Lasky, Cecil B. DeMille, B. P. Schulberg, kept the life- blood pumping vigorously and otherwise at the studio. Zukor, in the first and in the final analysis, had to concern himself with all. He set the foundation and nur- tured the growth. If the term master builder might not be too extravagant an application, Zukor was that. Troubles were many through- out his long and noteworthy career. In the earliest days, when precedent was lacking, there had to be made decisions about product and distribution. It smacked of the pioneering and, actually, it was exactly that. One of his great- est fights, pushed forward in the aggressive manner to which Zukor so frequently subscribed, was the danger to him which he saw in the original First National organization. ▼ In and about the '20s, Para- mount was stepping lightly in theatres. The Talleys, the Hul- seys, the Blanks, the Balabans and the Katzes, dominant thea- tre operators all, were in arms over Zukor's price demands for Artcraft, forerunner of the "A" percentage attractions of to- day. Up from Australia, was J. D. Williams, a promoter with a promoter's idea. It became First National and it placed squarely in front of Zukor's production and distribution activities, the nation's dominant exhibitors en- gaged in an identic sphere of activity. It also confronted him with a decision crying to be made. Zukor made it. You might argue exhibitors had as much right in exhibition as did a producer and a distributor and you would be correct. But that runs counter to the point. Zukor, quietly and so effectively that the structure eventually crumbled, through the back door and one by one bought up the First Na- tional franchise-holders, licked his Waterloo and made Para- mount the largest individual own- er and operator of theatres in the amusement world. The decision was a ten-strike and its execu- tion, by any count, one of the most brilliant campaigns of strategy in the corporate history of this busi- ness. T Moe Finkelstein wanted money for expansion. This one was pressed by notes falling due. So close was the friendship between Marcus Loew and Adolph Zukor that the dynasties once were united in marriage. It went con- siderably beyond. Midway in the 1920 decade when mergers were in the air, commonly accepted as an ultimate union was Paramount and Loew's, if there were to be a union by either company at all. Zukor was pre-eminent ; the Loew- Metro enterprise had not yet flowered. At one time or another and as fortune or circumstance dictated, all the headline names of the in- dustry were closeted with Zukor, not always getting what they may have sought but usually getting advice if not the cash. This was the era when Zukor led them all in the impact which his personal leadership imparted. T And yet, it has not always been so. The picture at Paramount changed and with it Zukor's when the depression pinch set in. Bank- ing influence began to dim his long-flashing star. Authority was split among other hands. Trade paper headlines reported less Zukor, more Hertz, Katz, Spitz and Kohn. Then bankruptcy, the long period of trustees and court management. Trying days, those. Trying for those who looked beyond and into the broad range of the industry to realize how dangerous to the entire institution of motion pic- tures would be a. complete col- lapse and, thus, elimination from the scene of a spoke as vital as Paramount. But no more trying than for Zukor, his peace of mind, his clipped authority, his shriveled activity. Those were the times when the boys in Times Square were scoff- ing when they were not regret- ting what had happened to Zukor. Those, if you recall, were the times when the boys were ready to "make book" that he would re- turn one of those minutes, more powerfully entrenched than ever before. T There then came the Otterson regime, continuing at its outset to maintain Zukor somewhere in the rear. This is no discussion of John E. Otterson and his admin- istration except as it bears indis- putably on one excellence in his judgment: his decision and then his dependence on Zukor and the Zukor experience for guidance. What Otterson may have done after the benefits of that experi- ence were his, belongs, if it does at all, to another time and another place. And currently, what? Zukor is back. Quite emphatically and most conclusively back. He is back in a part and filling a spot which is both new and not new to him. As the final word in Hollywood, responsible for the backbone of Paramount's or any company's business which is the product, he is treading ground largely familiar through his past endeavors. To- day, however, the responsibility is full-time and he likes it. The amazing resilience of the Zukor backbone manifests itself today and now as perhaps never before. After all of those crises through which he has passed, he might have remained in the twi- light of his formidable past a beaten man, but with honor. The point, and it is a significant point, is that Zukor has never learned to be licked. At sixty-four, conviction rises in a loud voice to say that he would not and could not start Auditors Winding Up Two Gatherings Here RKO yesterday wound up a two-day meeting of the field auditors at the Waldorf-Astoria and Loew's tomor- row will end a four-day session at the Astor. Attending the RKO meetings were A. A. Schubert, manager of the con- tract department ; Elmer Sedin, R. A. O'Brien, Robert E. Helms, J. Em- mett Cashman, W. J. McShea, J. J. Schnitzer, John A. Downing and M. G. Poller. Eight field men are attending the Loew's meetings in addition to a num- ber of home office personnel. Alan Cummings is conducting the annual session. Has U. K. Rights, Too George McL. Baynes has acquired for the Golgotha Corp., distribution rights in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, the British Dominions and Argentine for "Golgotha," the French film depicting the closing days of the life of Christ. Asks Historical Films Washington, Jan. 5. — H. D. W. Conner, national archivist, today asked permission to film important national events, such as the inauguration, for historical purposes. "What a trip for tWO bits!" said Exhibitor Musselman o/ the Princess Theatre, Lincoln, Nebraska * • ' - EVERYBODY CAN TAKE A WINTER CRUISE NOW Thanks to Fitzpatrick's thrilling Travel talks! The selection of a short subject on your program is often the factor that sells your show against competition. A Fitzpatrick Traveltalk in Technicolor with exquisite music is- a breathing- spell of beauty and fascination on a well- balanced program. Big city or small town, the folks watch for the de luxe cruises to far-off places that are so enjoy- able in the Fitzpatrick— M-G-M manner! FIT in 3 ZPATRICK TRAVELTALKS 3 -color Technicolor! Pride of M^M ! FOR INSTANCE! WATCH FOR L INDIA ON PARADEU — Taj Mahal, greatest memorial of man's love to woman; first time in full 3-color Technicolor — $50,000 gold plate on one carriage — gold and silver cannons — 400 white horses identically matched — largest elephants in India with gold-knitted blankets — all the wealth and grandeur of India in beautiful color and music Coming: 'THE RACES AT BOMBAY!" STARTING YOUR LU CYM-G-M NEW YEAR! MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, January 6, 1937 "College" Out Front in Boom For the Loop Chicago, Jan. 5. — Business came back with a bang to the Loop theatres last week and "College Holiday" at the Chicago was the leader with a $42,000 gross. The extra shows on New Year's Eve, plus an advance in admission prices for that night, boosted box- office figures. "Stowaway" at the Apollo brought the kiddies out by the thousands and the gross was $10,200. The Oriental and State-Lake with stage shows proved big draws during the holiday time and business at these houses was very good. "Gold Dig- gers" was a strong attraction at the Roosevelt. "Love on the Run" con- tinued to set a good pace at the United Artists and "Theodora Goes Wild," following a week at the Chicago, was a strong draw at the Garrick. The Palace opened with a new show New Year's Eve with all seats re- served. The weather was unsettled and warm. Total first run business was $163,- 500. Average is $115,000. Estimated takings : Week Ending Dec. 29: "LOVE ON THE RUN" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,700), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $18,800. (Average, $15,000) "THE GIRL ON THE FRONT PAGE" (Univ.) STATE-LAKE— (2,776), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Stage: Vaudeville Revue. Gross: $19,000. (Average, $13,000) Week Ending Dec. 31: "RAINBOW ON THE RIVER" (Radio) PALACE— (2,509), 35c-55c-75c, 6]/2 days. Stage: Benny Fields and Revue. Gross: $22,000. (Average, $19,000) "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) CHICAGO— (4,000), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: "Holiday Follies." Gross: $42,000. (Average, $32,000) "THE MAN WHO LIVED TWICE" (Col.) ORIENTAL— (3,490), 35c-55c, 7 days. Stage: Ina Ray Hutton and Band. Gross: $23,500. (Average, $15,000) "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (F. N.) ROOSEVELT— (1,591), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $18,500. (Average, $11,000) "STOWAWAY" (20th-Fox) APOLLO--(1,400), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $10,200. (Average, $4,500) "THEODORA GOES WILD" (Col.) GARRICK— (900), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $9,500. (Average, $5,500) N. H. Party a Sellout New Haven, Jan. 5. — The annual sick benefit ball of Local No. 74, I.A.T.S.E., is a sellout well in ad- vance of the Jan. 9 date at the Hotel Taft. More than 700 are expected. Harry M. Shaw, Loew-Poli division manager, will be m.c. and is cooperat- ing in staging of the eight-act floor show. Henry Busse's Paramount orchestra will play. William P. Barry is general chairman. Plan Stage Basketball New Haven, Jan. 5. — Basketball games as a regular Monday night fea- ture are being considered for the Col- lege. Albie Booth, Yale football hero, has been contacted for the job of coach and director, and 10 to 12 high school and commercial teams have been lined up. The State, Hartford, is the first house to use this feature successfully in the territory. "Allah" Dual At $8,800 Is MilwaukeeTop Milwaukee, Jan. 5. — The high spot for a fair week here was "The Garden of Allah" and "The Captain's Kid" with an $8,800 take at the Warner, $3,800 above average. Second honors went to "Stowaway" and "The White Hunter" doing an average of $8,000 at Fox's Wisconsin. The circuit's Palace pulled $5,300 with "College Holiday" and "Arizona Ma- honey," $300 above par. Other business was below average. Weather was unseasonably mild and rainy, which has reacted favorably for the theatres since there have been no winter sports. Total first run business was $27,300. Average is $24,500. Estimated takings for the week ending Dec. 31 : "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) "ARIZONA MAHONEY" (Para.) PALACE— (2,400), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $5,300. (Average, $5,000) "COME CLOSER FOLKS" (Col.) RIVERSIDE— (2,300), 20c-25c-30c, 6 days. Stage: Riverside Follies. Gross: $4,000 (Average, $5,000) "PENNIES FROM HEAVEN" (Col.) "WITHOUT ORDERS" (RKO) STRAND— (1,400), 25c-35c-50c, 8 days. Gross: $1,200. (Average, $1,500) "THE GARDEN OF ALLAH" (U A.) "THE CAPTAIN'S KID" (F.N.) WARNER— (2,400), 25c-35c-50c, 8 days. Gross: $8,800. (Average, $5,000) "STOWAWAY" (20th-Fox) "WHITE HUNTER" (ZOth-Fox) WISCONSIN-(3,200), 25c-35c-50c, 8 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $8,000) "White Hunter" and Show Lead Montreal Montreal, Jan. 5. — "White Hunt- er," with a vaudeville bill, topped the first run list with $13,000 at Loew's. "Love on the Run," on a dual at the Palace, grossed $12,500 and "Rembrandt" took $6,500 at His Majesty's where an all-British policy prevails. "Gold Diggers of 1937" registered $10,500 at the Capitol with "King of Hockey." In the way of opposition, there were 8,500 people at the pro. hockey match in the Forum and the night clubs were busy. Weather : Snow and cold. Total first run business was $50,000. Average is $43,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 2 : "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1&37" (F. N.) "KING OF HOCKEY" (W. B.) CAPITOL— (2,547), 25c-35c-40c-50c-60c, 7 days. Gross: $10,500. (Average, $9,500) "REMBRANDT" (British) "MAN IN THE MIRROR" (British) HIS MAJESTY'S— (1,700), 25c-35c-40c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $5,000) "WHITE HUNTER" (ZOth-Fox) LOEW'S— (3,115), 25c-34c-40c-50c-60c, 7 days. Stage: "Follies of the Night" vaude- ville unit. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $10,500) "LOVE ON THE RUN" (M-G-M) "THE LONGEST NIGHT" (M-G-M) PALACE— (2,600), 25c-35c-40c-50c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $12,500. (Average, $11,000) "STOWAWAY" (20th-Fox) "LUCKIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD" (Univ.) PRINCESS — (2,272) , 25c-30c-35c-50c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $7,000) Reopens After Fire Beatrice, Neb., Jan. 5. — F. E. Hol- lingsworth has reopened the Rialto, which was damaged by a $10,000 fire more than a month ago. Rainbows Hollywood, Jan. 5. — Bobby Breen, star of "Rainbow on the River," wrote to Colonel Stoopnagle, of the Stoopnagle and Budd comedy team, ask- ing a definition of a rainbow. Bobby received the follow- ing answer: "A rainbow is stuff that when a fellow blushes he turns all colors of." "Stowaway" Is $9,000 Leader; Denver Booms Denver, Jan. 5. — "Stowaway" pull- ed the big money of the week, $9,000 at the Denver, and was moved to the Broadway for a second week. "College Holiday" was $1,500 to the good on a take of $6,000 at the Den- ham, and a dual consisting of "Rain- bow on the River" and "The Plot Thickens" was strong at $8,500 in the Orpheum. Total first run business was $33,000. Average is $28,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Dec. 31 : "AS YOU LIKE IT" (ZOth-Fox) ALADIN— (1,500), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $2,000. (Average, $3,000) "PENNIES FROM HEAVEN" (Col.) BROADWAY— (1,500), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $1,500 (Average, $2,000) "COUNTRY GENTLEMEN" (Republic) "GLORY TRAIL" (Cresent) CENTER— (1,500), 15c-35c, 7 days. Stage show. Gross: $2,000. (Average, $2,000) "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) DENHAM— (1,500), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $4,500) "STOWAWAY" (20th-Fox) DENVER— (2,500), 25c-50c, 7 days. Stage Band. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $7,500) "RAINBOW ON THE RIVER" (Radio) "THE PLOT THICKENS" (Radio) ORPHEUM— (2,600), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross. $8,500. (Average, $6,000) "POLO JOE" (W. B.) "KING OF HOCKEY" (W. B.) PARAMOUNT— (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $3,500) "Thin Man" Smash Oklahoma City Hit Oklahoma City, Jan. 5. — "After the Thin Man" was the big noise of the week among the first runs. It ran up to $8,800 at the Midwest, leaving par $4,800 astern. "All American Chump," helped by a stage show, grossed $2,100 at the Lib- erty in four days. Normal for a week is $3,000. Total first run business was $18,- 500. Average is $14,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 2: "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) MIDWEST— (1,500), 10c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $8,800. (Average, $4,000) "STOWAWAY" (ZOth-Fox) CRITERION— (1,700), 10c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $5,000) "THE WHITE HUNTER" (ZOth-Fox) CAPITOL— (1,200), 10c-25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $2,400. (Average, $2,000) "ALL AMERICAN CHUMP" (M-G-M) LIBERTY— (1,500), 10c-25c-35c, 4 days. Stage. "Top Hat Revue," seven acts vaude- ville. Gross: $2,100. (Average for week, $3,000) "GRAND JURY" (Radio) "COUNTRY GENTLEMAN" (Republic) LIBERTY— (1,500), 10c-25c-35c, 3 days. Gross: $700. (Average for week, $3,000) Hideaway" Up In Slow Week At Washington Washington, Jan. 5. — "Hideaway Girl" topped a dull Christmas week with a take of $6,'S0O at the Metro- politan. This was over normal by $2,500. A return engagement of "Love on the Run" gave Loew's Columbia $4,600, over average by $1,000. "Gold Diggers of 1937," plus a stage show, at the Earle took $19,700, over par by $1,300. At Loew's Palace, "Camille" exceeded average by $1,000 for a take of $16,900. A second week was ordered. Loew's Capitol Theater, playing six days, took $20,400 for "Sinner Take All" and Rudy Vallee's "Punch Bowl" Revue. Average for a full week here is $20,900. "Rainbow on the River," at RKO-Keith's grossed $7,000 in nine and one-half days, or $3,600 under the seven-day average. Total first run business, exclusive of the Rialto, was $76,500. Average is $76,700. Estimated takings, exclusive of tax: Six Days Ending Dec. 30: "SINNER TAKE ALL" (M-G-M) LOEW'S CAPITOL — (3,434), 25c-66c, 6 days. Stage: Rudy Vallee and His "Punch Bowl" Revue, with his Connecticut Yankees, Cyril Smith, Joe Dorris, the Bernards, the Duvals, Gentlemen Singers, Judy Starr, the Swing Kids. Gross: $20,400. (Average, 7 days, $20,900) Week Ending Dec. 31: "THE GIRL ON THE FRONT PAGE" (Univ.) BELASCO— (1,140), 25c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $1,100. (Average, $3,000) "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (F. N.) EARLE— (2,218), 25c-77c, 7 days Stage: Yorke & King, Bob Ripa, Loman Bailey, Lee Sims, Royal Swedish Bell Ringers. Gross: $19,700. (Average, $18,400) "LOVE ON THE RUN" (M-G-M) LOEW'S COLUMBIA— (1,243), 25c-40c. 7 days (return engagement). Gross: $4,600. (Average, first run, $3,600) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) LOEW'S PALACE— (2,370), 35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $16,900. (Average, $15,900) "HIDEAWAY GIRL" (Para.) METROPOLITAN— (1,591), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,800. (Average, $4,300) "UNDER YOUR SPELL" (ZOth-Fox) RIALTO— (850), 25c-5Sc, 7 days. Gross: $2,100. Nine Days Ending Dec. 31: "RAINBOW ON THE RIVER" (Radio) RKO-KEITH'S— (1,836), 25c-55c, &'/2 davs. Gross: $7,000. (Average, 7 days, $10,600) Zellers Elected Again Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 5.— Dr. H. C. Zellers, for the 11th consecutive time, is president of the Lincoln Musicians' Union, Local No. 463. At the election, John Schildneck was named vice- president ; Mark Pierce, secretary- treasurer; Ted Tompkins, sergeant- at-arms; and on the board were placed, L. G. Andrews, J. Norman Hoff, Charles Kundler, Lee Jensen and Herb Witte. Imperial Seeks Staff Boston, Jan. 5. — Imperial Pic- tures, which took over Academy here, is seeking a complete sales force. Leo Britton is sales manager. A commis- sion deal of eight per cent, four per cent on receipt of the contract and the other four per cent when the ex- hibitor pays is being offered, it is learned. Wednesday, January 6, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY MPTO Program for Meet Taking Shape Out Hollywood Way- Expect 25-30 Allied Directors to Attend Program arrangements for the na- tional convention of the M. P. T. O. A., which will be held at the Miami- Biltmore Hotel, Miami, March 16, 17 and 18, are rapidly taking shape, Ed Kuykendall, president of the exhibitor organization, reported to members in a bulletin issued yesterday. Among the subjects listed for dis- cussion at the business sessions are trade practices, the quality and enter- tainment value of current pictures, double features, the music tax, the score charge, overbuying, unreasonable clearance, radio competition, signifi- cant court decisions, pending litiga- tion, unfair legislation and labor rela- tions. In addition to specific business dis- cussions, a general forum on theatre operating policies and problems is planned with addresses by prominent technicians, engineers, architects, ad- vertising and maintenance men. Open discussions on better theatre manage- ment, improved theatre design, con- struction and equipment, better film merchandising and ways and means of increasing attendance and maintaining high standards in exhibition will be another program feature. Members have also been invited to send in ad- ditional suggestions for inclusion on the program. Transit Arrangements Complete Special rates already have been ar- ranged at three Miami hotels and re- duced rail fares and a special con- vention train will be available to all exhibitors and their friends attending the convention, the M. P. T. O. A. bulletin states. Through cars from other points will join special conven- tion trains from New York, Chicago and New Orleans, according to ar- rangements. The eastern special will leave New York, March 14, arriving in Miami March 16 after picking up convention groups from Philadelphia, Washington, Richmond, Charlotte and Atlanta, where it will join up with the delegations from Chicago, Cincin- nati, Denver, Omaha, Kansas City, St. Louis and Memphis. West coast, Oklahoma City and Dallas groups will converge at New Orleans. The social side, of the convention will feature a golf tournament, recep- tions, sightseeing and the annual ban- quet, which may be "speech-less," ac- cording to the bulletin. Reservations for equipment display space will be made by the organization after Feb. 1. Kuykendall promises that the con- vention will be "self-supporting" and that no "money-raising schemes" will be "sprung." Conferences Set on Lineup for Condor Conferences on the proposed lineup of Condor pictures will get under way here either today or tomorrow. George Hirliman and M. H. Hoffman have arrived from the coast to talk over production with A. J. Van Beuren, who is also identified with the new company. At the meetings a de- cision will be reached on the number of pictures Hoffman will make. With the company now financed for $1,500,000 a like sum is scheduled to be added shortly, it was learned yes- terday. Hoffman may sail for Europe following the local meetings. Hollywood, Jan. 5. — Gus Ed- wards released from his obligations as Republic's eastern talent scout by Nat Levine. Edwards will return to New York in a few days to take up radio work. Lieut. Commander Lucien B. Green has been assigned by the Navy Dept. to act as liaison officer with Samuel Goldwyn's unit making "Hurricane" in the South Seas. "Man in Possession," starring Jean Harlow and Robert Taylor, started at M-G-M. . . . Jesse L. Lasky's next at Radio probably will be "Song of India," with Nino Martini starred. . . . Joan Perry's option lifted by Columbia for six months. . . . Ralph Bellamy held by Columbia for an- other year. . . . Ketti Gallian bor- rowed from Paramount by Radio for role in "Stepping Stones." . . . Two pictures set to start at Warners — "Dance, Charles, Dance" and "Talent Scout." . . . Harriet Hilliard femi- nine lead in "New Faces of 1937," Radio. Carol Hughes replaces Joan Blondell in "Marry the Girl," Warn- ers. . . . "Trouble in Morroco," a Larry Darmour production, started at Columbia. . . . Maurice Conn starts "Valley of the Terror" with Kermit Maynard. . . . Gertrude Michael in Hollywood Hospital for treatment. . . . Mary Boland ill with flu. . . . Arthur Todd luncheon guest of "Marry the Girl" cast at Warners in honor of his 28th year in pictures. . . . Malcolm Bullock, still man at Paramount on loan from Samuel Goldwyn. . . . Frank Capra com- Columbia Sales Meet Opens Here Saturday Branch managers and representa- tives from Albany, Buffalo, Boston, Philadelphia and New York will at- tend the two-day Columbia midseason sales session which will start Satur- day at the St. Moritz with Abe Mon- tague, general sales manager, presid- ing. Home office executives scheduled to attend include Jack Cohn, vice-presi- dent ; Abe Schneider, treasurer ; Joe McConville, Rube Jackter, Lou Wein- berg, Louis Astor, Max Weisfeldt, Hank Kaufman, Leo Jaffe, Maurice Grad, Milt Hannock, Leonard Picker, William Brennan, Al Seligman and Fred McConnell. This is the fourth and last of the divisional meetings. Liquidation of contracts and new product will be dis- cussed. McConville Coordinator Joe McConville, sales supervisor, will be coordinator in Columbia's "Montague Sweepstakes," the sales and billing drive to be started Jan. 17 and continued until May 1. Radio Holds Lily Pons Hollywood, Jan. 5. — Lily Pons, whose latest musical, "That Girl from Paris," is at the Music Hall, has signed for another annual picture at Radio. Ann Sothern, John Beal, Hermes Pan, in charge of dance routines, and P. J. Wolfson, writer, also have been re-signed. pletes assembly of "Lost Horizon" after two months in the cutting room. + Casting — Peggy Wood in "Call It a Day," Warners. . . . June Travis loaned by Warners to Republic for "Without a Net." . . . Lew Ayres in "Danger, Men Working" and Leif Erikson in "Saturday Night's Free," Paramount. Helen Jerome Eddy in "Michael Strogoff," Radio. . . . Jane Wyman in "Public Wedding," and Joe Cun- ningham in "Marry the Girl," Warn- ers. . . . Robert Allen and Edward McWade in "Weather or No," Ralph Malone in "Racketeer in Exile," Co- lumbia. . . . Donald Cook, Lucille Osborne in "Without a Bet," Re- public. . . . Frank Elliott and Rita Gould in "Maytime," M-G-M. + Directors- — Rowland V. Lee re- places Alexander Hall on "Robber Barons," Radio. . . . Hall is ill. + \ Writers — John V. Clymer signed '• by Sol Lesser to work on Bobby Breen's next. . . . Grover Jones and Grant Garrett doing sketches for the Zukor Silver Jubilee broadcast. + Story Buys — "I Married an Artist," Avery Strakosch and "All Steamed Up," David Garth, by Columbia. . . . "Tomorrow's Headlines," Thomas Ahern, Radio. Title Change — "Coast Patrol" to "Rough, Ready and Handsome," Radio. "Beloved Enemy" to Keep Tragic Ending "Beloved Enemy" will be nation- ally distributed with only one end- ing, which will be the one incorpo- rated in the film now at the Rivoli in which Brian Aherne meets his death. A "happy" alternative ending was provided by the producer, but after several tryouts for audience reactions in upstate New York towns it was decided not to make use of it. The original plan was to use the first end- ing in the larger cities and the "happy" ending in smaller centers. "Enemy" Gets $37,000 "Beloved Enemy" in its first week at the Rivoli garnered $37,000. For the three-day holiday weekend, the picture grossed $17,000. 12 "Thin Man" Holdovers Loew's reports holdover engage- ments on "After the Thin Man" in 12 cities : New York, Atlanta, Balti- more, Cleveland, New Orleans, Har- risburg, Hartford, Nashville, Reading, Washington, Philadelphia and Wil- mington. "Thin Man" Big in Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Jan. S. — -"After the Thin Man" is heading for new records at the Penn. In the first three days the picture knocked off a sensational $16,500 and is going strong. It will move from the Penn to the Warner Friday and is believed to be good for a couple of weeks there. It is topping the previous record holders, "Mutiny on the Bounty" and "Born to Dance," by wide margins. From 25 to 30 directors of Allied will attend the annual convention of the organization to be held at the Emerson, Baltimore, Jan. 21-22. Scheduled on the program will be election of officers, reports by com- mittees, mapping of the 1937 program, and selection of the place for the 1938 convention. Nathan Yamins, presi- dent, and Abram F. Myers, general counsel, will speak. The legislative program for the year also will be out- lined. Among those who will attend are Yamins, Fall River, Mass. ; J. B. Fishman, New Haven ; Arthur How- ard, Boston ; Herman Blum, Arthur Price and Frank Hornig, Baltimore ; Aaron Saperstein, Chicago ; H. M. Richey and Fred Lodder, Detroit; Al Steffes, Ernest Peaslee and Bennie Berger, Minneapolis ; Lee Newbury, president of Allied of New Jersey, and Sidney E. Samuelson, Newton, N. J. ; Myers, Washington ; Fred Herrington and M. A. Rosenberg, Pittsburgh ; H. A. Cole, Dallas ; Mar- tin Smith, Toledo; P. J. Wood, Col- umbus ; Moe Horowitz, Cleveland ; R. R. Bair, Indianapolis ; Fred Maertz and Ray Tesch, Milwaukee. Coast ITOA Sets Meet Hollywood, Jan. 5. — The first an- nual convention of the local branch of the ITOA will be held on Jan. 25 at the Ambassador, the board of directors stated today following its meeting. The one-day meet will con- sist of the presentation of a report of the organization's activities for the past year and the election of new officers. There will also be a luncheon for/ members and their families. Sim- ultaneously the group announced that their third annual show will be given on Jan. 13, to which only ITOA mem- bers will be invited. The organiza- tion's war chest will benefit. Allied to Meet Jan. 19 Allied of New Jersey will hold its next meeting at the Hotel Lincoln on Jan. 19. Routine matters will be dis- cussed. Perry N. Verkoff Dead Hollywood, Jan. 5. — Perry N. Verkoff, character actor and former director, died here yesterday. He was 56. Verkoff's last film appear- ance was with Mae. West. Greenwood Rites Thursday Hollywood, Jan. 5. — Funeral ser- vices for M. E. Greenwood, M-G-M studio manager, who died Monday, will be held Thursday afternoon at the Forest Lawn Cemetery. Pallbear- ers will include Edward J. Mannix, J. J. Cohn and Cedric Gibbons. Rites for Ray McDermott Cincinnati, Jan. 5. — Requiem high mass for Ray McDermott, former Cincinnati musician, director and pian- ist of the radio feature, "King's Jes- ters," who died in Chicago Saturday, was intoned at the Church of the Nativity here today. Burial was in St. Mary's cemetery. Roxy Hearing Jan. 19 Federal Judge Caffey yesterday ad- journed the hearing on the Roxy re- organization proceedings, scheduled to come before him on Jan. 15, to Jan. 19. MOTION PICTURE 10 RADIO DAILY RADIO Wednesday, January 6, 1937 National Poll Grades Benny As Radio Top {Continued from page 1) on in various quarters, it was hardly thought that the simon-pures had fallen into such disfavor. Helen Hayes, whose delightful "Bambi" series stands high among network script shows, placed fourth in the all-around championship division. Separated by not more than the digits represented in a hand follow the names of Bob Burns, Eddie Cantor, Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire. The name of Benny blanketed the poll like a London fog. Aside from winning the all-around championship honors, he was voted the best individ- ual comedian on the air, while the Jello program on which he stars far outranked "Town Hall Tonight," its nearest competitor. Benny received 66 per cent of the votes as the year's best comedian. Fred Allen was far behind with 20 per cent. Bob Burns and Eddie Can- tor are the remaining winners in this division. Jello, Best Comedy Series The Jello program ambled off easily with the best comedy series award. "Town Hall Tonight" provided the chief competition in this division, but was 30 per cent weaker than the Benny opus. The Campbell Soup zanies, Burns and Allen, and the Minute Tapioca program starring Stoopnagle and Budd, round out the four divisional leaders. The Fame poll provided two divi- sions which are found in no other poll. Radio editors were asked to determine the most effective film programs heard on the air during the year, and to name the motion picture players whose work they deemed best suited to the microphone. In the first category, the Lux Radio Theatre was voted most outstanding, although "Holly- wood Hotel" ranked a very close sec- ond. Next in order, although far weaker than the first two in tabulated strength, are the Packard program starring Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby's Kraft Music Hall series, the CBS Radio Theatre and Jimmy Fidler's "Hollywood Gossip" program. Crosby, Powell Film Leaders Bing Crosby and Dick Powell pro- vided the chief competition as the film stars most favored by the radio critics, with Bing a winner by a sparse two votes. Charles Butterworth made a surprisingly strong showing in view of the fact that his current program is his first consistent radio series. The frozen-faced screen comic placed third, close behind the leaders. Helen Hayes, Fred Astaire, Leslie Howard, Lionel Barrymore, Edward Everett Horton and Wallace Beery are next in order. Nelson Eddy, whose radio reputa tion earned him his first chance in films, was a surprising victor over Bing Crosby as the year's outstanding male vocalist. The blond baritone garnered 27 more votes than Crosby, a remarkable showing considering that his CBS program for Vick's is but a half-hour session, as compared with Bing's full-hour program. Further, Crosby's program is usually studded with a galaxy of important guest stars, a decided advantage, while Eddy practically always has to depend on his own vocal efforts to hold listeners' attention. Jessica Dragonette, who recently ended an eight-year stay on the Cities Service Concerts, accomplished the expected by winning the accolade in the women's singing division. The remarkable Jessica has accomplished this feat in the past with monotonous regularity ;. Miss Dragonette amassed more than twice the number of votes cast for Lily Pons, her nearest rival. Miss Pons in turn was hard-pressed by Frances Langford, who settled into third position. Burns and Allen Comedy Lead In view of Jack Benny's triple honors, one would suppose that the team of Benny and Mary Livingstone would win or make a strong showing in the comedy team division. How- ever, Benny and his wife, placed fifth as a team. Burns and Allen won the award after a spirited competition pro- vided by Stoopnagle and Budd. Amos 'n' Andy were a poor third, with Fib- ber McGee and Molly rating fourth place honors. The Cantor-Parkya- karkus, Allen-Hoffa and Baker- Beetle-Bottle combination were far down in the rankings. The most exciting competition in the entire survey of editors' likes and dis- likes was provided in the network an- nouncers' division. The lads who sell the sponsors' products are clustered together like grapes on the vine, with Don Wilson heading the list by virtue of his one vote superiority over Harry Von Zell and Milton J. Cross, who are tied for second place honors. Knotted also are David Ross and Jimmy Wallington, who share third place. Ted Husing is fourth. The search to determine the net- works' favorite commentators is in- variably an easy one. It's almost always safe to assume that Boake Carter, Edwin C. Hill, Lowell Thomas, and H. V. Kaltenborn, take your pick, will provide the chief com- petition. In Fame's poll, the competi- tion ran to form. Carter and Hill are the leaders, Thomas and Kalten- born the runners-up. Paul Sullivan, commentator for WLW, powerful Crosley station in Cincinnati, was next, a few notches above Gabriel Heatter. The results of the poll follow : Open Champions Jack Benny Fred Allen Rudy Vallee Helen Hayes Eddie Cantor Bob Burns Bing Crosby Fred Astaire Jessica Dragonette President Roosevelt Lanny Ross Nelson Eddy Amos 'n' Andy Wallace Beery Lulu Belle Joan Blaine Major Bowes Hugh Conrad Richard Crooks Leslie Howard Andre Kostelanetz Phillips Lord Nino Martini John Nesbitt Robert Ripley Kate Smith Fred Waring Film Placers Bing Crosby Dick Powell Chas. Butterworth Fred Astaire Helen Hayes Edward Everett Horton Leslie Howard What Fame 's Poll Points In Current Trends in Taste Fame's first annual newspaper ballot for the radio champions of 1936 led to these conclusions: 1 — Situation comedy definitely has killed off all liking for the "he said, she said" type of humor. 2 — The amateur wave is ebbing so rapidly that it may shortly engulf even so distinguished a leader as Major Bowes, this year's "forgotten man" on the air. 3 — Lux Radio Theatre and "Hollywood Hotel" are the year's most outstanding radio-film outputs and the most effective film stars regularly heard on the air are Bing Crosby, Dick Powell, Charles Butterworth and Fred Astaire. 4 — The most popular male vocalists, with the possible ex- ception of Frank Parker, are film personalities. These include Nelson Eddy, Bing Crosby, Nino Martini and Dick Powell. 5 — The best feminine voices, with one or two notable excep- tions, are not picture personalities, strange as it may seem. The possible film exceptions are Frances Langford and Lily Pons, if the latter can be rightfully included as a film song- stress. 6 — Radio is badly in need of new blood. Hardly a newcomer is represented in any of the 13 categories covered by Fame. 7 — Operatic and classical music is still highly popular on the networks. 8 — Quality of radio scripts still determines the worth of a dramatic program, as proved by the votes cast for "One Man's Family," Lux Radio Theatre, Helen Hayes' "Bambi," "The First Nighter" and "The March of Time." Most of the so-called "corny" script shows are not represented by statistics in the Fame poll, while the few that were mentioned place far down in the listings. Lionel Barrymore Wallace Beery Bob Burns Claudette Colbert Eddie Cantor Paul Muni Jack Benny Edward Arnold Bette Davis Irene Dunne Clark Gable Grace Moore Frank Morgan Lily Pons Norma Shearer James Cagney Nelson Eddy Patsy Kelly Francis Langford Conrad Nagel Jack Oakie Pat O'Brien Mary Astor Ethel Barrymore John Barrymore Joan Blondell George Brent Gary Cooper Joan Crawford Ralph Forbes Kay Francis Miriam Hopkins Walter Huston Boris Karloff Fred MacMurray Nino Martini Robert Montgomery Clarence Muse Edna Mae Oliver Martha Raye E. G. Robinson Chas. Ruggles Kate Smith Lawrence Tibbett Spencer Tracy Loretta Young Vocalists: Male Nelson Eddy Bing Crosby Frank Parker Nino Martini Richard Crooks Lanny Ross Lawrence Tibbett Kenny Baker John Charles Thomas Morton Downey James Melton Morton Bowe Stuart Churchill Frank Forrest Ross Graham Perry Komo Tony Martin Dick Powell Conrad Thibault Phil Regan Rudy Vallee Vocalists: Feminine Jessica Dragonette Lily Pons Francis Langford Kate Smith Lucille Manners Helen Jepson Francia White Margaret Speaks Gladys Swarthout Grace Moore Kay Thompson Virginia Rae Jane Frohman Hildegarde Ann Jamison Jane Pickens Marion Talley Lulu Belle Peggy Gardiner Vivian della Chiesa Bernice Claire Dolly Dawn (Continued following page) MOTION PICTURE RADIO DAILY RADIO National Poll Grades Benny As Radio Top {Continued from page 10) Ruth Etting Kirsten Flagstad Harriet Hilliard Loretta Lee Jeanette MacDonald Leah Raye Ethel Shutta Virginia Verrill Comedians Jack Benny Fred Allen Bob Burns Eddie Cantor Ken Murray Milton Berle Fred Astaire Phil Baker Chas. Butterworth Fibber McGee and Molly Comedy Teams Bums and Allen Stoopnagle and Budd Amos 'n' Andy Fibber McGee and Molly Jack Benny-Mary Livingstone Pick and Pat Baker and Bottle Cantor and Parkyakarkus Easy Aces Lum and Abner Fred Allen- Portland Hoffa Tim and Irene Tom Howard-Geo. Shelton Musical Programs General Motors Concerts — Guest con- ductors Ford Sunday Evening Hour — Guest conductors N. Y. Philharmonic — John Barbirolli Chesterfield — Andre Kostelanetz Fred Waring Cities Service — Rosario Bourdon Paul Whiteman Musical Varieties Lady Esther Serenades — Wayne King Lucky Strike Hit Parade — Guest con- ductors Philadelphia Orchestra — -Leopold Sto- kowski Kraft Music Hall — Bing Crosby Magic Key of RCA— Frank Black Voice of Firestone — Guest conductors American Album of Familiar Music — Gus Haenchen Horace Heidt's Brigadiers Packard — Johnny Green Vick's Open House — Josef Pasternack Metropolitan Auditions — Wilfred Pel- letier Musical Camera — Josef Cherniovsky Radio City Music Hall Royal Variety Hour — Rudy Vallee Cesare Sodero Standard Symphony Hour Meredith Willson Concerts Drama Programs Lux Radio Theatre One Man's Family Helen Hayes— "Bambi" First Nighter March of Time Grand Hotel NBC Radio Guild Cavalcade of America Gangbusters Lights Out Amos 'n' Andy Columbia Workshop Drums Phonetics Win Omaha, Jan. 5. — Foster May, W O W s newscaster, stated on the air that, in the future, he will follow the practice of pronouncing geo- graphical names and proper names of foreigners phonetic- ally. He said his listeners can't recognize who or what is being discussed if the prop- er pronunciation is used. Famous Jury Trials Good Will Court Hollywood Hotel Lum and Abner Radio City Music Hall 20,000 Years in Sing Sing Vic and Sade Witch's Tale Your Unseen Friend Radio Bands Andre Kostelanetz Guy Lombardo Fred Waring Wayne King Shep Fields Paul Whiteman Benny Goodman Horace Heidt Richard Himber Glen Gray Hal Kemp Jan Garber Ted Weems Armco Lon Blake Eddie Duchin Phil Harris Henry King Little Jack Little Abe Lyman Ozzie Nelson Ray Noble George Olsen Joe Sanders Phil Spitalny Rudy Vallee Mark Warnow Meredith Willson Comedy Programs Jack Benny — Jello Town Hall Tonight— (Fred Allen) — Ipana, Sal Hepatica Burns and Allen — Campbell's Soups Stoopnagle and Budd — Minute Tapi- oca Phil Baker — Gulf Gas Texaco Town — (Eddie Cantor) — Texaco Amos 'n' Andy — Pepsodent Community Sing— (Milton Berle) — Colgate-Palmolive-Peet Easy Aces — -Anacin Fibber McGee and Molly — Johnson's Wax Kaltenmeyer's Kindergarten — Quaker Oats National Barn Dance — Alka-Seltser Saturday Night Party — (Walter O'Keefe)— Sealtest Vic and Sade — Crisco Announcers Don Wilson Harry Von Zell Milton Cross David Ross James Wallington Ted Husing Hugh Conrad Ben Grauer Graham McNamee Jean Paul King Howard Claney Alois Havrilla Harlow Wilcox Truman Bradley Paul Douglas John S. Young Ken Carpenter John B. Kennedy Tiny Ruffner Andre Barouch Ford Bond Norman Brokenshire Don Brown Boake Carter Bill Goodwin Peter Grant Bill Hays Charles Jennings Carleton Kadell Kelvin Keech Everett Mitchell Ken Niles Ken Roberts Gayne Whitman Commentators Boake Carter Edwin C. Hill Lowell Thomas H. V. Kaltenborn Paul Sullivan Gabrielle Heatter John B. Kennedy Walter Winchell John Nesbit Gilbert Seldes John K. Watkins Hugh Conrad Alistair Cooke Milton Cross Jimmy Fidler Wm. Hard Glen Hardy Donald McGibney Bob Trout Deems Taylor (music) Film Programs Lux Radio Theatre Hollywood Hotel Packard — Fred Astaire Kraft Music Hall— Bing Crosby CBS Radio Theatre Hollywood Gossip — Jimmy Fidler F. C. C. Grants Three New Station Permits Washington, Jan. 5. — The Broad- casting Division of the Federal Com- munications Commission today or- dered the granting of construction per- mits for three new broadcasting stations at the division's first 1937 meeting. The new stations will be located in Superior, Wis., Bridgeton, N. J., and Visalia, Cal. The first two will have 100 watts power and the third 250 watts. The commission also revealed that oral arguments will be heard Feb. 4 on the examiner's report recommend- ing the revocation of the license of Station KVOS, Bellingham, Wash. The station recently was freed by the U. S. Supreme Court of charges of news "piracy" brought by the Asso- ciated Press, but the examiner's re- port held it to have violated the regu- lations of the commission in other ways. ■ Experiments in synchronizing a booster broadcasting station without the use of wire lines will be under- taken at College Park, Md., under a construction permit for a new ex- perimental station to operate be- tween midnight and 6 A.M. only, granted to University of Maryland in- vestigators. Only one new station was licensed today, KPLT, Paris, Tex., to operate daytime only on 1,- 500 kilocycles with 100 watts power. Increases in power were granted as follows : WNEL, San Juan, P. R., to {Continued on pane 12) I I Last Night On the Air "Watch the Fun Go By" Fred Waring left a large pair of brogans to be filled when he vacated the Ford program a week ago. Rex Chandler only half filled the Waring shoes when he took over the NBC portion of the Ford series. Al Pearce and His Gang could do no better last night in the CBS session, now known as "Watch the Fun Go By." We're still watching and waiting, after listen- ing. The program was as spotty as the Dalmatian puppy in your neighbor- hood fire house. Alternately it was good, indifferent and finally bad. The best feature of the program was a gabby monologue by Arlene Harris, the "Human Chatterbox." A moronic character introduced as "Elmer Blurt" offered a routine that was as moronic as its depictor. Jimmie Brierley's singing was good ; Arthur Boran's imitations of Lionel Barrymore, Ed Wynn and Eddie Cantor were alter- nately poor, good and excellent in the order and delineation named, while the singing of the juvenile De Marco Sisters was average. Which just about spells the sum total of the program: Average. Larry Marsh's orchestral perform- ance was the only consistent feature on the program. "Watch the Fun Go By" is pre- sented each Tuesday at 9 P. M., E.S.T., over the CBS network. Ford Motor Co. sponsors. "Listen to This" By listening to "Listen to This," a Mutual-Don Lee program presented weekly at 8:30 P. M., E.S.T., we dis- covered how to secure a recorded transcription of former King Edward VIII's farewell to his Empire. How? Simply by contributing 50c together with a box top of a Murine eyewash package and addressing it to the spon- sor. The 50c in itself will not do the trick. One must enclose the box top. And so, skipping from the ridiculous to the program, we find that "Listen to This" is one of those trite little of- ferings that fill the same spot in radio that "B" films do in motion picture theatres. The program offers a band, Lou Diamond's ; a pair of songsters named Johnny and Dotty; a dramati- zation of "The Lie of the Week" and a guest of the week. Between patter Johnny and Dotty offer harmony songs more or less ac- ceptably. "The Lie of the Week" as offered last night was a nonsensical dramatization of a crippled ball player who scored a home run by using a crutch instead of a bat. A trio in- troduced as "The Little Women," the guests of the evening, scored with a close harmony offering. Banner On Air Anyway With a strike practically paralyzing the entire produc- tion output of the General Motors Corp., the company still is carrying on with its five network shows. More- over, several recently were re-signed for additional per- iods. 12 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, January 6, 1937 Station Total Of 656 Nears 1928 Figures (.Continued from page 1) seven times as extensive as that of today, there would not be made avail- able such additional multiplication of channels, and with the advent of new services such as television and other new uses for radio, the commission would continue to be confronted with a dearth of radio facilities in the face of a large demand therefor," it was declared. While the technique of television has progressed during the past year, the commission does not feel that it is ready for public service on a national scale. "There are numerous obstacles to be overcome and much technical development is required before tele- vision can be established on a sound national scale," it was pointed out. "Nevertheless, the rate of progress is rapid and the energies of the labora- tories of the country are being con- centrated on the technical development of television." During the fiscal year there was a marked increase in the number of com- plaints received with regard to the program service of broadcasting sta- tions, but the majority of these cases were easily adjusted, it was reported. In only 11 instances did investigation of such complaints result in formal action, these being concerned with stations that broadcast lottery pro- grams, objectionable medical pro- grams, stock-selling schemes and com- mercial fortune-telling programs. Mutual Billings Up 10.4% Over Year Ago Mutual billings for December were $193,496.23, which represents an in- crease of 10.4 per cent over last year's for the corresponding month. Last December's total was $175,301.27. The Mutual total of time sales for 1936 is $1,987,572.57, an improvement of 53.7 per cent over 1935. The pre- vious year's total was $175,301.27. Latest among the Mutual programs to go coast-to-coast is the "Music From Texas" series which hereafter will be heard over the 10 Don Lee stations in addition to 12 Mutual sta- tions which have been carrying the program for some time past. The program, sponsored by a hotel in Texas, is heard Mondays and Fridays at 1 P. M., E. S. T. Lucky Bowman is the agency. F.C.C. Grants Three New Station Permits (Continued from page 11) 1,000 watts night, and 2,500 watts day; KEHE, Los Angeles, to 1,000 night and 5,000 day; KFWB, War- ners, Hollywood, to 5,000 day; KID, Idaho Falls, Idaho, to 500 night and 1,000 day; WABI, Bangor, Me., to 250 day; KVOA, Tucson, Ariz., to 1,000; KSCJ, Sioux City, la., to 5,- 000 day; WDBO, Orlando, Fla., to 1,000; WEAN, Providence, to 1,000, and KRBC, Abilene, Tex., to 250 day. Names Farmer and Power Last night on his regular NBC pro- gram for Luden's, Jimmy Fidler, Hollywood commentator, named Frances Farmer and Tyrone Power as the year's outstanding screen discov- eries. Fidler selected Robert Taylor and Jean Arthur for the same honors in 1935. Trout Starting Series Announcer Bob Trout inaugurates a new series for the American His- torical Ass'n Jan. 17 over CBS from 1:45 to 2 P.M., E.S.T. Trout will discuss important news events of the day and compare them with events of the past. More Film Names Bought The "Hollywood Hotel" program of Jan. 15 will present Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray in a radio ver- sion of the stage vehicle "Swing High, Swing Low." Victor McLaglen has been set for Jan. 22. A vehicle and supporting player are now being sought. "Beauty Forum," a new program sponsored by McKesson and Robbins and featuring beauty culturist E. V. Meadows, starts Thursday at 9:45 A.M., E.S.T., over seven Mutual sta- tions. The stations are WOR, New York; WGN, Chicago; CKLW, Detroit-Windsor ; WAAB, Boston ; WGAR, Cleveland; WHB, Kansas City, and KOIL, Omaha. Brown and Tarcher is the agency. Fray, Braggiotti Reunite Jacques Fray and Mario Braggiotti, noted piano duo separated for the past six months, have reconciled and begin- ning Jan. 18 will be heard Mondays at 7:45 P. M., E.S.T. over the NBC- Red network. Gafifney, Venuta, Et Al Short Shots: Maurice Gafifney of CBS Trade News Division latest among the grippe victims . . . Benay Venuta leaves the airwaves for a two- week club date in Hollywood, Fla. . . . Bill Forbes, Don Lee time sales- man, has resigned to accept a similar berth at west coast CBS . . . Clyde Pangborn and Guy Lombardo have been set for the "Morning Matinee" program Jan. 14 . . . Condolences to Barbara La Marr, WOR contralto, who lost her father yesterday . . . Abe Schecter. NBC special events head, back in harness after a Bermuda cruise . . . George Burns and Gracie Allen entrain for Hollywood tomor- row, with their program emanating from the west coast on the following Wednesday . . . John Held, Jr., has been signed to act as "em cee" on the forthcoming "Varsity Show," the programs of which will be broadcast direct from the campuses of the coun- try's leading universities under the sponsorship of Pontiac Motors. The series begins Friday, Jan. 22, at 10 :30 P.M., E.S.T., over the NBC-Red . . . W. J. Cameron, executive of the Ford Motor Co., will guest speak on the Philadelphia Orchestra program this Friday . . . Phil Baker will ofifer a satire on the film, "The Thin Man," on his program this Sunday night . . . Floyd Gibbons will contribute a monthly prize for the best of the true adventures offered on his new pro- gram which starts tomorrow over CBS . . . Grete Steuckgold makes a return appearance on Bing Crosby's "Music Hall" series tomorrow night. . . . Evelyn Laye will appear with Ed Wvnn on the latter's program Jan. 16. Kennedy's Busy Broken Bow, Neb., Jan. 5.— December went down on the books as a very important month for H. F. and C. How- ard Kennedy. Dec. 18 the Kennedys opened their new Bow thea- tre here, H. F., the father, celebrating his 25th anniver- sary as an exhibitor at the same time. Dec. 31 they be- came a grandfather and father, respectively. Monogram in Studio; Initial Film Is Ready Hollywood, Jan. 5. — A Monogram production unit under the direction of Scott Dunlap, vice-president, on Wednesday will establish headquar- ters at the Talisman Studio which will thereafter be known as the New Hollywood Studio. The company program of 30 pic- tures will be produced by I. E. Chad- wick, Ken Goldsmith, Lon Young and Dorothy Reed. "Paradise Isle," first, is set to start March 15. The com- pany will buy outside product. Chad- wick has already completed two films on his program. No Threat Seen in Calif. Legislature Sacramento, Jan. 5. — Opening of the legislature today presaged no direct threats to Hollywood studios with only one of 65 bills introduced directly affecting motion pictures, and that an amendment to the state Fair Trade Practices Act, which specifically exempts films from its terms because they are leased and not sold. The only serious opposition is the possibility of the passing of an in- crease in the income tax law. Baltimore Ads Are Cut Baltimore, Jan. 5. — Sunday theatre advertising fell off sharply as a result of the boost in rates from 25 cents to 45 cents per agate line by the Sunday Sun and Sunday American. Six of the first runs took about 25 lines each, five neighborhoods took small space and the two principal circuits, Durkee and Rome, were en- tirely absent. The New happened to have a national ad running. Settles Suit for $70 N. Y. Supreme Court Justice John E. McGeehan yesterdav approved the terms of settlement of a suit of Harry Cook against 20th Century-Fox. He accepted $70 and $15 attorneys' fees. Cook had sued on the ground that his rights had been infringed when he was filmed in front of 15 Maiden Lane for a scene in the picture of that Meeting in Chicago Herman Robbins, Sam and George Dembow left for Chicago yesterday to attend a brief midwestern meeting on National Screen Service business. "Spain" Out in July United Artists plans to release "The Kid From Spain" some time in July. The picture was produced about four years ago. Kallet Plans Heavy Expansion Program Oneida, N. Y., Jan. 5. — An ambi- tious expansion program will be de- cided upon by Kallet Theatres, Inc., at the annual meeting- to be held here Jan. 28. The circuit closed the year with 21 houses. During 1937 dark houses will be opened and 10 new ones will be built or leased, according to M. J. Kallet, president. A modernization program calls for an estimated expenditure of more than $500,000. The Regent, Syracuse, is to be re- built as an ace house. In this town the Madison and Regent are to be re- modeled and a new house constructed on Main St. on a site acquired re- cently. Two or more of the seven Utica houses will be remodeled. In June remodeling will be started on the Strand at Canajorharie. This house was purchased Dec. 15, but possession will not be taken until June 1. During December the company opened the Avon at Fulton. Waynesboro Votes In Sunday Performance Waynesboro, Va., Jan. 5. — Follow- ing special voting here today, regis- tered voters ballotted 344 for Sun- day shows against 294 in opposition. As a result of the referendum, Sunday shows are legal here as far as local ordinances are concerned. Precautions Taken Chicago, Jan. 5. — Dr. Howard N. Bundeson, president of the Board of Health, ordered the police c®mmis- sioner to station a policeman in every theatre here to enforce the ordinance against standing in the aisles. In ad- dition, the police have been ordered to keep the lobbies clear and allow no one inside unless a seat is available. This action was taken to avert the spread of an influenza epidemic which is increasing rapidly. Wall Street Para. Issue Hits New High Net High Low Close Change Columbia 35 35 35 + % Columbia, pfd. . . . 43% 43J4 43% + % Consolidated 5% 5% 5% + % Consolidated, pfd.. 17% 17% 17% + % Eastman Kodak.. 174 173J4 173% —1% Gen. T. Equip.... 30% 2934 29% + % Loew's, Inc 6654 64% 66 +1% Loew's, pfd 106% 106% 106% — % Paramount 25% 24% 25% +1 Paramount 1 pfd.. 178% 170% 178J4 +8% Paramount 2 pfd.. 22 23 +1 Pathe Film 10% 9% 9% — % RKO 8% 8J4 8% — % 20th Century-Fox. 35% 35 35% + % 20th Century, pfd.. 44 43% 43%. + % Universal, pfd. ..100 100 100 Warner Bros 18 17% 17% + % Warner, pfd 67%, 67% 67% — % Curb Gains Lightly Net High Low Close Change Grand National . . 3% 3% 3% + % Sonotone 2 2 2 Technicolor 21% 21 21 + % Trans-Lux 4% 4% 4% + % Universal Pict....ll% 11% 11% — % Bond Prices Increase Net High Low Close Change Keith B. F. 6s '46 98 98 98 Loew's 3%s '46... 101 101 101 — % Paramount Pict. 6s '55 100% 100% 100% + % RKO 6s '41 pp.... 117 116 117 +1 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 99% 99% 99% + % (Quotations at close of Jan. 5) Wednesday, January 6, 1937 JLjrJr~m±M. JL-e M, 13 MOTION PICTURJE DAILY 4 Purely Personal ► Paramount' s Issues Soar to New Highs Congress Gets Started with 2,000 Bills {Continued from page 1) were introduced today or will be sub- mitted before the end of the week. Among those so far introduced are two measures by Representative Cul- kin of New York, one to prohibit block booking and the other to estab- lish a commission to protect the indus- try from unfair trade practices and monopoly and settle trade contro- versies ; two bills to prohibit the entry of alien actors, one by Representative Dickstein of New York and the other by Congressman Kramer of Cali- fornia, the latter permitting the entry of actors from countries which permit American artists to take engagements ; the block booking bill of Congressman Pettengill of Indiana, and the copy- right measure (passed by the Senate in the last Congress, but not acted upon by the House) by Senator Duffy of Wisconsin. Potman to Revise Theatre Measure {Continued from page 1) retail distribution by producers, it is expected the bill will vest in the Fed- eral Trade Commission authority to compel the abandonment of retail outlets by producers whose distribu- tion activities tend to create unfair competition, lead to monopoly or "injure the business of a customer who is a retailer." More mature consideration of his measure, it was represented, has led Congressman Patman to the belief that a flat prohibition against retail selling by manufacturers would cause unnecessary injury to many small con- cerns while the large "monopoly" producer-retailers can be driven from the field by the proposed substitute provisions. Under the bill, as redrafted, pro- ducers having theatres would be sub- ject to attack on three grounds — that their theatres constitute unfair com- petition, that they tend to build up a monopoly, or that they injure compet- ing exhibitors who also buy the pro- ducers' pictures. Constitutionality Of Sales Tax Hit {Continued from page 1) tax assessment against its film ren- tals here furnished the test case for the other distributors, are included in the new brief. They are that the li- censing of film does not constitute a sale of tangible property; that such transactions are not sales at retail and that such transactions are in in- terstate commerce and, therefore, not subject to a municipal tax. Wood's brief charges that the sales tax law itself, which was conceived to provide funds for the relief of unem- ployed, is in violation of both the state and Federal constitutions because it appropriates public funds for private purposes "in violation of the Four- teenth Amendment to the Federal Constitution and the due process clause of the State Constitution." O'Brien, Driscoll & Raftery, attor- neys for United Artists, are attorneys of record in the case. TOE MOSKOWITZ and Jack k) Goetz and Lester C. Burdett of the attorney general's office in New Jersey congregated at the Tavern for lunch yesterday. Moskowitz leaves Friday for a month's trip to the coast. Goetz misses his partner, Arthur Gottlieb, who has gone to Toronto and is due back the end of the week. A. W. Smith, Jr., and Lowell Cal- vert are together and Monroe Green- thal and Lynn Farnol discuss ad- vertising. Jack Lait and Nate Spin- gold are in a corner talking things over. George Hirliman, A. J. Van Beu- ren and Frank Snell are seated to- gether, while M. H. Hoffman is ac- companied by Budd Rogers. James Winn, Grand National's division manager, just back from New Or- leans by air, talks about bookings for "Great Guy." • Chester Erskine drops by and says hello to Moskowitz. He has just recovered after being down several days with the grippe. Don Hancock and Harold McCracken confer on shorts, while Fred McConnell is seated alone. J. H. McFarland and James P. Cunningham talked things over, while James Clark, just in from Philadelphia, is paired with Clint Weier. • Leo Justin, Mitchell Klupt and Irving Wormser are gathered at the the big round table, while Harry Shiffman and Henry Brown desert them for the day. Harry H. Thomas and Jules Chapman are together and give Hoffman a big handshake. Edward Schnitzer, Bill Saal, Emil Jensen, Arnold Van Leer and Irwin Kleeblatt are at other tables. • Ray Johnston, Herman Rifkin, and Edward Golden are together at one of the rear tables, while Jules Levy and Bob Wolff are seated at a side table. George Weeks and George Batcheller are at the other side of the room. • John Murphy, assistant to Joe Vogel, and Larry Beatus, Loew divi- sion manager, have returned from the coast where they visited the M-G-M studios. On their return they stopped at St. Louis and Denver. • Tamara, last seen in "Roberta," has been signed for the lead in "Tide Rising," new play by George Brewer, Jr., to be presented by Richard Aldrich and Richardson Myers. • Mrs. David Loew and her two sons will leave for Hollywood today. They came east expecting snow and were disappointed. • Hal Horne, due yesterday from the coast, was grounded in Texas and is due to arrive today. • Robert Schless of Warners' office in Paris will leave for home in about 10 days. • Louis B. Mayer and Howard Strickling are due today from Hollywood. • Nat Cohn is back from Miami after a two-week vacation. Al Lichtman is planning to leave for the coast again shortly. STANTON GRIFFIS, chairman of the Paramount executive commit- tee, joined the home office contingent which is en route to the coast for the Adolph Zukor jubilee dinner tomor- row night. • Antoinette Spitzer, formerly with the Blackstone Agency, has joined the local Walter Wanger office to do special exploitation for "Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1938." • Barney Rapp, orchestra leader, and Ruby Rice, his soloist, will be mar- ried this afternoon. A reception will be held at 6 :30 in the Paris Room of the Hotel New Yorker. • Frank Gillmore, president of Ac- tors' Equity Ass'n will leave Friday on a vacation trip which will take him to Rio de Janeiro. • William R. Ferguson and Eddie Carrier are in Detroit visiting W. G. Bishop, Loew exploiteer, who is ill with pneumonia. • Sara Fox is gaining steadily at the Sth Ave. Hospital where she under- went an operation the other day. • David Souhami, who is here from Paris on an extended visit, has left for the coast. • Luli Deste, under contract to B. P. Schulberg, left yesterday for the coast. • Irving Mack, the Chicago trailer man, is in New York for a few days. • C. C. Petti john was confined to his home with a cold yesterday. • Louise Fazenda is at the Lom- bardy. . . . Omaha Arthur Anderson, Warners' Des Moines manager, recently had a close call with pneumonia contracted at Oskaloosa, la. He is reported recuperating. Joe E. Scott, 20th Century-Fox exchange manager, and Nynee Fran- ces Lefholtz, formerly of the Lef- holtz Sisters singing trio of stage and radio, took a Christmas honeymoon following their marriage at St. Bernard's Catholic Church. L. C. Ehlers, manager of the Minden at Minden, Neb., has been elected president of that city's Cham- ber of Commerce. • . . . Cincinnati Tracy' Barham, general manager Southio Theatres, with headquarters in Hamilton, is spending the holiday season in Alabama. Harry Schwartz, formerly Grand National salesman, is now with Big Feature Rights as salesman out of Indianapolis. Steve Hollander, student booker at M-G-M, in New York for a holi- day vacation with his family. • . . . Portland Matt Apperton, formerly with Sheffield-Republic, making a quick trip to visit Pacific Northwest friends via motor. J. T. Sheffield of Republic back from Denver for the holidays. All three Paramount issues on the stock exchange yesterday hit new highs and closed % of a point from the top quotations. The first pre- ferred gained &% on the day and ended at 178%. The common went as high as 25y2, finished at 25%, for a point profit, while the second pre- ferred reached 23%, closed at 23 and also netted a point to the good. Trading was heavy in all three is- sues, the company taking the lead in comparison with other film stocks on the basis of the number of shares changing hands. Atlas Has 1,516,483 Para. Shares Atlas Corp. is beneficial owner of 1,516,483 shares of Paramount first preferred stock, according to a state- ment filed yesterday with the N. Y. Stock Exchange. In its report, how- ever, the investment company, which is also heavily interested in RKO, disclaims responsibility for accuracy and completeness of the holdings as indicated. The Paramount report, dated Oct. 3, 1936, lists Allied Owners Corp. as owner of 25,000 shares of first pre- ferred. The shares were issued to Al- lied as part of the settlement arrange- ments for a $5,000,000 claim filed against Paramount in its reorganiza- tion proceedings which originated with theatre building and leasing deals made with Paramount. John D. Hertz with Lehman Bros., of which he is a partner, are listed as owners of 8,000 shares of second preferred and 600 shares of com- mon. Maurice Newton with Hallgar- ten & Co., of which he is a partner, are listed as owners of 5,000 snares of second preferred and 5,000 shares of common. The report disclosed that Adolph Zukor received a salary of $91,645 during 1935, and that John E. Otter- son received $84,000 as president of Paramount for the period from June 17, 1935, to Jan. 1, 1936. S. A. Lynch, who served as chairman of the Para- mount advisory committee during the reorganization of the company, re- ceived a salarv of $79,500 for the full year 1935. The statement reported that Para- mount owned 560 theatres in 1936. This number does not include theatres partially owned and operated by part- ners, which are believed to number about 500. Start Giving Zukor Medals The special silver medallions, com- memorating the showing of "Queen Elizabeth" starring Sarah Bernhardt in the first full-length production, are now being distributed through the various Paramount exchanges to the exhibitors who played "Queen Eliza- beth" when it was first released in 1912. In addition to the 387 exhibitors previously mentioned for these medal- lions, there have been added the names of 1 1 more theatreowners. Included in this new group, which makes 398 showmen in all, are : Chicago: Harry Foster. Dallas: E. H. Rowley and H. B. Robb, Dallas; Yuill Robb, Big Springs, Tex. Kansas City: 'Arthur H. Cole and R. C. LiBeau, Kansas City; A. L. Hackett, Fair- fax, Mo.; Hugh Gardner. Neosho, Mo-; Mrs. Rolla Booth, Rich Hill, Mo. Canada: George Cook, Picton, Ont.; Sara Lester, Toronto. M edited by Terry Ramsaye THE BOX OFFICE CHECK-UP an AUDIT of PERSONALITIES The third annual edition of the international reference authority on star values is off the press to-day! The box office champions of 1936 presented with complete analysis and personnel credits. The money making stars of the season evaluated and reported upon by the exhibitor showmen of the world. The radio champions of 1936 as polled by the radio editors of the daily newspapers of America. Film Fame and Radio — an analysis of the extent to which the air waves lean on Hollywood for talent. QUIGLEY PUBLICATIONS ROCKEFELLER CENTER, NEW YORK 16 MOTION PICTURJt DAILY Wednesday, January 6, 1937 A. J. Balaban, Chicago Group Enter F. & M. (Continued from pane 1) deal. Meyers is believed to have represented A. J. Balaban. Another meeting will probably be held next week when Arthur returns from New York and Mike Marco comes on from the coast. Arthur is due by plane late Tuesday night and Marco the same day. It is possible that the two may meet in New York before conferring here with the Chi- cago interests. Balaban recently organized Balaban Theatres Co., at Dover, Del. He is head of the company. Greene, Perl- man and Jack Bartman of Chicago also are interested. Balaban is due back from Switzerland next month. Balaban is understood to have had a desire to return to the theatre field for some time. He is a friend of long standing with Arthur Marco and Jack Partington. The three F. & M. as- sociates are said to have made over- tures to Balaban to join with them some time ago, but he turned down the proposal. On Nov. 29, F. & M. took over operation of the St. Louis Amuse- ment Co. on a 10-year management contract with the bondholders. In ad- dition, the company operates the Am- bassador, St. Louis, Missouri Fox, and Orpheum and Shubert-Rialto. The latter two are closed because of labor difficulties. The Balaban-Rubens buy would in- clude all these houses and possibly the three theatres in which F. & M. is interested with Harry Greenman, two of which are in neighborhoods and the third out of the city. There is a possibility that Para- mount may be interested indirectly through Rubens, but this could not be confirmed. Rubens is head of Great States which, in turn, is owned by B. & K., Paramount theatre affiliate. At the present time Loew's is the only major distributor represented in the territory with its own exhibition unit. G. B. to Start Own Exchanges Shortly (Continued from page 1) outlet in every key city in the country before June. Offices will be opened one at a time, it was stated yesterday, since there is no disposition on the part of 20th Century-Fox to inconvenience G. B. Arthur Lee, vice-president of the domestic G. B. company, is due to re- turn from Miami Beach tomorrow to start working on these plans. In the interim, G. B. will hold up releasing five B.I. P. and a similar number of Herbert Wilcox films re- cently contracted for distribution in this market. Isidore and Maurice Ostrer are understood deferring their return to England until details in con- nection with G. B. exchanges are completed. I.T.O.A. to Discuss Labor Labor again will be the principal topic at the regular I.T.O.A. meeting today at the Astor. The annual ball, scheduled for Jan. 16 at the Waldorf, also will be discussed. Looking 'Em Over Woman in Distress (Columbia) A lively, fast-moving picture, characterized by a novel theme and engaging romantic complications, this should be found attractive enter- tainment by almost any audience. Excellent double bill material, it also may stand on its own feet in many situations. Albert De Mond's screen play from Edwin Olmstead's story revolves about the unexpected discovery of an original Rembrandt in the home of an elderly spinster in Maine, the efforts of a newspaper reporter and his feminine rival to scoop each other on the story, the theft of the pic- ture by a gang of thieves, and its eventual recovery, accomplished in an active, suspense-laden fashion. A good cast includes May Robson as the spinster ; Dean Jagger and Irene Hervey as the two reporters, who close the film on a romantic note, and Douglas Dumbrille as the leader of the gang which steals the painting. Annoyed by the manner in which Miss Hervey has been beating him to stories, Jagger determines to beat her to the Rembrandt yarn, but fails, apparently, when she calls his story of the painting's authenticity a falsehood. The painting had been stolen in the meantime. From that point the film moves rapidly, under Lynn Shores' direction, as the gang attempts to kill Miss Robson and Miss Hervey, fearing they may identify the painting if it is found. The two are saved from fire in the proverbial nick of time and all's well. Production Code Seal No. 2,821. Running time, 67 minutes. "G." "Revolutionists" (Am kino) From the Soviet Mosfilm studios comes this documentary treatment of a series of events which preceded the Russian cataclysm. To be more accurate, it reveals, more or less in strict historical fashion, how the roots of the "cause" were set to gather nutriment and so launch the Bolshevist movement. It contains some outstanding performances, but strikes the usual note of Soviet self-praise plus, of course, propaganda. It is lengthy, at times slow-moving. Occasionally there are flashes of tine direction. The narrative concerns the difficulties of a student who is expelled from his university for radical tendencies. He goes from one trying situation to another, finally being seized and exiled. However, without him the cause moves on and when he is released again definite progress has been made in the way of bloodshed and slaughter. And with highly emphasized heroics the piece finally winds up fortelling more radical plotting when the motivating trio of "comrades" meet again in a foreign country. Vera Stroyeva directed. There are subtitles in English and no appeal for this market. Reviewed without production code seal. Running time, 100 min- utes. "A." Overseas Previews "Sensation" (A.B.P.) London, Dec. 23. — From the play "Murder Gang," by George Munro, Fleet St. crime reporter, and Basil Deal. It satirizes and exposes the newspaper practice of making murder a front page story and of inventing the facts when they do not present themselves. Chief figure is Pat Heaton (John Lodge), prize member of the "Mur- der Gang," which descends from newspa'perdom to the scene of the cur- rent crime. Heaton, assisting in the discovery of the murderer of a pretty country waitress and exploiting his wife's need of- money for the defense to trap her into agreeing to publication of her love letters, is sickened by the whole newspaper racket and, encouraged by his sweet- heart, gives back the letters and commits professional suicide. Briskly, directed by Brian Desmond Hurst, it is amusing in its charac- terization of the various types of crime reporter and maintains the mystery interest as well. The reporter is quite plausibly shown following up clues which die neglected under the noses of the police. The newspaper atmosphere is not so happy in the Fleet St. scenes. Diana Churchill, Joan Marion, Athene Seyler, Francis Lister, Ma*- garet Vyner and Jerry Verno have good parts. It is very fair entertain ment of support category, but very British. Running time, 75 minutes. "A." Alla?'' Short Subjects "Ifs All Over Now" ( Vitaphone) Dan Healy falls to reminiscing over his past affairs on the night before his wedding. Assisted by Brooks Benedict, his butler, he conjures up the atmosphere surrounding the vari- ous girls as he burns their photos. There is a series of dissolves into colorful situations — Scotland, Russia and Bermuda — where there is dancing, romance and gayety. Though it drags somewhat and is heavily sentimental in its comic relief, it still manages to get a few laughs. Production Code Seal No. 01,208. Running time, 20 minutes. "G." "More Kittens" (Disney-U.A.) The three Silly Symphony kittens get chased out of a kitchen door and hide in the St. Bernard dog's fur. Complications follow when they find themselves riding on a turtle. One of them gets pecked on the nose by a blue bird. The three of. them chase the bird along a clothesline and get mixed up with the clothespins. It's grand. Production Code Seal No. 2,341. Running time, Syi minutes. "G." "Jimmie Launceford and His Orchestra" ( V itaphone) This colored orchestra plays in ex- cellent syncopated style with clever rhythmic effects and the result is first rate entertainment. There are solo specialties by band members, dancers and Myra Johnson, a vocalist. Pro- duction Code Seal No. 0,138. Run- ning time, 10 minutes. "G." Chicago Houses Ask Injunction Extension Chicago, Jan. 5. — Thirty-three the- theatres were granted permission to- day to file an intervening petition to join an injunction granted the Iris last week restraining interference from the police with Bank Night. Judge Nie- meyer of the Superior Court set a hearing on the petition for tomorrow afternoon after denying Assistant Cor- poration Counsel William Daly's plea that the petition be denied at once. Daly charged Bank Night with being contrary to the city ordinance which prohibits theatres from distributing prizes and asserted that the game was a public nuisance and a hazard be- cause of the overcrowding of theatres. Theatres granted permission today were those previously arrested. Other petitions will be sought when more theatremen are arrested. It is believed by theatre operators that they can conduct the games on the original Bank Night plan, which they claim is legal, and thus avoid police inter- ference. B. N. Restraint Refused Chicago, Jan. 5. — In Circuit Court here today Judge Burke denied Mrs. Elizabeth Mannasmith's petition to re- strain 87 theatres from distributing Bank Night pools, totaling about $300,000. Judge Burke ruled that the petition was without merit. Theatres are continuing to play Bank Night and taking summonses for each viola- tion. The Leading MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, Intelligent the In in All Branches VOL. 41. NO. 5 NEW YORK, THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 1937 TEN CENTS Shirley Again Heads List as Profit Player Child Star Box -Office Top; Gable Second Shirley Temple heads the list of money-making stars for the second year in Motion Picture Herald's an- nual poll of exhibitors. She also heads a similar poll conducted among Eng- lish exhibitors for the first time. Three players achieved new promi- nence during the year — Robert Tay- lor, Jeanette MacDonald and Gary Cooper. Taylor's rise was phenomenal. He jumped from 83rd place in 1935 to fourth in 1936, his rise dating from his role of the doctor in "Magnificent Ob- session," an early 1936 release. Miss MacDonald rose from 35th in 1935 to ninth last year, largely as a result of her work in "Naughty Marietta," "Rose Marie" and "San Francisco." Cooper jumped from 31st position to 10th. Four of his outstanding achieve- ments were "Lives of a Bengal (Continued on page 5) Sterling Acquires Monogram Pictures Sterling Pictures has acquired the name, good will and negatives of Monogram Pictures Art of N. Y. and also has filed an amendment to its in- corporation papers to change the name to Monogram Pictures Corp., W. Ray Johnston stated yesterday follow- ing a meeting of the board of di- rectors. At the same time Monogram Pic- tures of New York, which has been in liquidation for the past two years, will be changed to W. Ray Johnston Enterprises, Inc. All exchanges ac- quiring franchises will operate under the name of Monogram, Johnston said. Officers of the new Monogram company are Johnston, president ; Scott R. Dunlap, vice-president; J. (.Continued on page 6) Adolph Zukor Gets Flood of Messages Hollywood, Jan. 6. — Adolph Zukor has received innumerable telegrams and letters of congratulation on the anniversary of his 25th year in the industry from all parts of the world. The Silver Jubilee dinner to Zukor will be held Thursday night at the Paramount studio. Among the tokens (Continued on page 8) President Takes New Stand For Principles of the NRA By CLARENCE LINZ Washington, Jan. 6. — Apparently abandoning all thought of a constitu- tional amendment to permit the Gov- ernment to deal with labor and social problems, President Roosevelt today reiterated his belief in the principles of NRA and demanded court support of the New Deal program. Personally delivering his annual message to Congress, the President declared: "The vital need is not an alteration of our fundamental law but an increasingly enlightened view with reference to it," later asserting that "it is not to be assumed that there will be prolonged failure to bring legislative and judicial action into closer harmony." "Means must be found to adapt our legal forms and our judicial inter- pretation to the actual present national needs of the largest progressive democracy in the modern world," the President said. "The judicial branch also is asked by the people to do its part in mak- ing democracy successful," he de- clared in concluding. "We do not ask the courts to call non-existent powers into being, but we have a right to ex- pect that conceded powers or those legitimately implied shall be made ef- fective instruments for the common good." Telling Congress that "overproduc- tion, underproduction and speculation are the three evil sisters who distill the troubles of unsound inflation and (Continued on page 6) Hearst Leads, Mae West Next In Salary List Washington, Jan. 6. — William Randolph Hearst's $500,000 was top salary paid in the United States in 1935, but the film stars and execu- tives were pushing him hard, led by Mae West, who received $480,833, it was disclosed today by the annual salary report of the Internal Revenue Dep't, made public through the House Ways and Means Committee. The voluminous report, for several years made public annually, listed every person in the United States whose salary, commission, bonus or other remuneration exceeded $15,000 for the calendar year 1935 or the nearest comparable fiscal year. Not only was this year's report consider - (Contimted on page 5) New Orleans Enjoyed Best Year in Seven Herewith is the first of a series of articles rezriewing in highlight the business situation in 1936 in leading cities of the country, with forecasts for 1937. New Orleans, Jan. 6. — In 1936 New Orleans theatre owners had one of the best seasons since 1929, both in grosses and the nature of the product offered by the producers. Business in all lines showed a pro- nounced advance, in prices and the volume of merchandise handled. In- crease in payrolls and the number of employes began in the early spring and climbed upward steadily. Savings accounts increased 25 per cent over (Continued on page 6) Aherne the Shining Light In Disappointing "Othello" Sooner or later this confession will out. It might as well be this morn- ing. Your dramatic reviewer begs leave to inform his readers that he finds a good deal of Shakespeare old-fash- ioned, often dull and a pretty difficult fellow to take. Craving your further indulgence, he deposes and continues by adding he would much prefer to read the Bard than see him interpreted on the New York or any other stage unless the job is one of great beauty (Continued on page 6) Radio Developments — Page 4 Probing Power In Anti-Trust Cases Sought Complaints Ineffective Asserts Dickinson By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, Jan. 6. — Authority for the Dept. of Justice to engage in "fishing expeditions" where it has rea- son to believe the anti-trust statutes are being violated was urged upon Congress today by Assistant Attorney General John Dickinson, who this month resigned after two years as head of the anti-trust division. Dickinson's recommendation was made in the anti-trust divisions sec- tion of the annual report submitted to Congress by Attorney General Homer Cummings, in which it was pointed out also that the construction given the anti-trust laws by the courts has made legal "many things popularly be- lieved to constitute violations." His suggestion that broader powers be given the department was based on the limitations imposed by its pres- ent dependence on complaints by pri- vate parties for the initiation of in- vestigations and the difficulties which it encounters through the filing of complaints by persons who later com- promise their grievances against those of whom they have complained and then seek to abandon the cases they have caused to be initiated. "For all these reasons," Dickinson said, "it seems imperative that the (Continued on page 6) See Bills for Aid To Small Business Washington, Jan. 6. — Legislation prohibiting unfair competition and bills providing for Federal aid to small business along the lines of the Federal Housing Act and setting up a permanent national economic coun- cil similar to the National Industrial Advisory Committee, will be sub- mitted to Congress for consideration in near future by the Council for In- dustrial Progress, whose correlating (Continued on page 6) Circuits Chary on Bank Night Ruling Despite the Court of Appeals rul- ing that Bank Night is legal in the state of New York, major circuits have no plans to expand the game in its local units, it was stated yesterday. Loew's plays Bank Night and (Continued on page 8) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, January 7, 1937 MOTION PICTURI DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 January 7, 1937 No. 5 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Pub- lishing Company, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Avenue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copy- righted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc. Address all correspondence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publica- tions, Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, Teatro Al Dia, International Motion Picture Almanac and Fame: The Box Office Check-Up. Hollywood Bureau: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Streets, Boone Mancall, Manager; Chicago Bureau: 624 South Michigan Avenue, C. B. O'Neill, Man- ager; London Bureau: 4 Golden Square, London W 1, Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable Address "Quigpubco, London"; Berlin Bureau: Stuelerstrasse 2, Berlin W 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative; Paris Bureau: 29, Rue Marsoulan, Pierre Autre, Representative; Rome Bureau: Viale Gorizia, Vittorio Malpassuti, Representative; Aus- tralian Bureau: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins Street, Melbourne, Cliff Holt, Representative; Mexico City Bureau: Apar- tado 269, lames Lockhart, Representative; Budapest Bureau: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest, II, Endre Hevesi, Representative; Tokyo Bureau: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi. Chiba-Ken, Tominacia, Representative; Prague Bureau: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1, Harry Knopf. Rep- resentative; Shanghai Bureau: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Building. 142 Museum Road, /. P. Koehler, Representative; Rio de Janiero Bureau: Caixa Postal 3358, A. Wcissman, Representative; Buenos Aires Bureau: Corrientes 2495, N. Brushi, Representative; Montevideo Bureau: P. O. Box 664, Paul Bodo, Representative: Moscow Bureau: Petrovski Per 8, Beatrice Stern, Representa- tive; Vienna Bureau: Neustiftgasse, 55, Vienna VII, Hans Lorant, Representative; Amsterdam Bureau- Zuider Amsteilaan 5, Philip de Schaap. Representative; Helsing- fors Bureau: Fredriksgatan 19 C, Charlotte Lasalo, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. W anger to Produce Musicals Annually Walter Wanger will produce one big musical a year under the title of "Walter Wander's Vogues." Hal Home, who will have charge of these productions, arrived yesterday from the coast to spend three weeks here casting the first "Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1938." The eastern setup of Wanger's of- fice has been completed. Rodney Bush will be in charge. Loew Theatre Unit '36 Net $423,699 "Million" Held Over "One in a Million" is being held over in 17 first runs, according to John D. Clark, general manager of distribution of 20th Century-Fox. Clark says it is outgrossing "Pigskin Parade" and "Sing, Babv. Sing." It is scheduled to open in 100 key cities over the weekend. RKO Takes "Carnival" RKO has closed a deal with Amer- ican Tobis for "Carnival in Flanders" in 42 Greater New York theatres. Negotiations are pending on a national deal. Washington, Jan. 6. — A net in- come of $423,699 for the fiscal year ending Aug. 31 is shown by Loew's Theatre and Realty Corp. in its an- nual report as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The balance sheet of the company showed, among other items, theatre reciepts and miscellaneous income of $6,400,440 and rent income of $405,- 249. Theatre operations, including film rentals,_ cost $3,538,544 and $317,200 was paid in booking fees to an allied corporation and $1,828,292 in rents on leased property. The company, a subsidiary of Loew's, Inc., which holds 100 per cent of its equity stocks, is in turn full owner of six subsidiaries and part owner of three others. The major holder of securities other than equity stocks were Nicholas M. Schenck, president, who held $69,000 in six per cent bonds ; Leopold Friedman, secretary, $22,900 in the same bonds ; Isadore Frey, assistant secretary, $5,- 000, and H. Halborn, assistant secre- tary, $4,500. A balance sheet for the theatre corp- oration and its wholly owned subsidi- aries showed theatre receipts and mis- cellaneous income as $6,691,716, and rent income of $500,389. Theatre op- erations, including film rentals, cost $3,721,901, booking fees to an allied corporation, $322,400, and rent $913,- 385. The net income was $419,066. A balance sheet for the subsidiaries not consolidated showed theatre in- come and miscellaneous receipts of $813,897 and rent of $11,055. Theatre operations, including film rentals, cost $487,273, and booking fees to an allied corporation were $20,441. The net in- come was $138,636. The only remuneration in excess of $20,000 paid bv the corporation was $50,000 to Prpskauer, Rose & Paskus for legal services in the adjustment of lease contracts. Cleveland Loew Scale Up Cleveland, Jan. 6. — Col. Harry E. Long, Loew division manager, has raised the Stillman prices from 25c- 35c to 30c-35c-42c for the rest of the season. Loew's to Pay $1.67 '/z Loew's directors yesterday declared the regular quarterly dividend of $1.67^ on the outstanding preferred stock. British Exhibitors Against Joint Body By BRUCE ALLAN London, Jan. 6. — The C.E.A. gen- eral council on Jan. 16 will receive a report from the General Purpose Com- mittee recommending against the K.R.S. proposal for a joint trade asso- ciation with a British Will Hays. Exhibitors' fear of distributors is greater than their fear of a Govern- ment commission as suggested in the Moyne report. Some would welcome an official body which might control the trading methods of K.R.S. There is*a strong feeling that any joint trade body would be dominated by the K.R.S., exhibitors having sacrificed the power of opposition. The exhibitor attitude is a surpris- ing development which leaves the trade disunited in the face of the Moyne report. Mayor vs. Reade Saratoga Springs, N. Y., Jan. 6. — Mayor Addison Mal- lery of this city and Walter Reade, theatre operator, had at each other in no mean fashion last night, when the City Council rejected Reade's petition for rezoning of prop- erty to permit him to erect a theatre here. Pointing to the Mayor, Reade said, "I'm going to build a theatre here in spite of this man." The Mayor shouted, "You're a liar," and drew back his arm. Reade declared he had bought the Saratoga Club and would build a theatre on the site despite the council, and the next move has not hap- pened yet. Duroy Sues Gillmore On Magazine Story Robert Duroy, actor and producer, yesterday filed a suit in N. Y. Su preme Court for $150,000 against Frank Gillmore, president of Actor's Equity Ass'n. Duroy asserts Gill- more, in an article published in Equity Magazine made aspersions regarding a suit Duroy had brought against the association in 1931, which the actor won. In that action Duroy accused Gill- more and Equity of committing cer- tain acts which he claimed caused his production, "The Right to Happiness," to close after a short run. The suit was tried in 1934. Duroy was awarded $40,000 which was appealed. The present action claims that in a recent article Gillmore wrote about the suit he said that Duroy was an incompetent actor. For this Duroy asks $50,000. The balance of the damages, $100,- 000, are asked by Duroy for the state- ment by Gillmore that he was a good actor on the witness stand and in- duced the jury to bring in a verdict not commensurate with the facts. In court today Gillmore will ask the second cause of action be dismissed on the grounds that the facts are in- sufficient to rate a cause of action. Fox to See Copyright Federal Judge Coxe yesterday per- mitted Fox Film Corp. to examine an original copyright belonging to S. Fay Kaplan, which is alleged to have been made by Theatre Magazine Co. to him. The action revolves around his suit for an injunction and dama- ges of upwards of $5,000 charging in- fringement of stills ueed in a 1929 issue of Theatre Magazine in "George White's Scandals of 1935." Fuller Case Hearing Set New Orleans, Jan., 6.— An order instructing attorneys in the case of George Fuller charging conspiracy against seven major film distributors to submit written arguments was issued today by Judge Borah. The court has set a hearing for next Wednesday. Henry Buddy Resigns St. Louis, Jan. 6. — Henry Buddy, sound engineer for the St. Louis Amusement Co., has resigned effective Jan. 16. Amusement Receipts $59,086,000 in N. E. Washington, Jan. 6. — Box-office receipts of New England's 2,763 places of amusement last year reached a total of $59,086,000, it was stated to- day by the U. S. Census Bureau, mak- ing public the first of a series of re- ports on the amusement industries. Today's report dealt with the sub- ject in a general manner, the figures covering film and other theatres, cir- cuses, amusement parks, bowling al- leys, billiard parlors, dance halls, etc. Segregated figures for the theatre in- dustry are expected to be made public later. The 2,763 establishments covered by the report had 2,125 active propri- etors and firm members and gave em- ployment last year to an average of 13,198 persons, the bureau reported. The total payroll for the year, in- cluding no compensation for proprie- tors and firm members of unincorpor- ated businesses, was $13,448,000, of which $1,848,000 was for part-time work. Itemized by States Figures on amusements in each of the six New England states were published by the bureau as follows : Massachusetts, 1,281 establishments with receipts of $32,724,000, having 980 proprietors and firm members employ- ing an average of 6,971 persons com- prising a payroll of $7,863,000, of which $993,000 was for part-time work ; Connecticut, 550 establish- ments with receipts of $11,522,000 having 406 proprietors and firm mem- bers employing an average of 2,780 persons comprising a payroll of $2,- 428,000, of which $166,000 was for part-time work; Rhode Island, 177 establishments with receipts of $7,- 365,000, having 124 proprietors and firm members employing an average of 1,189 persons comprising a total payroll of $1,478,000, of which $552,- 000 was for part-time work ; Maine, 392 establishments with receipts of $4,010,000, having 304 proprietors and firm members employing an average of 1,172 persons comprising a total payroll of $844,000, of which $79,000 was for part-time work; New Hamp- shire, 230 establishments with total receipts of $3,042,000, having 188 pro- prietors and firm members employ- ing an average of 708 persons com- orising a payroll of $583,000, of which $37,000 was for part-time work; Ver- mont, 133 establishments with receipts of $1,423,000, with 123 proprietors and firm members employing an average of 378 persons comprising a total pay- roll of $252,000, of which $21,000 was for part-time work. Leo Abrams Inducted As Film Board Head Leo Abrams, local Universal ex- change manager, last night was in- ducted as president of the New York Film Board of Trade along with other newly elected officers at the Lincoln Hotel. Following the inauguration, the exchange managers saw "The Show Is On" at the Winter Garden. Future plans of the organization have not been discussed, Abrams stated last night. Harry Hummel of Warners is first vice-president, Edward Bell of Para- mount, second vice-president. Harry Decker of Warners is secretary and Morris Epstein of Grand National is sergeant-at-arms. All that 1 Am A Fugi- tive' meant in 1932 will mean to you on January 30th! Warner Bros. Know Because WARNER BROS. Made Both! 4 MOTION P1CTUR1 RADIO DAILY RADIO Thursday, January 7, 1937 1st NBC-WPA Stage Unit Is Set in Phila. The first film theatre stage variety unit, developed out of the talent used on the Professional Parade, new Fed- eral Theatre Project-NBC radio pro- gram, has been booked for Fay's The- ater, in Philadelphia, for a full week beginning Jan. 15, it was learned yes- terday. The booking was handled by Rubey Cowen, of the NBC Artists' Bureau, which cooperated in the development of the radio program and is in com- plete charge of all stage bookings on the theatre units. The stage variety bills, which are planned to run ap- proximately one hour each, were an intended outgrowth of the radio pro- gram, which features professional tal- ent which is unemployed, and makes a point in its announcements of ask- ing radio audiences to urge local the- atres to initiate stage shows in con- junction with films. It was indicated that other deals for the first stage unit are now in negotiation, and the conclusion of a deal for a booking of the unit in a Broadway theatre late in January is expected momentarily. Thus far only one stage unit has been developed from the radio talent available, but it is anticipated that additional units will go into work shortly, to some extent dependent upon the success of the initial group. Phil Lord, Foran, Et Al Short Shots : Phil Lord's "Gang- busters" series begins a year's renewal Jan. 13 . . . Nick Foran of the screen will be Jack Oakie's guest next Tues- day . . . Mr. Harrison Eustis, founder of the "Seeing Eye" and Gretta Pal- mer, writer, have been signed for ap- pearances on the "Magazine of the Air" program of Jan. 11 . . . Sir Jos- iah Stamp, director of the Bank of England, will be heard in a short wave talk over CBS Jan. 10, and on the same day, same network, Lois Wilson makes her debut on the pro- gram, "Your Unseen Friend" . . . Walter Huston's stint on Kate Smith's program Jan. 14 will be a scene from "Othello," in which he opened in New York last night . . . Leonard Exum, an Atwater Kent audition winner in the south, will be the featured guest on the Jan. 12 "Listen to This" program over the Mutual network . . . The N. Y. Her- ald-Tribune-WOR news program in- augurates Jan. 9 at 10:15 A. M. . . . Iowa's gubernatorial inaugural cere- monies and the inaugural ball follow- ing will be broadcast over KRNT and WMT Jan. 14 . . . Ed Curtin of NBC's press division bedded with grippe. . . . Fred Astaire will revive several scenes from his musical comedy success "Band- wagon," on his Jan. 9 program. . . . Bert Gordon, the "Mad Russian," will guest appear on Frank Parker's Woodbury program this Sunday and may remain permanently if he clicks. . . . Mel Aranson this week takes over the comedy script-writing assignment for Judy, Annie and Zeke on this same program. . . . Grete Steuckgold, Helen Mack and Lawson Little have been set for Bing Crosby's program tomorrow night. . . . Lee Wiley will return to the Camel "Caravan" as fea- tured guest Jan. 17. . . . Floyd Gib- bons' "Speedshow" guest Jan. 16 will be Edith Lorand, concert violinist. . . . CBS will broadcast the annual lunch- eon of the Women's National Republi- can Clubs Jan. 16. . . . John Charles Thomas will guest sing on the Ford "Sunday Evening Hour" Jan. 17, and on this same date Victor Kolar will replace Jose Iturbi as conductor of the symphony. Iturbi, however, will re- turn to the "Sunday Evening Hour" the following week. . . . Lenore Ulrich and Olga Baclanova have been signed at Ted Hammerstein's "Music Hall of the Air" series for Jan. 12. . . . Phil Baker goes to Miami for two weeks late in February. Russ Morgan's or- chestra will fill in for the two weeks. . . . And Anne Jamison, recovering from an operation, returns to "Holly- wood Hotel" Jan. 22. JOHN DOWD, publicity and adver- tising head for the RKO circuit, this afternoon will wed Muriel Ger- son at the Little Church Around the Corner. The bride and bridegroom will then head for a Bermuda honey- moon. • Sidney Samuelson was operated on yesterday at the Sydenham Hospital and was reported doing nicely last night. He will be discharged tomor- row. • Edward Schnitzer, Republic dis- trict manager, left at midnight last night for Boston where he will spend three days. Norman Louden, president of Sound City Studios, London left for Hollywood yesterday afternoon to look for talent. Louis B. Mayer and Howard Strickling will arrive this morning from Hollywood on the 20th Century. • Charles Koerner, RKO New England theatre division head, will re- turn to Boston tonight. • ■ Stan True returned from Scranton last night. Actors Move Against Fiddler's Broadcasts Hollywood, Jan. 6. — -Screen Actors' Guild, though its attorney, Lawrence Beilenson, will file a demand with the F.C.C. to revoke the license of local station KFI, charging circulation of slanderous and libelous misinformation over the air because of alleged re- marks concerning the Guild broadcast by Jimmy Fidler on his weekly pro- gram. No action as yet will be taken against NBC, for which KFI is the local outlet. The complaint is based on Fidler's assertion that the Guild planned to call a strike of 5,000 members here in April and also that Jean Muir, a Guild member had talked her way out of the film business in a recent speech at a union meeting. Ken Thomson, executive secretary of the Guild, today stated that his organization had warned Fidler re- garding his air remarks a year ago and that the broadcaster tempered his statements but had become careless recently, probably because he believed that Luden's, his sponsor, was suffi- ciently powerful to prevent interven- tion. News Expansion in Portland Portand, Ore., Jan. 6. — Stations KGW and KEX will expand their air news service, it was stated by W. Carey Jennings, manager. Extra writers have been added to the staff and teletypes have been installed. The project will feature women's programs. Baldwin Goes Reviewer Omaha, Jan. 6. — Bill Baldwin, WOW announcer, is reviewing the shows at the Paramount, Orpheum and Omaha theatres in a five minute shot six times a week by arrange- ment with Tri-State Theatres which operate these houses. NATE J. BLUMBERG, Herman Gluckman, Benny Rubin and Block and Sully will entrain for the coast this afternoon. • William Brown Meloney, co- author with Rose Franken, of "Be- loved Enemy," is about to have an- other novel published. The latest, "Rush to the Sun," has been placed with Farrar and Rinehart by Jacques Chambrun. • A-Mike Vogel, chairman of the Managers' Round Table of Motion Picture Herald, is back from Scranton where he talked to the Comerford managers on advertising and exploita- tion. • Louis Frisch, Mickey Scott and Perry Jacobs will sail today on the Empress of Australia for a cruise. • The Picker Brothers tonight will tender their mother a birthday party at the Versailles. • William A. Scully, Loew's district manager, is in Washington and is due back tomorrow. • Joe Hornstein yesterday returned from a two-week trip to Havana. • Dwight Deere Wiman is aboard the eastbound Europa. Last Night On the Air Lillie Show Clicks Beatrice Lillie returned to the microphone last night in a series of her own as "The Honest Working Girl." It was pleasure* not work, to listen in. Setting aside all doubt that her type of humor isn't adaptable to the airways, Bee handled her lines with a style and zest undeniably her own. A blueblooded working girl, Bee is hired as a secretary by the social climbing S. Pierpont Duffys who are anxious to crash society's blue book. Instead, through the efforts of bungling Bee, the unfortunate Duffys soon find themselves without even so much as a listing in the telephone book. This is brought about when Miss Lillie turns a coming out party into a clambake by selling the invita- tions to steamfitters instead of mail- ing them to the elite. So much for the plot. As for the star's song number, "Honey, My Dove," it was delivered in typical Lillie fashion with the aid of the "White Way Serenaders." Al Rickey's orchestra was tunefully efficient. Not that it detracted from the en- tertainment, but here's one thing that puzzled us. Although the program listing has been changed from "Revue de Paree" to "Broadway Merry-Go- Round," all the orchestral and choral selections were distinctly French in flavor. "Broadway Merry-Go-Round" is presented weekly at 8 P. M., E.S.T., over the NBC-Blue network. Sterling Products sponsors for Dr. Lyons Tooth Powder. Banner Two Programs Renewed Two important network programs were renewed for additional periods yesterday. The Knox Gelatine Co., Inc., through the Federal Advertising Agency, extended the contracts of Ed East and Ralph Dumpke, the "Quality Twins," for 13 weeks. Additionally, Brown and Williamson Tobacco Co., through Batten, Barton, Durstine and Osborne renewed Jack Pearl for a similar term. Nabors Loses Hair Houston, Jan. 6. — Radio an- nouncers, asserts Ted Nabors of KTRH, are fair targets for anybody's pop guns these days, but even so he is still staggering from the "shot" given by a high school girl New Year's Eve night. It seemed the young woman was on a "scavenger hunt," a sport in which couples go on outlandish er- rands and must return to the party with proof of their per- formances. She insisted she was commissioned to take back a hair from Nabors' mustache. Tweezers were brought into play, and the girl left with the treasure carefully wrapped in tissue paper and tied with Christ- mas tinsel. Powell Either Way With the Dick Powell- War- ner Bros. "Hollywood Hotel" situation wide open, here is the latest to make the rounds: That the "Do You Want to Be an Actor?" pro- gram, the Warner - Trans- American feature which re- cently replaced the "Good- Will Court" will be aban- doned as soon as its 13-week contract expires and that a new program, placed also through Warners - Trans- American and headed by Dick Powell, will replace it- Indications yesterday were that the successor to Powell on "Hollywood Hotel" has narrowed down to Tony Mar- tin, Lanny Ross, Phil Regan and Fred MacMurray. It is understood that a decision will be made today. i Purely Personal > Thursday, January 7, 1937 MOTION PICTURt DAILY Shirley Again Heads List as Profit Player (Continued from page 1) Lancer," "Desire," "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" and "The General Died at Dawn." The leading 10 players follow : Shirley Temple First Clark Gable Second Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers Third Robert Taylor Fourth Joe E. Brown Fifth Dick Powell Sixth Joan Crawford Seventh Claudette Colbert Eighth Jeanette MacDonald N inth Gary Cooper Tenth Fifteen Honor Stars were listed in the Herald as follows: Jane With- ers, James Cagney, William Powell, Jean Harlow, Wallace Beery, Fred MacMurray, Irene Dunne, Myrna Loy, Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire, War- ner Baxter, Bing Crosby, the Dionne Quintuplets, Janet Gaynor and Nelson Eddy. Western Stars Rated Three other classifications also are listed— Blue Ribbon, Red Ribbon and White Ribbon. There are 33 names in the blue classification, 31 in the red and 122 in the white. A separate listing is given western stars. In this group Buck Jones is first and George O'Brien a close sec- ond. The list follows: Buck Jones First George O'Brien Second Gene Autry Third William Boyd Fourth Ken Maynard Fifth Dick Foran Sixth John Wayne Seventh Tim McCoy Eighth Hoot Gibson Ninth Buster Crabbe Tenth Twenty-five other western stars are given honorable mention with Bob Steele heading this list and Harry Carey second. Shirley Tops England, Too The English poll of money-makers was divided into two principal classi- fications, one including all players of any nationality appearing in pictures exhibited in England and the other of stars of English productions alone. Shirley Temple led the internation al grouping by a wide margin, receiv ing 963 votes to 540 for the Fred As taire-Ginger Rogers team. The list of 10 leaders which also included an other team — Laurel and Hardy — fol- lows : Shirley Temple First Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers Second Gracie Smith Third Clark Gable Fourth Laurel and Hardy Fifth Jessie Matthews Sixth James Cagney Seventh Wallace Beery Eighth Greta Garbo Ninth Norma Shearer Tenth Fifteen honor stars were listed as follows : Jack Hulbert, William Pow- ell, George Formby, George Arliss, Robert Donat, Fred Astaire, Dick Powejl, Bing Crosby, Grace Moore, Jack Buchanan, Gary Cooper, Ronald Colman, Will Hay, Eddie Cantor and Charles Laughton. There were 24 blue ribbon winners, 46 red ribbon and 156 white. The 10 leaders in English films alone were : Gracie Fields First Jessie Matthews Second Jack Hulbert Third George Formby Fourth Robert Donat Fifth Jack Buchanan Sixth Tom Walls and Ralph Lynn Seventh Will Hay Eighth George Arliss Ninth Sydney -Howard Tenth There were also 15 honor stars as follows : Charles Laughton, Gordon Harker, Leslie Howard, Anne Neagle, Leslie Fuller, Tom Walls, Richard Tauber, Madeleine Carroll, Elisabeth Bergner, Cicely Courtneidge, Conrad Veidt, Paul Robeson, Will Fyffe, Stanley Lupino and Sonnie Hale. In the other British classifications there were 30 blue ribbon names, 31 red and 31 white. British Like Buck Jones Buck Jones also headed the list of western favorites in England by a big margin, with Ken Maynard second. The western leaders follow : Buck Jones First Ken Maynard Second Tim McCoy Third George O' B rien Fourth John Wayne Fifth Dick Foran Sixth Tom Mix Seventh Randolph Scott Eighth William Boyd Ninth Hoot Gibson Tenth The Herald's list of features rating the title Box-Office Champion for the exhibition year from Sept. 1, 1935, to Aug. 31, 1936, follows : "Anna Karenina" M-G-M "Bride Comes Home" Para. "Broadway Melody of 1936" M-G-M "Bullets or Ballots" W.B. "Captain Blood" W.B. "Country Doctor" 20th-Fox "Crusades" Para. "Follow the Fleet" Radio "Great Ziegfeld" M-G-M "Green Pastures" W. B. "In Old Kentucky" 20th-Fox "King Steps Out" Col. "Littlest Rebel" 20th -Fox "Magnificent Obsession" Univ. "Midsummer Night's Dream" W. B. "Modern Times" U. A. "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" Col. "Mutiny on the Bounty" M-G-M "Night at the Opera" M-G-M "Rhythm on the Range" Para. "Rose Marie" M"£'^ "San Francisco" M-G-M "She Married Her Boss" Col. "Showboat" Univ. "Steamboat 'Round the Bend". .20th-Fox "Story of Louis Pasteur" W. B. "Tale of Two Cities" M-G-M "Thanks a Million" 20th-Fox "These Three" U.A. "Top Hat" Radio "Trail of the Lonesome Pine" Para. "Under Two Flags" 20th-Fox "Wife vs. Secretary" M-G-M Details of the voting in each of the principal classifications are given in the Herald, out today. Hearst, Mae West Lead Salaries List Sheehan, 20th Century -Fox, Buckley, United Artists, $129,- Grip Spread Fails To Injure Grosses Notwithstanding the wave of grip and flu which have been current in New York for the past week and more, circuit operators report no de dine in business. Both Loew's and RKO reported top grosses for the year for the Christ mas-New Year's week and the slight tapering of intakes corresponds to the usual flux after a holiday period, it was asserted. (Continued from page 1) ably larger than that made public a year ago, but salaries ran higher and the document was marked by a large number of bonuses. A preliminary study of the report indicates that the industry's execu- tive and professional top-notchers were more numerous in the higher-salaried brackets than those identified with any other single business or profession. Following is a list of those receiv- ing more than $100,000 during 1935. Mae West, Paramount, $480,833. Marlene Dietrich, Paramount, $368,000. Bing Crosby, Paramount, $318,907. Janet Gaynor, 20th Century -Fox, $169,- 750. Charles Chaplin, $260,000. Will Rogers, 20th Century -Fox, $258,- 000. Fred Astaire, RKO, $127,875. Katharine Hepburn, RKO, $121,572. Joe E. Brown, Warners, $173,438. Stan Laurel, M-G-M, $156,266. W. S. GifTord, A. T. & T., $209,850. William S. Paley, CBS, $169,097. Jack Cohn, Columbia, $104,000. Arthur M. Loew, Culver Export Corp. ^Loew's), $182,000. Frank W. Lovejoy, Eastman Kodak, $109,148. Edward J. Bowes, $249,999. Nicholas M. Schenck, Loew's, $193,434. David Bernstein, Loew's, $115,805. Louis B. Mayer, M-G-M, $151,500. Irving Thalberg, M-G-M, $151,762. E. J. Mannix, M-G-M, $129,057. Harry Rapf, M-G-M, $104,000. Merian C. Cooper, RKO Radio, $119,520. Pandro S. Berman, RKO Radio, $138,852 Rudy Vallee, $166,348. Paul Whiteman, $242,472. Sidney R. Kent, 20th Century-Fox, $167,- 310. Winfield $344,230. Harry D 526. Irene Dunne, RKO, $145,832. Carl Laemmle, Universal, $159,000. James Whale, Universal, $137,750. Abel Cary Thomas, Warners, $132,500. Al Jolson, Warners, $147,645. Hal Wallis, Warners, $136,750. Lloyd Bacon, Warners, $122,625. Mervyn LeRoy, Warners, $198,583. Michael Curtiz, Warners, $102,325. Max Reinhardt, Warners, $105,000. Frank Borzage, Warners, $156,000. James Cagney, Warners, $147,167. Kay Francis, Warners, $115,167. Paul Muni, Warners, $150,000. Spyros Skouras, $189,500. Charles P. Skouras, $176,500. Gary Cooper, Paramount, $261,138. Benjamin Glazer, Paramount, $168,884. Jan Kiepura, Paramount, $101,806. William LeBaron, Paramount, $227,487. Carole Lombard, Paramount, $156,083. Ernst Lubitsch, Paramount, $260,000. Herbert Marshall, Paramount, $105,667. Leo McCarey, Paramount, $129,333. Lewis Milestone, Paramount, $223,700. Jack Oakie, Paramount, $101,625. Joe Penner, Paramount, $100,000. Charles Ruggles, Paramount, $106,278. Wesley Ruggles, Paramount, $163,717. Alfred Santell, Paramount, $124,417. Margaret Sullavan, Paramount, $102,431 Gladys Swarthout, Paramount, $101,883 Frank Tuttle, Paramount, $115,500. King Vidor, Paramount, $140,000. Eddie Cantor, $150,000. Samuel Goldwyn, $127,500. Harold C. Lloyd, $125,000. Irving Berlin, RKO, $150,000. John Cromwell, RKO, $135,729. George Cukor, RKO, $117,000. Stephens Roberts, RKO, $126,541. Hal Roach, $104,000. B. P. Schulberg, $102,000. Warner Baxter, 20th Century-Fox 000. John Boles, 20th Century-Fox, $117,416. David Butler, 20th Century -Fox, $104,967 Ronald Colman, 20th Century-Fox, $108,- 916. Roy Del Ruth, 20th Century-Fox, $206,333 George De Sylva, 20th Century -Fox $104,000. Howard Estabrook, 20th Century -Fox $101,666. John Ford, 20th Century-Fox, $110,000. Henry King, 20th Century-Fox, $137,750. Jesse L. Lasky, 20th Century-Fox, $124,- 500. Sol M. Wurtzel, 20th Century -Fox, $149,- 500. Charles Boyer, Wanger Prod., $129,448. Claudette Colbert, Wanger Prod., $100,' 000. $203, Walter Wanger, $104,500. Following is a partial list of those who received more than $50,000 and less than $100,000 during 1935. Charles P. Skouras, Fox West Coast Service Corp., $51,000. Phil Goldstone, Goldstone Prod., $52,333. Anna Sten, $96,833. Sidney Franklin, $60,000. Myron Selznick, $52,000. George O'Brien, $68,191. B. B. Kahane, $52,166. Richard Dix, $60,000. Ann Harding $60,000. Miriam Hopkins, $86,250. Roland V. Lee, $71,333. Rouben Mamoulian, $86,666. William Powell, $66,666. Ginger Rogers, $74,483. Mark Sandrich, $52,166. Barbara Stanwyck, $80,833. Henry Ginsburg, $91,231. Oliver Hardy, $85,316. Sam Taylor, $57,000. Herbert T. Kalmus, $60,000. Lew Ayres, $71,500. Wallace Beery, $75,000. J. G. Blystone, $68,269. Edwin Burke, $74,000. Irving Cummings, $75,791. Victor Fleming, $50,000. Tay Garnett, $57,599. Sam Hellman, $57,166. Jason S. Joy, $51,125. Harry Lachman, $60,400. Sonya Levien, $65,000. Edmund Lowe, $77,200. Fredric March, $85,000. Victor McLaglen, $50,000. Warner Oland, $60,000. Eric Pommer, $70,500. William Seiter, $63,333. Slim Summerville, $70,833. Shirley Temple, $69,999. Joan Bennett, $72,833. Sylvia Sidney, $63,425. Lynn Starling, $50,583. "Mutiny" Is Winner In Film Daily Poll "Mutiny on the Bounty" is the winner in The Film Daily's annual Ten Best Pictures poll. The remain- ing nine are "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," "The Great Ziegfeld," "San Francisco," "Dodsworth," "The Story of Louis Pasteur," "A Tale of Two Cities," "Anthony Adverse," "The Green Pastures" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream." A total of 149 pictures were nom- inated as against 166 in 1935. The Honor Roll dropped from 49 to 44. Eligible pictures for 1936 numbered 387. Wall Street Light Losses Spot Board Net High Low Close Change 3% 35 35% + % Consolidated .... 5% 5 S -54 Consolidated, pfd. 16% 16% 16% — % Eastman Kodak . 174 173 174 + % Gen. T. Equip,. . . 31J4 30^4 3154 +1% 66-4 6554 6554 -% 2554 24% 24% - % Paramount 1 pfd.. 175^4 175J4 17554 -m Paramount 2 pfd. 23% 2244 23 Pathe Film 10% m 9% -% RKO m m 854 35 20th Century-Fox 35% 35 -% 20th Century, pfd. 43J4 43% 4354 -54 Warner Bros. ... .17 17% - 54 Warner, pfd 67% 67J4 6754 Small Curb Gains Net Low Close Change 3% 3% + % 2 2 21 54 2154 + % 4% 4% - 54 Grand National . . 3% Sonotone 2 Technicolor 21% Trans -Lux 454 Bonds Rise Slightly Net High Low Close Change Keith B. F. 6s '46 98 98 98 Loew's 3%s '46... 10154 101 10154 + 54 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 10054 10054 10054 RKO 6s '41 pp... 117% 11754 117% + % Warner Bros. 6s *39 wd 9954 9954 9954 (Quotations at close of Jan. 6) Thursday, January 7, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY New Orleans Enjoyed Best Aherne the Shining Light In Disappointing "Othello9 Year in Seven (Continued from page 1) 1935, while bank balances on open ac- counts averaged approximately 33l/j per cent over the previous year. Christmas savings accounts were about $500,000 over 1935, while bonuses dis- tributed to stockholders and employes ran over the aggregate of the previous five years. There was little new theatre con- struction. The New Center was renovated at an approximate cost of $30,000 by Henry Lazarus. Several of the United circuit houses had new fronts, lobbies and marquees, while the independents have made minor addi- tions. Grosses advanced without exception, from the Class A houses to the small neighborhoods, but there was no ad- vance in prices. The tremendous increase in business in all lines can be traced in part to the Government. Newspaper lineage was far in ad- vance of any previous year while local radio advertising, exclusive of the chains, is increasing monthly and ac- cording to managers of the five sta- tions contracts running into the new year have been signed. Exchanges report more than a healthy growth upstate, owing to the establishment of a number of new theatres, and the operation of a six- day week, where previously the thea- tres ran only two or three nights a week, with better prices for product. Texas Gaining Steadily Dallas, Jan. 6 — The experiences in 1936 and forecasts for 1937 by of- ficials of Interstate and Texas Con- solidated Theatres may be regarded as a pretty good index of theatre con- ditions in this state, since the two circuits control and operate more than 100 houses. Karl Hoblitzelle, president of the circuits, reports that 1936 was a good year but that he anticipates still greater business in the new year. Business statistics compiled by the Dallas Chamber of Commerce lend support to the showman's claims. Retail and department store sales averaged about 25 per cent over 1935, building permits jumped all over the state, bank clearings and debits also mounted, but the most reliable index is that sales of new automobiles for 11 months of 1936 were 20 per cent ahead of the whole previous year. This last figure is for Dallas County but the rest of the state showed similar gains. Hoblitzelle's circuits spent approxi- mately $2,000,000 in 1936 in building 18 new houses, mostly suburban, and two were acquired. This program was centered in the larger cities occupied by Interstate. Hoblitzelle revealed that a reconstruction program is planned for 1937 in the smaller cities of the state, in which Texas Con- solidated operates. Fire in Columbus House Columbus, Jan. 6.— The stage and scenery of the RKO Palace was badly damaged today by a fire of undeter- mined origin which forced the closing of the house. Property damage has not been estimated (Continued f', in production investiture and of mov- ing power in histrionics. That's enough stalling around and brings the matter at hand to hand. It is "Othello," ventured last night at the New Amsterdam Theatre by Max Gordon. The same Max Gordon who put on "The Women" for prestige and this play for profit. The evening, in its larger aspects, was largely a polite bore. True, the play had its moments of tenseness and its moments of drama. The devilish machinations of Iago in implanting the vicious seeds of jealousy in the Moor's fertile mind gave the first end of the first long act a gripping cur- tain. There is drama in the second half as well and a deal of slaughtering what with Cassio duelling with Roderigo, Iago finishing off the latter, Othello throttling Desdemona, Iago stabbing Emelia and meeting death at the end of Othello's sword, not to overlook Othello's exit by his own hand. But the drama, while it held this restless purveyor of the scene, never moved him. Not one perceptible bit. Plot Implausible Today As a matter of fact through mod- ern eyes, the business of the plot was a silly affair. All that Othello had to do was send one of his messengers, or a battalion if he preferred, to pro- duce Cassio, then find out whether or not Desdemona had given him the tell- tale handkerchief which seemingly proved her infidelity although how seems foolish as well. But, that might have made no play and given Gordon nothing to open last evening. Yet, as it stood, a shining light gleamed throughout. His name is Brian Aherne, he who plays the good- looking, suave and polished, cunning and brilliant, villainous Iago, the cause of all the blood letting in Cyprus. Aherne was, to this way of thinking, a splendid Iago and away out front where the cast was concerned, not excepting Walter Huston's Othello. For Huston disappointed this depart- ment rather grievously. Do not get the impression his performance was bad. Rather is it that his rendition disastrous deflation," the President said, "it is to the interest of the nation to have Government help private en- terprise to gain sound general price levels and to protect those levels from wide, perilous fluctuations. "Sober second thought," he con- tinued, "confirms most of us in the belief that the broad objectives of the National Recovery Act were sound. We know now that its difficulties arose from the fact that it tried to do too much. For example, it was un- wise to expect the same agency to regulate the length of working hours, minimum wages, child labor and col- lective bargaining on the one hand and the complicated questions of un- rom page 1) merely was not good enough. You might ask what your grouch antici- pated he would see. He is not quite certain on that score, but he is very definite in his conclusion that Huston did not deliver it. Cast inadequacies were also present in a number of directions. Nan Suth- erland was a lacking Desdemona ; Na- talie Hall was generally inadequate as Emelia ; Cassio reflected anything but the soldierly mien which might be ex- pected of Othello's lieutenant. The others, in lesser roles, were alternate- ly satisfactory and not. Practically all of them declaimed, rather than acted. And that, too, failed to help matters. In point of production, this "Othello" had flashes of great beauty. By and large and on the whole, how- ever, it falls shy of the overwhelming stagecraft which marked both the Gielgud and the Howard "Hamlet." Shakespeare had something to do with that one, likewise. U. A. Theatres Have $167,846 Net Profit United Artists Theatre Circuit, Inc., reports a net income of $167,846 for the year ending Aug. 31 after de- preciation, amortization, Federal taxes and other charges. This is equal to eight cents on each of the 500,000 common shares after preferred divi- dends. For the year ending Aug. 31, 1935, there was a net loss of $58,400. Rites for Julius Steiner Funeral services will be held at 9 :30 this morning for Julius Steiner, father of Joseph, general sales manager of American Tobis, at the Home for He- brews, 105th St., between Columbus and Amsterdam Aves. G. A. Lincoln Dead Chicago, Jan. 6. — Glenn A. Lin- coln, formerly prominently identified with the theatre supply field in Chi- cago, died last night in Denver, ac- cording to word received here today. fair trade practices and business con- trols on the other. "The statute of NRA has been out- lawed. The problems have not. They are still with us." However, the President pointed out, it is a "proven impossibility" to secure decent conditions and adequate pay for labor through state laws, and "it is equally impossible to obtain curbs on monopoly, unfair trade practices and speculation by states alone." Federal laws supplementing state laws "are needed to help solve the problems which result from modern invention applied in an industrialized nation which conducts its business with scant regard to state lines." Probing Power In Anti-Trust Cases Sought (Continued from page 1) anti-trust division should be equipped with independent facilities for institu- ing investigations in the public inter- est and thus relieved of its almost complete dependence on interested pri- vate initiative. "The division should be equipped with an economic staff unit qualified to make initial exploratory studies and statistical business surveys neces- sary to enable the division to inaug- urate of its own motion investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation into situations presenting some sub- stantial element of suspicion, without waiting as at present for private com- plaints to be filed by interested par- ties." In his section of the report, outlin- ing the activities of the division dur- ing the fiscal year ended June 30, last, the Assistant Attorney General touch- ed upon the St. Louis case and the suit later instituted in New York. See Bills for Aid To Small Business (Continued from page 1) committee met here today to put the finishing touches on its proposed in- dustrial legislation. Details of the proposed legislation were not made public tonight, but it was learned in reliable quarters that accepting the views expressed by President Roosevelt in his message to Congress today that the original NRA covered too much ground, the industry control legislation probably will be divided into two parts, one dealing exclusively with the prohibition of unfair competition and the other pro- viding for a restoration of code labor conditions. Observers in Washington expressed the view tonight that Berry's pro- posals for industry control will be added to the score of other suggestions on the same subject and that any bill which is taken up for consideration by Congress will be written by the Con- gressional committees in charge of the legislation. In view of the desire of the President to eliminate the emer- gency lending organizations, it is not believed that proposals for Federal aid to small business have much chance of enactment. Sterling Acquires Monogram Pictures (Continued from page 1) P. Friedhoff, treasurer; M. S. White, secretary. Louis S. Lifton, director of Sterling's publicity and advertis- ing, retains this post under the new setup. All new Monogram exchanges will be ready to start in June when the following releases will be ready: "Legion of Missing Men," "The Outer Gate," "Romance of the Limber- lost" and "Paradise Lost." Closes Brooklyn House Arthur Mayer has closed the Trans Lux in Brooklyn. President Takes New Stand For Principles of the NRA (Continued from page 1) its velvet AS a journal of the show business Motion Picture Herald's obligations are gener- ously discharged by its unparalleled, unap- proached circulation* to showmen, the buyers and purveyors of the screen's wares. That is inside the amusement world. But as an institution of the industry it serves, Motion Picture Herald is the interpreter, the friend, exponent, and press representative, too, of the whole art and all its people. Editors, reporters, syndicates, essayists, maga- zine writers, radio commentators — all of the many who have things to say about th screen — find the Herald their source authority. That is the rest of the worl When he says it in The Herald — wbfl BP1 he is a big distributor in Times Square o^^little exhibitor in Wahoo — he tells the world. And that's velvet. * Attested by the Audit "Bureau of Circulations ALLISON STONE, Gratnl Muu*er WILLIAM C. FT J .IS. Tmnm SEVELLON BROWN, M g'-« Editor The Journal Building Providence, Ehode Island OctobEr 2nd Mr. Terry Ram say e, ThE Motion PicturE HErald. Dear Mr. Ramsay e - For aomE rEason, thE September 26th Issue of THE MOTION PICTURE HERALD failed to reach mE. Inasmuch as thE HErald is my principal standby as a soutce of information about thE industry, I wondErEd whsthsr you could fill this gap in my filE. ThE HErald is not availablE at nswstands here j othErwisE, I wouldn't troublE you. SincETEly, Garrett D. ByrnEs, Motion PicturE Editor. OP MOTION PICTURE HERALD OCKEFELLER CENTER NEW YORK MOTION PICTURI DAILY Thursday, January 7, 1937 Circuits Chary on Bank Night Ruling (Continued from page 1) Screeno in the majority of its the- atres several nights a week and, ac- cording to Eugene Picker, there is no intention at the present time of in- creasing the number of nights for games. The circuit is still consider- ing plans on Bulls Eye, which it owns, and is presently limited to the Lin- coln Square. At RKO it was stated that bank night, which this week and the pre- Christmas week was featured in all divisions for three days, will be re- duced to one day next week. Seek Rehearing in Boston Boston, Jan. 6. — A petition for a rehearing of the Bank Night infringe- ment suit against Parlay Cash Night was filed today in the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the First Dis- trict here. The court ruled a few days ago that Bank Night was in the public domain when put into opera- tion and therefore could not be in- fringed. Bank Night asks a rehearing on three grounds. In opposing the ruling that the giveaway is in the public domain its attorneys say : "It is sub- mitted that nothing in the bill of com- plaint indicates more than a restricted publication or disclosure to licensees and to patrons, or prospective patrons, of theatres." Regarding unfair competition the petition says: "The plaintiff respect- fully submit that the allegations of the bill show an established business which the defendants have appropri- ated and seek to appropriate." Replying to the court's reference to another case, the petition says : In distinguishing the case at bar from the International News Service case the court apparently did not give full consideration to the allegations of the bill in regard to the plaintiffs' busi- ness and the defendants' action." Omaha Probes B. N. Insurance Omaha, Jan. 6. — Omaha police were ordered to gather evidence to- day on Bank Night Security Co., an organization reported to be selling Bank Night insurance to participants in the game here, protecting them to the extent of sums as high as $500 against loss of the Bank Night prize should they not be in the theatre when their winnings are announced. The state insurance director refused to license any insurance organization of this nature about a month ago, saying that it is not legally possible to insure a person against a loss of something he does not possess. The attorney general previously had called Bank Night a lottery, but has made no move against it in Omaha. If prosecution is instituted at this time it may be the first step in a concerted attack on the games policy throughout the entire state. Chicago Cites City Rule Chicago, Jan. 6.— At a hearing be- fore Superior Court Justice Niemeyer which lasted all afternoon, with As- sistant City Corporation Counsels Grossman and Daly presenting the city's arguments in an attempt to halt the granting of an injunction allow- ing 33 theatres to operate Bank Night without police intervention, the city maintained that its claims are based Looking 'Em Over "Golgotha (Golgotha Corp.) There can be little question that the last days of Jesus Christ formed one of the greatest dramatic stories ever told. That they portrayed an example of cruelty, and man's inhumanity to man which perhaps has never been equalled, is also true. That episode in history has been brought to the screen in "Golgotha," a French production directed by Julien Duvivier, and previewed here in a version with dubbed dialogue in English which proves no detriment to the film. It is, from a technical and overall production standpoint, a notable achievement of the screen. Duvivier's ability to handle masses of people, and his touch of the dramatic are splendid. The cast, un- known here but for Harry Baur, is excellent, the work of an obscure actor, Robert La Vigan, as Jesus, being especially remarkable in its delineation of the martyr. Painted with a broad sweep on the canvas which was Jerusalem, the picture has stirring backgrounds, but would seem to be almost too har- rowing in the long drawn detail with which the suffering of Jesus is pictured. It is basically, of course, a religious theme, but the manner of its telling is too tragic for the film to be considered as screen enter- tainment in any ordinary sense. The story recounts the coming of Jesus with his followers, the fear of the ruling powers that He means to cause their overthrow, the be- trayal of Judas Iscariot, the permission obtained from Pontius Pilate for His death, the march with the cross and the Resurrection. Photographically the film is noteworthy, and the musical score by Jacques Ibert highly appropriate. The English version was prepared by I. E. Lopjert and Forrest Izard. The indication that the film will be roadshown, or exhibited in special showings, appears the logical man- ner of its exhibition. No production code seal. Running time, 95 minutes. "A." Aaronson MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW Melody For Two (Warners) Hollywood, Jan. 6. — Although lots of singing, romance, light drama and comedy are tossed into this, the whole thing does riot jell. With the hero generally appearing as a heel, the story is about a pinch penny band leader who lets the parade pass him by. Although the girl in the case strives to knock some sense into his head, he continues as a stub- born, spoiled boy until he is forced to realize there is such a thing as swing music. Artificial throughout, it is more so in the climax when he goes into competition with a girl's band for a radio spot. With every reason to knock his ears down, the girl deserts her own troupe to sing for him, thereby landing a lucrative broadcast contract for the combined swing bands. James Melton's singing is all right. He does that better than anything else. Patricia Ellis has a couple of vocal numbers, but the hit of the show is Winifred Shaw's rendition of Jose O'Neill "The Cuban Heel." Marie Wilson, Fred Keating and Charles Foy take care of the comedy, but the rest of the cast does little except stand around. George Bricker, Luci Ward and Joseph K. Watson did the screen play from Richard Macaulay's story. The music and lyrics are credited to Harry Warren, Al Dubin, M. K. Jerome and Jack Scholl. Louis King directed. It is uninspired, providing nothing new or unique. The film seems destined for a secondary spot on any respectable program. Production Code Seal No. 2,569. Running time, 60 minutes. "G." not upon the assumption that Bank Night is a lottery but on the fact that it violates a city ordinance which for- bids games of chance in theatres. It is claimed that since theatres are licensed by the city they come under police regulation. The case is set for continuance to- morrow afternoon. Oceanic Picks "Caruso" Oceanic Pictures, recently organ- ized, will produce "Caruso, the Mag- nificent" as its first. Work is to be started in March. Burnet Hershey and Lyon Mearson, authors, are now on their way to Italy for more atmos- pheric data. Adolph Zukor Gets Flood of Messages (.Continued from page 1) received by Zukor were scrolls and gifts. Communications were received from Australia, New Zealand, Hungary, Chile and Denmark in a single day. Among the letters was one from Ole Olsen, who organized the Nordisk Film Kompani in 1906. All the testi- monials will be presented to Zukor during the anniversary observance. Will Hays will address the dinner guests Thursday, presenting Zukor with a massive autograph book con- taining signatures from many parts of the world. The show and dance following the dinner will be broadcast over the NBC-Blue network from 8.45 P. M. to 10 P. M., P.S.T. Local listeners will hear 30 minutes of the program over KFI. Many film and theatre guests are already here. They include Jesse L. Lasky, Clark Gable, Darryl F. Zanuck, Charles R. Rogers and Dr. Giannini. Other Film Elite on Hand Among other film executives and their families who have arrived here for the dinner tomorrow night are : Russell Holman, Y. Frank and Mrs. Freeman, E. V. and Mrs. Richards, M. A. and Mrs. Lightman, Robert and Mrs. Wilby, J. J. and Mrs. Fitz- gibbons, Sam and Mrs. Goldstein, Martin and Mrs. Mullin, Sam and Mrs. Pinanski, Barney and Mrs. Bal- aban, Karl and Mrs. Hoblitzelle, Frank and Mrs. Walker, W. A. and Mrs. Schlessinger, A. H. and Mrs. Blank, Austin Keough, Frank Meyer, John Graham, John Hicks, Jr., Vin- cent Trotta, Charles Gartner, Albert Deane, George Weltner, Belle Gold- stein and Mathilda Kass. The jubilee celebration is being ar- ranged by a committee composed of Christopher Dunphy, George L. Bag- nall, Eugene Zukor and Ted Lesser. The dance will be held on a huge stage prepared for the occasion and the broadcasting will be under the direction of Boris Morros. Conn Coming to Sign Franchise Contracts Hollywood, Jan. 6. — Maurice Conn, producer of Melody and Ambassador pictures, left by plane today for New York where he will meet with dis- tributors to discuss national fran- chise plans for 1937-1938. Conn stated that he will make from 28 to 36 films, the program being 75 per cent musicals and melodramas. He added that he will spend from $40,000 to $100,000 on each picture. The writing and directing staff will be expanded. Bernhard in New Haven Joseph Bernhard, Warner theatre head, held a meeting of local mana- gers in New Haven yesterday. He was accompanied by Harry Goldberg. On Tuesday Bernhard held a similar meeting in Newark for New Jersey managers. Chicago Bans Smoking Chicago, Jan. 6. — The City Coun- sel today prohibited smoking in the- atres except in the smoking rooms pro- vided for the purpose. Smoking in bal- conies previously had been permitted. The Leading Motioi Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert. Intelligent the in All Branches VOL. 41. NO. 6 NEW YORK, FRIDAY, JANUARY 8, 1937 TEN CENTS Gary Cooper Pay Near Top At $311,000 Only Four Above Him on Federal Tax List Washington, Jan. 7. — Gary Coop- er, with total remuneration of $311,- 000 for 1935 ranked among the screen's and nation's top flight money-earners for that year, additional reports from the House Ways and Means commit- tee reveal. Paramount paid Cooper $261,338 and the remainder was received from Goldwyn, Inc. His earnings compare with Marlene Dietrich's $368,000, W. R. Sheehan's $344,230, Bing Crosby's $318,907 but fall short of Mae West's $480,833, which was the second highest salary reported in the nation for 1935. Other salaries follow: David Sarnoff, RCA, $75,000. M. H. Aylesworth, NBC, $45,180. ,J. E. Brulatour, Inc., $53,695. T. J. Hargrave, Eastman Kodak, $52,- 948. William G. Stuber, Eastman Kodak, $61,523. Albert F. Sulzer, Eastman Kodak, $54,061. Edgar S. Bloom, Western Electric, $69,623. (.Continued on page 16) "Million" $80,000 Winner at the Roxy "One in a Million" wound up an eight-day run at the Roxy last night with close to $80,000, a record for any picture during the four-year term of Howard S. Cullman as trustee. The picture is now in its second week with Leon Errol and his "Hollywood Follies" on the stage. At the Astor, 20th Century-Fox has another box-office winner in "Lloyds of London," which finished its sixth week of a two-a-day policy Wednesday night with $13,200. The (.Continued on page 14) NBC's Stage Unit Booked Into Roxy The initial film theatre stage unit derived from the WPA-NBC Pro- fessional Parade of the air, which has been booked for one week at Fay's Theatre, Philadelphia, beginning Jan. 15, also has been booked for the Roxy in New York late in January for one (Continued on page 4) More Radio — Page 4 Zukor Jubilee Climaxes In Notable Studio Dinner Will H. Hays presenting to Adolph Zukor a massive autograph book inscribed with the signatures and testimonials of Government, business and social dignitaries from all over the world. The presentation was made at the silver jubilee dinner to Zukor at the Paramount studio in Hollywood last night and telephoned Motion Picture Daily by arrangement with Times Wide World Wired Photos. Hollywood, Friday, Jan. 8. — Tes- timonials to Adolph Zukor in observ- ance of his silver jubilee were cli- maxed here last night in the banquet room of the studio which he heads. A capacity attendance included a large cross-section of the Paramount "fam- ily" from home-office executive ranks, distribution, theatres and the studio, many of whom played parts in the significant phases of Zukor's career. With them were industry notables from all parts of the country, but the evening, primarily, was Paramount's tribute to the founder of the company. The keynote of the evening was struck in the introductory address which launched the evening's pro- gram, expressed in the words "the history of the motion picture industry is the history of Paramount and ever leading the way for the company was Adplph Zukor." Cecil B. De Mille sketched the Zukor character in recounting an in- cident in the career of the man. On the evening in 1915 when Zukor's first studio on 26th St. in New York went up in flames De Mille encoun- tered him calmly watching the fire lick around the vaults which con- tained 16 uninsured negatives, every- thing of value the company possessed. "What are you going to do?" De- Mille asked. "I'm going to start rebuilding to- morrow," was Zukor's unhesitating reply. Will H. Hays was the principal speaker at the dinner and presented Zukor with a massive collection of the autographs of the Paramount foun- der's friends and acquaintances the world around. Culminating the dinner was an elab- orate entertainment program, broad- cast nationally over the NBC Blue network, with Jack Benny as master of ceremonies. On the program were Leopold Stokowski and symphony or- chestra ; Frank Forest, Jack Oakie, (Continued on page 14) Capital Waits Annual Budget For Tax Lead President May Mention Admissions Levy By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, Jan. 7. — Congress marked time in recess today, await- ing submission tomorrow of the an- nual budget, which will be the last of the formalities incident to the open- ing of the session. In his budget message, President Roosevelt will make known his wishes with respect to taxation legislation, but no real tax program can be de- veloped until the March 15 income re- turns have been analyzed to deter- mine how nearly the revenue from the new tax on undistributed corporate in- come comes to expectations. The President, however, is ex- pected to state his views with re- spect to taxes which expire during the coming half-year, including the decrease in the admission tax exemp- tion. It has been suggested that this item might be included among the non-revenue producing taxes which the Treasury is anxious to eliminate, but it is not seriously believed that this will be done. With the introduction yesterday of (Continued on page 16) See Acceptance of RKO Orpheum Offer Indications that RKO's offer of $700,000 for the principal assets of Orpheum Circuit will be accepted by creditors of the company were strengthened yesterday with the filing of an order in U. S. District Court denying a motion for the substitution of new counsel for the Orpheum trustee. D. M. Black, the present counsel, ^Continued on page 14) Oklahoma Theatres Revise Bank Night Oklahoma City, Jan. 7. — Okla- homa theatres are avoiding the state ruling that Bank Nights are illegal by permitting persons standing outside theatres who have not purchased tickets to participate in the drawings. Winners are announced outside, as well as inside. Pat McGee, Standard Theatres (Continued on page 6) Stage Review — Page 16 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, January 8, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 January 8, 1937 No. 6 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager H Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Pub- lishing Company, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Avenue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copy- righted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc. Address all correspondence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publica- tions, Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, Teatro Al Dia, International Motion Picture Almanac and Fame: The Box Office Check-Up. Hollywood Bureau: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Streets, Boone Mancall, Manager; Chicago Bureau: 624 South Michigan Avenue, C. B. O'Neill, Man- ager; London Bureau: 4 Golden Square, London W 1, Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable Address "Quigpubco, London"; Berlin Bureau: Stuelerstrasse 2, Berlin W 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative; Paris Bureau: 29, Rue Marsoulan, Pierre Autre, Representative; Rome Bureau: Viale Gorizia, Vittorio Malpassuti, Representative; Aus- tralian Bureau: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins Street, Melbourne, Cliff Holt, Representative; Mexico' City Bureau: Apar- tado 269, James Lockhart, Representative; Budapest Bureau: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest, II, Endre Hevesi, Representative ; Tokyo Bureau : 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken, H. Tominaga, Representative; Prague Bureau Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1, Harry Knopf, Rep resentative; Shanghai Bureau: Rooms 38-41. Capital Theatre Building, 142 Museum Road, /. P. Koehler, Representative; Rio de Janiero Bureau: Caixa Postal 3358, A. Weissman, Representative; Buenos Aires Bureau: Corrientes 2495, N. Bruski, Representative; Montevideo Bureau: P. O. Box 664, Paul Bodo, Representative; Moscow Bureau: Petrovski Per 8, Beatrice Stern, Representa- tive; Vienna Bureau: Neustiftgasse, 55, Vienna VII, Hans Lorant, Representative; Amsterdam Bureau: Zuider Amstellaan 5, Philip de Schaap. Representative; Helsing- fors Bureau: Fredriksgatan 19 C, Charlotte Laszlo, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Cullman for Use of Controversial Films Howard S. Cullman, trustee of the Roxy, speaking at New York Uni- versity last night, deplored the avoid ance of controversial subjects on the screen. Calling attention to financial apprehensiveness on the part of pro- ducers and lack of audience interest, he analyzed the problem from the two viewpoints. He offered the two-reeler as a proving ground for new "ideas and methods, due to the lessened cost in volved and the minimum risk. Cull man concluded, "If through this medi urn or some other, the public shows a tangible interest in the vital issues of the day, as entertainment material we may find the producers of million dollar features probing more deeply into our social ills. Until that time, however, I am afraid we must resign ourselves to a continued diet of moon- light and roses on the screen, with row and again a well coated pill of satire or realism. Apparently this is what we want. In any event it is what seventy-five million of us pay our money for, at the box-office each week." Insiders' Outlook By RED KANN ALL of the funny business is not on the screen. Which might induce the remark that this is one of the difficulties. There is, for instance and too good to pass up,_ the newly- formed company in which Ame- dee J. Van Beuren and George J. Hirliman are principals. Con- dor Pictures they call it. Re- membering something ever so slightly about our dips into nature studies in the days when, we turned to the dictionary in search of definition and an early 1937 check on our memory. The research resulted in this : Condor — A very large American vulture found in the most elevated part of the Andes ; head and neck are bare, the plumage is dull black with a downy white neck ruff and white patches on the wings. The condor is one of the largest and most powerful of flying birds, but though it sometimes attacks living ani- mals, it feeds preferably on carrion." There's a name for a picture company. . . . T This led into other and similar fields. It recalled how, in the early days of Fox Movietone •News, a prize of $100 was .offered employees for the best design of a screen trademark for that newsreel. One of the bright young men in the advertising department drew a picture of the globe balanced on clouds with North America and South America in the right positions and with a fox running from left to right as though followed by the invisible hounds of the com- petition. William Fox's office was in the Roxy in those days which was a good thing for the home-office staff. They heard what happened from the pale and shaky Roxy attaches. And no- body ever won the $100. . . . T The third choice one in the triumvirate carries the scene of the exploit to London. C. M. Woolf was out as managing director of Gaumont British and knee-deep in the pains and ex- citement of his new company, General Film Distributors, Ltd. He wanted a trademark. Metro had one named Leo and it was doing all right; pattings along the collar daily from Si Seadler and red meat, too, from Louis Mayer. Woolf, then, conceived his own. It was a wolf, snap- ping, snarling and dripping from its wicked jaws well nigh into the main title. That is, into the main title for two releases. Then someone put Woolf wise. . . . T T Rob Wagner, who should know better, went whole hog, which is to say a full page, in a recent issue of his Script. It had to do, all of it, with Will H. Hays, his job and Jim Farley. You know, that old wheeze about Farley succeeding Hays. Wrote Wagner : Naturally all eyes are turned toward Jim Farley, twice the a successful campaigner for President Roosevelt, a master politician on the winning side who has won not only the con- fidence of his own dominant party but the respect of the losers (as expressed in John D. Rockefeller Jr.'s letter to him). Jim, of course, is the ideal person for the job. He has announced that he is tired of his Washington job, and he certainly is entitled to a hand- some wage. With due respect and honor to Will Hays for what he has accomplished in the past, we firmly believe that it would be the height of busi- ness acumen to secure Jim Far- ley's services during the next four years. Lest we be sus- pected of playing favorites let us hasten to say that both Will and Jim are Script subscribers. No one may suspect Wagner of playing favorites. He might, however, be suspected of taking a stroll on his usual perspicacity and judgment. Rather tired with it all now, we should like to re- peat once again where no repeti- tion should be necessary that: 1. — His principals are all for Hays. The job he has done and is doing tell why. 2. — Hays has a contract which runs until 1941. He is just as unlikely to relinquish it as it is that he would be asked to. Now, does this settle it? . . . Loew's to Pay $1.62y2 Holders of Loew's preferred stock as of record Jan. 29 will be paid $1.62^ a share on Feb. IS. The regular dividend was declared by the board Wednesday. Whitney on Coast Today Hollywood, Jan. 7. — John Hay Whitney will arrive here tomorrow. He plans to stay a month. Sponsors Film Opening Mrs. Cobina Wright will sponsor the opening night performance of "The Robber Symphony" at the Vene- zia, Jan. 25, with proceeds being do- nated to the Social Service Auxiliary of the Cancer Institute. Friederich Feher, who composed the music and directed the picture, will conduct the "Robber Symphony" operatic suite at the opening night performance. Twickenham's Upset May Affect Quota By BRUCE ALLAN London, Jan. 7. — Impending re- ceivership for Twickenham Film Stu- dios, Ltd., may result in forcing adop- tion of the Moyne committee sugges- tion of a commission to control financing of films, and the new C.E.A. attitude in favor of the Moyne propo- sals will also work in favor of Gov- ernment action. The C.E.A. is definitely against joining the K.R.S. in the proposed as- sociation unless the right of appeal to a Government arbitration board is se- cured. Receivership for Twickenham has not been officially recorded as yet, but it is understood two of the "Big Five" banks have refused further to finance films because of losses alleg- edly sustained by the smaller insur- ance companies on earlier advances. Dixey Company Sets $1,000,000 Capital London, Dec. 31. — The Independent Exhibitors' Distribution Co., Ltd., headed by Captain A. C. N. Dixey, will be floated as a public company early in February. The total capital will be £200,000 ($1,000,000) divided into £100,000 of six per cent prefer- ence shares of £1, £60,000 in 600,000 two-shilling ordinary snares and £40,- 000 in £1 "franchise" shares, held by exhibitor members. The current exhibitor membership of the I.E.D.C. is declared to repre- sent 300 theatres. The franchise holders, including a number of prom- inent officers of the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Ass'n, are said to control among them 1,000 theatres. Al- though they have, in the first instance, only taken franchises for 300, the ex- tension of their membership to all their properties would make I.E.D.C. the biggest circuit in England, it is declared. A production plan is expected to accompany the I.E.D.C. prospectus. Will Open Clubrooms M.P. Associates will open a club- room at the Lincoln Hotel next month, Joseph J. Lee, president, stated yesterday. It was originally planned to take quarters at Sardi's, but this plan fell through. New officers will be installed next Thursday at a luncheon at Sardi's. Universal Board Meets Universal's board of directors yes- terday held a routine meeting at the company's home office with R. H. Cochrane, president, presiding in the absence of J. Cheever Cowdin, chair- man, who is now in Europe. Mayer Arrives Today Louis B. Mayer was in Boston yes- terday and will arrive in New York today. Howard Strickling, publicity director of the M-G-M studio, who accompanied him east as usual, is in town. ITOA Expects 1,000 From 800 to 1,000 are expected to attend the I.T.O.A. annual ball at the Waldorf-Astoria on Jan. 16. Warners to Dance Feb. 20 The Warner Club will hold its an- nual ball at the Waldorf on Feb. 20. MORE THAN EVER YOUR BOX-OFFICE CHAMPION as "Stowaway" proves itself Shirley's hold-over champion! HELD OVER IN NEW YORK! HELD OVER IN KAN- SAS CITY ! HELD OVER IN PHILADELPHIA! HELD OVER IN BALTIMORE! HELD OVER IN PITTSBURGH! HELD OVER IN LOS ANGELES! HELD OVER IN SEATTLE HELD OVER IN ST. LOUIS! HELD OVER IN DENVER! HELD OVER IN MIL- WAUKEE! HELD OVER IN DAYTON! HELD OVER IN SAN FRANCISCO! HELD OVER IN CINCINNATI! HELD OVER IN CHAR- MOTION PICTURE RADIO DAILY RADIO Friday, January 8, 1937 Film Critics Awards to Go On NBC-Blue On the Air Last Night The presentation of the awards of the New York Film Critics will be broadcast Sunday, Jan. 24, from 8 to 9 P. M., E.S.T. over the NBC-Blue. The program will include perfor- mances by Gary Cooper, Jean Arthur, Walter Huston, and addresses by Harry Cohn, president of Columbia Pictures ; Rouben Mamoulian and Luise Rainer. It is expected that Mary Pickford and Jesse L. Lasky will also participate in the speech- making. The broadcast will originate in the Rainbow Room of Radio City where a reception will be held for the presentation of the medals and scrolls acknowledging the winners' contribu- tion to the screen in 1936. The se- lections are for the best motion pic- ture of the year, "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" ; the best performance of an actor, Walter Huston in "Dods- worth" ; the outstanding feminine characterization, Miss Rainer's Anna Held in "The Great Ziegf eld" ; the best director, Mamoulian for "The Gay Desperado" ; and for the best foreign language picture, "Carnival in ^landers." Ziegfeld Tunes to Be Heard The NBC concert orchestra will open the program with a medley of tunes from "The Great Ziegfeld." William Boehnal, film critic of the AT. Y. World-Telegram, will then ex- plain how the awards were chosen, •Allowing which Richard Watts, Jr., rama critic of the N. Y. Herald- 'ribune will present the awards. Switching to Hollywood, Cohn will Xccept the award for "Mr. Deeds" and, «n turn, will present it to Frank Capra, director of the film. Following this, Cooper, Miss Arthur and others svho figured in the cast will present several scenes from the picture. Thereafter, the program will re- turn to New York where Huston will receive his award and present a scene from "Dodsworth," thence back to Hollywood for the acceptance of Miss Rainer and Mamoulian. Negotiations are now underway to bring the "Gay Desperado" producers, Jesse Lasky and Miss Pickford, to the program. Alexander Woollcott Returns Last night Liggett and Myers, with great pride and acknowledged nervous- ness brought back to the air Alex- ander Woollcott in a new series which the latter said would last for a long time unless he was shot some dawn by his sponsor. After listening to the jewel-like broadcast it is our opinion that Woollcott's ultimate de- mise will spring from another source. The sponsor's nervousness was in- duced by a memory of Woollcott's last commercial series which ended when the paunchy commentator con- signed sponsors, in general, and his, in particular, to a hardly heavenly habitation. Last night's script, however, was devoted to a recount of the past year's outstanding events. To prove that we humans know little of what the future holds in store, Woollcott told of a recent visit to the library where he came across a yellowed copy of the London Times dated June 20, 1896. An editorial in that issue stated smugly that nothing had happened the previous day that might affect the course of the empire. How was that editor to know, asked Woollcott, that across the sea in America a baby daughter, Wallis, had been born to the Warfields of Baltimore? At the conclusion of the broadcast announcer Paul Douglas offered cus- tomary thanks to the "Town Crier" for his effort. "Don't thank me," was the reply. "Thank Granger." Which is what we are doing at the moment. Woollcott is presented each Tues- day and Thursday at 7:15 P. M., E.S.T., over the CBS network. Lig- gett and Myers, for Granger tobacco, sponsors. Experimental Television The Farnsworth Television Corp. of Philadelphia will embark shortly on a program of experimental television broadcasts, according to George Ever son, secretary- The programs will be received only in the Philadelphia area. Television sets are now being de signed for distribution to staff engi neers and a select group of amateurs. Farnsworth Television recently re- ceived a permit to broadcast televised programs from the Federal Communi- cations Commission. New NBC-Red Show A new series of adventure stories, "Old Travelers' Tales," based on legends collected by Washington Irv- ing makes its debut over the NBC- Red Jan. IS, from 6 to 6:15 P. M., E.S.T. The chief narrator will be Alfred Shirley, and the adaptations will be by Wells Hively. "Showboat" Shift Clicks "Showboat's" new policy proved an effective one last night. With Lanny Ross again acting as master of cere- monies, the show got off to a fast start and ended its hour's trip going away. Musically, as always, the show re- mained one of radio's top offerings. Lanny Ross, Margaret MacRae, the Modern Choir and Al Goodman's or- chestra combined to offer a swiftly paced, ear and audience-pleasing mu- sical melange. The "Showboat" script, in the past the target of most reviews, was con- siderably pepped up by the estimable Robert Benchley, who led off the new guest star policy. In typical Benchley style he advised on how (1) to get rid of a cold, (2) to get rid of a Christmas tree. The result was (1) he caught a cold after his discourse on that subject, and (2) the Christmas tree remained in the studio for the re-broadcast. The script also offered several wel- come novelties, including an old-fash- ioned spelling bee and a community sing, all with studio audience partici- pation. The abandonment of the old serial- ized "Showboat" script in favor of the variety idea is a wise move. entrance on CBS last night. The pro- gram afforded the human "gatling gun" many opportunities to employ his rat-a-tat style, and he didn't miss one of these opportunities. The program is patterned along true adventure lines. The first re-enact- ment traced the story of a young New Jersey miss who miraculously escaped death when her sled skidded down a hill and under the wheels of a fast- moving freight train. The second told of how a Brooklyn doctor was awakened at 2 A. M. one morning and forced into treating a wounded gangster. Through a ruse, however, the doctor managed to no- tify the police. The third and final sketch and, in- cidentally, the evening's spine-tingler, dramatized the eerie experience of two Pittsburgh girls who entered a re- putedly haunted house to avoid a storm and encountered an escaped ape. The ape proved to be a tame one. The dramatizations must be classed above average and would be better still if Gibbons' descriptions and ex- planations were less wordy and less melodramatic. "Hunting for Headlines" is heard weekly over CBS at 10 P. M., E.S.T. Colgate-Palmolive-Peet sponsors. Banner New Floyd Gibbons Series "Hunting for Headlines," conducted by Floyd Gibbons, made a talkative Lum, Abner, Hoff, Et Al Short Shots: Lum and Abner who have broadcast from Chicago for the past six years, shift their base of op- erations to Hollywood shortly . . . Carl Hoff returns to the "Hit Pa- rade" Jan. 30, replacing Harry Salter . . . Dave and Phil Rubinoff return from Pittsburgh today where they have been celebrating their parents' golden wedding anniversary . . . Ed- ward Johnson, general manager of the Metropolitan Opera House, will speak between acts of Saturday's Metropolitan Opera broadcast . . . John Mclntyre, NBC character actor, joins the cast of Helen Hayes "Bambi" series Jan. 11 . . . Westing- house Electric has contracted for a series of United Press news periods every Sunday evening and night over WBT, Charlotte . . . Jimmy Dorsey's band may soon leave the Kraft "Music Hall" series . . . Starting Jan. 13 Warners' production of "The Black Legion" will be dramatized over the Hearst chain of seven stations in New York state. The dramatizations will run in serial form for six days. The stations are WINS, New York; WMFF, Plattsburg; WABX, Al- bany; WIBX, Utica; WMBO, Au- burn ; WSAY, Rochester ; and WBNY, Buffalo . . . The current net- work flurry on spelling bees pro- grams brings a wire from WHIO, Dayton station, informing that the net- works are two years behind the times. WHIO has been featuring spelling bees since early 1935 . . . Gladys George will guest appear on Radie Harris' "Movie Club" program over WHN tonight . . . Nick Foran and Frank Fay have been set as Jack Oakie's guests next week . . . Rosa- line Greene has been signed for the CBS "Your Unseen Friend" program, beginning with the broadcast of Jan. 17 . . . The decision on Dick Pow- ell's successor on "Hollywood Hotel," expected today is still in the works. NBC's Stage Unit Booked Into Roxy (Continued from page 1) week. The exact starting date has not yet been determined. The NBC Artists' Bureau, which is handling all bookings of the stage units, is now whipping into shape a second unit, with all indications point- ing to the probability of three units, with definite routes, working in film houses by early in February. Since stage shows are not permitted in Philadelphia on Sunday, the first unit will play Sunday, Jan. 17, at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City. The units, running one hour each, will be of the variety type, similar to the air programs, which use unemployed pro- fessional performers. The first unit, with George Mayo acting as comedian and master of ceremonies, includes : Swor and Lubin, blackface comedians ; Murray Lane and his Harmonica Scamps, Lizzie Wilson, Dutch comedienne ; Isabelle and Three Octaves, songs ; Yvette Rugel, soprano; a choir of eight voices, and Joyce Brothers and Dean, dancers. W. B. Set Start for "Want to Be Actor" Hollywood, Jan. 7. — Warners will start local broadcasts of the Mac- Quarrie radio program, "Do You Want to Be an Actor" to bolster the end-of-the-year product. It was learned authoritatively today that the first show will go into Warners' Downtown on Wednesday. The understanding here is that a wire from Herman Starr in New York asked local officials why the show had not opened at the Downtown prior to this date. MacQuarrie had hesitated to play the theatres in defer- ence to the national network sponsors, it was learned. The deal, however, is now definitely set. The program is scheduled to play Warners' Hollywood and Forum fol- lowing the run at the Downtown. Three More Renewals The Fleischmann Co., through J. Walter Thompson, has renewed the "Bakers Broadcast" series for an ad- ditional 13 weeks. The program stars Ozzie Nelson, Bob Ripley and Har- riet Hilliard and is broadcast Sun- days over 61 NBC-Blue stations. Another renewal has the American Can Co., through Fuller, Smith and Ross, extending the Ben Bernie se- ries for another 13 week period, ef- fective as of Jan. 26. The program is heard Tuesdays over 57 NBC-Blue stations. Additionally, the Pepsodent vet- erans, Amos 'n' Andy, have been re- newed for a period similar to the above programs. Lord and Thomas is the agency. Miss Rosier to L. and M. Evelyn Rosier, formerly of the Chi- cago office of Stack-Goble, has joined the radio department of Lennen and Mitchell, where she will write com- mercial announcements for all Wood- bury programs. For Stack-Goble, Miss Rosier handled the Lady Es- ther and Sun Bright Junior Nurse Corps programs. Lewis Coming East Hollywood, Jan. 7. — William Lew- is, vice-president of CBS in charge of programs, go east tomorrow. "A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM" THE STORY OF LOUIS PASTEUR "THE GREEN PASTURES" "ANTHONY ADVERSE" (9UTc OF THE TEN BEST PICTURES OF 1936 Were Made By WARNER BROS. The Critics of America Said So in the National Film Daily Newspaper Poll 6 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, January 8, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILYS HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Larceny on the Air" (Republic) Hollywood, Jan. 7. — Although built around an interesting plot, gen- erally well acted, directed and produced, this film, nevertheless, is weak- ened by the introduction of complicated story twists which detract from its entertainment value. Basically, it is a dramatic expose of a quack medicine racket practiced via the medium of radio broadcasting. Thus the story has a topical character amplifying its commercial value. Primarily dramatic, but carrying appealing romantic contrast and com- edy relief, the film is climaxed by an exciting automobile chase. Robert Livingston, a doctor associated with Willard Robertson, a Federal inspector, crusades against broadcasting distributors of fake cure-alls. Livingston's activities, portrayed with well-applied suspense, bring him into contact with Pierre Watkin, the principal faker, who manages somehow to stay within the law, and with Granville Bates, wealthy publisher and father of Grace Bradley, to whom Livingston is romantically attracted. Baffled continually in his attempts to trap Watkin, Livingston, through the influence of Bradley, wins Bates to his cause and away from the shielding of Watkin. Suspicion of murder clouds Livingston's reputa- tion, whereupon a tense climax is evolved as he takes matters into his own hands and, in a wild automobile chase through the mountains, drives Watkin and other fakers off the air. Livingston, Watkin, Bates and Robertson handle their dramatic roles with skill and understanding. Miss Bradley, in a rather unsympathetic part, turns in a credible performance. Comedy relief is supplied by Smiley Burnette and William Newell. Byron Foulger, Wilbur Mack and Matty Fain round out a satisfactory cast. The story is based on an original screenplay by Dick English, on which he collaborated with Endre Boehm, concentrating largely on the dramatic. Irving Pichel, in his direction, elected to intensify this dramatic quality of situations, action and dialogue. The film is of the family type and should have particular interest for the younger folks. Production Code Seal No. 2,916. Running time, 62 minutes. "G." "Penrod and Sam" ( Warners) Hollywood, Jan. 7. — Strictly juvenile entertainment, this picture will show best in its subsequent runs. The situations and plot are pure hokum and will have little interest for adult audiences. The Lillie Hay- ward-Hugh Cummings screen play retains nothing of Booth Tarking- ton's original save the characters.. Although the boys remain the same wholesome youngsters the charm of the Tarkington story is missing. Billy Mauch and Harry Watson in the title roles give good perform- ances as self-styled junior G-men who round up a gang of bank rob- bers. Frank Craven as young Mauch's father is thoroughly at home in a type of role he has portrayed for years. Jackie Morrow, the juvenile heavy, who becomes regular when danger threatens, and Charles Hal- ton, his banker father, keep the action stirring. Standard gangster performances are turned in by Craig Reynolds, Allan Davis and Si Wills. William McGann's direction is slow at first, but reaches a high pitch when the youngsters have the bandits cornered, and supplies good suspense. Spring Byington is effective in a mother role. The balance of the cast includes Philip Hurlic, Bernice Pilot and Kenneth Harlan. The picture should do best with a selling campaign directed at juveniles. Production Code Seal No. 2,753. Running time, 65 minutes. "G." Oklahoma Theatres Revise Bank Night {Continued from page 1) general manager, says attendance holds up under this arrangement. Persons under 18 are not allowed to participate, he says. Injunction Extension Unlikely Chicago, Jan. 7. — Extension of the injunction granted the Iris and permit- ting it to continue its operation of Bank Night was seen as unlikely to- day when Judge Niemeyer, hearing the case in Superior Court, indicated that he thought theatres operating the game with registrations in excess of the number of seats in the house con- stituted a nuisance and violated the city ordinance which says that people cannot congregate in lobbies, aisles and foyers of theatres nor stand on the sidewalks in front in such a man- ner as to impede traffic. Edward Adcock, attorney for the theatres asking the extension of the injunction, presented his side of the case today. It will be continued to- morrow. See B&K Buy in Iris Chicago, Jan. 7. — B. & K. is re- ported to have purchased a half inter- est in the Iris, owned by Frank Scott and Harry Smythe, Bank Night dis- tributor here. According to present indications, Scott will manage the house under B. & K. supervision with the old corporation dissolved and the new Iris Theatre Corp. formed with Smythe as president, Walter Immer- man, vice-president; John Balaban, secretary, and Scott, treasurer. B. & K. at one time operated the house for the Powers estate. It was the Iris which filed the in- junction now in effect permitting it to operate Bank Night despite the police ban. Condor Production Talks on Next Week Conferences on Condor production plans will begin next Monday or Tuesday with A. J. Van Beuren, Frank Snell, George Hirliman and M. H. Hoffman participating. Ken Maynard has been signed for six westerns in addition to other stars already lined up. The exact number of pictures to be produced will be decided at the sessions next week. Hirliman and Hoffman arrived from the coast the other day. Jessel Film Retitled Hollywood, Jan. 7. — "Goodbye Broadway" has been chosen by Uni- versal as the final title for George Jessel's picture formerly called "The Thing Is the Play." Jessel will pro- duce but will probably not be cast in the production. Leaves B. & D. Position London, Dec. 31. — Sally Suther- land has resigned from British & Dominions Film Corp., Ltd., of which she has been publicity manager for two years past. No successor has been named yet. Wauneta House Burned Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 7.— A $15,000 fire completely destroyed Dr. F. E. Rider's Crystal Theatre at Wauneta, Neb., today. A 15-degree-below-zero temperature hampered firemen. IATSE Men on Coast For Executive Meet Los Angeles, Jan. 7. — George Browne, head of the I.A.T.S.E., and several vice-presidents and representa- tives from all sections of the country, arrived here today to attend the semi- annual I.A.T.S.E. executive board meeting which will open Monday. Sessions are expected to continue for at least a week. Individual complaints and problems confronting various locals will be taken up. The closed shop is working satisfactorily in studios, union offi- cials said. Rubens Denies Part In St. Louis Deal Chicago, Jan. 7.— Jules Rubens, head of Great States, today empha- tically denied the report that he would join with A. J. Balaban and F. & M. interests in St. Louis exhibition. Rubens declared that he is with Great States to stay, that the current story was probably the result of someone's imagination. Rubens stated that A. J. Balaban and Sam Meyers are interested in St. Louis theatres but that his under- standing is that they plan to operate independently and not with F. & M. Short Subjects "The Hillbilly Goat" (Radio) Good comic-character acting and a MilesStandish-John Alden sort of plot with Edgar Kennedy in the Alden role, develops some first rate laughs. Kennedy, an electrical appliance sales- man, is touring the backwoods. In order to land a contract he makes a bargain with Si Jenks to fix a wed- ding with Fern Emmett, a widow. Due to his inspired oratory, Ken- nedy almost gets himself wed to Miss Emmett. Things finally straighten out with Kennedy the butt of hill- billy ethics. Production Code Seal No. 2,471. Running time, 18 mins. "G." "The Hollanders" (Vitaphone) Taking in quite a portion of the country, this E. M. Newman "Color- tour Adventure," while filmed in in- ferior color, manages to be diverting. The quaintness of the people and their customs are shown again. A clever flash from the European country to a Holland, Mich., U. S. A., is worked in, striking an interesting note. Pro- duction Code Seal No. 01,335. Run- ning time, 10 minutes. "G." "Ladies' Day" (Van Beur en-Radio) Athletic women cavort through this Bill Corum effort. Handsomely filmed, it takes in feminine sporting activities in the various fields, show- ing much action and plenty of pretty faces. It is nicely diverting. Produc- tion Code Seal No. 01,360. Running time, 11 mins. "G." Shows Back to Phila. Fox Philadelphia, Jan. 7. — Warners will return stage shows to the Fox Jan. 15, thus booking the last spot covered in the musicians' agreement signed recently. A pit orchestra will also be used. Wall Street Board Advances General Net High Low Close Change Columbia, vtc . . 3654 3554 36 + Vs Columbia, pfd. .. 43 43 43 - 54 Consolidated 1754 165/6 1754 17434, + 5/6 Eastman Kodak. 174M. 174 + Va Gen. T. Equip. . 32J4 3154 3154 + 54 Loew's, Inc 67J4 25J4 66 675-6 +15/6 Paramount 247/6 2554 + Va Paramount 1 pfd.. 180 175 180 -H54 Paramount 2 pfd. 233/s 22J4 233/6 + Vs Pathe Film 10 934 10 + Vs RKO &'A 20th Century -Fox. 3554 8 + Vs 35 3554 + % 20th Century, pfd 4454 43J4 4454 + Va Warner Bros. . . . 1754 17/8 1754. + 54 + Vs Warner, pfd 6754 6754 6754 All Curb Issues Decline Net High Low Close Change Grand National . . 354 ZVs tys — Vs Sonotone 2 \Vs 2 Technicolor ZIVs 2156 2154 — 54 Trans-Lux 454 454 4J4 RKO Bonds Up 2Y& Net High Low Close Change Keith B. F. 6s '46 97 97 97 + 54 Loew's 354s '46... 10034 10054 10054 — Vs Paramount Pict. 6s '55 10054 10054 IOO54 — 54 RKO 6s '41 pp.... 120 117% 120 +254 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 99J4 9954 9934 — 54 (Quotations at close of Jan. 7) MOTION PICTUR£ DAILY MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Wings of the Morning" {New World-20th Century-Fox) Glendale, Cal., Jan. 7. — Produced by New World Pictures, Ltd., 20th Century-Fox English producing subsidiary, with Robert T. Kane as producer, this picture must be considered an auspicious offering from the other side, chiefly notable for the completly breath-taking effects of its Technicolor photographing of the beautiful Irish country. Certainly nothing better has yet come from any studio using color in a feature. The film for the most part is attractive, spirited, and entertaining. The story tells of a beautiful gypsy's love of and marriage to an Irish nobleman, his death, and the flight of years which finds her a queen of gypsies. Then the story takes up the romance of Henry Fonda, young Canadian, for the granddaughter of the gypsy queen, the training of race horses, the fun as Fonda at first mistakes the girl for a boy, since she wears the disguise in which she had fled from Spain's revolution, and a fine climax sequence picturing the Derby at Epsom Downs. Interjected are scenes of the countryside, at the castle, at the gypsy camp, with John McCormack singing several numbers, with Steve Donoghue in "civies" and astride a racer. Annabella, beautiful and talented, plays opposite Fonda, and Leslie Banks has an important role. Tom Geraghty wrote the screen play and Harold Schuster directed. In all, the picture should find a ready and appreciative audience, among the more discriminating filmgoers. Production Code Seal No. 2,879. Running time, 66 minutes. "G." "She's Dangerous" {Universal) Hollywood, Jan. 7. — A story of the outwitting of bond crooks by an attractive girl, posing as a crook herself, but in reality a private detective, this picture emerges as routine entertainment suitable for double bills and satisfactory fare of its kind. Not new in theme, reasonably active in pace, it has a competent cast. Cesar Romero, satisfactorily vicious as the gang leader, meets and accepts Tala Birell as a fellow-crook. Discovering she is not, he kills her employer and takes her with him on a trip for the disposal of stolen bonds, after having stolen the papers which prove her true identity. She is suspected of having killed the man. Their plane crashes, they are taken in and treated by Walter Pidgeon, doctor on a mountain vacation. Eventually she tells Pidgeon, with whom she has fallen in love, the truth, and when they are arrested, goes with them. Both Romero and Miss Birell are convicted of the murder and sentenced to death, Romero refusing to clear her. But a ruse in the death house, as he is prepared for the chair, causes Romero to tell the truth. Murray Roth and Ben Ryan wrote the original and Milton Carruth and Lewis J. Foster directed from the screen play by Lionel Houser and Albert R. Perkins. Production Code Seal No. 2,895. Running time, 65 minutes. "G." Thursday, January 7, 1937 4 Purely Personal ► KEN HODKINSON, assistant to George W. Weeks, will visit dur- ing his current trip west the company's exchanges at St. Louis, Kansas City, Denver and Salt Lake City. Arthur Greenblatt, eastern division manager, returned yesterday from Miami. • James Cagney, whose "Great Guy" today enters its second week at the Criterion, will leave for the coast this weekend. His brother, William, is now conferring with Douglas MacLean and J. G. Blystone on the star's next for Grand National. • Edward L. Alperson, president of Grand National, will leave for Holly- wood next Thursday or Friday to approve several new productions scheduled to go into work in addition to closing negotiations for a studio. • E. W. Wingart of 20th Century- Fox's publicity forces left yesterday for Boston to return with Jane Withers, who has been making per- sonal appearances at the Metropolitan. • William Gehring, central division manager for 20th Century-Fox, is in Minneapolis on business and William Sussman, eastern division manager, is spending a vacation in Florida. • Sam Strassberg, Louis Frisch, Irving Kaplan, Jack Hattem and Irving Renner sailed yesterday on the Empress of Australia for an 18- day cruise to the West Indies. • Marlene Dietrich has notified Ernst Lubitsch that she will return to this country Feb. 6 and will reach Hollywood Feb. 10 to start work in 'Angel" for Paramount. • Lionel and Mrs. Atwill are due today on the Washington. Monty Banks also arrives on that ship. He has a directing contract with 20th Century-Fox. • _ Leo Justin has called off his vaca- tion to Honolulu because of the sea- men's strike, and instead will leave Jan. 20 for Havana, Miami and Mex- ico City. • Beatrice Kaufman, new eastern story editor for Samuel Goldwyn, has taken up her duties after 10 days of conferences with Goldwyn on the coast. • George Hirliman, president of Condor Pictures, has arrived here from the coast to confer on company policies. He is accompanied by his wife. • Monty Banks and Harry d'Ar- Rast, who have been directing abroad for New World Prod., will arrive tomorrow on the George Washington. • Tony Martin, having completed his New York vacation and broad- casting, is en route back to the coast by train. He left yesterday. • Leo and David Gorcey of the orig- inal "Dead End" company have been signed by Robert Mc Intyre of Gold- wyn Prod, for the films version and will be tested this week. Central Artists Bureau, Inc., placed them. Edith Roark, under the same mana- gement, has been tested by M-G-M. • Eleanor Hunt, who just completed a film for George Hirliman, is here on a short visit, returning to the coast in a few days. • Fay Bainter left for the coast yesterday via American Airlines on a hurry call from the M-G-M studio. • Hal Horne yesterday signed Es- telle and LeRoy, dance team, for 'Walter Wanger's Vogue of 1938." • Meyer Schine, who arrived from Gloversville yesterday, will return to his upstate headquarters today. Charles Stearn, New England division manager for U. A., is making a quick trip to Boston. • Harry Asher, franchise holder for General Pictures in New England, is in town for conferences with Mack D. Weinberger, general sales mana- ger. • Harry Gold, U.A.'s eastern sales- manager, is off on a tour of the Buffalo territory. • Ruth Roberts of "White Horse Inn" is back in the show after a brief illness. • Edward Schnitzer will sail on the Lafayette Jan. 29 for a West Indies cruise. • Robert T. Konikow has been made publicity representative for the Film- arte. • Edward Finney plans to leave for Hollywood within the next two weeks. • George Burns and Gracie Allen left yesterday for the coast. Mrs. Willard McKay is en route to Miami. 7 B. & D. Reports Loss In Year of £105,599 London, Dec. 31. — The report and accounts of British & Dominions Film Corp., Ltd., for the year ended Oct. 31 last, show a net loss of £105,599 and with the previous year's debit of £25,- 549, a total debit carried forward of £131,148. After crediting the amounts received under loss of income policies, in con- nection with the destruction by fire of the Elstree studios, there was a rev- enue surplus of £49,391, but further debit items included £121,638 deprecia- tion written off productions, and £32,- 408 depreciation of fixed assets. In the year 1934-1935 the net loss was £37,- 031. Production had to be suspended for some months following the studio fire, it was stated in the report, which also records the decision to acquire half the capital of Pinewood Studios, Ltd., and the transfer of production to that plant, where a fifth stage will be com- pleted shortly. B. & D. ordinary £1 shares are currently quoted at about five shillings. GB Signs Deal with English Technicians London, Dec. 31. — An agreement on wages and working conditions has been reached by the Ass'n. of Cine- Technicians with the Gaumont British Corp. It covers the big Shepherd's Bush studio and is the first to be signed with the organized technicians. Although the agreement does not exactly follow the "model" recently publicized by the A. C. T., it es- tablishes minimum salaries for camera- men, sound editors, still photograph- ers, continuity writers and others and sets conditions regarding over- time, holiday and sick pay, termina- tion of employment, "farming of serv- ices" and other matters. Hutchinson Due in Paris London, Dec. 31. — Walter J. Hutch- inson, foreign manager of 20th Cen- tury-Fox, is expected in Paris from Cairo shortly, proceeding to London on the last lap of his world tour. Francis L. Harley, managing director for the company in London, will meet him in Paris. Brown Warner Director London. Dec. 31. — J. Walton Brown, general sales manager of Warner Bros., Ltd., has been named a director of the company. Brown was supervisor of Goldwyn, Ltd., prior to the Metro merger and later sales manager for F.B.O., Ltd. Up Borrowing Power London, Dec. 31. — The annual meeting of London Film Prod. Ltd., formally approved the amendment to the articles of association increasing the borrowing powers of the directors to £1,750,000. All shares in London Films are held privately. Helen Jepson Signed Helen Jepson, operatic and radio star, has been signed by Grand Na- tional to appear in a musical Victor Schertzinger will produce for the company. The singer is now on a concert tour and will report to Schert- zinger in May, when production is scheduled to get under way. We'll say THE PLAINSMA Already he's slaughtered Box-Office records! LOOK! DENVER, COL. "The Plainsman" opens to biggest gross in six years. JOHNSTOWN, OHIO. . /'The Plainsman" smashes all 1936 records. ALTOONA, PA. . ."The Plainsman" knocks spots off house record. AKRON, OHIO . . ."The Plainsman" tops all time high. TOLEDO, OHIO . . ."The Plainsman" bangs above all 1936 records. SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF. . ."The Plainsman" heads for new record. MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. "The Plainsman" beats house record by 50%. / ! ...... • KANSAS CITY, MO. . ."The Plainsman" biggest in 15 months. SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS "The Plainsman" biggest grosser in 8 months. DULUTH, MINN "The Plainsman" tops record grosses. WILKES-BARRE, PA. "The Plainsman" has record Sunday opening. NEW ORLEANS, LA. . ."The Plainsman" does 2 weeks business inl. DETROIT, MICH. "The Plainsman" does IV2 weeks business in 3 days. CECIL B. DeMILLE'S ' THE PLAINS A Paramount Picture with James Ellison • Charles Bickf ILLER And in every one of these cities "The Plainsman" did more than a week's business in 3 days! Atlanta, Georgia Houston, Texas Portland, Maine Knoxville, Tenn. Omaha, Neb. Sioux Falls, Iowa Boston, Mass. Worcester, Mass. Springfield, Mass. Hartford, Conn. Miami, Fla. South Bend, Ind. Memphis, Tenn. Salt Lake City, Utah • and every mail brings the same story from other cities. M" starring Gary Cooper, Jean Arthur lelen Burgess • Porter Hall • directed by Cecil B. DeMille 10 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, January 8, 1937 "Thin Man" Is Kansas City's Top, $26,300 Kansas City, Jan. 7. — "After the Thin Man" at the Midland took the big money, $26,300, or $14,800 over normal, in a big week for first runs, in which mild weather helped. "Col- lege Holiday" took $10,200, including the New Year's eve show, and was held for a second week by the New- man. Average is $7,000. "Gold Diggers," after pulling $11,600, $3,600 of excess, went to the Uptown for a second stanza. "Polo Joe" brought the Tower over the $7,000 marker by $2,400, and even in its second week the Uptown's "Stowaway" and "Rose Bowl" went to $5,700, $1,700 over the line. Total first run business was $63,200. Average is $37,500. Estimated takings : Week Ending Dec. 31: "GOLD DIGGERS" (F. N.) MAIN STREET— (3,100), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $11,600. (Average, $8,000) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) MIDLAND— (4,000), 2Sc-40c, 7 days. Gross: $26,300. (Average, $11,500) "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) NEWMAN— (1,900), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $10,200. (Average, $7,000) "POLO JOE" (W. B.) TOWER— (2,200), 25c-35c, 7 days. Stage: Fifi Dorsay, Ted Cook, Six Lucky Boys, and Burns, Moriarty & Dell. Gross: $9,400. (Average, $7,000) "STOWAWAY" (20th-Fox) "ROSE BOWL" (Para.) UPTOWN— (2,000), 25c -40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $5,700. (Average, $4,000) "Thin Man" on Dual Is Omaha's Leader Omaha, Jan. 7. — Omaha theatres had the best Christmas week in their history, the Paramount leading the parade with $12,500, or $3,200 over par for "After the Thin Man" and "The Accusing Finger." The week also marked the return of the Paramount to a 55-cent top after an unsatisfactory experiment with a 40-cent top. The gross set the high mark of the year for this house and was $2,000 higher than the open- ing week in October when "The Great Zeigfeld" played. "College Holiday" and "Isle of Fury" rang the bell for the Omaha, garnering $9,000, or $3,500 over par. The box office magic of Shirley Temple continued, "Stowaway" and "Along Came Love" grossing a par $7,500 at the Orpheum. Total first run business was $35,000. Average is $26,300. Estimated takings : Week Ending Dec. BO: "RAINBOW ON THE RIVER" (Radio) "THE PLOT THICKENS" (Radio) BRANDEIS— (1,200), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $4,000) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) "THE ACCUSING FINGER" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (2,900), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $12,500. (Average, $9,300) Week Ending Dec. 31: "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) "ISLE OF FURY" (W. B.) OMAHA — (2,200), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $5,500) "STOWAWAY" (ZOth-Fox) "ALONG CAME LOVE" (Para.) ORPHEUM— (3,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. .Gross: $7,500. Average. $7,500) "College" and Show $38,000 Hit in Boston Boston, Jan. 7. — "College Holiday" with the Yacht Club Boys on the stage and Xavier Cougat grossed $38,000, above average by $16,000. "Our Relations," with the "Con- tinental Revue" on the stage went $8,000 above par at the RKO Boston to $19,000. "Garden of Allah," with "Come Closer, Folks," drew $18,000 at Loew's Orpheum, $6,000 over aver- age, and $16,500 at Loew's State, or $5,500 over par. Total first run business was $124,- 000. Average is $79,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Dec. 31 : "CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE" (W. B.) "ALONG CAME LOVE" (Para.) FENWAY— (1,392), 30c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $4,500) "STOWAWAY" (ZOth-Fox) RKO MEMORIAL— (2,907), 25c-50c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $15,000. (Average, $12,000) "COME CLOSER, FOLKS" (Col.) "GARDEN OF ALLAH" (U. A.) LOEW'S ORPHEUM— (2,970), 25c-45c-65c. 7 days. Gross: $18,000. (Average, $12,000) "COME CLOSER, FOLKS" (Col.) "GARDEN OF ALLAH" (U. A.) LOEW'S STATE— (3,537), 35c-45c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $16,500. (Average, $11,000) "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) METROPOLITAN— (4,332), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Xavier Cougat and Yacht Club Boys Gross: $38,000. (Average, $22,000) "CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE" (W. B.) "ALONG CAME LOVE" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (1,793), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $9,500. (Average, $7,000) "OUR RELATIONS" (M-G-M) RKO BOSTON— (3,246), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: "Continental Varieties." $19,000. (Average, $20,000) "Theodora" on Dual $9,500 at Portland Portland, Jan. 7. — "Theodora Goes Wild," with "Can this Be Dixie" at the Paramount topped a splendid week, securing $9,500 over par by $4,500. In its first week at United Ar- tists, "Camille" brought in $8,500 over the usual take by $3,500. "The Plainsman," with "Smart Blonde," registered $8,000, over average by $3,- 000. It was cold and wet and the mari- time strike was still on. Total first run business was $39,- 500. Average is $24,700. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 2: "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) "DOWN THE STRETCH" (F.N.) BROADWAY— (1,912), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $5,000) "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) "CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA" (ZOth-Fox) BLUE MOUSE— (1,700), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 3rd downtown week. Gross: $2,500. (Average, $1,700) "ONE WAY PASSAGE" (W.B.) (Reissue) "DON'T TURN 'EM LOOSE" (Radio) MAYFAIR— (1,700), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $3,000) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) "SMART BLONDE" (W.B.) ORPHEUM— (1,700), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $5,000) "THEODORA GOES WILD' (Col.) "CAN THIS BE DIXIE?" (20th-Fox) PARAMOUNT— (3,008), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $9,500. (Average, $5,000) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS— (945), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: 8,500. (Average, $5,000) Runs to Sevens Omaha, Jan. 7. — Sevens, says Ralph Goldberg, Nebras- ka's biggest independent ex- hibitor, are lucky for him. His Town theatre telephone number is At. 7707, his home number Wa. 7797 and the number of his package liquor store, At. 3777. "Thin Man" 3-Year Indianapolis High Indianapolis, Jan. 7. — "After the Thin Man" brought the biggest gross into Loew's in the last three years, sweeping $16,000 into the box-office for a total that was $10,000 over normal. "Stowaway" brought $6,000 to the Apollo for $2,000 into the black and the second, and final week of "Col- lege Holiday" went $1,000 upstairs for the Circle with $5,000. The Indiana, reopening after eight months of darkness, started slowly with about $5,000 on "Rainbow on the River" and "Let's Make a Mil- lion." Average gross for the house last season was $7,000. Total first run business was $39,500. Average is $28,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 1 : "STOWAWAY" (ZOth-Fox) APOLLO— (1,100), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $4,000) "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) CIRCLE— (2,800), 25c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $4,000) "RAINBOW ON THE RIVER" (Radio) "LET'S MAKE A MILLION" (Para.) INDIANA— (3,200), 25c -40c, 7 days Gross: $5,000. (Average, $7,000) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) LOEW'S— (2,800), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $16,000. (Average, $6,000) "SMART BLONDE" (W. B.) LYRIC— (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Stage: Christmas revue and vaudeville. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $7,000) "College Holiday" Tops Buffalo Rush Buffalo, Jan. 7. — Post- Christmas business with unusually mild weather sent grosses soaring. "College Holi- day," at the Buffalo, pulled $18,003, over* normal by $6,003. "Three Smart Girls," with "You Can't Get Away with It" at the Lafayette drew $11,000, cracking par by $5,000. "The Garden of Allah," at the Great Lakes topped average by $4,708 with a $12,008 take, while "Jungle Princess" and "General Spanky" at the Century were worth $8,700, in a $5,800 house. Total first run business was $56,411. Average is $38,400. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 2: "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) BUFFALO — (3,000) , 30c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $18,003. (Average, $12,000) "STOWAWAY" (ZOth-Fox) HIPPODROME— (2,500), 25c-40c, 6 days. Gross: $6,700. (Average, $7,300) "GARDEN OF ALLAH" (U. A.) GREAT LAKES— (3,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $12,008. (Average, $7,300) "JUNGLE PRINCESS" (Para.) "GENERAL SPANKY" (M-G-M) CENTURY— (3,000), 25c, 7 days. Gross: $8,700. (Average, $5,800) "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) "YOU CAN'T GET AWAY WITH IT" (Univ.) LAFAYETTE— (3,300), 25c, 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $6,000) "Thin Man" on Dual Big Draw On the Coast Los Angeles, Jan. 7. — "After the Thin Man," on a dual with "Woman Wise," led a sensational New Year pickup in which double bills and spe- cial shows helped. The take at the Chinese was $20,300, over normal by $7,800. At Loew's State the combina- tion went to $25,900, over par by $11,900. At the Paramount "College Holi- day," with a stage show, was another knockout. The $35,000 gross was over the line by $17,000. "That Girl from Paris" and "Racing Lady" were in the black both at the Hillstreet and Pant- ages, but grosses elsewhere were noth- ing to get excited about. Total first run business was $138,- 400. Average is $107,950. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 6 : "LLOYDS OF LONDON" (ZOth-Fox) CARTHAY CIRCLE — (1,518), 50c -$1.50, 7 days. 6th week. Gross: $8,600. (Average, $17,000) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) "WOMAN WISE" (ZOth-Fox) CHINESE— (2,500), 30c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $20,300. (Average, $12,500) "REMBRANDT" (U.A.) 4 STAR— (900), 30c-55c, 7 days, 2n Howard Lindsay, the playright, has signed a contract with Paramount. He is en route to the coast. • Kay Francis, Constance Collier, Mary Newcombe and Doris Keane are due today aboard the Aquitania. • John Hay Whitney and Henry King arrived on the coast yesterday via American Airlines. • Sam Marx, literary editor for Samuel Goldwyn, will reach New York today for a short stay. • Maxson F. J udei.l arrives from Hollywood today to discuss produc- tion. • Monty Banks, English producer, is in town. Ditto Harry d'Arrast. • Mike Marco is due from Holly- wood on Monday. • Alec Moss plans to sail for a Ha- vana vacation about Jan. 20. • C. J. Sonin of M-G-M is in Chi- cago. Fay Bainter left for Hollywood Friday • Louis K. Sidney returns from the coast a week from today. • Stephen Pai.los is due from the coast earlv this week. Music Hall Takes 3 Films from 20th-Fox {Continued from page 1 ) on the run of "That Girl from Paris," which may be held a third week. "On the Avenue," the Irving Ber- lin musical, is expected to be the sec- ond attraction, with "Wings of the Morning" the third. These two are being released the latter part of Feb- ruary and probably will be dated into the Music Hall then. Several weeks ago, W. G. Van Schmus booked "As You Like It" in- to the Music Hall, the first 20th Cen- tury-Fox picture since the split be- tween the two factions on terms. The current tri-film deal is understood to be charged against an old commit- ment by the Center, one of the factors which is said to have brought about the breach between the Music Hall and the distributor. During the short time the Center was opened before "White Horse Inn" made its debut, Van Schmus was handling the book- ings. Expect 35-50 New Theatres In N. Y. Metropolitan Area {Continued from page 1) houses erected last year were this size with a few seating from 1,000 to 1,500. Solidification of the circuits in open territories and closer coordination of operation between the independents were prominently featured in the past year's local exhibition history. Con- solidated Amusements, Skouras Thea- tres, Century, Associated Playhouses and Sam Cocalis were among those who added new units in several of their situations and also made book- ing deals with smaller operators. The New York Film Board of Trade's annual theatre directory, which will list 1,164 houses in the Greater New York area, will be ready for distribution either Thursday or Friday. The survey will show all thea- tres wired for sound and less than 100 closed. Many of the theatres which changed hands last year underwent a change in name. This is the first time that there have been so many name transi- tions in one year. The latest instance is that of Morris Kutinsky, who has taken the City Line in Brooklyn and will call it the Earle when it is opened. In another instance an independent changed the name of a new theatre twice before the doors were opened. The 1,164 theatres is an all-time high for the local exchange area. It is exclusive of legitimate houses, but includes those theatres which formerly featured stage attractions and have been converted to films. K. C. Building Continues Kansas City, Jan. 10. — Remodel- ings, reopenings and theatre construc- tion held a rapid pace in this area in the closing days of 1936, with every indication that the coming spring will show a maintenance of that activity. D. J. Foley has reopened the Mida at Sweep Springs, Mo., after re- furnishing the house and installing new sound equipment. Mrs. Ethel Chilton has opened the Chilton at Doniphan, Mo., with new sound, and other modern equipment and furnishings. Sam D. Hyter has installed new sound in his Kansas, Kiowa, Kan. M. W. Borgmier is reopening the Ritz at Trenton, Mo., after remodeling, reseating, and new sound. The Major at Washington, Kan., is a new one for Charles Swiercinsky. Seth Simpson has reopened the Tina at Tina, Mo., a 220-seat theatre closed for a long time. Glen W. Dickinson is redecorating the Dickinson, Lawrence, Kan. His oersonal holding, the Macon, Macon, Mo., is being reseated. W. H. Hardman is reseating his Royal at Frankfort, Kan. C. A. Schultz of Commonwealth Amuse- ment has reopened the Plaza at Trenton. Mo., after remodeling. Com- monwealth has reopened the Johnson at Carrollton, Mo., as the Uptown after reseating, remodeling, refurnish- ing, and adding a new $2,000 electric marquee and signs. Altogether ap- proximately $10,000 was spent. May Urge Sales Tax Trenton, Jan. 10.— In his annual message to the Legislature on Tues- day Governor Hoffman is expected to urge again the enactment of sales tax and income tax bills for the pur- pose of raising needed revenue during the coming year. Out Hollywood Way Hollywood, Jan. 10. — Mervyx Le- Roy will start "Death in the Deep South" on March 1. . . . Aben Kan- del working on the screenplay. Radio exercises options on Burgess Meredith, Constance Worth and Frank Thomas. .. . Meredith's next "Stage Door" : Thomas and Miss Worth cast in "China Passage." . . . Rita Cansino signed by Grand National as Tex Ritter's leading woman in "Trouble in Texas." . . . Toel McCrea, George Raft and Fred MacMurray back at work after ill- nesses. Orin Heyward, under contract to B. P. Schulberg. here to start work. . . . Harry Sherman, Nate Watt and Eugene Strong seeking new "Hopalon? Cassidy" locations in Ari- zona and New Mexico. . . . Nathaniel Shilkret will score "Stepping Toes" and Roy Webb "New Faces of 1937," Radio. Fred Hope assistant art director on "Night Must Fall." . . . Special lyrics to be put in "In Ould Kilmainham Tail." to be used in "Parnell." . . . Universal signs Jimmy Savo for "Hippodrome," to start in March. Casting — William Davidson in "Marked Woman," Warners.. . .Dave Apollon in "Mr. Broadway" and W alter Connolly, on loan from Co- lumbia, in "Delay in the Sun," Uni- versal. . . . Loretta Young in "Cafe Metropole," 20th Century-Fox. . . . M-G-M castings include Forrester Harvey, William Stack and Henri- etta Crossman in "Man in Posses- sion," Max Davidson in "Man of the People." . . . Holly Lloyd, Spencer Charters, Otto Hoffman, Jameson- Thomas and Edwin Mordant in "Two Shall Meet," Grand National. + Writers — P. T. Wolfson on "A Damsel in Distress," Radio. . . . Harry Hamilton given a one-year contract at M-G-M. . . . Gene Fowler and Damon Runyon invited to be guests of honor at the inauguration of Charles O. Gridlfy as president of the National Press Club, Washington. Jan. 23. . . . Jack Townley assigned to do screenplay of "Mrs. America," next for Victor Moore and Helen Broderick, Radio. + Director — John Cromwell signed bv David O. Selznick to direct "The Prisoner of Zenda." + Title Change — "Tennis with Fred Perry" to "Tennis Tactics." New England Sees Bright 1937 Outlook {Continued from page I) for the first time since the depression. The price increase at the Metropoli- tan, Paramount house, several months ago is expected to be duplicated by Loew's and RKO. Statistical experts state that New England's lowest ebb was reached dur- ing 1933. Improvements have been recorded in almost every line since that year. Those during 1936 were the most pronounced to date, while the 1937 prospects appear even bright- er, according to the Boston Chamber of Commerce. This source says em- ployment in New England has in- creased nearly 18 per cent and pay- rolls 35 per cent during the past three-year period, with 1936 by far the best year. Receipts of foreign and domestic wool in Boston, for instance, pictur- ing indirectly bettering manufacturing conditions here, show a figure of about 400,000,000 pounds for the past year, a point near the peace-time record for all time and a gain of 37 per cent over 1935. Department store sales, according to the Federal Reserve Bank, are up 13 per cent. Bank debits have gained 41 per cent while bank clearings have increased 25 per cent. Building permits in metropolitan Bos- ton are ahead 96 per cent. Real Estate Values Up Boston real estate bond values in 1936 increased about 66 per cent above the 1932 low. Many New England cotton mills, closed in recent years, will reopen in 1937, according, to Gov- ernment experts. National Theatre Supply Co., Capi- tol Theatre Supply Co., Joe Cifre, Inc., and the Theatre Service and Supply Co. acknowledge 1936 to be their most prosperous year in many. Business is continuing at a strong pace. The premium business is ex- ceptionally good. Wall Street Slight Board Changes Net H=e arms of his sweetheart to take the "P for a gangland killing .'...Secrets ;:;trw;°: to,d with a Power that w.ll leave yon breathless. CIENTIFIC serum" ■• ■ "* serum" used •eal" wrung from J"t all squealers' ew methods! . st crime! DETECTION! on a prisoner ... a lips that promised to ..Fingerprints found ■ Laboratory aligned SEE... A BOY CONDEMNED! . . A GIRL IN A MILLION' A COP WHO COVETED' MOT IN THE DEATH HOUSFi PAYROLL HOLDUP' Gangsters in action as Ihey'cow a Lt„r»' ™«^t5223?JJE'. ■ • "IT AND RUN KILLING ' son's not guilty!" 8Mnewa"s- T^mp. a howling mob in hot pursuit! MOTION PICTURE DAILY Out Hollywood Way b San Francisco Made Marked Gains in 1936 {Continued from page 1) than that. Among elements which hurt were unusually successful opera and symphony seasons, the appear- ance here of several top-ranking stage stars or much-discussed plays, and similar cultural activities. In addi- tion, a year of intermittent labor up- sets in northern California culmin- ated in October in the still unsettled waterfront strike which directly separated some 7,000 strikers from various payrolls, and indirectly but perceptibly hurt the entire city's busi- ness activity. Nevertheless, San Francisco theatre grosses increased healthily, if uneven- ly, during 1936, and many local thea- tre men believe that 1937 will see new box-office records established. The second half of 1936 saw weekly house averages moving upward; RKO's Golden Gate from $14,500 per week to $16,000; the Orpheum from $8,000 to $9,500, and all three F.W.C. first runs in proportion. Suburban thea- tres also registered increases. Ten New Theatres Built After four years of virtually no building, eight or 10 new houses were constructed in and around Greater San Francisco, and perhaps a _ dozen more are planned for the spring of this year. Despite a trend in other cities to- ward price increases, most San Fran- cisco theatres appear satisfied with the present admission scales, which range from the grinds' 10 cents up to F.W.C.'s loge charge of 75 cents for evenings. In the suburban and small- er communities, 30 cents is average. That business in general is boom- ing despite the labor unrest is proved by Chamber of Commerce figures for November, 1936, in which the city's commercial activity failed by only one per cent to establish a new seven- year high. Denver Boom General Denver, Jan. 11. — This city saw grosses on the upgrade and business booming as the new year started. In the past four years the Government has more than doubled the number of Federal employes here. Bank clearings jumped from $1,- 287,715,585 in 1935 to $1,464,972,316 for 1936. During the past year bank deposits have increased more than $18,000,000, from $162,981,629 to $181,662,028. Manufacturing payrolls increased from $70,000,000_ to $75,000,- 000, with wage earners in manufac- turing increasing from 60,500 to 65,- 000. Building permits in the city of Denver gained about 50 per cent in 1936 over 1935. Retail trade in Denver increased over $23,000,000 in the past year, and postal receipts set a new six-year record. Postal receipts totaled $3,- 800,000 in 1936 as against $4,059,839 in 1929, the record year for Denver. Considerable new building and re- modeling is expected in the spring. Plattsburg House Burns Plattsburg, Mo., Jan. 11. — The Opera House here burned to the ground. M. J. Trimble was owner. Hollywood, Jan. 11. — George Ste- vens has been named director for Fred Astaire's first solo starring picture, "Damsel in Distress," which gets under way shortly. First story of the year to be registered at the Screen Writers' Guild is by Victor Mansfield (Vic- tor M. Shapiro). . , . Burton Lane and Ralph Freed write title song for "Swing High, Swing Low," Para- mount. . . . "Slim" finished at War- ners after 10 weeks in work. . . . Francine Larrimore recalled for additional scenes in "John Meade's Woman," Paramount. . . . William H. Wright sustains broken arm play- ing tennis. . . . Victor Fleming in hospital for minor operation. Harry Sherman schedules Clar- ence E. Mulford's "The Round-Up" as the fourth in the Hopalong Cassidy series, . . . James Hogan taken to his home in Van Nuys after two weeks in the hospital suffering from pneumonia. . . . Mary Rogers home with the flu. . . . "End of Adventure" starts Jan. 13. . . . M. K. Jerome and Jack Scholl, songwriters at Warners, as- signed to do two numbers each for "Win, Place and Show" and "The Lifeless Diplomat," three numbers for "Dance, Charlie, Dance" and five for "Talent Scout." Ted FioRita and his orchestra and soloists signed by Radio for an un- titled picture. . . . Maury Cohen has drawn his first two assignments at Radio — -"Raggedy Ann" and "Going, Going, Gone." . . . "Short Haul," Trem Carr production for Universal, has been rewritten to eliminate San Francisco waterfront sequence because of maritime strike. + Casting — M-G-M castings include Una O'Connor in "Man in Posses- sion," Sherry Hall and King Bag- gott in "Burnt Fingers." . . . Wil- Weisman's Term as Receiver Continued Justice Martin T. Manton yesterday authorized Milton C. Weisman to con- tinue his receivership of Fox Theatres for six months commencing Jan. 12. Manton also allowed Weisman to ac- cept the bid of Skouras Theatres Corp., the present tenant, for the Academy of Music. There were two other bids ; the first presented by Zoid and Brandwen, representing Philip Fiff and the other by Bankers' Secur- ity Corp. They offered, as their joint bid, $151,500 in cash. The Skouras bid was for $155,000. Skouras, since October, 1931, has been paying Fox Theatres a total of $175,000 each year. The value of the building as of Dec. 3 was $635,172. Equipment is valued at $247,972 and there is a first mort- gage in 6z/2 per cent gold bonds of $535,000. Weisman also filed a report as re- ceiver of Fox Theatres for the period from July 1 to Dec. 31. He listed re- ceipts at $883,702, of which $723,423 was cash on hand as of June 5, and disbursements of $753,353. The total of claims allowed to date is $5,713,- 858. Claims not yet tried or decided are $6,873,354. Weisman also stated that he had filed a claim for $17,000,- 000 against William Fox in New Jer- sey. liam Gargan in "Wings Over Hono- lulu," Universal. . . . Frank M. Thomas, George Irving and Philip Huston in "Wings of Mercy," Radio. . . . Dudley Clements and Win- stead Weaver in "Escadrille," Radio. . . . Paramount castings include Ray- mond Walburn, On loan from Co- lumbia, in "High, Wide and Hand- some," William Harmer, Rita Owen and Harvey Clark in "In- ternes Can't Take Money," Purnell Pratt, James Blaine and Tom O'Grady in "Murder Goes to Col- lege," Lee Shumway and Marty Faust in "Souls at Sea," Richard Kipling, Gino Corrado and Lotus Liu in "Swing High, Swing Low," Pedro Rigas and Harry Field in "Waikiki Wedding" and Louise Beavers in "The Years Are So Long." . . . Alice Faye in "Wake Up and Live," 20th Century-Fox. . . . Dorothy Wilson gets feminine lead opposite Charles Quigley in "Rac- ing Luck," Columbia. + Title Changes — "Happiness Pre- ferred" to "Outcast," Major "The Thing is the Play" to "Goodbye, Broadway." + Writers — Joseph Poland to write eight of "Three Mesquiteers" series, Republic. . . . Lionel Houser to do additional work on "Stones Cry Out," Universal. + Directors — Lewis King to direct "Talent Scout," Warners. . . . Wal- ter Lang to direct "Delay in the Sun," Universal. . . . Dave Miller assigned to "Flicker Flaws," M-G-M short. . . . Charles S. Coleman, Jr., given term pact, Columbia. + Story Buy — "You Can't Beat Love," an original by Olga Moore, by Radio. Columbia Bid Top on "You Can't Take It" {Continued from page 1) figure, which was not divulged by Cohn, was $200,000, the highest paid by any producing company in re- cent years for a stage property and one of the highest on record. Columbia closed in the face of stern competition advanced by M-G-M, Par- amount and several other companies. Storms Hit Shipments Omaha, Jan. 11. — Icy, drift-blocked roads caused when heavy rainstorms ended in blizzards have played havoc with film distribution in some sec- tions of this territory. Some exhib- itors were forced" either to darken their houses or again run the films they had on hand. Even train traffic was suspended in places. Offers Sunday Film Bill Montgomery, Ala., Jan. 11. — Repre- sentative Tolbert has introduced a bill in the Alabama legislature to legalize Sunday, films in Fort Payne. Representative Miller has intro- duced another bill amending the rev- enue act to permit theatres to deduct from their gross receipts amounts paid to the state in the form of licenses. Tuesday, January 12, 1937 G.B. Exchange Plan Mystery to Ostrer (Continued from page 1) regard to G. B's own exchange sys- tem. When he was told the story appeared in the Miami papers, he said : "Oh, yes ! I heard something about that." "I havn't given the matter any thought," he said, "and will not con- sider any such plan until I return to England," Ostrer asserted. In refer- ence to the letter sent by Sidney R. Kent, advising G. B. that the 20th Century-Fox exchanges could not physically handle other than G. B. product, he said he had not seen the letter, but "Arthur Lee mentioned it" to him. "There hasn't been any change in our situation with 20th Century-Fox since I left London," Ostrer stated, and asked whether G. B. will con- tinue to distribute through the present setup, he answered "I imagine so." Ostrer was silent on what disposition would be made of the 10 B. I. P. and Herbert Wilcox pictures taken on by Lee for distribution .in this market. Lee Silent Lee, who returned with Isidore and Maurice Ostrer, would not talk on the proposed exchange plan last night. He said the Pennsylvania station was no place to discuss business. A. C. Blumenthal, who has acted as intermediary in the 20th Century- Fox-Loew's-G.B. negotiations, was at the station to meet the homecoming party. He was fully aware of the Schenck-Ostrer meeting, having been in touch with the parties by long dis- tance telephone. The Ostrers are scheduled to sail on the Aquitania tomorrow. There is a possibility that the departure may be postponed until the Berengaria sails next week, although Isidore Ostrer said last night it was the Aquitania on which they would leave. He was very apologetic about not being able to give the press anything concrete in the way of a formal statement. Wall Street Losses Dominate on Board Net High Low Close Change • 377/8 3754 37% + % Columbia, pfd. .. • 45% 44& 45% +1% . 554 5/8 554 Consolidated, pfd. . is% 1854 1854 -54 Eastman Kodak . .17354 173 173 —1 Eastman, pfd. . . . .163 163 163 -54 Gen. T. Equip.... . 3154 31 3154 + % ■ 67'A 66% 67 + Vs ■ 25*6 25 2554 - 54 Paramount 1 pfd..l78j£ 175 175 -354 Paramount 2 pfd. . 2354 2254 22% — % . 1054 m 9% + % RKO . m 8 8/8 - Vi 20th Century-Fox. 35 34% 34% -*A Universal, pfd. . . .102 102 102 +2 Warner Bros. . . . . 17% 16% 16% — % Warner, pfd. . . . . 67% 67% 67% - 'A Little Curb Change High Low Close Change Grand National . . 3J4 3% 3% 2 2 2 + % . 21% 2154 2154 ■ 4% 4% 4% -% Bonds Drop Lightly Net High Low Close Change Loew's 354s '46. . . .1015-6 100% 100% - 54 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 .100% 10054 100% -% RKO 6s '41 F P. 120 120 120 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 9954 99% 9954 (Quotations at close of Jan. 11) Tuesday, January 12, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAIXY Games Stop as Chicago Kills Iris Injunction (.Continued from page 1) petitions are also affected by the court's ruling. Judge Niemeyer held that Bank Night is a violation of a city or- dinance which prohibits chance draw- ings. He upheld the ordinance which the plaintiffs maintained was uncon- stitutional. Circuits and independents . here have stopped the games since the operation of Bank Night would now result in the loss of the offending theatre's license. E. D. Adcock, attorney for the Iris and Bank Night distributors, is reported planning to take the case to the Supreme Court. The city did not fight Bank Night as a lottery but introduced the chance games law, making it more difficult for the theatres to fight the case. In order to win, the theatres will now have to have passed a new ordinance superceding the old one which bans chance games in theatres. Three hundred houses with an enormous total of prizes are affected by the ruling. Organizations of ex- hibitors are planning a meeting to de- termine whether or not there is some method of getting around the existing rule. In the meantime, Bank Night is definitely out in Chicago. Games Illegal in California Sacramento, Jan. 11. — Premiums such as Bank Night, Cash Night, and the like are lotteries and are therefore illegal in California, according to a statement released here by the state's attorney general, U. S. Webb. Webb said that he had twice writ- ten opinions which would condemn theatre games as illegal, once in 1934 and again in 1936. Neither opinion referred to theatre games, but were concerned with a firemen's ball and a definition of the elements constituting a lottery. Webb's statement places premium games as constituting a lot- tery, because payment is made, through Crosby Wins $10 Kansas City, Jan. 11.— Bing Crosby is $10 richer than he was last week. Crosby sub- mitted a slogan to City Man- ager H. F. McElroy in Kan- sas City's safety slogan con- test and the committee in charge decided it was good enough to put up on the city streets. It was: "Drive slowly. Crippled children make crip- pled citizens." purchase of a ticket, for the chance to win. So far judicial reviews in California of Screeno, Bank Night and similar games have been few. All on record have been decided in favor of the theatre operators by the lower courts, so that no state Supreme Court deci- sion has been rendered. Webb's opin- ion was released here in response to a query from the Modesto district attorney's office, although it is not known whether or not protests against games used by Modesto theatres have been received by the district attorney. Seek to Outlaw Beano Boston, Jan. 11. — A bill to do away with Beano has been filed with the legislature by Bishop H. K. Sherrill, Episcopal Church head in this state. Bishop Sherrill termed Beano a "racket" and claimed it has been run in direct opposition to worthy chari- table enterprises. Beano was legalized in Massachusetts a few years ago with the restriction that a part of the re- ceipts should go to charity. It has recently been stopped in many places in the state. N. O. Refuses Rehearing New Orleans, Jan. 11. — The Court of Appeals, which a month ago out- lawed Bank Night, today refused to rehear the case. Attorneys for the theatres will ask a Supreme Court writ for a review. Should the high court refuse the request, the decision of the lower court will stand. Thirty days are allowed for the fil- ing of an appeal. MEN ARE not GODS Expect the unusual from Alexander Korda producer of "Henry VIII" and " Rembrandt ". . . He presents . . . MIRIAM HOPKINS *>MEN ARE not GODS' with • Sebastian Shaw Written and Directed by A. E. Mathews • Rex Harrison • walter reisch A LONDON FILM • Released thru UNITED ARTISTS Gertrude Lawrence NEVER BEFORE A PICTURFS,HAT~ WIIL CAUSE SO MUCH DISCUSSION! MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, January 12, 1937 "Beloved" Is Philadelphia Wow,$21,000 Philadelphia, Jan. 11. — In the second week of generally big business here "Beloved Enemy" was a sensa- tion. It pulled $21,000 at the Aldine, topping par by $12,840. "After the Thin Man" continued its fast pace in its second week at the Boyd, getting $26,000. This was over the line by $12,000. With its second stage show, and "Sing Me a Love Song," plus a tilt to $1.14 after 6 o'clock on New Year's Eve, the Earle grossed $23,000. The Fox had similar good luck with $24,- 000 for the first week of "College Holiday." "Go West, Young Man" ended its engagement at the Stanton with $11,000 for its last nine days. Total first run business was $127,- 200. Average is $85,560. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 7 : "BELOVED ENEMY" (U. A.) ALDINE— 1,200), 40c-55c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $21,000. (Average, $8,160) "ADVENTURE IN MANHATTAN" (Col.) (2nd run) ARCADIA — (600), 25c-40c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $2,100. (Average, $2,400) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) BOYD— (2,400), 40c-55c, 7 days. Second week. Gross: $26,000. (Average, $14,000) "SING ME A LOVE SONG" (F. N.) EARLE— (2,000), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Stage: "Glorified Follies" with Eddie Garr, Charles Carlile, Caryl Bergman, Dan Carthy. Gross: $23,000. (Average, 7 days, $14,000) "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) FOX— (3,000), 40c-55c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $24,000. (Average, $14,000) "STOWAWAY" (ZOth-Fox) (2nd run) KARLTON— (1,000), 25c-3Sc-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,800. (Average, $4,000) "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (F. N.) (2nd run) KEITH'S— (2,000), 30c-40c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $3,300. (Average, $4,000) "ONE IN A MILLION" (ZOth-Fox) STANLEY— (3,700), 40c-S5c, 7 days. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $14,000) "GO WEST, YOUNG MAN" (Para.) STANTON— (1,700), 30c-40c-50c, 9 days, 2nd week. Gross: $11,000. (Average, 7 days, $7,000) Showboat for Seattle Seattle, Jan. 11. — Seattle will have a real "showboat," moored on the shores of Lake Washington, and capable of being towed by tugboats to all points of the Puget Sound country, if present plans of Professor Glenn Hughes of the University of Wash- ington department of drama carry through. Hughes, director of WPA theatre projects for this district, has proposed that the Federal Govern- ment appropriate $11,000 for the ven- ture, to be spent entirely for labor. The drama department of the univer- sity will contribute $6,000 for materials. Mardi Gras Comes Earlier New Orleans, Jan. 11. — Mardi Gras will be celebrated this year Feb. 9, considerably earlier than previous years. All the major carnival organ- izations will participate with the ex- ception of the Krewe of the Druids. Efforts are being made to have parades extending from Thursday night till Mardi Gras day and night. The day is a legal holiday in New Orleans, and all neighborhood theatres close on Tuesday, the last day and night of the celebration. "College" Is St. Louis Top With $20,000 St. Louis, Jan. 11. — "College Holi- day," supported by a good stage show at the Ambassador, made the best Christmas week showing with $20,000, which was $11,000 better than house average. It was moved into the Missouri. "Camille" at Loew's was also a big winner, grossing $19,500 and beating house average by $9,500. "The Plot Thickens" and "Rainbow on the River" had a very good week at the Missouri, grossing $10,700, or $1,700 above average. Across the street at the Fox, "Stowaway" and "Laughing At Trouble" had a good average week with a take of $14,000. None of the other houses was able to do 100 per cent business. The Orpheum closed Jan. 2. Total first run business was $58,- 500. Average is $58,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Dec. 31 : "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) AMBASSADOR— (3,018), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Stageshow. Gross: $20,000. (Average, $9,000) "STOWAWAY" (ZOth-Fox) "LAUGHING AT TROUBLE" (ZOth-Fox) FOX— (5,038), 25c-3Sc-55c, 7 days. Gross: $14,000. (Average, $14,000) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) LOEW'S— (3,162), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $19,500. (Average, $10,000) "THE PLOT THICKENS" (Radio) "RAINBOW ON THE RIVER" (Radio) MISSOURI— (3,514), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $10,700. (Average, $9,000) "BANJO ON MY KNEE" (ZOth-Fox) "CAREER WOMAN" (ZOth-Fox) ORPHEUM— (1,950), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $6,000) "CAPTAIN CALAMITY" (Republic) "MANDARIN MYSTERY" (Republic) SHUBERT-RIALTO— (1,725), 20-25c, 7 days. Gross: $2,300 (Average, $3,500) "WHITE HUNTER" (ZOth-Fox) ST. LOUIS— (4,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Stage: vaudeville. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $7,000) "Love in Exile" Is Only Buffalo Draw Buffalo, Jan. 11. — "Love in Ex- ile," on a dual with "The Gentleman from Louisiana," was the only profit- maker in the general pre-Christmas slump here. It took $7,500, over nor- mal by $1,500, at the Lafayette. "Mummy's Boys" and "Isle of Fury," on a dual at the Century, gar- nered $6,300, breaking average by $500. The Buffalo did a "right about face" and went $3,200 below the line, "Winterset" pulling only $8,800. Total first run business was $35,- 500. Average is $38,400. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Dec. 26: "WINTERSET" (Radio) BUFFALO— (3,000), 30c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $8,800. (Average, $12,000) "STOWAWAY" (ZOth-Fox) HIPPODROME— (2,500), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,100. (Average, $7,300) "HIDEAWAY GIRL" (Para.) "I'D GIVE MY LIFE" (Para.) GREAT LAKES— (3,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,800. (Average, $7,300) "MUMMY'S BOYS" (Radio) "ISLE OF FURY" (W. B.) CENTURY— (3,000), 25c, 7 days. Gross: $6,300. (Average, $5,800) "LOVE IN EXILE" (G. B.) "THE GENTLEMAN FROM LOUISIANA" (Republic) LAFAYETTE— (3,300), 25c, 7 days. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $6,000) U. S. Supreme Court Will Hear Fox Case {Continued from page 1) ceedings in the lower court and a re- view of a decision of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in a suit filed by All-Continent Corp. as a creditor of Fox. Justice Cardozo refused to take immediate action on the request for a stay and will refer the matter to the entire Supreme Court for a deci- sion. In the application of Steelman for a review it was explained that the only assets turned over to him as trustee consisted of $100 in cash and certain notes and securities "of little or no value." Listed liabilities were in ex- cess of $9,000,000. In accordance with the Bankruptcy Act, orders were entered directing examination of All-Continent Corp. and certain of its officers and em- ployes. Fox's wife, president of the company, refused to submit to ex- amination and was cited for contempt by the referee. Examination of the company's books was found necessary by the referee on the basis of facts which showed that All-Continent Corp. "was the creation of the bankrupt him- self ; every dollar of its capital came from the bankrupt; by the formation of the corporation he divested himself of a very substantial portion of his property," the court was told. Suit Instituted in Pa. All-Continent brought suit in Penn- sylvania to remove a cloud on the title to certain securities in possession of Philadelphia brokers caused by a third party order in proceedings by the Cap- ital Co., a judgment creditor of Fox. Steelman objected on the ground that he was not liable to Pennsylvania ju- risdiction and secured from the bank- ruptcy court a stay of proceedings. All-Continent appealed and incorpo- rated into the record a bill of com- plaint in a chancery court suit brought by the trustee to recover all property and capital stock of All-Continent as property of Fox. The value of as- sets transferred to All-Continent by Fox at one time totaled $7,000,000. The Circuit Court reversed the bankruptcy court and vacated the re- straining, order and Steelman came to Washington in an effort to secure Su- preme Court assistance in securing an accounting of the holdings of Fox and his wife. Rites for Mrs. McKenzie Funeral services for Mrs. Ina Beattie McKenzie, wife of Maurice McKenzie, executive assistant to Will H. Hays, will be held at Crown Point, Ind., this afternoon. Burial will be at Salem Churchyard, near Crown Point, where McKenzie's father, now retired and residing in Pasadena, Cal., was pastor. McKenzie, accompanied by Walter Trumbull of the M.P.P.D.A, left on the Century yesterday afternoon to attend the service in Indiana. They will be met at Crown Point by H. C. Hays, brother of the M.P.P.D.A. president. William Archibald Dies San Francisco, Jan. 11. — Theatre men here are mourning the sudden death of William P. Archibald, 63, for the past 12 years controller of the Golden State circuit, which operates some 65 houses in this territory. He is survived by his widow and three children. "Thin Man" at New Top Mark In Cleveland Cleveland, Jan. 11. — Including the New Year's Eve midnight shows which were complete sellouts at ad- vanced prices, this week's take ex- ceeds anything here within the past four years, and established a record at one house. "After the Thin Man" broke all records at Loew's State at present admission scales, doing $31,000 in seven days, of which $19,000 was grossed over the opening week end. The pictures will continue for an in- definite run at the Stillman. "Charlie Chan at the Opera" more than doubled the Allen $4,000 average with a take of $9,300. This also in- cluded a special midnight show on New Year's Eve. "Sing Me A Love Song" on the RKO Palace screen with Olsen and Johnson as the stage headliners, jumped from the $15,000 average to a $28,500 take. The weather was perfect. "High Tor" was the stage competition at the Hanna. Department stores had marionette shows and other free en- tertainment for children. Total first run business was $85,- 300. Average is $51,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 8: "CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA" (ZOth-Fox) ALLEN — (3,300), 30c-35c-42c, 7 days, in- cluding New Year's Eve midnight show. Gross: $9,300. (Average, $4,000) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE — (3,400), 30c-35c-42c. New Year's Eve show, 60c, 7 days. Gross: $31,000. (Average, $15,000) "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) LOEW'S STILLMAN— (1,900), 30c-35c- 42c, 7 days and New Year's Eve. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $6,000) "SING ME A LOVE SONG" (F. N.) RKO PALACE— (3,100), 30c-42c-60c, New Year's Eve, $1.00-$1.50, 7 days. Stage: Olsen and Johnson. Gross: $28,500. (Aver- age, $15,000) "THAT GIRL FROM PARIS" (Radio) WARNERS' HIPPODROME— (3,800), 30c- 35c-42c. New Year's Eve, 60c, 7 days. Gross: $8,500 (Average, $10,000) Favor Earlier Opening Hartford, Jan. 11. — Hartford the- atres in a recent lobby poll obtained signatures of 34,000 fans who regis- tered in favor of 2 o'clock opening Sunday afternoons instead of 5 o'clock as at present. Of these, 27,000 are local people. Theatres plan to present another appeal for earlier opening to Board of Aldermen right after the holidays. Picket Coast Houses Los Angeles, Jan. 11. — Local 150 of the I.A.T.S.E. has started a picket- ing campaign against the Wilshire, Santa Monica. The Studio, Holly- wood, and Raymond, Pasadena, are already being picketed in the union's drive for a closed shop. The union is seeking to adhere to the contract drawn with Charles S. Krause, former manager. Consolidated Celebrates Consolidated Amusements this month is celebrating its 32nd anni- versary. In a number of Bronx thea- tres, special attractions, including radio performers, are being booked. Who was she? . . . this beautiful woman whose hysterical scream stopped the performance . . . what wild impulse made her shout that warning? . . . how did she know of the gathering storm clouds of strange furies, jealousies, passions? . . . An unforgettable scene from an unforgettable picture. Expect the unusual fiom Alexander Korda producer of "Henry VIII" and "Rembrandt". . . He presents . . . HOPKINS MEN ARE d\ GODS with GERTRUDE LAWRENCE • Sebastian Shaw Rex Harrison • A. E. Mathews • w,i%V£ l^T by A London Film Released thru UNITED ARTISTS MOTION PICTURE DAILY MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Without Warning" ( Twentieth Century-Fox) Hollywood, Jan. 11. — A murder mystery in weird Death Valley is the substance of this oddly contrived story of criminal and detective conflict. Adding to the melodramatic value and causing the film to be better than average, is an interesting romance and considerable non- formula comedy contrast. Competently prepared, directed and acted, the picture should prove a satisfactory addition to routine programs. With a well-controlled suspense adding zip to the plot, one death brings the fear of suspicion to all members of a party of eastern tourists vacationing in the valley. There is a quickly building romance between Betty Furness, a guest at a hotel, and John Howard Payne, a swimming instructor. J. Edward Bromberg is a new kind of grocery store owner- detective, who comes into the picture endeavoring to solve the case, aided and abetted by the antics of his juvenile aide, Billy Burrud. There are logical complications, precipitating further killings and the rumor that a lost gold mine has been discovered which creates legitimate involve- ment that defies solution. The finding of the mine explains the reasons for the killings and identifies the culprit. The finale, packing an eerie punch, adds credence to the mechanics of the yarn. Although none of the cast names possesses magnetic marquee value, the performances contributed by Bromberg, Burrud, Payne, Miss Burgess, Victor Kilian, John Eldredge, Gavin Muir, Gloria Roy, Andrew Tombes, Ivan Lebedeff and Julius Tannen are convincingly realistic. The theme, blending suspense and surprise, is intelligently directed by Norman Foster, who did the screen play from a magazine story by Philip Wylie. Sound effects introduced by G. P. Costello and Harry M. Leonard and the quality of Sidney Wagner's photography of Death Valley's forbidding scenery, are effective. Production Code Seal No. 2,959. Running time, 70 minutes. "G." Looking 'Em Over "The Eternal Mask" ( Mayer-Burstyn ) In essence a simple story, this importation becomes notable in its unusual and often brilliant use of all the technical scope within the range of film-making as there is reproduced in a fantastic fashion which we may take as at least probable, the cruel wanderings of a tortured and distorted mind. The film, couched in German dialogue, was produced by Progress Films, of Berne, Switzerland, and is being released in this country by Arthur Mayer and Joseph Burstyn. Edward Kern supplied sufficient English subtitles to make for ready understanding of the story without a knowledge of the language. The film opens at the Filmarte tonight. Adapted from the novel of the same title by Leo Lapaire, who also wrote the screen play, the story is that of a young doctor in a large hos- pital, who tries his new serum for meningitis, against the orders of his chief, on a dying man. The patient dies, after seeming relief, and the distraught widow brands the doctor a murderer. Taking his formula, he leaves the hospital, his mind unbalanced by shock. From that point until his eventual recovery under the ministrations of a young colleague, and the discovery of the value of his serum, the film records, with brilliant use of technical facilities, the wanderings of the man's distorted mind, his attempted suicide and moments of delirium. Much credit must go to Oscar Schnirch, cameraman; to Anton Profes for the music, an important part of the creation of the impressions; to Hans Jacoby for the art direction ; to Werner Hochbaum for his direc- tion, and to Mathias Wieman for his splendid performance as the doctor, It would appear a specialized type of attraction, not adapted to general audience reception, but extremely interesting for those whose apprecia- tion runs to the more unusual efforts on the screen. No production code seal. Running time, 71 minutes. "A." Short Subjects 10 Hollywood Studios Will Be Remodeled Hollywood, Jan. 11. — Plans for re- modeling and rebuilding Hollywood Studios, Inc. (formerly Talisman Studios) are being rushed by Maurice Gebber, president. Gebber and his staff are taking bids for remodeling the front of the studio, the new entrance, installing a restaurant, 12 additional offices for executives, directors and writers and remodeling and rebuilding dressing room facilities. A building site adjacent to the studio has been acquired and plans to move the carpenter, paint and other departments to this location are being made. In addition, bids are out for two new sound stages to go into con- struction in the near future, which will make eight sound stages in the studio. All changes and remodeling will be completed within 30 days and will not interfere with the companies now working on the lot. Sleet and Epidemic Bump K. C. Theatres Kansas City, Jan. 11. — A blanket of sleet, covered the Kansas City area Friday. Theatre furnaces throughout the area were heating empty seats for the most part. Film delivery was hard put to keep from going through to exhibitors on sched- ule, but was doing so. Trains were three to five hours late at many points. Helping not at all was the fact that half the town has colds or in- fluenza, the latter having reached epi- demic proportions. Numerous film and theatremen were fighting one or the other — William Reinke, manager of the Tower; Ralph Lawler, New- man maestro; Joe Manfre, Paramount exchange manager, and others were ill. Synchronization of Cameras Is Adopted Hollywood, Jan. 11. — The Academy Research Council has adopted a new standard synchronizing system for cameras, which has been developed for use by the producing companies participating in the Research Council cooperative technical program. The new standard, it is said, will result in an economy of production by the studios and is seen as of great value to the camera rental companies, since it will provide for an inter- changeable use of cameras equipped with the standard system in all studios without the alteration of auxiliary equipment. A technical bulletin was issued by the Research Council today, containing complete specifications for the new system. Greenwald to Marry Pittsburgh, Jan. 11. — M a n n i e Greenwald, manager of the Barry here, and Gertrude Goldstein, have announced their engagement. No date has been set yet for the wed- ding, which is expected to take place early next summer. Named to Selznick Post Hollywood, Jan. 11. — E. W. Butcher, former Detroit exhibitor and 20th Century-Fox producer, has been appointed by Henry Ginsberg as pro- duction manager for Selznick Inter- national. Grainger Back Sunday James R. Grainger, general sales manager of Universal, is due from the coast and exchange points in between on Sunday. Rosenberg III Los Angeles, Jan. 11. — Ben Rosen- berg, who resigned as a special repre- sentative of National Screen Service the first of the year, is seriously ill. Tuesday, January 12, 1937 "Porky of the Northwoods" ( Vitaphone) Maintaining a whirlwind pace throughout, this episode in the adven- tures of the cartoon character con- cerns his humanitarian efforts to pro- tect wild animals at his game pre- serve from a bloodthirsty trapper. The ; trapper catches up with Porky and trounces him. But, to the tune of the last resounding bars from the over- ture to 'William Tell," the woodland denizens counter-attack for a clever finish. Well done, exciting and def- initely entertaining. Production Code Seal No. 2,830. Running time, 7 min- utes. "G." "Forest Gangsters" (Van Beitren-Radio) The struggle for existence among the wild life of our western states is excitingly revealed here. Con- cerned mostly with the tracking and taking alive of a mountain lion, it also has excellent scenes of hounds and the chase finally winding up with the roping of the treed animal. Good material well handled. Production Code Seal No. 2,949. Running time, 10 mins. "G." "Runaway Marriage" (Columbia) The second number of the Court of Human Relations series. It concerns itself with the problem of college mar- riage. The boy and girl in the case have their difficulties which arise when marriage and scholastic activi- ties fail to mix. Misled by wrong ad- vice, they drift until advised to live apart. As a result, their problem is solved and the future looks bright. Should be played to the great circula- tion of True Story Magazine. Pro- duction Code Seal No. 01,347. Run- ning time, 10 mins. "G." "Million" to Stay 3rd Week at Roxy With $28,000 taken in on the three- day weekend of the second stanza, the Roxy yesterday decided to hold "One in a Million" for a third week. Indi- cations are the film will gross about $43,000 for the current seven days. Leon Errol, who has been heading the stage program, will leave for a To- ronto engagement after the last show Thursday. "Lloyds of London" is definitely set to open at the Music Hall on Thurs- day. The picture closed a six and a half week run engagement at two-a- day at the Astor Saturday night. "That Girl from Paris" tallied $100,- 000 at the Music Hall the first week and will most likely wind up with $75,000 on the second stjjen days. "Pastures" Rated "A" London, Jan. 2. — The Cinema Christian Council, official representa- tive of the views of the national Church of England, the Free Churches and the Evangelical Free Churches (leading non-episcopal churches) has passed a resolution that "The Green Pastures," while "moving and rever- ent," is unsuitable for children and should have an "A" certificate instead of the "U" certificate granted by the British censor. In Comparison With The Low Intensity Arc, The SUPREX ARC Gives: • Whiter projection light • 150 to 200 percent more screen illumination • High permissible level of general illumination • Greater clarity and depth in the projection of black and white productions •More accurate color values in the projection of color features and sequences PROVIDE PROJECTION THAT SATISFIES YOUR PATRONS-USE NATIONAL SUPREX CARBONS — PER CANDLE POWER PER UNIT OF SCREEN AREA NATIONAL PROJECTOR CARRONS NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY, INC. Carbon Sales Division, Cleveland, Ohio Unit of Union Carbide [Qj and Carbon Corporation BRANCH SALES OFFICES: NEW YORK - PITTSBURGH - CHICAGO - SAN FRANCISCO MOTION PICTURE DAILY 'High Tor' Very Worthwhile; 'House in Country' Washout 12 4 Purely Personal ► MIKE MARCO of F. & M. arrived yesterday from the coast and will leave either Thursday or Friday for St. Louis where he expects to spend several weeks. Harry C. Arthur will leave for the Mound City in about a week. James Clarke and Oscar Neufeld arrived from Philadelphia yesterday. Clarke went back last night, while Neufeld will stay over a few days. Louis Molitch of Horlacher's will get in today to attend a newspaper publishers' convention here. • D. A. Doran, now associated with Columbia's editorial department, ar- rived from the coast yesterday to spend seven weeks here with a possible Lon- don trip ahead of him. • Henri Elman got in from Chicago yesterday and will remain for about 10 days. In March he will celebrate Henri Elman month. • Louis Weinberg of Columbia will leave for the coast Jan. 15, and then to Palm Springs to celebrate his 20th wedding anniversary. • Ned E. Depinet and Jules Levy left for Hollywood yesterday to at- tend the product conferences at the studios. • James Field of the RKO theatre legal department is recuperating from an operation undergone late last week. • James Coston will sail today for a 30-day West Indies cruise. He ar- rived from the Windy City yesterday. • Stephen Pallos was due in Kan- sas City yesterday from the coast. He is scheduled to arrive here Thursday. • William Rodgers, general sales head of Loew's, will remain in Holly- wood, Fla., for a couple more weeks. • Steve Trilling of Warners, and Ben Pollack, the orchestra leader, flew to Boston yesterday. • Joe Rivkin, Hal Roach talent scout, left yesterday on his return to the coast. • Irving Berlin left for the coast yesterday after three weeks in New York. • The Earl of Warwick flew to the coast last night via American Air- lines. • Al Christie will return today from his holiday visit to the coast. r:EORGE Singer of Warners planed to Chicago yesterday. • Edward Schnitzer is back from a weekend in Boston. S. Charles Einfeld left for the coast yesterday. Sidney R. Kent's new auto license number is N-l. I. Slavens is in from Chicago. "A House in the Country" {Continued from page 1) by Melvin Levy and produced by Murray Jay Queen for reasons un- known, is an extremely minor effort dealing with a backwoods farm in Bucks County, city gangsters who in- vade the precincts and how the gar- rulous, crochety old grandpappy cap- tures them entirely by accident and the patience of the audience. Its central family is the Lotzgazels and its stalwart game warden-hero is Herman Sigafoos who may be Penn- sylvania Dutch to the author, but a singularly uninteresting group of dull wits to your reviewer. The big town smooth tongue fails to win the grand- daughter as the play goes on and, if you gather the local pure of heart does, it proves you are very good in- deed at charades, crossword puzzles and assorted mish mosh. Tom Power plays Frankie Lotz- gazel and makes of the foolish, did- dering idiot as believable a character as the part probably allows. Teddy Bergman, as a puny-brained yegg, is a bright spot on a beclouded horizon. There were others as well. You wouldn't be interested. FCC Lacks Funds for Making Erpi Report (Continued from page 1) T. investigation is rapidly being de- pleted, it was said, and there is no money available for the publication of preliminary reports. The Erpi re- port laid the foundation for the hear- ings which were held in New York last month. Eventually, of course, the commis- sion will make a report to Congress on the results of its studies, in which Erpi and other factors in the tele- phone situation will be discussed. In the meantime, however, it was said, there is no money to spare for the preparation of "side issue" reports. West Film Decision Excites Birmingham Birmingham, Ala., Jan. 11. — The demotion of Mrs. Harriet B. Adams, city amusement inspector, and the naming of Peterson Marzoni to suc- ceed her, is probable the result of the battle initiated over Mae West's "Go West, Young Man." An ordinance providing for the change has been set for an early vote. Mrs. Adams had refused a permit for the film. Preparation of the or- dinance brought an avalanche of pro- test on the part of women's clubs and church groups, all contending the film is not fit to be shown here. Lai ell Heads Musicians Louisville, Jan. 11 — George P. Lafell, local orchestra booker and night club proprietor, is the new presi- dent of the Louisville Musicians' Union, Local No. 11. At the election, Edwin Lorenz was named vice-presi- dent, and Adam Steubling, secre- tary-treasurer. Steubling has served in the same post for 30 years. Mem- bers placed on the board were Bobby Myers, Jacob Schilling, Milburn Stone, and Gene Petrilli. "High Tor" (Continued from page 1) Guthrie McClintic to assay, to appraise and finally to present Saturday eve- ning on the stage of the Martin Beck. "High Tor" is a curious work. It is a combination of fantasy, melo- drama and comedy and, in the latter content, very rich indeed. An ex- cellently turned out play in the main, it is, of course, streaked with the bit- ter and defeatist philosophic leanings which are characteristic of all of An- derson's endeavors, yet it ranks high among the season's offerings, despite its occasional faults. The faults chiefly, this reviewer thinks, are the confusions in those self- same philosophic leanings. Not always is it quite comprehensible what An- derson is seeking to establish. Thus, at the conclusion, Burgess Meredith, finally persuaded to sell his mountain which gives the play name because his Indian friend so urges, tells the audi- ence he is off for the West where the mountain peaks are higher and, presu- mably, closer to a heavenly peace on earth. On the one hand, he abandons High Tor, which is identical with walking out on his lifetime idea, to set up the same circumstance and, he hopes, the same aloof existence on a western peak still higher. Comedy Compensates However, and in view of the eve- ning's delights, this becomes a rela- tively minor point. The fun in "High Tor" is the vast comedy equation whipped up by Anderson's cleverness and the cast's superior performances out of material that would be com- monplace and ineffectual in less ap- preciative and experienced hands. Essentially, the story is one of con- flict between the material and the other kind of world. It gives you Meredith, son of the original Dutch settlers who acquired High Tor, rear- ing itself high, wooded and mysteri- ous-like in the highlands of the Hud- son. There is his determination to not to jt\\ to the men of the town who would scar his haven's face for rock and gravel. Money means nothing to him and aloft on his mountain peak with the towns and their modern rush below him, Meredith is happy. Bank robbers, however, come to the moun- tain. And rapacious business men prepared to steal his property if they can. Also the Dutch sailors, hover- ing for 200 hundred years somewhere between flesh and spirit and awaiting for re-appearance on the Tappan Zee the boat which will return them to the Netherlands. Civilization Put in Its Place The Dutch, naturally, do not under- stand these modern day demons with their steam shovels, their aeroplanes, their paper money. They do not un- derstand their toy revolvers and through one of them, Charles D. Brown, soon assert their mastery, as they inflict their scorn, on the highly mechanized and presumably civilized man of today. There is in this, too, Lise, the Dutch maiden who points the the way for a reconciliation, between Meredith and his derision of the material and Phyl- lis Welch and her recognition of their necessity. Anderson takes a vigorous leap at Tuesday, January 12, 1937 Local Board Setup Awaits Kuykendall (Continued from page 1) distribution executives at which the functions, jurisdiction, personnel and maintenance of the boards will be clarified. Five of seven major com- panies which have committed them- selves to participation in the trade practice program sponsored by the M. P. T. O. A. now have issued formal statements of policy which have in- cluded indorsements of the concilia- tion boards. The companies are Uni- versal, M-G-M, 20th Century-Fox, United Artists and RKO. Statements from Paramount and Columbia are probable during the next two weeks. The cost of maintaining the boards will be borne by the distributors. While a sufficient number of compa- nies to assure their formation has already approved them, the actual set- ting up of the boards may not be at- tempted in advance of the receipts of the final two companies' statements. Three Groups Established Exhibitors in Philadelphia, Char- lotte and Seattle have already desig- nated exhibitor grievance committees and indications are that these may be converted into conciliation boards for those cities with the addition of distribution representatives. A simi- lar move by exhibitors in several other exchange centers is under way also. These cities, for this reason, probably will be the first to have conciliation boards. Through voluntary submission of complaints to the boards by exhibitors, the M. P. T. O. A. believes that many trade practice problems arising from overbuying, unreasonable clearance, non-theatrical competition, forcing of shorts with features and cut-throat competition between theatres may be eliminated or alleviated. Kuykendall will arrive here about Jan. 21 after attending the inaugura- tion ceremonies in Washington. many of the shortcomings of this brittle age. He does it in beautiful, measured prose and in all seriousness. But most effectively he accomplishes his end in comedy drawn from the agile imagination of his brain. Meredith is excellent and Brown enormously telling as the roustabout Dutch sailing man. Miss Ashcroft, British actress, whose first appearance here this is, illusively and dream-like conveys the part assigned her with a slight consciousness of the high-mind- edness of Anderson's prose in her de- livery. She is a bit declamatory in spots. "High Tor" could make a film. Whether anyone in Hollywood would engender enough courage to make it as it stands now becomes a serious question. To remove the fantasy and to rest on its story situations alone would not be "High Tor," but Holly- wood's idea of embellishing a distinct- ively fresh and different stage offer- ing. FWC Takes Frease House Redwood City, Cal., Jan. 11. — The persistent rumor that Mrs. Phil A. Frease, widow of the northern Cali- fornia theatre operator, would dispose of at least one of the four Frease houses, was confirmed here with the disclosure of the purchase of the Red- wood. The Palo Alto Theatre Corp., F.W.C. subsidiary, paid $30,000 for the house. The Leading Motioi Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert. Intelligent the Industry In All Branches VOL. 41. NO. 10 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1937 TEN CENTS Educational Votes on New Plan Feb. 2 Simplified Corporation Plan Aim — Hammons Educational Pictures' stockholders will vote on a recapitalization plan for the company and a program of cor- porate simplification at a meeting scheduled for Feb. 2 at Wilmington, Del. Under the company's plan of re- capitalization, Educational Pictures would be authorized to issue 150,000 shares of new no par common stock and 150,000 shares of new $100 par, eight per cent preferred stock, or a capitalization of $1,500,000 and 150,- 000 shares of common. Preferred stockholders are offered five shares of new common stock for each share of old preferred, consisting of 3 2/10 shares of new common for a share of preferred and 1 8/10 shares of new common for accrued dividends on each share of preferred. Common stockholders are offered for each share of old common, plus $10, a warrant to buy one share of new common. E. W. Hammons, Educational pres- ident, advised stockholders that in his opinion the company, within a reason- able time, should be in a position to pay $1.50 per share on the new com- mon. Downtown financial circles reported (Continued on page 4) Lee to Confer with Kent on Exchanges Arthur Lee, American head for G. B., will confer today with Sidney R. Kent, president of 20th Century-Fox, on the status of G. B. distribution through 20th Century-Fox exchanges. G. B. is anxious to continue re- leasing its products through 20th Cen- tury-Fox branches, it was stated yes- terday by an official of the company, provided that the current schedule of (Continued on page 4) Columbia After Top Stories, Says Doran Columbia is out after top plays and stories, D. A. Doran, who has just returned from the coast after con- ferring with Harry Cohn, stated yes- terday. The first purchase under this policy is "You Can't Take It With You," by George Kaufman and Moss Hart. In the event the company cannot ob- tain top line material, either published (Continued on page 10) Local Plugs Anger Ford; Raises Network Problem By JACK The Ford Motor Co., yesterday ex- ploded a totally unlooked for and un- expected grenade on the doorsteps of the National and Columbia Broad- casting by registering an official pro- test with the two major air chains against the practice of injecting chain break announcements immediately pre- ceding or following the Ford pro- grams. Basing its complaint on the fact that a sponsor is entitled to every second of the unit of air time he purchases from the networks, from chain break to chain break, the official protest states in part : "The practice of slipping in extran- eous spots, we feel, is unfair to the sponsor and to the public. We have BANNER received numerous complaints substan- tiating this, and believe that the time has come for broadcasting companies to take cognizance of this situation." As a matter of consistency the Ford Motor Co.'s protest announced the discontinuance of all Ford spot chain break announcements. This applies to all Ford dealer as well as company advertising. The protest offered "no objection to spots or commercial announcements used in connection with sustaining programs, providing they do not im- mediately follow a sponsored pro- gram." Ford sponsors three major net- work programs — the Sunday Evening (Continued on page 9) More Radio Developments — Page 9 Chicago Hails 1936 As Best Year in Many Chicago, Jan. 12/ — Chicago's film industry found 1936 to be the best year since pre-depression days. It looks forward to 1937 far exceeding the year just past. During 1936 more theatres were open and doing a profitable business than in any time since 19?9. Both the major circuits and the small inde- pendent exhibitors found business very profitable during the past year. In 1936 more than 25 new theatres were built in Chicago and the sur- rounding territory. Circuits, groups, (Continued on page 11) Heavier Taxes Facing Kansas And Missouri Kansas City, Jan. 12. — The legisla- tive sessions which open for Missouri Jan. 6 and for Kansas Jan. 12 are regarded as important to the theatre and film industries. Both states face unprecedented needs for increased rev- enue. In both states, the industry faces the dilemma of either supporting a sales tax or running the risk of facing spe- cial amusement levies. In Missouri the most likely source of needed rev- enue is from doubling the present one per cent sales levy, which produces (Continued on page 11) Social Injustice Play Well Acted, but Drama Is Spotty By PLAYBOY The American social system was pummeled somewhat savagely last night in a play which established noth- ing beyond the well-known inade- quacies of that system. "But for the Grace of God" was the title of this third Theatre Guild effort of the sea- son which had its say in the Guild's own playhouse. Leopold Atlas, on whose chest the fires of injustice must burn with lusty flame, describes what happens in a "medium-sized industrial city." From the lingo of the unusual array of kids who actually carry the play as much as anything else in it does, the locale is New York and about it there can be not the slightest doubt. James Bell, three years out of work (Continued on page 12) Wide Shift in Federal Setup Is Called for Radio and Film Bureaus Would Be Transferred By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, Jan. 12. — Elimination of all independent agencies, now num- bering over 100, and concentration of all Government activities in 12 major departments over which the Presi- dent would have undisputed control, was recommended to Congress today by President Roosevelt in a message on reorganization of the Federal es- tablishment. Two new departments would be cre- ated, a Dept. of Social Welfare and and a Dept. of Public Works, and the Dept. of the Interior would become the Dept. of Conservation. The President's message was ac- companied by a voluminous report, in which the various steps of the pro- posed reorganization are explained. The duties of all independent agen- cies would be split into two parts and the administrative functions, involving the formulation of rules and regula- tions, investigation of complaints and preparation of cases, would be as- signed to the departments, while such judicial functions as might have been exercised would be continued, the agency sitting as an impartial indepen- dent body to make decisions on cases presented to it. Under this setup, observers in (Continued on page 11) Para. $4,500,000 Quarter Net Seen Wall St. sources reported yesterday that Paramount's net for the fourth quarter was expected to approximate $2.80 per share on the 1,610,452 shares of common stock outstanding, or ap- proximately $4,500,000. Although it is known that the com- pany's fourth quarter net will be (Continued on page 11) Loew's 13-Week Net Reaches $3,457,973 Loews, Inc., reports a net of $3,457,- 973 for the 13 weeks ending Nov. 19. This is nearly twice the net for the same period in 1934. It is equivalent to $25.29 on the preferred stock and $2.14 on the common. The company's share of operating profit after subsidiaries' preferred dividends was $5,039,020. Depreciation and taxes cut this to $3,457,973. MOTION PICTURE DAILY MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Insiders' Outlook By RED KANN Vol. 41 January 13, 1937 No. 10 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday ^and holidays by Quigley Pub- lishing Company, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Avenue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copy- righted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc. Address all correspondence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publica- tions, Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, Teatro Al Dia, International Motion Picture Almanac and Fame: The Box Office Check-Up. Hollywood Bureau: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Streets, Boone Mancall, Manager; Chicago Bureau: 624 South Michigan Avenue, C. B. O'Neill, Man- ager; London Bureau: 4 Golden Square, London W 1, Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable Address "Quigpubco, London"; Berlin Bureau: Stuelerstrasse 2, Berlin W 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative; Paris Bureau: 29, Rue Marsoulan, Pierre Autre, Representative; Rome Bureau: Viale Gorizia, Vittorio Malpassuti, Representative; Aus- tralian Bureau: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins Street, Melbourne, Cliff Holt, Representative; Mexico City Bureau: Apar- tado 269, James Lockhart. Representative; Budapest Bureau: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest, II, Endre Hevesi, Representative ; Tokyo Bureau : 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken, H. Tominaga, Representative; Prague Bureau: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1, Harry Knopf, Rep- resentative; Shanghai Bureau: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Building, 142 Museum Road, /. P. Koehler, Representative; Rio de Janiero Bureau: Caixa Postal 3358, A. Weissman, Representative; Buenos Aires Bureau: Corrientes 2495, N. Bruski, Representative; Montevideo Bureau: P. O. Box 664, Paul Bodo, Representative; Moscow Bureau: Petrovski Per 8, Beatrice Stern, Representa- tive; Vienna Bureau: Neustiftgasse, 55, Vienna VII, Hans Lorant, Representative; Amsterdam Bureau: Zuider Amstellaan 5, Philip de Schaap. Representative; Helsing- fors Bureau: Fredriksgatan 19 C, Charlotte Laszlo, Representative; Warsaw Bureau: Sienna 32, R. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Barnstyn Is Elected Grand National V. P. Jack Barnstyn yesterday was elected vice-president in charge of foreign sales for Grand National by the com- pany's board of directors. He sails tomorrow on the Aqaitania for a five- month tour abroad. Edward L. Alperson president, will leave for Hollywood on Monday. James Cagney, who has set his second picture for the company, said he will leave today for Hollywood. The title of his next film will be announced on his arrival. Sears Planning Trips Gradwell L. Sears, Warner general sales manager, will leave in about two weeks on the first of a series of trips to contact important circuit accounts in various parts of the country. 20th-Fox 'Change Bigger Los Angeles, Jan. 12. — The local 20th Century-Fox exchange has been enlarged to accommodate four addi- tional film inspectors, and to provide greater shipping space. *TP HIS is field day for press •*■ agentry. Paramount fan- Tares a "starting" budget of $30,- 000,000 for 1937-38. Sam Gold- wyn plans eight to cost $10,000,- 000, or $6,000,000 more than his program for the current season. Alex Korda, limiting himself to the calendar year and thereby add- ing confusion by failing specifi- cally to refer to the entertainment year, says his will run to $9,000,- 000 while $12,000,000 addition- ally will be expended by produc- ers using Denham. There may be others and these few alone come readily to mind. But, more or less, it makes little difference for pur- poses of this observation and the argument running synchronously with it. . . . T You, the reader. What about you and your reaction ? You read these figures and, we venture to declare on your behalf, you don't believe them. We don't and the only significance about our self- inclusion merely is that we think our reactions fairly normal and close to convention's line. It has been rather thoroughly estab- lished that this sort of free and easy handling of large sums of money is designed to impress along the bigger and better lines and generally does an ineffectual job of it. Even flushes of en- thusiasm, on the other hand, might be condoned if it were not for something else. That some- thing else is the impression made on legislators who do not like this business and who constantly wait on the sidelines geared and ready to pounce down on this and all other likely sources of additional tax revenue. . . . ▼ We've been around this indus- try for a long time now. The longer the stay, the less under- standable become many phases of its mental processes. When dol- lar publicity cracks through the ingenuity of newspaper men paid to do a job which they must de- liver, you might shake your head as you also might deplore it. When responsible factors who might be expected to know better stick out their jaws for reasons inexplicable, you have to con- clude their foresight is hindsight and you must ponder the out- come. The manifestations, from another angle, are disturbing as well. They indicate that, with returning good times, the lessons of the depression are fading into the limbo of the forgotten at a clip too rapid for comfort and, it follows therefore, for safety. . . . ▼ T Provided the deed follows the word, Paramount's announced in- tention of cutting B product twenty-five per cent is freighted with significance. Its theatre partners presumably raised the issue and pointed out the un- necessary hurdles thrown up in marketing pictures so unfortu- nately labeled. The studio then announced its slash and now the industry is waiting, or should be, for what trails. The entire issue raised by B pictures, or, for that matter, any pictures branded by the alphabet is not so involved as it is silly. A becomes B and B becomes A and the pre-deter- mined factor, of course, is the cost as it goes today. Yet, re- gardless of what any studio may spend and regardless of what classification the budget declares for the attraction, the answer has nothing to do with New York or Hollywood. The calibre of the draw is a peculiar privilege re- tained by the public where it belongs anyway. It simmers to the conclusion that Hollywood for some time now has been talk- ing loosely again about its private business and what it intends do- ing when that which it does should be permitted to make its own impression. . . . ▼ ▼ Comes along the case of "You Can't Take It with You," suc- cessful stage play by George Kaufman and Moss Hart, to prove again what hard bargains the doyens of the theatre can drive and how susceptible your recognized film producers can be. In these days of loosely flung millions, a mere $200,000 for the film rights of this one vehicle seems like small stuff. But it is high, very high, and it will run the investment much higher before Frank Capra gets through with his film. What hovers be- tween amusement and amazement where this sour-face is concerned, however, is the prohibition placed on the buy. It will not be earlier than May, not of this year but of next, before Columbia can launch the release. You may be interested also in learning how the purchase came about. The play, of course, has great merit as potential material, although as it stands it is very shy of plot, but rich in characterizations and laughs. Metro, Paramount and several others were after it, un- ceremoniously getting in each other's rush to the post as Kauf- man and Hart, no doubt, sat back and chuckled and filed from the proceedings future anecdotes on the gullibilities of the celluloid mighty. . . . ▼ Time brings its changes. There was Korda, as close as Wednesday, January 13, 1937 Mountain States Get $19,267,000 in '35 Washington, Jan. 12. — Box-office receipts of $19,267,000 were reported for 1935 by 1,722 places of amuse- ment in the eight mountain states, it was announced today by the U. S. Census Bureau. These figures compared with $59,- 086,000 reported Jan. 7 for 2,763 estab- lishments in the six New England states. The mountain states report, cover- ing all types of amusements to which admissions were collected, including film and other theatres, circuses and other shows, amusement parks, bowl- ing alleys, dance halls, etc., showed that there were 1,566 proprietors and firm members active in the conduct of the 1,722 establishments, which em- ployed an average of 5,563 persons throughout the year and had a total payroll of $3,872,000, of which $588,- 000 was for part-time employment. The bureau announced data for the several states covered, as follows : Colorado, 451 establishments with re- ceipts _ of $4,822,000; Montana, 227 establishments with receipts of $3,- 018,000; Arizona, 158 establishments with receipts of $2,379,000; Idaho. 243 establishments with receipts of $2,331,000; Utah, 254 establishments with receipts of $2,266,000; Wyoming, 175 establishments with receipts of $1,679,000; New Mexico, 148 estab- lishments with receipts of $1,554,000, and Nevada, 66 establishments with receipts of $1,218,000. "U" Plans Roadshows Of "Top of the Town" Hollywood, Jan. 12. — James R. Grainger, general sales manager of Universal, who is now en route to New York, will endeavor to close leases of legitimate theatres in key cities for the simultaneous roadshow- ing of "Top of the Town" on a two- a-day basis prior to its general re- lease. National release of the film is set for March 28, with world premiere scheduled for an earlier date. Universal executives consider the new film the most important produc- tion since the inception of the new re- gime. GTE Net Is $513,586 General Theatres Equipment Corp. and subsidiaries showed a net income for the five months to Oct. 31, last, of $513,586 after depreciation, Fed- eral taxes, minority interest and other charges, equal to $1.15 per share on 447,643 capital shares, according to a company report to the N. Y. Stock- Exchange. Excluded were three sub- sidiaries, Ashcraft Automatic Arc Co., Cinema Building Corp. and J. M. Wall Machine Co., Inc. July, deploring the flow of B pictures from British studios. Here this morning is Korda com- mitted to sixteen a year for Brit- ish Lion, ranging in cost from $150,000 to $300,000. At these fig- ures, the product may be A to you, but, as he works, it's defi- nitely B to Korda. As usual, there are reasons. Only you have to look for them on occasion. This time the reasons are really one: Stages at Denham and the necessity for keeping them occu- pied. A°*e ^on ^et ■eta; 1*0 s as** for bo*** in (3* out » "Son of a f,0ne»*t0 7ote C35 out .10) til*1 tVve A ^ W to 5 V 1A- po 4 o^1 top ctotS* on *• STo- MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, January 13, 1937 Educational Votes on New Plan Feb, 2 (Continued from page 1) yesterday that Educational contem- plated launching extensive production of non-theatrical films for school, civic and industrial use. Hammons, however, said that while the idea had been given consideration on many oc- casions no definite plans had been de- veloped by the company yet and there was little likelihood of anything being done in this connection within the next year or 18 months. Hammons said that he was not sat- isfied that there was sufficient market demand for non-theatricals at this time to warrant large-scale production. He also denied that the company contem- plated feature production. The bulk of Educational's short sub- ject production is now concentrated in the east, convenient to Broadway tal- ent sources. The company's west coast studio was recently leased to Grand National for five years with options to renew for an additional five years. Educational, however, arranged to lease from Grand National studio fa- cilities as needed on the same terms which Grand National offers to its own producers, to provide for what- ever west coast production Education- al may require. Dissolutions to Be Asked The meeting will be asked to ap- prove the dissolution of the wholly owned Educational subsidiaries, Alli- ance Film Securities, Far East Film Corp., Coronet Film Corp. and Edu- cational Film Exchanges, Inc. If the dissolutions are approved, there will remain Educational Films Corp. of America, Educational Prod., Inc., and Educational Studios, Inc., all of which are wholly owned operating subsidi- aries of Educational Pictures, Inc., the parent holding company. The company's program of corpo rate simplification is being under- taken, largely for purposes of tax econ omies. Rites for Mrs. O'Brien Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Rita O'Brien, wife of Dennis F. O'Brien of the law firm of O'Brien, Driscoll & Raftery, will be held at 10 :30 tomorrow morning at St. Den nis's Church, Yonkers. Burial will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Mrs. O'Brien died Monday of pneu- monia at her Yonkers home. Besides her husband, she is survived by three sons, Paul D., also of the law firm, which is well known in the film in- dustry ; Kenneth A., a member of the United Artists publicity staff, and Robert D. O'Brien, and a daughter, Denise O'Brien. Her husband, who was also serf ously ill with pneumonia, was reported yesterday to be recovering. Cincy Bingo Declines Cincinnati, Jan. 12. — Bingo games have decreased here since city officials now will only issue 30-day permits to religious, fraternal and patriotic or ganizations which conduct the games on their own premises. No permits will be issued for games to be held in public places. 10 Best Citizens Beaumont, Tex., Jan. 12. — This city has varied the cus- tom of selecting the 10 best pictures of the year by pick- ing the 10 outstanding citi- zens. The Citizen-Press is spon- soring the idea. Sol E. Gor- don of the Jefferson Amuse- ment Co. is among the first ten selected. Mexican Exhibitors Must Use Home Film By JAMES LOCKHART Mexico City, Jan. 7. — Further state aid for the Mexican industry has taken the form of Congressional ap- proval for a measure requiring all ex- hibitors to show at least one domes- tically produced picture each month. If no feature is available several shorts must be shown. Theatres will enjoy a reduction in taxes of from eight to 15 per cent, depending on the size of the house, during the time they show domestic product. Exhibitors who ignore the regula- tion will be subject to fines of from 50 to 1,000 pesos for the first offense, and revocation of license for additional failures to comply. One newspaper, El Universal, editorially classed the measure with an earlier attempt to help the industry, which "died of its own "weight," and saw in the new measure the likelihood of it doing more harm than good in the promo- tion of the local industry. Business is improving for Mexican studios. Local plants are completing two features and 17 folklore shorts, and are set for the production of four more features. * * * The jurisdiction over the national film censorship board has been taken from the Ministry of the Interior and placed under that of the new inde- pendent Federal Dep't of Publicity and Publications, which began to function Jan. 1. Lee to Confer with Kent on Exchanges {Continued from page 1) 24 pictures can be handled without looking to outside sources to distrib- ute. While G. B. has taken on five B. I. P. and five Herbert Wilcox films in addition to its own program, the orig- inally announced schedule of 24 has not been increased, it is pointed out. However, if Kent insists that G. B. cannot handle the B. I. P. and Wilcox commitments through 20th Century- Fox outlets then the only alternative left Lee is for him to open exchanges in each territory. A decision on this will be reached today, following the session with Kent. Isidore Ostrer, who is due to sail to- morrow on the Aquitania with his brother, Maurice, assistant managing director of G. B., most likely will see Kent before he embarks on his return home. It is doubtful whether Ostrer will bring up the exchange situation when he meets Kent. This conclave will not be held at the same time Lee meets Kent and probably will revolve around financial matters. General Increases Production Budget Fenn Kimball, president of General Pictures, has increased the company's production budget after conferences with Robert E. Welsh, vice-president in charge of production. Present plans call for one picture each during February, March and April, with two monthly thereafter for the balance of the season. Mack D. Weinberger, general sales manager, has set Feb. 25 for the re- lease of the first, "Three Legion- naires." Kimball to Europe Hollywood, Jan. 12. — Fenn Kim- ball, president of General Pictures, will leave early next month for a lengthy trip through England and the continent to set up a European sales organization. He plans supervision of all product to foreign exhibitors in an effort to insure proper subtitle treat- ment. Korda Lines Up Six For 1937-38 Season London, Jan. 12. — Alexander Korda has lined up six features for his 1937-38 schedule. These are: "Revolt in the Desert," from Lowell Thomas' book on Col. T. E. Lawrence; "Nijinsky," "Victoria," Merle Oberon in an unnamed story, Robert Donat in an unnamed story and "Action for Slander." Korda says his budget will be $9,- 000,000, which would run to $1,150,- 000 per feature, if no more are added to the schedule. He says $21,000,000 will be spent on production at the Lon- don Films studio. This includes inde- pendent and semi-independent firms using the plant. Extend "Thin Man" Runs A total of 30 extended engagements in various parts of the country have been set to date on "After the Thin Man," according to M-G-M. Korda Firm Sets Plans London, Jan. 12. — Denham Film Prod., a new company, has been formed by -Alexander Korda of Lon- don Films, and Sam Smith, head of British Lion, for the production of 16 features annually for release by Brit- ish Lion. They will be made at Den ham and will cost from £30,000 to £60,000 each, with a total production budget set for the 16 of about £700,000. Joint control will be in the hands of Korda and Smith. Korda will not supervise production of the 16 per- sonally. The first picture will start in five weeks, with William Cameron Menzies directing. British Lion is ex- pected eventually to close its studio at Beaconsfield. Study Series Begins Seattle, Jan. 12. — The University of Washington department of drama will inaugurate its 11th annual "foreign film series" this month, under the sponsorship of Prof. Glenn Hughes. Each month, five performances of a group of famous older films will be screened at the Egyptian Theatre, in the university district. Admission of 40 cents includes state tax and mem bership in the University Film Guild. Odeon Issue Feb. 15 London, Jan. 12. — The Odeon Cir cuit's flotation of a £5,000,000 security issue to the public is expected Feb. 15. CEA Moyne Reply to Seek Appeals Court By BRUCE ALLAN London, Jan. 12. — The council of the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Ass'n tomorrow is expected to approve the organization's official statement to the Board of Trade making suggestions on the Moyne report. The exhibitor group is expected to ask the appoint- ment of an official arbitration court whose decisions on trade disputes would have statutory force. Such a board would operate as a final court of appeal from a CEA-KRS joint con- ciliation committee. The KRS statement is expected to oppose a variable quota and the pro- posed quality test as unworkable, but the distributor body will meet with the CEA group again to try to reach an agreement on a ruling body before drafting its final statement. The Film Group statement in general will ac- cept the Moyne report, including the recommendation for a film commis- sion, but may make reservations on the quality clause. Trans-Lux-Thompson Agreement Reported Washington, Jan. 12. — Consum- mation of an agreement on July 14 under which Major L. E. Thompson, president of Trans-Lux Movies Corp., in addition to an annual salary of $10,000, is to receive five per cent of the consolidated net profits of the company and 1,000 shares annually for five years of the common stock of Trans-Lux Daylight Picture Screen Corp., was reported by the latter to the Securities and Exchange Com- mission today. The company also reported that on June 25 it had granted options to George H. Robinson and Harold P. Farrington for 10,000 shares each of common stock at $4 a share, the stock to be taken up during the service of the two men, but in any rate within two years. Loeufs Hits New High on Board Net High Low Close Change Columbia 37?4 36?4 36& —1% Columbia, pfd. ... 45% 45 45% + % Consolidated 5J4 5% 5% — % Consolidated, pfd.. 1834 18% 18% — % Eastman Kodak.. 173*4 172% 172% — % Eastman, pfd 162*4 16254 162*4 — *4 Gen. T. Equip 32 31% 31% — % Loew's, Inc 69% 67% 69*4 +2% Paramount 25*4 24*4 24% — % Paramount 1 pfd.. 174 174 174 —1 Paramount 2 pfd.. 2234. 22%, 22% — % Pathe Film 10% 9% 9% RKO 9 8 8% + % 20th Century-Fox. 35*4 34M 35 + % 20th Century, pfd. 44 43*4 43*4 — % Universal, pfd. ..102 102 102 Warner Bros 17*4 16% 17 + % Warner, pfd 67*4 67*4 67*4 — Vs Fractional Curb Movement Net High Low Close Change Grand National . . 3*4 3*4 3*4 — % Sonotone 2 2 2 + % Technicolor 21*4 2034 21% — % Trans-Lux 4% 4% 4*4 — % Little Bond Activity Net High Low Close Change Keith B. F. 6s '46 97 97 97 Loew's 3*4s '46.... 100% 100*4 100*4 — % Paramount Pictures 6s '55 100*4 100*4 100*4 RKO 6s '41 123 119 123 +3% Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 99*4 99 99% — *4 (Quotations at close of Jan. 12) JHE PRODUCERS OF FOUR OF THE TEN BEST PICTURES OF 1936 NOW WRITE THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE HISTORY OF 1937... IT IS WRITTEN IN COLOR ON THE NEXT PAGE GLORIOUSLY FLOODED WITH THE NEW, TRUE TECHNICOLOR • . .The Far- Flung Favorite of All James Oliver Curwood's Great American Novels DRIVE Dec. 20 to Apr. 4 m with GEORGE BRENT . BEVERLY ROBERTS Barton MacLane o Robert Barrat • Alan Hale • Joseph King • El Brendel • Joseph Crehan • Addison Richards • Music by Max Steiner Directed by WILLIAM KEIGHLEY WARNER BROS. MADE IT as thrilling, as real, as sweeping in scope as the famous best-seller itself — with the added lure of Technicolor as you've never seen it before! Radio Acceptance M.E.NICHOLS, W L. MACTAVISH , EDITOR J j.moncrieff, ASSOCIATE EDITOR B.A.MACNAB, ASSOCIATE EDITOR RONALD HOOPER, ASSOCIATE EDITOR ESTABLISHED IN 1690 OP EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT PHONE .4 331 CA N A D A January 4, 1937. Mr. Maurice Kann, Motion Picture Daily, Rockefeller Center, New York City. Dear Mr. Kann: To me, the radio page is very interesting and newsworthy. A daily publication, you have many advantages over the weeklies. This, to me, was most clearly shown in your recent exclusive stories on the finis of "Good-Will Court." The brief notes are also nearly always up to the minute. More power to your radio section. Yours truly, Denny Brown Radio Editor MOTION PICTURE DAILY ROCKEFELLER CENTER NEW YORK MOTION PICTUR1 Wednesday, January 13, 1937 RADIO DA] LY RADIO Equity Denies Move To Organize Radio Actors' Equity Ass'n yesterday de- nied reports that it is considering any attempt to organize radio performers or extending its jurisdiction into that entertainment field. Commenting on recently published reports that a resolution calling for the organization of radio performers had been passed unanimously by a re- cent membership meeting of Equity and would be placed before the asso- ciation's council meeting yesterday, a spokesman for Equity said that the subject had been broached by one member during an open discussion meeting, but had not even been placed in the form of a resolution or acted upon in any way. Replying to the member's inquiry as to why radio performers were not embraced in Equity, Stephen Kent of the actors' association, was quoted as having said that any attempt to or- ganize performers would bring about the exclusive use of amateurs by the radio industry. Equity's own view was said to be that too few stage per- formers were active in radio work to warrant an organizing move. More Program Renewals Blackett-Sample-Hummert yester- day renewed six of its NBC accounts for full year periods. They are : Easy Aces," heard Tuesdays, Wed- nesdays and Thursdays at 7 P. M. on the Blue and sponsored by American Products for Anacin. The renewal date is effective as of Feb. 2. "Sweetest Love Songs Ever Sung," heard Mondays at 8 :30 P. M., on the Blue and sponsored by Phillips Den- tal Cream. The renewal begins Feb. 8. "Manhattan Merry - Go - Round," heard Sundays at 9 P. M. on the Blue and sponsored by Sterling Products for Dr. Lyons Tooth Powder. The renewal starts Feb. 7. "Waltz Time," heard Fridays at 9 P. M. over the Red and sponsored by Sterling Products for Philips Milk of Magnesia. The renewal begins Feb. S. "Broadway Merry - Go - Round," heard Wednesdays at 8 P. M. over the Elue and sponsored by Sterling Prod- ucts for Dr. Lyons Tooth Powder. The renewal begins Feb. 3. "Famous Actors Guild," heard Wednesdays at 8:30 P. M. over the Blue and sponsored by Bayer Aspirin. The renewal is effective as of Feb. 3. Additionally, Milton Biow Agency renewed the Philip Morris program for a year's period. The program is broadcast Tuesdays at 8 P. M. over the Red. The renewal starts Feb. 2. All programs are E.S.T. Barrett Joins WOR, Chicago R. J. Barrett, Jr., yesterday was named manager of the new WOR of- fice in Chicago by Alfred J. McCos- ker, president of the station. The of- fice will open officially on or about Feb. 1 to handle time sales in Chicago and middle west areas. Barrett comes to WOR from Black- ett-Sample-Hummert, Inc., where he handled a record volume of radio bill- ing for the agency. He first entered radio with NBC in Chicago in 1933, occupying various positions in the traffic and sales departments. He also produced programs broadcast from Chicago's Century of Progress Expo- sition. Local Plugs Anger Ford; Raises Network Problem (Continued from page 1) Hour, CBS at 9 P. M., E.S.T. over 83 stations ; "Watch the Fun Go By," Tuesdays at 9 P. M., E.S.T. over 82 CBS stations; and "Universal Rhy- thm," Fridays at 9 P. M., E.S.T. over 51 NBC-Blue network stations. Ford is one of radio's top spenders. The company last year was Columbia's second best customer, spending a total of $1,528,026 with the network for air time. For its single broadcast period on NBC, the company paid a total of $553,000 in 1936. No comment was forthcoming at either NBC or CBS. However, it was learned that meetings of the executive heads of both networks would take place some time this morning. Several theories have been advanced as to the reason for the Ford blast against the practice of injecting spot announcements between program breaks. The one that is given most credence is this : That competitive automobile firms have been buying up the 20 second dead spots immediately before and after the Ford programs with recorded spot announcements plugging the automobile products of the Ford competition, thus leaving many listeners with the impression that they have been tuned in on pro- grams sponsored by direct Ford com- petitors. Ayer Reported Involved Another report has it that the issue involved was raised not by Ford, but by pressure exerted by N. W. Ayer & Son, the agency handling the Ford radio accounts. The agency acted, it is alleged, because Ford is reported to have cancelled all spot announce- ments as of last Sunday, thus losing for the agency about $30,000 a year in commissions, whereupon the agency is alleged to have pointed out to Ford competitors were cashing in on the Ford programs by placing spot an- nouncements before and after the Ford shows on many of the stations carry- ing the programs. Just what action the networks can take to correct this practice is a moot problem. Of the 97 stations in the CBS network, only 11 are managed, owned or operated by CBS. Of the 113 stations comprising the NBC chains, only 14 are owned by NBC. The other stations merely carry the network programs on a pro-rata basis, and it is believed they will resist any attempt by the chains to dictate to them. Additionally, it has never been made clear as to which is entitled to the 20 second dead spots in the chain to chain breaks — the local station or the network. The station identification calls consume no more than a few seconds of time. Can the station sell the remaining seconds of the break time to sponsors making a product in direct competition to the sponsor whose network program either is about to begin or has just come to a close, and pocket the money? This is the problem that the net- work executives will wrestle with this morning. Really! It happened on NBC the other morning. The announc- er, either absent-minded or still a bit foggy as a result of the early hour, approached the microphone and said un- certainly: "This is either the Red or Blue network of the National Broadcasting Co." William T. Christian as managing editor of the afternoon daily news- paper. Charles Hamilton, former sports writer, has succeeded Christian as city editor. John Oliver has suc- ceeded Hamilton as sports editor. Virginia Editors Shift Richmond, Jan. 12. — Earl Sowers, managing director of WPHR and promotion director of the Richmond News Leader, has been succeeded by Roecker, Webster, Et Al Short Shots: Ed Roecker, baritone, joins the Pick and Pat series March 1, replacing the Landt Trio and White . . . Beveridge Webster, concert pian- ist, has been named as guest soloist on Sunday's New York Philharmonic broadcast . . . Jimmy Scribner's "Johnson Family" program, currently absent from WOR's schedule, returns to the airlanes Jan. 20 . . . John H. Hyman has been signed for 26 weeks to supply the scripts for Ken Mur- ray's forthcoming Campbell Soup pro- gram . . . Ruth Waterbury, editor of Photoplay, has been added as a fea- ture of Mutual's "Morning Matinee" program . . . Beverly Roberts will support Edward G. Robinson in the Lux Radio Theatre's presentation, "The Criminal Code," which will be broadcast Monday night . . . Arthur Pryor, dean of America's band con- ductors, will guest lead the Carbo- rundum band Jan. 16 . . . The "Cap- tain Diamond" program, heard cur- rently at 3 :15 P. M., E.S.T. Sundays over the NBC split Blue network, will advance the time of its broadcasts to 3 P. M., E.S.T. beginning Jan. 17 . . . Harry Sosnick and Mitzi May- fair will guest appear on "Morning Matinee" Jan. 21 . . . The same eve- ning, Kate Smith will have Jimmy Durante as her "Bandwagon" guest . . . Allen Miller, head of the Uni- versity Broadcasting Council of Chi- cago, has been granted a fellowship for observation and training in net- work procedure at NBC by the Gen- eral Education Board, a Rockefeller Foundation. Miller is the third to win the fellowship, the first two recipients being William Friel Heimlich of Ohio State University and a member of the staff of WOSU, Columbus; and Leora Shaw, of the University of Wisconsin and a member of the staff of WHA, Madison . . . Jack Oakie's guests for Jan. 19 and Feb. 2 will be "Doc" Rockwell and Eddie Cantor, re- spectively . . . Lawrence Tibbett will be heard on the air for the first time in quite a time Saturday, Jan. 23, when he will sing in the Metropolitan Opera's "Tales of Hoffman," which will be broadcast over NBC by RCA . . . Elza Shallert will have Louise Dresser as her screen guest Jan. 15 . . . WMCA and the Intercity net- work stations will also pay tribute to the memory of Roxy tonight at 8:30 P. M., E.S.T. on Martin Starr's "Movie Star Dust" program. FCC Licenses Three New Radio Stations Washington, Jan. 12. — The Fed- eral Communications Commission to- day licensed three new broadcaster^ ti i operate and ordered the holding of hearings on five applications for new stations. The three stations licensed, all to operate on 100 watts, are located at Lima, O. ; Carlsbad, N. M., and Big Springs, Tex. The hearings called in- volved applications for construction permits for stations at Salinas, Cal. ; Montgomery, Ala. ; Oak Park, 111. ; Columbus, Ga., and Centralia, Wash. At its weekly meeting today the broadcast division granted increases in power to KRNR, Roseburg, Ore., to 250 watts day and 100 watts night ; WKY, Oklahoma City, to 5,000 watts day, 1,000 watts night; WSAR, Fall River, Mass., to 1,000 watts, and KDB, Santa Barbara, Cal., to 250 watts day, 100 watts night. The division today received from its chief engineer a preliminary report on the October broadcasting hearings, but has not yet had time to examine it. Details will be made public later. Mexico to Supervise All Radio Operation Mexico City, Jan. 7. — Stricter state supervision of all radio stations in Mexico, commercial, cultural, ex- perimental and amateur, is provided in a Federal law which became ef- fective Jan. 1. The measure defines each type of station, and gives the Ministry of Communications and Pub- lic Works complete authority over all radio activity in the country. Concessions to operate stations will be granted only to Mexican citizens or societies constituted in accord with Mexican laws. The franchises will be for 20-year periods only. Station op- erators, like exhibitors, will have to pay the radio inspectors. No foreign programs may be received except by special permission. All advertising rates charged by radio stations must be approved by the ministry. No ad- vertising talk may be longer than two minutes, and commercial stations will be required to strike a better bal- ance between entertainment and sell- ing in programs. Heavy fines will be levied for violations. Because of numerous complaints of interference with American broad- casts, the Mexican Government has started an investigation of all Mexi- can radio stations on the border. Salary $200 Monthly, Lee DeForest Claims Los Angeles, Jan. 12. — Lee DeFor- est, radio inventor, during the bank- ruptcy hearing in Federal Court here today, testified that his salary is only S200 a month, the sum representing wages from the DeForest Radio Laboratory which he formerly owned. After brief questioning by Ernest Rutley, bankruptcy referee, the hear- ing was postponed until Jan. 29 in order to obtain the testimony of Mrs. DeForest who is now ill. Hedges in Crosley Post Cincinnati, Jan. 12. — William S. Hedges, for six years manager of NBC-operated stations, this week took over the duties of vice-president of the Crosley Radio Corp. MOT1QN PlCTUJRJE DAILY Wednesday, January 13, 1937 Out Hollywood Way Columbia After Top Stories, Says Doran 10 i Purely Personal ► EDWARD SCHNITZER, Leo Abrams, Irving . Wormser and Harry Shiffmann will sail for a 17- day West Indies cruise on the Lafay- ette on Jan. 29. So advises Shiffman at the Tavern yesterday after Jack Pearl got through kidding him about the good old days when he worked for the late Sol Brill. Pearl says Para- mount would like him to do three pictures a year and another company wants him for one, but he'll stick out his 43-week contract on the air. Seated at the round table is Sam Rinzler, who tells a funny story about his last trip to the West Indies ; Henry Brown, Mitchell Klupt, Bob Wolff and Max Cohen. Joe Seider, who is accompanied by Abe Montague, comes over to the big table. Says he's glad to have re- covered from the flu and continues his date with Columbia's sales man- ager. J. J. Milstein has for company Ed Zabel and Milt Hossfeld of Na- tional Theatres. Irving Lesser, Mor- ris Kinzler, Joe Weil and Milton Silver talk about "Three Smart Girls," the next Roxy attraction. Bob Perkins is seated at a side table with Sam Spring, for whom he worked in the First National days. Perkins returned over the week-end from his "shack" 25 miles from Richmond, Va., where he spent a two-week vaca- tion. Eddie Golden, Ray Johnston and Henri Elman talk about Monogram. Jack Barnstyn, who sails tomorrow on the Aquitania, is dining two guests before he leaves on the extended European trip. Paul Lazarus, Jr. and Sr., are having a quiet family get together. Arthur Jeffrey escorts Irene Thirer to a center table and lunches the Post critic. Eddie Duchin has a number of his orchestra present for some kind of a celebration. Among the others: Joe Connolly of the Hearst organization, Lowell Calvert of Selznick International, Dick Brady, A-Mike Vogel, Irwin Kleeblatt, Marvin Schenck, Charles Moses, James Cron and Red Kann. • Harry Gold left last night on a swing of U. A. eastern exchanges, in- cluding Buffalo, Cleveland, Pitts- burgh, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Dallas, New Orleans, Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington, Philadelphia, Boston and New Haven. • James Cagney was host at a cock- tail party to the press yesterday after- noon at the Gotham. Grand National tendered the party with the trade, domestic and foreign press attending. • Arthur A. Lee, vice-president of G. B., received word yesterday that a print of "Head Over Heels in Love," latest by Jessie Matthews, had been completed for shipment. • Walter Brown, midwest division manager for Ross Federal Service, is in town for meetings with Harry A. Ross and home office executives, e Sonja Henie has returned to town following a figure skating exhibition in Pittsburgh. • George Hirliman left for the coast last night following conferences with Hollywood, Jan. 12. — Elizabeth Allen borrowed from M-G-M by 20th Century-Fox to replace Mary Rogers who was forced by influenza to quit "The Last Slaver" cast. Sally Eilers engages John Hark- rider, designer, to create interiors for her new home. . . . Gail Patrick recovers from a cold. . . . Alice Duer Miller leaves for New York. . . . Cliff Reid, associate producer at Radio, recovering from pneumonia. .. . . Herman Wobber, western divi- sion manager for 20th Century-Fox, returns to San Francisco after ex- tended stay here. Charles R. Rogers signs Alan K. Foster's horse act for Universal's "Hippodrome" . . . B. F. Zeidman signs Made Fealy, Shakespearian actress, as elocution and dialogue coach for schoolroom sequences of "Two Shall Meet." . . . James Cag- ney to start second for Grand Na- tional within five weeks. . . . George A. Hirliman to get "Gold" under way in few days with Louis Gasnier directing. . . . Ralph Berger signed as art director for General Pictures by Fenn Kimball, president. + Casting — Joan Fontaine gets fem- inine lead and Jane Walsh and Billy Gilbert added to "Wings of Mercy," Radio. . . . Roland Drew in "Weather Or No," Columbia. . . . M. H. Hoffman and A. J. Van Beu- ren on the new Condor setup. • Arline Judge left yesterday for a 10-day sojourn in Miami. She will return to New York before leaving for Hollywood. • Pat O'Brien will arrive this morn- ing. He was guest of honor Monday at the football banquet at University of Notre Dame. • Jane Withers departs today for Cleveland, where she will make a per- sonal appearance. This will be fol- lowed by an engagement in Chicago. • Lillie Messinger, eastern story editor for RKO Radio, left for the coast on the Century yesterday for story conferences at the studio. • Kay Francis, arriving today on the Bremen, has returned to consult a specialist as a result of a severe attack of neuralgia. • Douglas Fairbanks will arrive to- day on the Bremen from a Euro- pean vacation. • Edward Kern handled the preview of "Broken Blossoms" at the Belmont yesterday afternoon. • Joe Rivkin will leave Chicago to- day with Norma n McLeod for the coast. • Frank Gillmore of Actors' Equity left yesterday on a vacation cruise to Rio De Janeiro. • Charles Stern, who returned from Boston yesterday, flew back in the afternoon. • Eleanor Hunt left by train yes- terday for the coast. J. Carrol Naish in "Night Key," Universal. . . . Bill Robinson and Helen Westley in "Cafe Metropole," 20th Century-Fox. . . . M-G-M cast- ings include Diane Cook in "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney," Harry Wil- son and Pat Flaherty in "A Day at the Races." . . . Barnett Parker, Douglas Gordon, Leland Hodgson and Jimmy Aubry in "Man in Pos- session." + Writers — P. G. Wodehouse signed to a term contract by M-G-M. . . . John Monk Saunders placed under contract by 20th Century-Fox to adapt "Woman With Wings," novel by Genevieve Haugen. . . . Ron Fer- guson, short story writer, signed by 20th Century-Fox. . . . Eric Hatch, author of "My Man Godfrey," given term pact by Hal Roach. + Title Changes — Universal's "Class Prophecy" to "When Love Is New." . . . Radio's "Robber Barons" to "The Toast of New York." + Story Buy — By 20th Century-Fox, "Jean," originally titled "Wool Sack," by Ladislaus Bus Fekete. + Director — Sam Lee to direct "Some Day Soon," a Jack Chertok short, for M-G-M. Two "Class" Films Yearly, Oceanic Plan Oceanic Pictures, recently organized, plans to produce two "class" pictures per year, the first of which will be "Caruso," an adaptation of an original play, Howard A. Newman, local at- torney, who is identified with the new company, said yesterday. Exteriors and additional atmospher- ic data for the first production, which Newman said would cost about $1,- 000,000, will be obtained in Italy by Burne Hershey and Lyon Mearson, authors of the play, who sail for Italy on the Rex, Saturday. They are due back here toward the end of February with plans to begin shooting in Hollywood about March IS. A director and cast have not been se- lected yet, nor have distribution ar- rangements been made. Identified with the firm in addition to Newman are James and John Si- monelli, retired Italian bankers, and Carl Reed, theatrical and literary agent. Levy Asks Theatres Ban in New Sections Borough President Samuel Levy has asked the Board of Estimate to re- zone certain sections of Manhattan so that film theatres, bus stations and other businesses will be barred. One of the areas he suggests for this rezoning is 100 feet east of 6th Ave. from 59th St. south to 100 feet south of 34th St., easterly to 100 feet west of 5th Ave. and southerly to the center line of 23rd St., together with Madison Ave. from 59th St. to 96th St. and 57th St. from 100 feet east of 6th Ave. to Broadway. This territory would be called a super-retail zone. (.Continued from page 1) or produced, prominent authors will be hired to turn out special work, he said. With the English literary market regarded of prime importance to the company, Doran is now working on plans to effect a closer cooperation with Columbia's London office. He might make a trip abroad to look over the situation. Reports Doran might replace Wil- liam Lengel as eastern scenario head were denied by Doran, who said Lengel will stay in his present post. Doran will return to Hollywood in seven weeks. After realigning the editorial setup, he may turn his efforts to producing for Columbia. Asks to Query Columbia Jack Redmond, a professional trick golf artist, today will ask N. Y. Supreme Court Justice John E. Mc- Geehan for an order to examine the president and auditor of Columbia Pictures Corp. The request is in connection with Redmond's suit against the company for $50,000 dam- ages which he charges the company, unauthorized, made use of pictures from a newsreel of himself at Eton- town, N. J., in 1935. Redmond sets forth that he posed for Fox Movietone News, and, there- after, without his written consent, the pictures were used by Columbia in a short, "Golfing Rhythm," and pre- sumably in the Columbia Beacon and the Columbia Mirror, house organs. In defense Columbia attorneys as- sert that Redmond authorized Fox Movietone News to make unlimited use of his picture, even to the extent of advertising it. Will H. Hays Meets Studios' Publicists Hollywood, Jan. 12. — Will H. Hays met with the publicity directors of the major studios at the M.P.P.D.A. of- fices here today. He commended the executives on the strides that have been made in advertising during the past year. During the course of today's ses- sion, the candid camera situation was discussed and steps were outlined to prevent the publishing of stills which are detrimental to the industry. How- ever, no definite plan of action has been mapped out as yet. M. P. Associates Up Membership to 190 M. P. Associates has increased its membership from 70 to 190 in one year, more than 100 members were told yesterday by Jerry Wilson, vice- president, at the inauguration of offi- cers at Sardi's. Joe J. Lee of 20th Century-Fox is president ; Moe Sanders of the same exchange, treasurer ; Moe Fraum, sec- retary ; Charles Penser, financial sec- cretary ; Louis Kutinsky, sergeant-at- arms. Haworth Back at Work Hollywood, Jan. 12. — Vinton Ha- worth, who was injured in an auto- mobile accident New Year's day, has reported back tp_ work at Radio. Pro- duction on "China Passage" has been held up since his injury. Wednesday, January 13, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Chicago Hails 1936 As Best Year in Many (Continued from page 1) and independents plan other new theatres during the coming year. The remodeling of theatres in the Chicago territory reached an all time high. More than SO per cent of the local theatres underwent some major form of remodeling and refurnishing. Plans for additional remodeling are being disclosed daily and in the meantime the box-office grosses are mounting. It is notable that this trend towards more theatres and the remodeling of old ones is the result of careful con- sideration. It isn't a boom type of activity. In many of the circuit theatres the first new sound equipment in years is being installed. Other improvements such as new chairs, carpets, lighting fixtures and the like are being ordered constantly. Helping matters considerably was the settlement last fall of the clear- ance fight between the independents and Balaban & Katz, when the cir- cuit renounced its demands for ex- tended playing time and instituted double features. The independents won the clearance battle, but lost in their attempt to halt duals, which they strongly opposed. As the situation now stands the dual bills are in and practically everyone is playing them. This has proved a boon to the ex- changes, trailer and accessory firms. Business Generally Good The Chicago territory outside the film industry has experienced unusual business the past few months. All time records for Christmas buying were broken during the holiday season just past. Train and other forms of travel were swamped in the holiday rush and the heavy traffic has con- tinued. Chicago hotels are at present sold out for two weeks in advance, due largely to the many conventions scheduled. This influx of outsiders brings an untold amount of revenue to Chicago and especially to the Loop theatres. The steel industry, a part of which is located in Gary, nearby, is flourish- ing as in 1928 and in war times. The Chicago grain markets are higher than in the past 15 years. Cattle and hogs are being sold at top prices which shows that the midwest farm trade, upon which Chicago depends so much, is benefiting by present conditions and it is expected they will improve. Loses Speaker's Post Lincoln, Jan. 12.— W. F. Haycock, former operator of the Star at Calla- way, Neb., who, previous to the open- ing of Nebraska's one-house legis- lature had announced himself a candi- date for the important post of speaker, failed of selection. He was named chairman of the Revenue Committee. Pratt Is 52 Years Old New Orleans, Jan. 12.— A. Miles Pratt, owner of the St. Charles, cele- brated his 52nd birthday recently. Employes remembered him with testi- monials. Pratt is collector of customs in New Orleans. Heavier Taxes Facing Kansas And Missouri (.Continued from page 1) over $12,000,000 a year. In Kan- sas, the sales tax at present appears to be the most likely solution of that state's needs. This is what Kansas needs : $1,- 500,000 for social security (with a like amount to come from the coun- ties) ; $1,500,000 for new buildings; $500,000 for an increase in the state highway patrol ; $1,000,000 in pay in- creases to state employes ; soil con- servation program (to cut down wind erosion) an indefinite sum ; $400,000 for free textbooks for schools (many legislators oppose this, but it is backed by Gov. Walter A. Huxman) ; water conservation program, too big for the present legislature to do more than make a start; $1,500 homestead ex- emption, which would reduce prop- erty taxes approximately $8,000,000 (this will have to be made up some- where) ; planning board, supported by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, no estimate ; $78,000 for expenses in connection with unemployment insur- ance ; a top of $7,000,000 for school equalization — a total of almost $19,- 000,000 on items carrying estimates. Possible Sources Named Specifically suggested as sources for additional revenues are : a gen- eral sales tax (estimated to produce $4,500,000 to $5,000,000 at one per cent ; a limited sales tax, a tax on gross receipts of amusements, in- creased property taxes (this will be strongly opposed), increased income taxes, beer tax (estimated to produce from $500,000 to $750,000 a year and favored by Huxman) ; a tax on oil, natural gas and other minerals and on lubricating oil ; cigars ; manufac- tured tobacco, soft drinks, checks, cosmetics, telephone company re- ceipts, etc. Missouri With Gov. Lloyd C. Stark and T. J. Pendergast, Kansas City and Missouri political boss, both backing an increase in the sales tax from one to two per cent, this appears the most likely source for this state's needed additional revenue. The present tax expires in June. With the proposed sales tax increase, Stark holds out hope that the property tax (rate of five cents on $100 valuation) can be reduced or possibly eliminated, which would benefit theatres some. Many merchants, particularly in outstate Missouri, have been refusing to col- lect the tax. Missouri needs: $3,000,000 for fur- nishing new buildings ; for additional care of eleemosynary patients, and for increases at penal institutions ; $6,000.- increases at penal institutions. This is above the biennium budget of $29,356,316 for 1937-38, which was three times the total annual general revenue of the state prior to 1933. Of the $46,000,000 expected to be col- lected on the present tax basis, $15,- 000.000 will go to schools. Exhibitors here do not approve the sales tax, but regard it as the lesser of two evils. Writes Film History A series of articles on "The First Movies" has been start- ed in the New York Evening Journal by Frank Lee Dono- ghue. The first discussed the photographic experi- ments made by Edward Muy- bridge to demonstrate to Gov- ernor Leland Stanford of California that all four of a horse's feet leave the ground when he is galloping. Para. $4,500,000 Quarter Net Seen (Continued from page 1) swelled considerably by the year-end dividends voted by its theatre operat- ing subsidiaries and affiliates, no con- firmation of the report could be ob- tained from financial sources identified with the company. Net for the third quarter, however, was $2,013,764 and it has been generally anticipated within Paramount that this figure would be topped considerably by the net for the final quarter. If the downtown reports are borne out, the company's 1936 earnings would approximate $6,500,000, despite a second quarter loss of $476,000. Wall St. still expects dividend ac- tion on the common in the near fu- ture. The company's second preferred is still in arrears for 1936. Para. Officials on Way Back John Hicks, Jr., George Weltner and M. A. Schlesinger will arrive to- day from the Paramount production conference on the coast. J. J. Unger and Milton Kusell are en route by plane, but will stop over at Dallas. John C. Graham will stop over in Kansas City for two days. Matilda Kass left yesterday and will arrive here Friday. Albert Deane and Charles Gartner leave the coast today and are due in Saturday. Vincent Trotta will stop in Cleveland on his way here. Barney Balaban and Stanton Griffis will leave Hollywood by train Friday, arriving in New York Monday. Among the theatre partners en route to their headquarters are Frank Walker, Harry David, Martin Mullin, Sam Pinanski, R. B. Wilby and Harry RKO Men Leave for Sales Conference E. L. McEvoy, eastern district man- ager for RKO Radio ; Harry Michal- son, short subject sales manager, and Nat Levy, Detroit branch manager, left here yesterday for a series of sales conferences which will include all ex- change centers in the eastern district. During the next two weeks the trio will hold conferences in Albany, Buf- falo, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Washington. Bernhard Holds 2 Meets Joseph Behnhard. general manager of the W arner theatres, met with the Cleveland zone managers yesterday and is holding a similar meeting today in Albany. He is accompanied by Harry Goldberg. Wide Shift in Federal Setup Is Called for (Continued from page 1) Washington saw the Federal Commu- nications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission assigned to the Dept. of Commerce, and the Office of Education transferred from the Inter- ior Dept. to the new Dept. of Social Welfare. Concentration of all informational and propaganda services in the Dept. of Social Welfare also is seen prob- able and would be in line with the President's desire to strip the depart- ments and independent agencies of their present publicity services which not infrequently conflict with one an- other. In all probability, this would involve the concentration of all the Government's film activities, possible in the transferred office of education. Boston Union Drops Fight on Long Reels Boston, Jan. 12. — Operators' Local No. 182 has decided to give up the fight against the 2,000-foot reels which have been adopted by the industry. President Thad C. Barrows said : "Although we are the last city in the United States to agree to this change, we still feel that after four months of splitting the so-called 2,000-foot reels, we have done our share to discourage this unnecessary change." If s Now "Fair Warning" Hollywood, Jan. 12. — Title of the picture formerly designated by 20th Century-Fox as "Death in Paradise Canyon" has been changed to "Fair Warning." THEATRE ACCOUNTING by WILLIAM F. MORRIS Tells all the facts about your business each week. • Payroll data for Social Security Taxes. • Profit at a glance — Daily or Weekly. • All expenses deducted — In- cluding Rent, Taxes and Depreciation. • Complete record of ad- vance bookings. • Itemized Schedule of All Assets and Equipment with Table of Depreciation Rates. • Does not require a book- keeper to handle it. $3 ENOUGH FOR A FULL YEAR'S BOOKKEEPING QUIGLEY BOOKSHOP ROCKEFELLER CENTER NEW YORK MOTION PICTURI DAILY Wednesday, January 13, 1937 Academy Asks Sound Award Nominations Hollywood, Jan. 12. — All studio sound directors have been requested to submit a nomination for the Academy award for achievement in sound re- cording. This year's rules, which are the same as have been in effect for the past two years, provide that each stu- dio sound department may nominate one production for consideration for the award. These nominations will then be voted upon by the entire Aca- demy membership during the regular voting to select the one production to receive the award. Sam Marx to Produce One or 2 for Goldwyn Sam Marx, literary assistant to Samuel Goldwyn, will produce one or two pictures for Goldwyn, he stated yesterday following his arrival from the coast to spend 10 days interview- ing writers and a number of other people. He will also look at some of the current plays. No definite time has been set when Marx will take over the role as pro- ducer. While here he is getting ac- quainted with William W. Hawkins, Jr., of the Goldwyn editorial force. New Enterprises The following film and theatre com- panies have been incorporated : At Albany: Syracuse Avon, Inc., Syracuse, ex- hibition, by George E. Smith, Albert G. Larkin, Robert W. Case. Holman Dist. Co., Inc., New York, by Cornelius B. Chapman, Gertrude Israel and Sadye Lader. Capital, 100 shares, no par value. Ardmore Pictures Corp., New York, by Alfred S. Krellberg, Norman Lazarus, Helen Winkler. Magnet Pictures, Inc., New York, by Melvin Hirsh, George Elkin, Har- old A. Lerman. Austro-American Pictures Corp., New York, by A. Townsend Kaplan, Samuel Kaplan, Max Zipperman. Cinelux Corp., New York, film busi- ness, by David L. DeZorrtt, Herman Bros., Sidney Spiegel. Universal Reels, Inc., Queens, N. Y., film reels and accessories, by Esther Kushnir, Arnold L. Smernoff, Leonard Shapiro. Royal Film Exchanges, Inc., New York, by Samuel L. Cohen, Irving Klein, Irving B-J Levine. Bar-Rit Amusement Corp., Brook- lyn, theatres, by Jerome Adler, Har- old Raymond, Leonard Raymond Rome Theatrical Enterprises, Brooklyn, exhibition, by Philip Lazer- off, Rose Greenberg and Gertrude Kantrowitz. American Atlantic, Inc., New York, exhibition, by Casserell Greenberg, Eleanor Brook and Martha Harris. Ace Pictures Corp., New York, dis- tribution, by Samuel L. Cohen, Irving Klein and Irving B-J Levine. Inwood Theatres Corp., New York, exhibition, by Jacob Leff, Louis W. Rosenberg and Philip Smith. Set "Waltz" Showing Washington, Jan. 12. — The White House Correspondents' Ass'n will sponsor a showing here Jan. 22 of "Champagne Waltz," Paramount Sil- ver Jubilee production. Adolph Zukor will come on from Hollywood for the opening. Social Injustice Play Well Acted, but Drama Is Spotty (Continued and by this time well nigh an un- employable, is bitter and morose, also completely licked by his circumstances. Kathryn Grill, his wife, cleans and washes and draws her strength from the presence around her of her family. There are two boys. Mel- bourne Ford works in Joseph Green- wald's sweatshop. James McCallion goes to school, shines shoes and makes as much as 35 cents a day. Once a boyish admirer of his father, now he takes cover with his disappointment in open resentment. Morbid Plot Young Ford's heart falters. Mc- Callion assumes his post in the shop, Ford is returned from the county clinic still perilously ill and Bell, by this time, has toured the relief agen- cies demanding and begging aid for his dying son. The epitome of his de- nunciation of a system strapped by red tape, lack of heart, but also by over- crowded wards and worn-weary doc- tors, comes when Bell frantically and bitterly urges upon McCallion the need and the power of the dollar, no matter through what contrivings it is obtained. Shocked earlier by his father's prayer that the sick boy die, this other brother determines to save him, embarks on a juvenile crime wave with two cronies. They steal a policeman's service revolver, raid Greenwald's shop. There, enraged be- cause the haul is a paltry $8 and find- ing no more, the inflamed passions of the three boys rise in an uncontrollable excitement. McCallion, the gun in hand, lets it go and in a stream of fire mows down the victim. The police ar- rive at the close to take McCallion from page 1 ) away, a confessed murderer as his mother weeps, his father rants the fur- ther while the boy himself screams the police, here the symbol of all law, order and society, to hell. The cast, led well in the advance by the assorted boys and girls, is excel- lent, McCallion and Robert Mayors, as Fotzo, standing out in impressive performances. The stagecraft is dra matic on its own and the play has power. It has power here and there, but in no sustained tempo. It ebbs and it flows from scene to scene and from act to act with results that be- come mixed. A long play, in 10 scenes and three acts, it takes a tiresome turn before finishing its say and that, if you probe it only a bit, indicates something failed completely to hold together. Laundering Needed Reminiscent of it, this is by no means another "Dead End." It is by no means suitable for Hollywood with its dirty street corner talk and its ending in juvenile madness. Yet, readjustments can be made if some producer is of the mind. Too much of the social preachment, however, is bred in the bone to clear this as pop- ular film entertainment. Martin Johnsons Injured Los Angeles, Jan. 12. — Martin Johnson and Mrs. Johnson were in- jured today in the crash of a Western Air Express plane near Newhall, Cal. The seriousness of the couple's in- juries had not been learned at a late hour tonight. Overseas Previews « Gypsy" ( Warner-British) London, Dec. 31. — Roland Young is the American value in this pro- duction of the Warner studio at Teddington. He characterizes admirably a rich middle-aged bachelor upon whom, in his London flat, descends a human tornado in the shape of Hassing, a gypsy dancer who is pursu- ing a lion tamer whom she loves and who has left Hungary with a circus bound for England. Chili Bouchier is the gypsy. The story idea is good, and there is humor in the situation of the gypsy girl, in an ultra-correct English country home, behaving as if she was in her ancestral caravan. A good comedy study of a butler from Frederick Burtwell is a feature. The conclusion is popular ; the gypsy finds her lion tamer is married and remains with her Englishman. The weakness is in very obvious crudities of presentation and acting. Miss Bouchier shouts most of her lines and the foreign accents of other players are certainly accented. Roy William Neil directed from the Lady Eleanor novel, "Tzigane," which presented considerably greater entertainment values than have got over. It is not for big-city audiences. Running time, 75 minutes. "G." Allan "The Plainsman," last night's preview at the Paramount, was reviewed from the coast by wire on Nov. 23. "Black Legion," scheduled to open at the Strand on Saturday, was reviewed on Dec. 30. "Hideaway Girl," previewed by zuire from Hollywood on Nov. 10, is now being shown at the Rialto. "Camille," Friday morning's opener at the Capitol, was reviewed on Dec. 14 by wire from Hollywood. "One in a Million" at the Roxy, "Great Guy" at the Criterion and "Beloved Enemy" at the Rivoli are holdovers. Short Subjects "I Hate War" (Kinotrade) A sharply worded and graphically pictured indictment of war in general and the conflicts which have arisen through the engendering of a false pa- triotism by modern dictators, this three-reeler concentrates most of its attention, for purposes of timely inter- est, on the current revolution in Spain, and its effect on the civilian popula- tion. Actually it is a compilation of old and new material from newsreels, travel subjects and the like. The film in reality is a series of pictures con- trasting peace and war, from the World War to the Spanish conflict, and not forgetting Ethiopia and Mus- solini, which form a background to the vigorous denunciation of armed con- flict as rendered with considerable vigor by Tom Terris. It concludes with a flag-waving touch as Presi- dent Roosevelt, from one of whose utterances the title was taken, is pic- tured as the world's leader in a move for peace. Reviewed without production code seal. Running time, 24 minutes. "A." "Ay Tank Ay Go" {Columbia) El Brendel in a hillbilly setting. The usual feuding, some exciting chase scenes, Brendel's love affairs and ec- centricities, provide passable amuse- ment. Production Code Seal No. 2,- 651. Running time, 16^ mins. "G." Savannah Cuts Tax Which Caused Fight Savannah, Ga., Jan. 12. — The City Council last night in special session approved for immediate effect an or- dinance reducing the local tax on admissions to two per cent of each ticket, card, token, pass or any other form of admission," and fixing a mini- mum levy of one cent on each admis- sion. The new law replaces a 10 per cent gross receipts tax recently en- acted, which was placed in effect Jan. 1, and which met with vigorous oppo- sition. Harry M. Dodd, local manager for the Lucas circuit, immediately set new price scales for five downtown houses. The new tax is based on an ascending scale, with the payment of 10 cents on a $5 ticket as the maxi- mum. The tax will increase one cent with each 50 cents of admission, start- ing from two cents on tickets from 51 cents to $1. Denver Houses Not Shut Denver, Jan. 12. — Because the peak of most epidemics is passed before their severity is noted, the Board of Health has decided against closing theatres. Schools were kept closed an extra week at the end of the usual Christmas vacation because of the flu. Fighting Lottery Bill Boston, Jan. 12. — The Independent Exhibitors, Inc., is opposing a bill in- troduced in the New Hampshire legislature to establish a state lottery. A similar bill is awaiting action in Massachusetts and is being fought both by the M.P.T.O. and Allied. The Leading Motto Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, Intelligent the In in All Branches VOL. 41. NO. 11 NEW YORK, THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 1937 TEN CENTS Loew Refusal To Drop Score Charge Is Hit MPTOA Lichtman Note Is Sharply Worded Loew's refusal to abandon the sep- arate score charge in formulating its trade practice policy in connection with the M.P.T.O.A. program was scored by Ed Kuykendall, president of the exhibitor organization, in a letter to Al Lichtman, vice-president of Loew's, which was released here yesterday. "You make no effort to justify the score charge," Kuykendall writes in the course of his comment on the Loew's trade practice statement, "ex- cept to infer that you consider it just a part of the film rental. If that is true, why should there be deception and trickery practiced on the exhibitor in quoting him prices for Metro pic- tures? Why not be open and above- board in your dealings with exhibi- tors? Give them a forthright quota- tion of prices and quit trying to fool anybody as to how much the picture will actually cost? . . . Why should a great company like Metro continue a petty racket of this sort if it is just a part of the film rental, any- how? Isn't it about time the motion {Continued on page 4) Johnson Succumbs To Crash Injuries Los Angeles, Jan. 13. — Martin Johnson, producer of animal and travel films, big game hunter and ex- plorer, died today at the Good Samar- itan Hospital of injuries he suffered in an airplane crash near here yester- day, Mrs. Johnson was severely in- jured. Martin Johnson was born in Rock- ford, 111., in 1884. He was raised in Independence, Kan. He began his colorful career as a film producer in 1906 while on a South Seas cruise with Jack London in the Famous (Continued from page 11) U. A. Sets Deal for New Cartoon Series A deal has been closed by United Artists for distribution of a new car toon series in Technicolor to be based on the Percy L. Crosby comic strip character "Skippy." There are to be nine releases annually, beginning with United Artists' 1937-'38 release sched ule, George J. Schaefer, vice-presi dent, said yesterday. Heading the new cartoon production (Continued from page 11) Oppose Plea To Intervene In RKO Plan Bondy to Hear Petition Of Kresel Group Federal Judge Alfred C. Coxe yes- terday referred a petition for leave to intervene in the RKO reorganization proceedings, which was brought by Isidor J. Kresel on behalf of an Or- pheum Circuit preferred stockholders' protective committee, to Federal Judge William Bondy for argument. The petition was opposed by White & Case, attorneys for an RKO gen- eral creditors' committee, and indica- tions are that other factions in the RKO reorganization proceedings will join in the opposition when the mo- tion is argued before Judge Bondy, probably this morning. The Orpheum Circuit preferred stockholders' committee is comprised of Martin Beck, Harry Borns, Asher Levy, Julian Livingston and Alex Young, Jr., and claims to represent 16,210 shares of the 62,551 shares of Orpheum preferred outstanding. They charge RKO with "waste and dissipa- tion" of Orpheum assets which, they (Continued on page 13) Chicago McVickers To Comet, B&K Unit Chicago, Jan. 13. — Authorization for the leasing of the McVickers, de luxe Loop house which has been closed for many months, to Comet Amusement Co., a B. & K. subsidiary headed by John Balaban, was issued (Continued on page 11) Veterans Too Old Hollywood, Jan. 13. — Doug- las MacLean has arranged through the Los Angeles American Legion, for the use of a group of members of the Sons of the American Legion, a junior organization, to be used in "23 Vi Hours Leave." It was stated that the senior legionnaires are too old for the scenes, as the locale of the story is a World War training camp. Chance Games Legal Problem In 24 States Chance games of various sorts, af- ter six years of employment in the- atres, are today involved in legal com- plications in half of the states in the country, it is revealed in a study pub- lished in Motion Picture Herald, out today. Games have been involved in some fashion in 24 states. Bank Night is the leader in the field, estimated to be in use in 6,000 theatres (Continued on page 13) Taxes Took 46-65% Of Highest Salaries The salaries for 1935 of the higher paid personalities of the screen, which were heavily publicized, were subject to state and Federal taxation ranging from 46 to as high as 65 per cent of income, according to a study of the (Continued on page 11) B 'way Theatre Strikes New Low in Offensive Endeavor By PLAYBOY Even the most tolerant of the the- atre's apologists must have cringed in their seats, their faces flushed with hot chagrin and shame at the Mans- field last night. There, the New York season touched its lowest level with a play by Samuel Shipman and Beth Brown called "Behind Red Lights." It was old stuff, mauled and battered in the writing, playing off cheap, sen- sational and tawdry situations having to do with prostitution and presuming to furnish an excuse for its production through the leavening influence of the public prosecutor who eventually smashes the "ring" and the vice queen who turns girl scout. It pursued its way by going practically all the way, having only the timidity not to enter the bedroom. One of these minutes, we suspect, news that this inexcusable effort is striding the boards may reach the of- fice of the license commissioner where matters of this kind usually are noted and action taken. There were players, of course, and several of them are quite well known. Lest any doubt might now or hereafter be expressed over this department's claim to a considerate heart, it shall keep their names nameless and hope for them that last evening's noisome endeavor will soon be forgotten. Court Ruling Clears Way on 20th-Fox Buy Schenck, Zanuck, Goetz May Get Chase Stock With the refusal of the Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco yesterday to reopen the Tally and C o r b a r Corp. bankruptcy action against Fox West Coast, the way may be cleared for the acquisition of the Chase National Bank's holdings in 20th Century-Fox by common stockholders, of whom Joseph M. Schenck, Darryl F. Zanuck and Wil- liam Goetz are among the largest. The negotiations have been under way in various stages for well over a year, but have been kept in the back- ground largely in veiw of the inability to proceed further while the F. W. C. bankruptcy situation continued tan- gled in the courts. In the meantime, it was considered yesterday of interest, if outwardly lacking in significance, that Chase Bank stockholders were advised that no change in the bank's holdings in both 20th Century-Fox and National Theatres had been made last year ex- cept for the exercise of options on stock granted creditors of General Theatres Equipment, Corp. Winthrop W. Aldrich, chairman of the board, made the report. The bank's film holdings are now on a paying basis, Aldrich stated. Chase continues to hold 58 per cent (Continued on page 4) G. B. to Stay with 20th-Fox for Time G. B. will continue to distribute through 20th Century-Fox exchanges for the time being, it was learned yes- terday following a meeting between Sidney R. Kent, president of 20th Century-Fox, and Arthur Lee, Amer- ican head for G. B. At the meeting an agreement was reached whereby (Continued on page 11) Stand on "B" Films Is Up to Exhibitors Holllywood, Jan. 13. — Exhibitor reactions will determine the stand of major studios on "B" product, an in- quiry shows. At present studio pol- icies vary, although the subject is be- ing closely studied as a result of Para- mount's announced stand in favor of cutting this type of picture by 25 per (Continued on page 13) Radio News — Page 14 MOTION PICTURI DAILY Thursday, January 14, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 January 14, 1937 No. 11 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Pub- lishing Company, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Avenue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copy- righted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc. Address all correspondence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publica- tions, Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, Teatro Al Dia, International Motion Picture Almanac and Fame: The Box Office Check-Up. Hollywood Bureau: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Streets, Boone Mancall, Manager; Chicago Bureau: 624 South Michigan Avenue, C. B. O'Neill, Man- ager; London Bureau: 4 Golden Square, London W 1, Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable Address "Quigpubco, London"; Berlin Bureau: Stuelerstrasse 2, Berlin W 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative; Paris Bureau: 29, Rue Marsoulan, Pierre Autre, Representative; Rome Bureau: Viale Gorizia, Vittorio Malpassuti, Representative; Aus- tralian Bureau: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins Street, Melbourne, Cliff Holt, Representative; Mexico City Bureau: Apar- tado 269, James Lockhart, Representative; Budapest Bureau: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest, II, Endre Hevesi, Representative; Tokyo Bureau: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken, H. Tominaga, Representative; Prague Bureau: Uhelny trh 2. Prague 1, Harry Knopf, Rep- resentative; Shanghai Bureau: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Building. 142 Museum Road. /. P. Koehler, Representative; Rio de Janiero Bureau: Caixa Postal 3358, A. Weissman, Representative; Buenos Aires Bureau: Corrientes 2495, N. Bruski, Representative; Montevideo Bureau: P. O. Box 664, Paul Bodo, Representative; Moscow Bureau: Petrovski Per 8, Beatrice Stem, Representa- tive; Vienna j Bureau: Neustiftgasse, 55, Vienna VII, Hans Lorant, Representative; Amsterdam Bureau: Zuider Amstellaan 5. Philip de Schaap, Representative; Helsing- fors Bureau: Fredriksgatan 19 C, Charlotte Laszlo, Representative; Warsaw Bureau: Sienna 32, R. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 1 0 cents. Seven of Television List Complete — Conn Seven of Television's 28 pictures for the current season have been com- pleted and another six will be finished by the end of next month, Maurice Conn stated yesterday. Conn will pro- duce 20, the balance to be made by Edward and Victor Halperin. Conn will leave by plane Saturday for Hollywood to start production on "Sing While You're Able" with Pinky Tomlin and Toby Wing. He will re- turn about March 15 to work on the 1937-38 lineup. "With Love and Kisses," with Tomlin and Miss Wing, opened yesterday at the Orpheum, Los Angeles, and will open tomorrow at the Downtown, Detroit, and Fox, Brooklyn. Conn has taken over the old Monogram studios. "Ecstacy" Ruling Soon Albany, Tan. 13. — Whether the State Dept. of Education's film censors were justified in banning "Ecstacy" from New York state will be decided within 20 days by the Appellate Divi- sion of the Supreme Court, 3rd Dept. Mr. Cullman Discusses Live and Dead Issues By MARTIN QUIGLEY MR. HOWARD S. CULLMAN, trustee of the Roxy Theatre, New York City, invites attention to an address he delivered last week in a motion picture course at New York University. Although at times we have despaired of satisfying Mr. Cullman's robust appetite for public attention, this is one occasion when, despite his only incidental connection with the motion picture business, it will be a pleasure to accommodate. It may be, relative to the address with which we are here concerned, that we should point our remarks to Mr. Cullman's ghost-writer because, admittedly, it is difficult to conceive of a person of Mr. Cullman's present connection and previous association taking of his own initiative the attitude assumed in the lecture which bears the significant title, ' Propaganda or Profits." But it seems undeniable that on the one occasion of delivering it at least the manuscript must have been read by the accredited author. So it seems reasonable to conclude that Mr. Cullman accepts responsibility for it. That which challenges attention in Mr. Cullman's address is by no means novel or original. It is the familiar patter enunciated vociferously at the slightest provocation by the prophets of the New Social Order. The striking thing is to find Mr. Cullman, who might be mistaken as a representative executive of the motion picture industry, carrying this banner. MR. CULLMAN'S address pecks away assiduously, behind a smoke- screen of sociological terms and the chatter of Union Square, at several fundamental policies of the American motion picture industry. He speaks of "social awareness" as being a distinguishing mark of our times, admitting of general discussion of various sociological, economic and political questions. He then rises to lament that the motion picture is not fulfilling the mission of a propagandist in the espousal of causes arising out of these questions. Here he displays an ignorance on a point which is probably well understood by any usher in the theatre temporarily under his direction ; namely, that the function of the thea- trical motion picture is entertainment — not propaganda. Superciliously Mr. Cullman states that perhaps some explanation of the errant policy of the industry may be found in an examination of the Production Code of the Motion Picture Producers and Dis- tributors of America, Inc. He says that there should be reasonable ex- pectation that this code would reveal the producers' attitude toward "the important questions of the day." And what does he find ? "Upon careful scrutiny of this interesting manifesto," he says, "we find that it has little or no relation to the special problems of our age, being concerned entirely with our moral rather than our social attitudes. "Thus it embraces such topics as Crimes Against the Law, Sex, Vul- garity, Obscenity, Dances, Profanity, Costume, Religion, National Feel- ings, Titles, and Repellant Subjects. . .• . This document therefore leads us to believe that the movies are concerned with protecting our sensibili- ties rather than stirring our social conscience." MR. CULLMAN should perhaps be congratulated on his perception in so quickly discovering that the Production Code is not a platform of political, social and economic policies. Having discovered this, it is unfortunate that his quest did not lead him to learn also that the code as an industry policy is not concerned mainly in protecting the public's "sensibilities" unless by that word persons in The New Social Order mean what old-fashioned people still refer to as Lawful Conduct, Morality and Decency. With evident contempt of what the Production Code stands for, Mr. Cullman continues : "Thus we are safeguarded from detailed views of brutal killings and from complete nudity or lecherous notice thereof by characters on the screen. Our eyes will be spared scenes showing a disrespectful treat- ment of the Flag, the illegal use of drugs and seduction as an attractive pastime. Illicit amours will never be treated as comic themes nor will custard pies be thrown at ministers of the clergy. We get no detailed pointers on the technique of safecracking, the branding of animals, surgical operations, arson or white slavery. "As we peruse the detailed prohibitions of the Hays manifesto, it is distressing to realize that in spite of all these precautions such phenomena (Continued on page 4) Chicago Film Board Elects Allan Usher Chicago, Jan. 13. — Allan Usher, manager of the Paramount exchange here, today was elected president of the Chicago Film Board. He succeeds Henry Herbel of Universal, who had served as president during the past four years. Other officers elected are : Tom Gil Ham of Warners, vice-president ; Emma Abplanalp, secretary-treasurer and Clyde Eckhardt, chairman of the board of directors. The directorate also includes Herbel and Irving Man del of Republic. A party for Herbel is being planned for Jan. 22 with all district, branch office and sales managers, salesmen and exchange bookers attending. Konnis Heads Salesmen's Club Boston, Jan. 13. — Herman Konnis Universal salesman has been elected the first president of the M. P. Sales men's Club. Sam Seletzky of Republic and Harry Rosenblatt of M-G-M were elected secretary and treasurer. A meeting has been called to elect board of directors. « Beloved Enemy" at $24,000 2nd Week "Beloved Enemy" ended its second week at the Rivoli with $24,000 and indications are that the third and final week will finish tomorrow night with about $15,000. "Lloyds of London," for the last four days of its run at the Astor, gar nered $5,200. The picture opens this morning at the Music Hall. The Paramount grossed approximately $20,000 on the third week of "College Holiday." Yesterday "The Plains- man" started an indefinite run there. "Great Guy" is expected to do $20, 000 in the second week at the Cri terion. The picture has been booked for a third week and may be held a fourth provided Grand National and Harry Charnas get together on terms Warner Opening 15th Capital House Today Washington, Jan. 13. — The fif- teenth Warner theatre in Washington, the Sheridan, on Georgia Ave., will be opened tomorrow. The Sheridan is the third new house to be built in the expansion an- nounced a year ago by general zone manager John J. Payette. The Penn and Uptown are already in operation, and another, the Calvert, is nearing completion. Plan Gluckman Drive Republic's New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia exchanges will cele brate Herman Gluckman's 20th anni versary in the industry during Febru ary and March. A special sales drive will be conducted by the three branches. There will be eight fea tures and a Dick Tracy serial re leased during the drive months. Gluck- man now is on the coast visiting the Republic studios and will return in three weeks. He entered the film busi- ness with the formation of Capital Film Exchange on Feb. 17, 1917. Hyman at Universal Hollywood, Jan. 13. — Herbert H. Hyman has joined Universal and is handling exploitation and tieups at the studio. "Sorry.... \\V ' N~*=y\\ the manager cant be disturbed -he's in an important MEETING! ...Theyre making plans now to blast the town wide open on Jan, 30th with WARNER BROS. BLACK LEGION MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, January 14, 1937 Court Ruling Clears Way on 20th-Fox Buy (.Continued from page 1) of National Theatres and 42 per cent of 20th Century-Fox and is now re- ceiving income from the theatre hold- ing company. The bank, explained Aldrich fur- ther, holds 660,000 shares of pre- ferred and 140,000 shares of 20th Cen- tury-Fox common and 1,044,000 shares of National Theatres as well as 181,- 000 shares of General Theatres, the market value of which was described as above the principal amount of loans made to these companies and their predecessors. Fox Case Adjourned; Resumes February 17 Atlantic City, Jan. 13. — Examina- tions of witnesses in the William Fox $9,535,000 bankruptcy, under way here at intervals since July 15 before Fed- eral Referee Robert E. Steedle, were adjourned today until 10 A. M., Feb. 17. Referee Steedle expressed the hope that in the meantime some of the related Fox matters in various other courts will be settled. Herbert Leitsteen, Fox family book- keeper, was on the stand today. Like Fox, yesterday, he professed inability to remember details of the Fox fi- nancing of sound film patent rights and experiments in the years from 1926 to 1930. Such patent rights com- prised a large share of the wealth which Fox said he retained after as- sertedly giving All-Continent Corp. to his wife and daughters as a more than $7,000,000 trust, Jan. 28, 1931. Cred- itors lawyers have claimed that these rights did not belong to Fox, but to his former corporations and that the trust gift to members of his family left him insolvent. Cantor in Mantin Suit Los Angeles, Jan. 13. — Eddie Can- tor today was drawn into the million- dollar song theft suit of Leo Mantin and his wife against Paramount when Judge Yankwich ordered the comedian to appear and testify for the plaintiff. Cantor's part in the case centers around his alleged statement that there was definite similarity between Mantin's "Si, Si, Senorita of Spain" and Paramount's "One Hour with You." Cantor assertedly used the latter song on one of his radio pro- grams and subsequently sent a letter to Mantin expressing his appreciation. Reopen Attempt Denied San Francisco, Jan. 13. — The Tally & Corbar Corp's. attempt to re-open the Fox W est Coast bankruptcy case failed today when the Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a decision of the lower court that the suing corpora- tion had not shown sufficient grounds ta justify reopening. The decision was rendered after a five weeks' re- view by U. S. Circuit Judges Curtis D. Wilbur, Francis A. H. Garrett and Bert E. Haney. Fuller Case Postponed New Orleans, Jan. 13. — The ab- sence of George Fuller has resulted Mr. Cullman Discusses Live and Dead Issues (Continued from Page 2) as crime and disrespect for the American Home still persist in our na- tional life. "Certainly, we cannot blame the movies for this," continues Mr. Cullman and, making plain where he stands, "unless we harbor the disloyal thought that the perpetual glorification of the properties pro- duces a sinister reaction. "Although there may be some doubt about the result we must at least admit that the movies are trying to make us respectable. This basic tenet, however, casts no light on the attitude of the films toward the vital issues of the day." ▼ PERHAPS it should be explained to Mr. Cullman that to a great many people the matter of respectability has not as yet become a dead issue. Then, proceeding in his address, as if to say that his previous remarks were all in fun, Air. Cullman declares : "However, as a matter of well established policy the screen avoids controversial topics." He deprecates this policy and attributes it to the "usual code of busi- ness expediency," perhaps being reminded at this point of the criticism occasioned by the character of some of the advertising used by the theatre under his direction. At another point he applies to the screen the language which the Kremlin philosophers use in their reference to Religion. He says, ". . . the movies stand convicted of being an analgesic to the social conscience and potential unrest of the masses." Apparently deploring that "such a procedure is not practicable in a society such as ours although it is the logical result of a planned economy without a profit motive," Mr. Cullman explains : "In Russia, where the screen is utilized as a means of proletarian education, the profit motive has been eliminated and the public is being schooled to regard the films as a source of education rather than simple entertainment. Thus workers' clubs and citizens' advisory committees in Russia participate in serious discussions with the makers of films, with a view to gaining a general understanding of the objectives of the producers and the regime they represent." ▼ ALTHOUGH we have noted published statements of Soviet film . leaders which declare that Soviet films are now being made for entertainment and not for propaganda, we shall not undertake to ques- tion Mr. Cullman's competency to interpret the current Russian film policy. We are not concerned here with what political, social and economic be- liefs Mr. Cullman as an individual may or may not entertain. We are not interested in his private opinion of the industry's policy of decency in entertainment. We do not challenge his right to mount the soapbox and campaign for the motion picture to become a propagandist for what- ever he believes will prove a betterment in the social and economic order. But we think that he may properly be reminded that his position as trustee of the Roxy theatre may be construed as involving a re- sponsibility also to the industry of which that theatre is a part. We insist that this latter responsibility is violated when in an open address and in subsequent publicity he sneers at the industry policy of decency in entertainment and charges, in effect, that the avoidance of propaganda and insistence upon the entertainment motive is a fraud. It is not out of such boring from within that the prestige and good- will of the motion picture and the industry can be maintained before the American public. in the adjournment to Jan. 20 of his suit against major distributors in which he charges conspiracy to de- prive him of product. Denies Biophone Motion U. S. District Judge Forman in New Jersey has handed down a decision de- nying a motion of Biophone Corp. for the setting aside of default decrees ob- tained by Western Electric in a pat- ent suit dating back to 1934. Dismisses Tuttle Suit Cincinnati, Jan. 13. — U. S. Dis- trict Judge Robert R. Nevin today dismissed the suit brought by Mar- garet Tuttle, author of "Kingdoms on Earth," against M-G-M. She charged "The Unguarded Hour" infringed on her copyright. Dismissal was without prejudice and by agreement of counsel. Set Henri Elman Month Chicago, Jan. 13. — Exhibitors here will honor Henri Elman of the Capi- tol Film Exchange during March, which will be designated Henri Elman Month. A banquet is planned as a further honor to Elman at the con- clusion of the drive. Loew Refusal To Drop Score Charge Is Hit (Continued from page 1) picture industry got away from such deception and petty rackets?" Kuykendall also hits at the failure of distribution companies to reply to the M.P.T.O.A. proposals earlier. Pointing out that the trade practice program was initiated nine months ago, he writes, "None of the distrib- utors saw fit to give the exhibitors a prompt and unqualified acceptance of the reasonable proposals made, nor has any distributor offered to go be- yond any of our recommendations, or offered any alternate proposals to solve the problems, complaints and griev- ances of exhibitors to which we called your attention." Kuykendall asks for clarification of Loew's policy on cancellation, which was stated by the distributor as an unrestricted 10 per cent right "wher- ever the exhibitor leases all of the product that is offered to him." Kuy- kendall inquires whether the word "product" is intended to include short subjects, newsreels and trailer, and whether an exhibitor would be obliged to buy all of those "offered" in order to enjoy the cancellation privilege. Lichtman Clarifies Lichtman advised Motion Picture Daily that features only were re- ferred to in the cancellation state- ment and that the word "product" ob- viously included them only. Kuykendall sets forth the opinion that problems arising from the desig- nation of preferred playing time can not be disposed of always by an ine- lastic distributor policy and that the merits of complaints should be left to the determination of local conciliation boards, which would also provide the remedies. He expresses himself as satisfied with Loew's stand on the remainder of the exhibitor program and calls them "a definite step forward towards a practical solution of our mutual prob- lems in trade practices." Kuykendall also states that further benefits and improvements ma}- be hoped for as a result of "future negotiations with Metro sales executives" in connection with the company's stand. Kuykendall declared earlier that he hoped to confer again with distribu- tion companies to obtain more liberal concessions than those announced. He is due to arrive here about Jan. 21. Schine Decentralizes Gloversville, N. Y., Jan. 13. — The Schine Theatrical Co., Inc., is decen- tralizing its advertising. The home of- fice advertising department and the house organ will be discontinued. The control of advertising budgets and general advertising and exploitation will be directed from the various dis- tricts. Youngclaus Gets House Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 13. — William Youngclaus has taken control of the Island at Grand Island, Neb., by ac- quiring 75 per cent of the outstanding $30,000 bond issue. Edward K. Allen, present operator, has a lease which expires Jan. 17. TASTES LIKE MORE! ""'■iiiMiimiffeliP' ii I1) "\ 4 HEAPING FULL WEEKS, CAPITOL, NY. \nd all around the nation it's a box-office sensation! Leo, you lovely Lion!) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, January 14, 1937 Condor Applies for Stock Registration Washington, Jan. 13. — Receipt of an application from Condor Pictures, Inc., New York, for registration of 999,999.81 shares of $1 par common stock was announced today by the Se- curities and Exchange Commission. The statement showed that 472,818 shares are to be offered publicly at $3.25 per share, 408,930 shares to be issued upon exercise of warrants now outstanding or to be issued, and 118,- 251.81 shares are now outstanding. The proceeds to the company from the sale of the stock are to be used for the production of films. B. E. Buckman & Co., of" Madison, Wis., was named as the underwriter, George A. Hirliman, Culver City, is president. Statements also have been received, the commission announced, from Gold Star Radio & Television Corp., Bos- ton, covering 99,795 shares of $5 par six per cent class A common to be of- fered at $6.25 per share, proceeds to be used for the erection and equipment of five radio stations, and from DeTrola Radio & Television Corp., Detroit, for 125,000 shares of $1 par value common stock, proceeds to be used for work- ing capital. Van Beuren Chairman A. J. Van Beuren will be chairman of the Condor board, it was learned yesterday following meetings here. George Hirliman, president, has re- turned to the coast. Frank Snell will be an executive in charge of the New York office. M. H. Hoffman will pro- duce a number of films to be decided upon later. Within the next day or so, Van Beuren will announce the date when the company will start functioning. The date is expected to be within the next 30 or 45 days. Borah Introduces Corporation Bill Washington, Jan. 13. — Senator Borah today introduced in the Senate a bill for licensing corporations en- gaged in interstate commerce. The aim is to strengthen the anti-trust laws and control monopoly. Under the terms of the bill all corporations doing interstate business would be licensed except banks, com- mon carriers, broadcasting companies and newspapers. Licenses would be granted by the F.C.C. FWC Plans 1,000-Seater Los Angeles, Jan. 13. — Tentative plans for a new 1,000-seat house on Long Beach Blvd. at South Gate have been approved by F.W.C. The theatre will be similar in construction to the Tower in Compton and will be built at an approximate cost of $125,000. Irish Film to Open "The Luck of the Irish," produced in Ireland, and starring Richard Hay- ward, will have its American premiere tomorrow at the 47th St. Theatre. Guaranteed Pictures is handling the American distribution of the film. Seeks Committee Post Kansas City, Jan. 13. — E. A. Briles, publisher and exhibitor of Staf- ford, Kan., and state representative, is being boosted for the important chair- manship of the Kansas House Ways and Means Committee. 4 Purely Personal ► HARRY GOLDBERG, director of Warner theatre advertising and publicity, is in Buffalo today holding "Black Legion" conferences. Tomor- row he will be in Pittsburgh. • Ed Roberts of 20th Century-Fox's advertising department has returned to the home office after a three-week trip by air to Dallas, Minneapolis and St. Paul. • Harry M. and Mrs. Weinberg, he's the Republic franchise holder in Omaha and Des Moines, sail for a Eu- ropean vacation today on the Aqui- tania. • Harry Michalson, E. L. McEvoy and Nat Levy, of the RKO eastern sales office, have left on a two-week trip to key spots in the eastern terri- tory. Clarence Budington Kelland, the author, has gone on a three-month va- cation trip. Meanwhile, several radio accounts are after his series of "Mark Tidd" stories. • Hal Horne plans to leave for the coast the end of the week and return early next week after conferring with Walter Wanger. • Stephen Pallos arrived yesterday from Kansas City. He will remain here for a few weeks before sailing for London. • John D. Clark will leave for Hollywood by plane Sunday. There is no time limit on his stay on the coast. • Borrah Minnevitch starts a per- sonal appearance with his rascals at the Roxy on Jan. 22. • Harriet Hoctor, ballerina, leaves for the coast today to begin work on "Stepping Toes." • Lillie Messinger. RKO eastern story editor, has left for studio confer- ences on the coast. • Sonja Henie returned to town to- day after giving an exhibition in Pittsburgh Saturday. • Robert Broder, attorney, leaves for a three weeks stay in Hollywood to- morrow. • Max son F. Judell is en route back to Hollywood after a series of con- ferences here on production matters. • Leon J. Rubinstein has formed Telescreen Trailer Service to market a specialized tvpe of trailer. • Monroe Greenthal has plans of taking a trip to the coast in three weeks. • Lynn Farnol will head for the coast today via the airlines. • Jack Bellman was down with the flu yesterday. • John Hay Whitney will remain on the coast for about three months. • Earl J. Hudson is in New York from Detroit. CC. PETTIJOHN is in Chicago * for a few days after attending funeral services for Mrs. Maurice McKenzie at Crown Point, Ind., on Tuesday. • Sumner Gamby, vice-president of National Theatres, will accompany Spyros Skouras, Ed Zabel, William T. Powers and Irving Barry to the circuit's key operating centers where meetings will be held with divisional operating heads. The party leaves by plane Sunday on the first lap of the two-week trip. • Howard Strickling hopes to re- turn to the coast in about two weeks. Louis B. Mayer may leave soon for Miami to confer with Nicholas M. Schenck. He may go to London, but this is indefinite at the moment. • William R. Ferguson is back from Detroit after visiting W. G. Bishop, local exploiteer, who is slow- ly recovering from pneumonia. War- ren Slee has been sent to Detroit to pinch hit for Bishop. • Eddie Carrier of the M-G-M ex- ploitation department has gone to Kan- sas City from Detroit to assist Claude Morris on campaigns for "Romeo and Juliet." • W. Ray Johnston has acquired two Jack London stories, "Queen of the Yukon" and "Wolf Call," for production by Monogram in the 1937- 38 ^.ason. • Bill Poll has been named press representative of the New Criterion by B. S. Moss and Harry L. Char- nas. He will continue to handle Alex Yokel's theatrical productions. • Ralph Rolan, vice-president of March of Time, will address the Chi- cago Scholastic Press Guild on Feb. 20. "Pictorial Journalism" is his topic. • Ben Kassoy, former advertising man, has joined Dennis Games in Philadelphia as publicity and exploi- tation head. • Lou Weinberg leaves for the coast tomorrow on a vacation trip and also to celebrate his 20th wedding anniver^- sary. • John Hoshor, who says he has financed stage productions, has opened an office here to engage in film finan- cing. • Olga Moore's original story, "You Can't Beat Love," has been purchased by RKO. • Fred Meyers will leave tomorrow for Rochester to spend the weekend looking over the RKO theatres. • Harry Gold has left for Buffalo on a short U. A. business trip. • Hattie Helborn will leave tomor- row for an Atlantic City vacation. • Edward Schnitzer has gone to Washington for a short trip. • H. J. Yates leaves for the coast today on a visit to the Republic studio. CEA Council Adopts Moyne Report Study By BRUCE ALLAN London, Jan. 13. — The Cinemoto- graph Exhibitors' Ass'n Council has adopted the general purposes com- mittee's statement on the Moyne re- port, including the proposal for an arbitration board. It also comments on all details of the report for sub- mission to the Board of Trade. It is possible that further confer- ences with the Kinematograph Rent- ers' Society will be held before the report goes to the Board of Trade. G. N. Takes Title to New Studio on Apr. 1 Hollywood, Jan. 13. — Educational Studios will become Grand National Studios on April 1 when the leasing company's contract becomes effective. New executive offices will be erected immediately to house production, scenario, legal, advertising and pub- licity staffs as well as the western sales representatives. Further expansion plans are await- ing the arrival of Edward L. Alper- son. Nat Wolf Is Honored Cleveland, Jan. 13. — Nat Wolf, Warner theatres division manager in this zone, was honored last night at a testimonial dinner by 40 managers of Warner houses in Ohio and Kentucky. The dinner, held in the Carter Hotel, commemorated Wolf's fifth anniver- sary in Cleveland. Attending from the home office were Joseph Bern- hard, Warner theatre head; Harry Goldberg and Stewart McDonald. DeCavaignac Married Jean G. DeCavaignac, French film producer, and Mrs. Virginia G. Don- nelly, a widow, were married yester- day in the chapel of St. Patrick's Cathedral by Rev. Thomas L. Gra- ham. Wall Street Marked Losses on Board Net High Low Close Change Columbia 3734 36^ 3734 + 54 Columbia, pfd. . . 45 45 45 - % 5J4 5 5 -54 Consolidated, pfd. 1854 1754 1754 -VA Eastman Kodak . 172 170 170 -2A Eastman, pfd. . . . 162 162 162 - Vz Gen. T. Equip. . . 3V/S 3134 31 K + A Loew's, Inc 697/s 68?4 6954 Paramount 2434 24J4 24J4 -y* Paramount 1 pfd. . 171 J4 17154 17154 -234 Paramount 2 pfd. 2234 217/6 2254 - 54 Pathe Film 9% 934 9% -54 RKO 954 854 - 54 20th Century -Fox wa 3414 3434 - 34 20th Century, pfd. 43 4234 4234 -54 Universal, pfd. .. 102 102 102 Warner Bros. . . . 1754 16^ 1674 - 'A Technicolor Up on Curb Net High Low Close Change Grand National . . 334 354 354 Sentry Safety 54 54 54 -% Sonotone 2 2 2 + 54 Technicolor 2134 2134 2134 + 54 4J4 454 RKO Bonds Reach New High Net High Low Close Change Ix>ew's 354s '46. . . . 10034 10054 10034 + 54 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 10034 10031 10034 —54 RKO 6s '41 126 124 12554 +234 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 9954 99 9954 +% (Quotations at close of Jan. 13) IME CENTURY! POUR Of IIEIT PROPERTIES IN All § ERUI HISTORY! READY MADE ANDIENCEI OF NIUIONI! FOR IIRfT RUNf MR Ml RUNf V only uNnrmfu «hhd BRING YOU fUCH f HOW MANS HIP IN SERIALS \ 13 smashing, shock-shivering, authentic epi- sodes based on W. R. Burnett's famous novel, "Saint Johnson" with Johnny Mack Brown, champ serial hero! The legendary outlaws, killer-sheriffs, and colorful bandits of the old West blaze into life before your eyes in a streak of hair-trigger action and sus- tained suspense that will leave you breath- less! A six-shooter Western with a Big Bertha B-A-N- FLASH GORDON made such a pot-full of money for exhibitors that every theatre and circuit who played Jt is clamoring for morel That's why we now give you . . . Million people read this famous King Feature adventure strip by Alex Raymond in the daily and Sunday newspapers! The largest, ready-made audience in the world is waiting for it! Cash in with these 15 nerve- tingling episodes of a new Flash Gordon serial that's even" better, more exciting and more thrill-thronged than the last one! I il ■ ■ ■ II 6 war The most startling and unusual jungle story that ever thrilled from the screen! Another King Feature ad- venture strip with a following of millions! Lyman Young's famous newspaper cartoon hero in 12 fear- fraught, breathless episodes among the strangest savages — man and beast — the world has ever known ! MRK^ ^MFm CCMMIE A€ n iK Mfjnyrc ED AMI f HI NEW UMVERfJtl f HI f IME-HOHOItED ^RE^AY^&R^ 4M* THE ABE I HE RUY-llfiMIM OF THE INDUSTRY? Thursday, January 14, 1937 MOTIQN PICTURE DAILY G. B. to Stay with 20th-Fox for Time (Continued from page 1) G. B. will be permitted to release "River of Unrest," first of five B. I. P. films signed for by Lee, exclusive of five Herbert Wilcox pictures. While Lee would not discuss the session, Kent stated : "I have nothing to say on the meeting except that 20th Century-Fox has agreed to handle one John Maxwell picture." With further details lacking, it is understood that further discussions will be held between Kent and Lee when pictures other than G. B.-made come up for distribution. The re- lease date for "River of Unrest" is Jan. 10 and cancellation of many bookings would have been forced had Kent insisted on complying with the notification recently sent out that 20th Century-Fox could not handle product not made by G. B. Own Exchanges Still Considered Plans for establishing its own ex- change system have not been dropped entirely by G. B., it is understood, and it is likely the company may set up its own national distribution outlet for next season. While Kent and Lee decline to dis- cuss details of yesterday's conclave, the implication is that Kent conceded G. B. the privilege of using 20th Cen- tury-Fox exchanges for this one Max- well film to save the company from an embarrassing situation. Although G. B. has taken on 10 outside pictures, the schedule of 24 announced at the annual sales conven- tion has not been increased, it was pointed out. Isidore and Maurice Ostrer are scheduled to sail today on the Aqui- tania. They have been here the past few months conferring with Joseph and Nicholas M. Schenck and Kent on the Loew's-20th Century- Fox-G. B. stock deal. According to Isidore Os- trer, there has been no change as far as G. B. is concerned since he left London. G. B. Starts Sales Drive G. B. has started a play date drive which will continue until Apr. 3. In honor of the G. B. general sales man- ager the drive will be known as the George W. Weeks Playdate Roundup. U. A. Sets Deal for New Cartoon Series (Continued from page 1) unit are Kenneth McLellan, former head animator for Walt Disney, and Norman Stevenson, former Disney production manager. A staff of five animators and 40 artists has been as- sembled and is at work on the United Artists lot now. The series is designed to replace the Disney cartoons which will be distributed by RKO next sea- son. Mrs. Cummins Buried Funeral services were held Tuesday for Mrs. Anna Cummins, wife of Samuel Cummins, of Eureka Prod. Interment was in the Lutheran Ceme- tery, Brooklyn. "Men Not Gods" to Rivoli "Men Are Not Gods" opens at the Rivoli Saturday. Out Hollywood Way Hollywood, Jan. 13. — Isabel Dawn and Boyce De Gaw are in Washington for Navy Dept. confer- ences on the script of "Wings Over Honolulu," Universal. Horace McCoy signed to term contract by M-G-M ; he's author of "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" . . . "Glove Spats," sixth of current Our Gang series, started . . . B. P. Schulberg holds up shooting on "Love Trap" because of illness of Gail Patrick . . . Al Wilson, pro- duction manager on Republic's "The Hit Parade," flies to New York to su- pervise set construction at Biograph Studio . . . Harry Glucksman, N. Y. exchange manager for Republic, here with Mrs. Glucksman for visit. Louis Hayward to appear in one a year for Universal for three years through deal with Radio . . . Al Lewis gets new producer's contract at Radio . . . Isabel Jewell and Claude Rains added to sick list . . . Peter A. Goode, survivor of Macon disaster, technical adviser on "The Go Getter," Warners . . . Frances Farmer to sing in Radio's "The Toast of New York." + Casting — Blanche Rayson in "Ever Since Adam," Republic . . . Alan Hale replaces Donald Crisp in "The Prince and the Pauper," War- ners . . . Jack Oakie and Victor Moore in "Radio City Revels," Radio . . . Diana Gibson in "Escadrille," same studio . . . Roger Imhof in "Two Shall Meet," Grand National . . . 20th Century-Fox castings include De Witt Jennings in "That I May Live," Spencer Charters in "Fifty Roads to Town" and Ruth Peterson in "Dead Yesterday" . . . Barbara Read and Jean Rouverol in "The Road Back," Universal. Charles Irwin in "Stepping Toes," radio . . . Olin Howland and Charles Judels in "Marry the Girl," Warners . . . Patricia Ellis, on loan from Warners ; Jack LaRue, George Meeker, Julia Thayer, Helene Mitchell and Carleton Young in "Ever Since Adam," Republic. + New Contracts — Hi Moulton, mu- sician ; Walter T. Strohm, technical expert ; Samuel Pokrass, writer ; Marjorie Weaver, Gloria and Bar- bara Brewster, actresses, signed to new pacts by 20th Century-Fox. + Directors — Phil Rosen gets new pact at Republic . . . Ray Enright to direct "Singing Marine," Warners . . . Ben Holmes given new contract bv Radio. + Title Changes — "Once Over Light- ly" changed to "Don't Tell the Wife," Radio . . . + Writer — Harry Hershfield adapt- ing "Get It First," Warners. Taxes Took 46-65% Of Highest Salaries (Continued from page 1) salary situation made by Motion Pic- ture Herald. Illustrating the heavy taxes to which high salaries are sub- ject, the Herald points out that 28 persons, representing as many taxa- tion brackets, in New York and Cali- fornia, received an aggregate in sal- aries of $3,671,036 in 1935, but were subject to income taxes estimated at $1,712,967, or a tax average of 46 per cent of the total gross income. In arriving at the figures, the Her- ald takes exemptions of $2,500 in each case from the taxable income in com- puting the state and Federal taxes. Among the 28 selected as typical, the Herald cites the much-publicized sal- ary of $480,833 paid to Mae West in 1935, pointing out that California taxes amounted to $90,199 and Federal levies were estimated at $239,855, leaving a net income of $168,279. Winfield Sheehan, subject to taxation in New York, received a 1935 salary of $344,230, but was subject to esti- mated taxes, according to the Herald, of $27,088 to the state and $174,249 to the Government, leaving a net in- come of $140,393. Would Double Cal. Tax Sacramento, Cal., Jan. 13. — A bill has been introduced into the Cali- fornia legislature which would double the present tax rate, the highest in the country. Thau on Way East Hollywood, Jan. 13. — Benny Thau is en route to New York to confer with Louis B. Mayer before proceed- ing to London. Chicago McVickers To Comet, B&K Unit (Continued front page 1) late this afternoon by the Chicago Board of Education. The lease is for 30 years. Rental starts at $60,000 for the first five years and is increased to $62,500 for the second five years, $70,000 for the third five years, $70,500 for the fourth five years and $75,000 for the remain- ing 10 years. This is the minimum guarantee. Over and above these figures the Board of Education gets 15 per cent of the gross if a film policy prevails and 10 per cent if stage shows are used. The lease is expected to be signed shortly. B. & K. will redecorate the theatre for reopening in the spring. Show policy is undecided. Johnny Jones was the only other bidder for the property. Film Air Shipments Gained 130% in Year Film shipments by air express in- creased 130 per cent in 1936 over 1935, a study by the Railway Ex- press Agency indicates. In Novem- ber, 1936, the total number of film shipments in and out of New York was 3,167, against a total of 1,342 in November of 1935. Shipments by weight from Los Angeles to New York in November of last year were 3,028 pounds, compared with 1,288 pounds in November, 1935. The film industry has been among the largest and most consistent users of air express since its inception in 1927, the study points out. One of the greatest services, it is said, is the use of air express by newsreels in shipping prints to theatres over the country. Johnson Succumbs To Crash Injuries (Continued from page 1) Snark. He married Mrs. Johnson on his return in 1910. Later he opened a chain of nickelodeons in southern Kan- sas, and afterward, with Mrs. John- son, he toured the western states and parts of Canada showing the South Sea cruise film. The course of their exhibition tour took them into re- mote places where they had to use acetylene gas for illumination. In 1912 they went to the islands in southern Pacific where they made their first film, "Cannibals of the South Seas." Following this they cruised about the South Seas making films at every group of islands, the result being "Captured By Cannibals," "Head Hunters of Malekula" and "On the Borderline of Civilization.' Continuing their travels, they sailed around Australia and then spent two years in Borneo making "Jungle Ad- ventures." Next they went to the Ma- lay States and Egypt where "Bessie the Adventuress" and "The Suez Canal" were filmed. For the next 15 years they traveled the length and breadth of Africa. The couple became authorities on native populations and the habits of wild animals. Filmed Many Jungled Pictures The African expeditions produced "Trailing Wild Animals," "Simba," "Across the World," and in recent years "Congorilla," the first all sound film to be made in the African interior. Johnson lectured extensively in this country and abroad and was the author of "Camera Trails in Africa," "Sa- fari," "Lion" and "Congorilla." He was also associated with the American Museum of Natural History. Two years ago he returned from Africa with "Baboona," which was made with two airplanes to facilitate reach- ing remote places in Africa. The film was distributed by Twentieth Century- Fox. It was the first picture to be screened in an airplane for the press. Recently he had again visited the head hunter country of Borneo, this time using an airplane as in the re- cent African trip. Birmingham Plan to Tighten Supervision Birmingham, Ala., Jan. 13. — Amusement supervision in Birming- ham will be extended and tightened in some respects rather than relaxed by the new department of amusment su- pervision which the City Commission proposes to create, according to com- mission President Jones and Com- missioner Robinson, who told a group of protesting members of the Birming- ham M. P. Council that the proposed new system will be given a trial. Pettersen Marzoni is scheduled to be director of amusement supervision and Mrs. Harriett B. Adams, present amusement supervisor, his assistant. The proposed ordinance will give the new department authority over thea- tres, circuses, fairs, carnivals, night clubs and other entertainments which are not now covered. Attend Pa. Session Pittsburgh, Jan. 13.— Fred Her- nngton, secretary of the M.P.T.O. here, and William L. Brown of Taren- tum have left for Harrisburg for the current session of the Pennsylvania legislature. 12 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, January 14, 1937 "Plainsman" Leads Pickup On the Loop Chicago, Jan. 13. — Record-breaking business was the order in the Loop as "The Plainsman" at the Chicago and "After The Thin Man" at the United Artists rolled up tremendous grosses. The Chicago took $57,500, while the U.A. pulled more than twice the average gross to hit $35,700 for the week. Good weather most of the week helped and all houses showed figures well on the profit side. The Oriental, with "Sinner Take All," hit a new high, $25,800. The Palace, with "That Girl From Paris" starting New Year's Eve at $2.20 top for the two evening shows, did well and got $34,600. Total first run business was $210,- 400. Average is $115,000. Estimated takings : Week Ending Jan. 5: "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS — (1,700), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $35,700. (Average, $15,000) "DON'T TURN 'EM LOOSE" (Radio) STATE-LAKE — (2,776), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Stage: "Casino De Paree." Gross: $19,500. (Average, $13,000) Week Ending Jan. 6: "THAT GIRL FROM PARIS" (Radio) PALACE— (2,509), 35c-55c-75c, 7y2 days. Stage: Ethel Waters and Revue. Gross: $34,600. (Average, $19,000) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) CHICAGO— (4,000), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: "Magazines" Revue. Gross: $57,500. (Average, $32,000) "SINNER TAKE ALL" (M-G-M) ORIENTAL — (3,490), 35c-55c, 7 days. Stage: Mills Bros, and Revue. Gross: $25,- 800. (Average, $15,000) "TARZAN ESCAPES" (M-G-M) ROOSEVELT— (1,591), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $16,200. (Average, $11,000) "BANJO ON MY KNEE" (20th-Fox) APOLLO — (1,400), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $11,500. (Average, $5,500) "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) GARRICK— (900), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $9,600. (Average, $5,500) "College Holiday" Best Oklahoma Bet Oklahoma City, Jan. 13. — "Col- lege Holiday" stepped out front in a brisk week during which all the first runs went into the profit column. The take at the Criterion was $6,000, over par by $1,000. "Rose Bowl" went into the money with $1,600 in four days at the Liberty, helped by a stage show, "Chicago Fol- lies" and seven acts of vaudeville. Normal for seven days is $3,000. Total first run business $16,200. Average is $14,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 9: "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) CRITERION— (1,700), 10c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,000) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) MIDWEST— (1,500), 10c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $4,000) "POLO JOE" (W.B.) CAPITOL— (1,200), 10c-25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $2,200. (Average, $2,000) "ROSE BOWL" (Para.) LIBERTY— (1,500), 10c-25c-40c, 4 days. Stage: "Chicago Follies," seven acts vaudeville. Gross: $1,600. (Average for week, $3,000) "FOLLOW YOUR HEART" (Republic) "THE ACCUSING FINGER" (Para.) LIBERTY— (1,500), 10c-25c-35c, 3 days. Gross: $900. (Average for week, $3,000) Lily Pons Is Frisco's Best Bet, $23,000 San Francisco, Jan. 13. — "That Girl from Paris" was the big money- maker of the week here. It ran the gross at the Golden Gate up to $23,- 000, over normal by $7,000. "Rainbow on the River" was $2,500 to the good on a take of $7,000 in its second week at the Embassy. "Gold Diggers of 1937" and "Join the Marines" pulled a strong $7,800 at the St. Francis in a second week, and "Stowaway" held up to $8,300 at the United Artists. The weather was unexpectedly cold, but this proved a help rather than a detriment. Total first run business was $105,- 050. Average is $86,000. Estimated takings : Week Ending Jan. 5: "RAINBOW ON THE RIVER" (Radio) EMBASSY— (1,400), 10c-30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 2nd downtown week. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $4,500) "THAT GIRL FROM PARIS" (Radio) GOLDEN GATE— (2,850), 15c-30c-35c-40c- 55c, 7 days. Stage, vaudeville. Gross: $23,000. (Average, $16,000) "PENNIES FROM HEAVEN" (Col.) "YOU CAN'T GET AWAY WITH IT" (Univ.) ORPHEUM— (2,440), 15c-30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $10,500. (Average, $9,500) Week Ending Jan. €: "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) "COUNTRY GENTLEMAN" (Republic) FOX— (5,000), 15c-30c-35c-40c-55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $17,000. (Average, $16,000) "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) "JOIN THE MARINES" (Republic) PARAMOUNT — (2,740). 15c-30c-35c-40c- 55c-75c, 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $14,300. (Average, $13,000) "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (F. N.) "FUGITIVE IN THE SKY" (W. B.) ST. FRANCIS— (1,400), 15c -30c -35c -40c, 7 days, 2nd downtown week. Gross: $7,800. (Average, $6,000) "STOWAWAY" (20th-Fox) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,200), 15c-30c-35c- 40c-65c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $8,300. (Average, $7,000) Week Ending Jan. 7: "ONE IN A MILLION" (20th-Fox) "ALONG CAME LOVE" (Para.) WARFIELD— (2,680), 15c-30c-35c-40c-55c, 75c, 7 days. Gross: $15,400. (Average, $13,000) Week Ending Jan. 8: "YELLOW CRUISE" (French) CLAY— (400), 15c-30c, 7 days. Gross: ' '50. (Average, $1,000) London Capitol to Open London, Jan. 4. — The Capitol, Hay- market, General Theatres property controlled by Gaumont British, will reopen Feb. 4 with a gala perform- ance for the Safer Motherhood Fund. Reconstruction of the theatre has oc- cupied twelve months and has cost £50,000. At a slight sacrifice of seating ca- pacity the floor level has been dropped from first-floor to basement, stalls ab- sorbing the area previously occupied by the Kit-Cat Club. Capacity is now 1,500. Previously a G. B. second pre- release house, the Capitol is now ex- pected to go out for first pre-run bus- iness in competition with the pro- ducer theatres massed round Picca- dilly Circus. Cecil Rudnick to Wed Boston, Jan. 13. — Cecil Rudnick, National Screen Service official here, and Bernice Levy of New York plan to marry in June. Kid Convenience St. Louis, Jan. 13.— F. & M. have installed a number of conveniences for the special children's shows at the Mis- souri Saturday mornings. These include free telephone service, five matrons to look after the smaller children, free checking service for bicycles and roller skates, two additional drinking foun- tains and a personal time an- nouncement at 12:30 P. M. at the close of the special morn- ing show for the assistance of the children who cannot read a clock. The admission price of 10 cents also permits the chil- dren to remain for the regu- lar show which opens imme- diately after the close of the special morning matinee. "Plainsman" At $15,600, Kansas City Kansas City, Jan. 13. — In spite of some frontier weather the last two days of its run at the Mainstreet, "The Plainsman" freighted $15,600 into the box-office, $7,600 over the line, and was moved to the Uptown for a second week. The New Year's Eve midnight show of "One In a Million" helped. Other first runs felt the sleet and freezing weather which set in Jan. 6 to leave the houses mostly empty the last two days of their week. How- ever, "Gold Diggers of 1937" in its second week, and the midnight New Year's Eve show of "Champagne Waltz" at 55 cents, gave the Uptown $6,100, $2,100 better than par. "Camille" got strong matinee patronage to build its gross $3,300 over an $11,500 average at the Mid- land, and "College Holiday," in its second week at the Newman, broke $7,000 average by $600. Total first run business was $53,100. Average is $37,500. Estimated takings : Week Ending Jan. 7: "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) MAINSTREET— (3,100), 25c-40c. (One showing of "ONE IN A MILLION," 20th- Fox, New Year's Eve, at 40c). 7 days. Gross: $15,600. (Average, $8,000.) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) MIDLAND — (4,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $14,800. (Average, $11,500.) "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) NEWMAN (1,900), 25c-40c, 7 .days, 2nd week. Gross: $7,600. (Average, $7,000.) "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS" (Para.) TOWER— (2,200), 25c-35c, 7 days. Stage: Armida; Whitey & Ed Ford; Joe Melvin; Fitz & Cahill, and Ted Cook. Gross: $7,000 (Average, $7,000.) "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (F. N.) UPTOWN— (2,000), 25c-40c (one showing New Year's Eve of "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ," Paramount, at 55c). 7 days. Gross: $6,100. (Average, $4,000.) Expect Boston Raises Boston, Jan. 13. — A general price increase among local first runs is an- ticipated as the result of the Metro- politan making the initial move by hiking admissions a dime. The RKO Boston is expected to up admissions next. The Loew houses are expected to fall into line. Million" Up On Dual in 2 Coast Houses Los Angeles, Jan. 13. — "One in a Million," on a dual with "Sinner Take All," was the big draw of the week here. It went to $18,942, over normal by $4,942, at Loew's State, and at the Chinese the same bill grossed $14,846, up by $2,346. "Rembrandt" held up to $4,323 in its third week at the 4 Star. The weather was rainy. Total first run business was $95,211. Average is $107,950. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 13 : "LLOYDS OF LONDON" (20th-Fox) CARTHAY CIRCLE— (1,518), 50c-$1.50, 4 days. Gross: $5,200. (Average, $17,000) "ONE IN A MILLION" (20th-Fox) "SINNER TAKE ALL" (M-G-M) CHINESE— (2,500), 30c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $14,846. (Average, $12,500) "REMBRANDT" (U. A.) 4 STAR— (900), 30c-55c, 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $4,323. (Average, $3,250) "ON THE SUNNYSIDE" (Scandinavian) GRAND INTERNAT'L— (750), 35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $2,100. (Average, $1,200) "THAT GIRL FROM PARIS" (Radio) "RACING LADY" (Radio) HILLSTREET— (2,700), 30c-65c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $8,000) "ONE IN A MILLION" (20th-Fox) "SINNER TAKE ALL" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE— (2,500), 30c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $18,942. (Average, $14,000) "THAT GIRL FROM PARIS" (Radio) "RACING LADY" (Radio) PANTAGES— (3,000), 30c-65c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $8,000) "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (3,595), 30c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week. Stage: F. & M. revue. Gross: $12,800. (Average, $18,000) "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (F. N.) "KING OF HOCKEY" (W. B.) WARNER BROS. (HOLLYWOOD)— (3,- 000), 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $13,000. (Av- erage, $14,000) "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (F. N.) "KING OF HOCKEY" (W. B.) WARNER BROS. (DOWNTOWN)— (3,- 400), 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Av- erage, $12,000) "Gold Diggers" Big In Spokane, $8,200 Spokane, Jan. 13. — An epidemic of flu and a wave of sub-zero weather arrived too late to do much damage to last week's grosses. "Gold Dig- gers of 1937," on a dual with "Career Woman" at the Fox, pulled $8,200, above average by $1,200. "Theodora Goes Wild" and "March of Time" fluctuated at the State and finished $5,500 for the week, $700 over par. Total first run business was $19,400. Average is $17,000. Estimated takings : Week Ending Jan. 6: "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (F. N.) "CAREER WOMAN" (20th-Fox) FOX— (2,300), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,200. (Average, $7,000) "THEODORA GOES WILD" (Col.) STATE— (1,000), 30c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $4,800) "MAN WHO LIVED TWICE" (Col.) "THREE ON A TRAIL" (Para.) ORPHEUM— (1,200), 20c -30c, 2 days. Gross: $900. (Average, $900) "COUNTRY GENTLEMAN" (Republic) "GAY LOVE" (British Lion) GRANADA — (600), 15c-25c, 7 days. Gross: $1,500. (Average, $1,300) Week Ending Jan. 4: "WHITE HUNTER" (20th-Fox) "ALL-AMERICAN CHUMP" (M-G-M) ORPHEUM — (1,200), 20c-30c, 4 days. Gross: $3,300. (Average, $3,000) Thursday, January 14, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 13 Oppose Plea To Intervene In RKO Plan (Continued from page 1) say, were $20,000,000 in excess of liabilities in January, 1928, and amounted to $3,000 when Orpheum went into bankruptcy five years later. The going assets of Orpheum were transferred to Stadium Theatres Corp., a wholly owned RKO subsid- iary, in May, 1933, as a result of alleged defaults by Orpheum on ad- vances of approximately $3,000,000 which had been made by RKO and Keith-Albee-Orpheum. The transfer was contested by Marcus Heiman, trustee of Orpheum, and RKO recently was authorized by Judge Bondy to offer $700,000 to Or- pheum for uncontested rights to the assets. Orpheum creditors are sched- uled to meet in the near future to consider accepting the offer. The Orpheum preferred stockhold- ers, however, having a junior position to the creditors, would not participate in any dividend which might result from acceptance of the RKO offer. For this reason, and because their position points out that no provision is made for them in the RKO reor- ganization plan, they ask leave to intervene in the latter proceedings. Indications are that the RKO gen- eral creditors' committee will ask Judge Bondy to postpone the hearing on the plan scheduled for today until Jan. 28 or thereabouts. Hearings on the Orpheum petition and several other motions pending before the court may be held, however. Stand on "B" Films Is Up to Exhibitors (Continued from page 1) cent. Although confirmation is lack- ing at the moment, it is definitely un- derstood here that the studio's pro- duction of B pictures has been set at 18 rather than the former 24. Radio's attitude will be decided at a conference to be held this week follow- ing the arrival of Ned E. Depinet. Hal Roach plans to make all "A" pic- tures budgeted at $500,000 or over. Universal will augment its "B" pro- gram and make at least four more than it did last year. As Louis B. Mayer is in New York M-G-M officials are silent on their plans. Warners, 20th Century-Fox and Columbia will continue their pres- ent policy on low budget films. Theatre Men at Para. Meet Hollywood, Jan. 13. — Presaging closer cooperation and understanding between producers and exhibitors in the future, five prominent showmen will sit in at the Paramount product conference tomorrow. These exhibi- tors, who remained here for the pur- pose of attending, are : M. A. Light- man, E. V. Richards, A. H. Blank, Karl Hobitzelle and Slim Higgin- bottom. Refinance Golden Gate A new mortgage loan of $425,000 at five per cent for five years has been floated for the Golden Gate theatre, San Francisco, controlled by RKO through a subsidiary. MOTION PICTURE DAILY5 HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "We're on the Jury" (Radio) Hollywood, Jan. 13. — A murder mystery solved in a jury room forms the basis for this comedy-drama. With Helen Broderick and Victor Moore carrying the brunt of the acting burden, the picture moves smoothly with laughs alternately following moments of dramatic suspense. Miss Broderick is a dowager socialite serving her first assignment on a jury. More interested in justice than in court procedure, she votes for the acquittal of Colleen Clare while the other jurors vote to convict the girl who has been accused of murder. Settling down to work, Miss Broderick eventually wins the others to her way of thinking by a re- enactment of the crime at its scene. Franklin Coen has made a clever adaptation of the John Frederick Ballard stage play, retaining all the fire of the original and adding new comedy dialogue. The direction of Ben Holmes is smooth and the members of the supporting cast, which include Robert McWade as the judge, and Jean Howard, Louise Latimer, Billy Gilbert, Charles Mid- dleton and Charles Lane as jurors, all give good performances. Moore and Miss Broderick work well as a team and can go on from this to importance as box-office factors. Joseph Henry Steele, associate pro- ducer, has given the film good mounting, building a production which should stand high in the average entertainment classification. Production Code Seal No. 2,898. Running time, 69 minutes. "G." "Thin Man" Is $23,000 Draw In St. Louis St. Louis, Jan. 13. — "After the Thin Man" proved the real attraction of the week with a take at Loew's of $23,000 which was $13,000 above the average. It was held. "Three Smart Girls" and a stage show at the Ambassador did $18,500, which was $9,500 above average. "One in a Million" and "Night Waitress" did $17,750, or $3,750 above average at the Fox. At the Missouri there was another plus par bill, "College Holiday" and "Jungle Princess," the take amounting to $12,000. The Shubert-Rialto which was closed by F. & M. on Jan. 8 because of a dispute with unions, was the only house to go below par. The weather was very fine. Princi- pal opposition was hockey games at the Arena and the free commercial shows at the Municipal Auditorium. Total first run business was $81,- 250. Average is $52,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 7 : "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) AMBASSADOR — (3,018), 2Sc-40c-55c, 7 days. Specialty acts in pit. Gross: $18,- 500. (Average, $9,000) "ONE IN A MILLION" (20th-Fox) "NIGHT WAITRESS" (Radio) FOX— (5,038), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $17,750. (Average, $14,000) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) LOEW'S — (3,162), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $23,000. (Average, $10,000) "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) "JUNGLE PRINCESS" (Radio) MISSOURI— (3,514), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $9,000) "FLYING DOWN TO RIO" (Radio) "RICH RELATIONS" (Superior) SHUBERT-RIALTO — (1,725), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $2,000. (Average, $3,500) "GO WEST, YOUNG MAN" (Para.) ST. LOUIS— (4,000), 25c -40c, 7 days. Stage: Vaudeville. Gross: $8,000. (Aver- age, $7,000) "Plainsman/' Show $40,000 Boston Smash Boston, Jan. 13.— "The Plainsman," with a fine stage show featuring Jane Withers and Marty May in person, drew $40,000 at the Metropolitan, $18,000 above average. "Born to Dance" with "Sinners Take All" drew equally well at both Loew's houses, the Orpheum taking $7,000 above average with $19,000 on the week and $18,000 of the State. This was $7,000 to the good. "That Girl From Paris" at the RKO Memorial drew $17,500. Aver- age is $12,000. "Kelly the Second" and stage attraction with Milton Berle and Oswald drew $24,000 at the RKO Boston. Average is $22,000. Total first run business was : $132,- 500. Average is $90,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 7: "SING A LOVE SONG" (F. N.) "CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA" (20th-Fox) FENWAY— (1,392), 30c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $4,500.) "THAT GIRL FROM PARIS" (Radio) RKO MEMORIAL— (2,907), 25c-50c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $17,500. (Average, $12,000.) "BORN TO DANCE" (M-G-M) "SINNERS TAKE ALL" (M-G-M) LOEW'S ORPHEUM— (2,970). 35c-45c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $19,000. (Average, $12,000.) "BORN TO DANCE" (M-G-M) "SINNERS TAKE ALL" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE— (3,037), 35c-45c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $18,000. (Average, $11,000.) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) METROPOLITAN— (4,332), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Jane Withers in person and Marty May, Three Radio Rogues. Gross: $40,000. (Average, $22,000.) "SING ME A LOVE SONG" (F. N.) "CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA" (20th -Fox) PARAMOUNT— (1,793), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $8,500. (Average, $7,000.) "KELLY, THE SECOND" (M-G-M) RKO BOSTON— (3,246), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Milton Berle and Oswald. Gross: $24,000. (Average, $22,000.) Chance Games Legal Problem In 24 States (Continued from page 1) and in the past two years the legality of Bank Night has been argued in 11 high state courts. In seven it has been upheld, and in four it has been classed as a lottery. Lower court decisions in five other states have favored the game. Appeal courts have declared the game illegal in Georgia and Louis- iana, and supreme courts in Kansas and Texas. It has been held legal in New York, in two decisions, and in Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachu- setts, New Hampshire and Tennes- see. Lower state court decisions fa- voring Bank Night have been rendered in Connecticut, Missouri, North Caro- lina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Federal authorities have voiced ob- jections to the practice, but it never has been actually called illegal by a Federal court. In four cases reaching Federal tribunals the matter involved copyright infringement, not legality. In three cases Bank Night was denied the right to copyright protection, and in only one, in North Carolina, was it successful. Federal courts in Maine, Massachusetts and Colorado ruled the game was not entitled to copyright protection, the Colorado court de- claring Bank Night has no standing in equity because it too closely re- sembles a lottery. Postal Dep't. in Opposition In May, 1935, the U. S. Postoffice Dep't. ruled that cash giveaways are lotteries, and that periodicals carry- ing advertisements of them would be barred from the mails. Numerous postmasters have said the order will hold despite state court decisions. The general indication from recent court decisions is that the practice of allowing anyone to register for the drawings, without the necessity of first purchasing a ticket, brings the chance games within the law on lot- teries. Municipal authorities have waged an almost ceaseless campaign against the games, and in many cases have received the support of opinions of local and state officials. Following the dissolving by the Superior Court in Chicago of an injunction restrain- ing the police from interfering with Bank Night, all chance games have been prohibited there by city ordi- nance. Chicago Appeal Permitted Chicago, Jan. 13. — Judge Niemey- er of Superior Court today granted a certificate of importance enabling the attorneys for 34 theatres here to ap- peal directly to the Illinois Supreme Court from his ruling of Monday which held Bank Night drawings to be illegal. Edmund Adcock, who represents the theaters, said that the appeal will be filed in time for the April term of the high court. "Blossoms" Opens "Broken Blossoms" opened yester- day at the Belmont. The film is pre- sented in a continuous performance policy. 14 MOTION PICTURE RADIO DAI LY RADIO Thursday, January 14, 1937 Chain Heads Meet On Ford's Protest NBC and CBS executives met in practically all-day sessions yesterday to prepare an answer to the Ford blast against the practice of permitting net- work stations to cut in on programs with spot announcements during sta- tion breaks. What transpired at the meetings will have to remain a secret temporarily, for both networks refused comment. NBC stated that no statement would be forthcoming now or in the future. CBS, however, may have something to say soon, it was indicated there. Chevrolet Resumes Chevrolet yesterday renewed its Sunday evening CBS program for an additional 13-week period, beginning Jan. 17. The program features the band of Rubinoff and vocals by Vir- ginia Rea and Jan Peerce. Camp- bell-Ewald is the agency. Additionally, the CBS "Home Makers Exchange" program, spon- sored by the National Ice Industry, adds 17 new stations beginning with the broadcast of Jan. 26. The pro- gram after this date will be heard over 62 CBS stations, making it one of the most important day-time shows in radio. Donahue & Coe is the agency. Mutual Sets Inauguration Mutual will completely cover the inauguration of President Roosevelt Jan. 20. The broadcasting from Wash- ington will begin at 11:15- A. M. and continue until 2 P. M., E. S. T. As with NBC and CBS, Mutual will pay the freight for the commercial programs cancelled out for the inau- guration. These programs and their sponsors will include "Love Songs" for General Mills, Inc., 11 :30 to 11:45 A. M. ; "Tom, Dick and Harry" for the Fels Co., 12:15 to 12:30 noon; "Music from Texas" for the Crazy Water Hotel, 1 to 1:15 P. M. ; and "Painted Dreams," for Cal-Aspirin Co., 2:30 to 2:45 P. M. Ford Changes on Way It was learned on good authority yesterday that considerable changes will be effected on the Ford-sponsored program "Watch the Fun Go By," heard on CBS Tuesday at 9 P. M., E. S. T. While it is not believed that the present cast will be changed, a new director will be brought in to re- vise the whole pattern of the program. Additionally, the revised program will feature weekly guest stars from stage, screen and radio. The new set-up will be instituted in about two weeks. New Cigarette Show While there will be no public an- nouncement for some weeks, it was authoritatively learned yesterday that N. W. Ayer & Son had closed nego- tiations for a new script-musical pro- gram for its client, "Twenty Grand" cigarettes. The programs will be heard three times weekly at an early evening hour, probably on an NBC network. Dragonette Off Air Jessica Dragonette was unable to appear on her inaugural program at CBS for Colgate-Palmolive-Peet last night, due to an attack of influenza. Lanny Ross and Ruby Mercer sub- stituted for her. WNYC May Enter Chain A consolidation of non-commercial radio stations, headed by New York's municipal station WNYC, is expected to begin operation some time this year, according to Mayor F. H. La Guardia. Permission for the chain will be sought from the Federal Com- munications Commission. The new chain, as described by the Mayor, will begin with a nucleus of about eight or nine stations. At pres- ent there are about 60 stations that are classified as educational and non-Com- mercial stations. There will not be any consolidation of the managements of the stations. Rather, the chain is to be a federation of independent non-commercial sta- tions which will cooperate with each other by providing their best programs as network units. "Congress Today" Over WMCA "Congress Today," is a new series of programs broadcast under the aupices of the National Council for Preven- tion of War, on station WMCA. Congressmen and others politically prominent will be presented weekly on the series, which will originate in the studios of WOL, Inter-City key sta- tion in Washington, D. C. The speaker on the initial broadcast was Senator Clark of Missouri. Goes Coast-to-Coast The Gordon Baking Co.'s "Lone Ranger" program, heard Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on various Mutual stations, goes coast-to-coast Jan. 18, on which date it buys in on the Don Lee stations. The Sehl Agency represents the sponsor. Additionally, the "Journal of Liv- ing" program, sponsored by the maga- zine of that title and heard locally on WOR, adds two more Mutual stations beginning Jan. 25. The stations are WAAB, Boston, and WEAN, Provi- dence. The Schillin Agency handles the program. Safety Film Tests Show Storage Value Washington, Jan. 13. — Motion picture film of the safety type shows great promise as material on which to preserve records of permanent value, according to tests made by the National Bureau of Standards, the Dept. of Commerce has reported. This type of film, which has a base of cellulose acetate, is designed for use where the highly combustible cellu- lose nitrate film customarily used in theatres presents too great a hazard, it was stated. In addition to its safety features, cellulose acetate film appears to have excellent keeping qualities. The effects of various ac- celerated aging treatments on samples of new films of both types were de- termined. Samples of old nitrate were tested also to find their condition after natural aging. Goldstein Heads League Boston, Jan. 13. — Jack Goldstein has been appointed general manager of the recently formed Intercollegiate Music League. All members of this group are to be known as associates and are to share annually in the net profits accruing from introducing, re- cording and publicizing of members' music. Contracts, said to be indorsed by the M.P.P.A., Ascap, and S.P.A., Sponsoring WOR Signals For the first time since the station began operating, WOR's time signals will be sponsored, beginning March 14. The Longines-Wittnauer Co., Inc., yesterday signed for the time signals for 52 weeks from 7 P. M. to 11 P. M., on the hour. Arthur Rosenberg & Co. is the agency. Longines - Wittnauer, incidentally, was the first company to put time signals on the air back in the early days of WJZ. The station then gladly allowed them on the air — for nothing. Welbourn Kelley, Et Al Short Shots: Welbourn Kelley, of NBC's press division, transfers to the continuity department this week . . . Margo, picture star, will be inter- viewed by Radie Harris over WHN tomorrow . . . Several of WOR's artists have been granted long term extensions of contract. Among them are John Gambling, Ed Fitzgerald, Allie Lowe Miles, Raymond Gram Swing, Helene Daniels, Bob Emery and Barbara La Marr . . . Helen Taylor, fashion director for Walter Wanger film productions, will be Bide Dudley's WOR guest tomorrow . . . Pat Flanagan, WBBM (Chicago) will serve as judge in the selection of a new name for the Indiana Univer- sity football team . . . Sophie Tucker will appear as guest on the Nash "Speedshow" Saturday night . . . Ella Logan arrived in Chicago last night where she will join the show of the Chez Paree . . . Mrs. Edward G. Robinson will appear with her husband on Monday's Lux "Radio Theatre" hour . . . Frank Buck will guest star on Eddie Cantor's program Sunday night . . . Pat O'Brien joins the Vallee troupe as a guest star this evening . . . Donald Flamm, presi- dent of WMCA, returns from Europe on the Rex today . . . Sonja Henie will be among Joe Cook's guests Saturday, while Roland Young will head the guest star roster on the "Saturday Night Party" this same evening. Jones Is Named Head Of Wilmington Union Wilmington, Jan. 13. — Philip Jones of Wilmington has been elected pres- ident of M. P. Machine Projectionists Local 473 at a meeting here. Other new officers include Leon H. Mc- Cairns, vice-president; Edward T. Veasey, financial secretary treasurer; Albert B. Williams, recording secre- tary; John R. Waller, business mana- ger ; John Maisel, sergeant-at-arms. The executive board consists of the officers and Albert Hughes and Frank Page. The projectionists have been organized for 20 years and are affili- ated with the Central Labor Union, Delaware State Federation of Labor and American Federation of Labor. 80 Firms Chartered Dover, Del., Jan. 13. — Eighty film, theatre, radio, television, and miscel- laneous amusement companies were incorporated in Delaware with the sec- retary of state here during 1936. Forty-one of the 80 companies were formed to operate theatres and other places of amusement, 18 to deal in films, 14 to engage in miscellaneous amusement enterprises, and seven to deal in radio and television. Nine companies dealing in amusements changed their names during the year, while five made increases in capital. Hyde May Transfer WILM to Chester Wilmington, Jan. 13. — -Testimony in support of a proposal to move sta- tion WILM from Wilmington, Del., to Chester, Pa., was received in Wash- ington today by examiner R. H. Hyde. President Clair McCullough, of the Delaware Broadcasting Co., operator of WILM and WDEL in Wilmington, declared that WILM could give greater service in Chester. Brown Quits WFBM for WLW Indianapolis, Jan. 13. — William J. Brown, chief announcer of WFBM for seven years, has joined the an- nouncing staff of WLW at Cincinnati, the third announcer in recent years to make the transfer. The other two are Don Hancock, now with CBS ;it Chi- cago, and Dirwood Kirby. Ned Le Fevre, featured player with the Fed- eral Players here, will be added to the WFBM staff. Also departing from WFBM for WLW is Mary Paxton Young, star of "Songs in Style," which was given twice weekly. She will appear on sustaining programs at Cincinnati. Armand Heads Exploitation Hollywood, Jan. 13. — Jean Armand has been appointed to head exploita- tion on the Haven MacQuarrie "Do You Want To Be An Actor?" ama- teur program. He will also handle his regular duties as exploitation chief of KFWB, the local Warner sta- tion. Ray Buffum has been placed in charge of publicity on the Gus Ed- wards program and Fred Dodge will do downtown news planting. Shift KFWB Program Hollywood, Jan. 13. — The local edi- tion over KFWB of the Haven Mac- Quarrie "Do You Want To Be An Actor?" show has been shifted from Friday to Wednesday. Chase and Sanborn will hold their own auditions at the NBC headquart- ers for the network broadcasts in the future. Jean Armand will continue to cast the local shows. MacQuarrie will assist the sponsors in the audi- tioning. Oppose Columbus Stations Columbus, Jan. 13. — Examiners of the Federal Communications Commis- sion have recommended that applica- tion of the Continental Radio Co. of Columbus and Toledo to build new stations be denied. The examiners re- ported the company is "legally, tech- nically and financially responsible to build and operate the stations," but the need for additional radio service in the areas involved had not been shown. "Lone Ranger" May Switch Detroit, Jan. 13. — "The Lone Ranger," western act aired Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings at 7:30 P. M., E.S.T. over WXYZ and the Michigan Network may go to an- other outlet, according to report. George W. Trendle conceived the orig- inal act which once played at the Fisher about two years ago when that theatre ran vaudeville. WNBC Renewals Heavy New Britain, Conn., Jan. 13. — WNBC, which is awaiting an F.C.C. decision on its full-time operation ap- plication, reports almost 100 per cent renewals in advertising contracts. Radio Acceptance I 4 4 O BROADWAY NEW YORK January 6, 1937. Mr. "Red" Kann, Motion Picture Daily, Rockefeller Center, New York, N. Y. Dear "Red": We here at Mutual, including Mr. Fred Weber, genera! manager, want to compliment your Mr. Jack Banner for the splendid job he did of reporting the Mutual-Don Lee dedication and expansion stories. Needless to add, his cooperation with us daily is splendid. We are trying to give him first-hand information on the development of Mutual. Good wishes to you and your staff and continued success to Motion Picture Daily. Sincerely, OP Lester Gottlieb Publicity Coordinator MOTION PICTURE DAILY ROCKEFELLER CENTER NEW YORK A SHOWMAN PAYS TRIBUTE O SHORT SUBJECTS And here are some of the Better Short Sub- jects that have con- vinced Chick L zwis and many other showmen of the new values in the program builders. 7/ pre^t£ ***** JEFFERSON MACHAMER and his "Gags and Gals" "AMUSE YOURSELF" BUSTER KEATON in "MIXED MAGIC" PAT ROONEY Jr., and HERMAN TIMBERG Jr., "JUST THE TYPE" TIM and IRENE in "MODERN HOME" TERRY-TOONS 'KIKO THE KANGAROO IN A BATTLE ROYAL" "ROBIN HOOD IN AN ARROW ESCAPE" "CATS IN A BAG" "SALTY McGUIRE" BUSTER WEST and TOM PATRICOLA in "THE SCREEN TEST" BERT LAHR in "WHOSE BABY ARE YOU?" NIELA GOODELLE with BOB NOLAN in "HIGH-C HONEYMOON" SYLVIA FROOS and James Brierly in "TRANSATLANTIC LOVE" TREASURE CHEST Productions "THE CHESAPEAKE BAY RETRIEVER'7 "SYMPHONY IN SNOW" SONG AND COMEDY HITS "GIFTS IN RHYTHM" with The Cabin Kids "STRIKE! YOU'RE OUT" PLAY Presented by E. W. HAMMONS Mdu£€ltionut O^ictu/teA- to build better shows ADVERTISE THEM TO BUILD BETTER PROFITS "THESPiCE OFTHr PROGRAM" , DISTRIBUTED IN U.S.A. BY 20th CENTURY-FOX FILM CORPORATION The Leading Motto Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert. Intelligent the Industry in Alt Branches VOL. 41. NO. 12 NEW YORK, FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 1937 TEN CENTS Big Year Is Ahead, View On the Coast Gains of 1936 Expected To Be Increased Los Angeles, Jan. 14. — Although the continuance of the maritime strike is a matter of concern to all_ southern California, Los Angeles business and agricultural leaders and theatre own- ers as well as Hollywood producers are unanimous in the opinion that 1937 will be a year of unprecedented prosperity. Locally in the production and exhibition branches of the indus- try there is confidence that not only will the gains made during the past year be consolidated but that they will be further increased. Southern California is in the throes of a building boom. Probably the most significant proof that Hollywood, par- ticularly, is looking to 1937 with some- thing more than optimism is the new construction program upon which stu- dios and theatre owners have em- barked. At M-G-M, 20th Century- Fox, Warners, Hal Roach, Columbia and Universal new construction is be- ing rushed. The activity includes new stages, administration buildings, still and technical departments, color lab- oratories and dressing rooms. New theatre construction, dormant during the depression years, has taken a new (Continued on page 8) Blumenthal to Sail Soon on G. B. Deal With Isidore and Maurice Ostrer sailing yesterday on the Aquitania for home and the 20th Century-Fox- Loew's-G.B. deal at a standstill, A. C. Blumenthal, who has been acting as intermediary in the transaction, will sail for London next week in an effort to work out an arrangement with the three companies. Blumenthal spent some time with Isidore Ostrer in the latter's cabin before the Aquitania left its dock. After the session Ostrer said : "Every- thing is the same as before. There (Continued on page 8) Award Procedure Is Changed by Academy Hollywood, Jan. 14. — Two out- standing changes in method of the Academy award nominations and vot- ing were announced Thursday by President Frank Capra. New setup involves presentation of the award for the best performance by an actor (Continued on page 22) Radio Probe Sought Again; See Room for 500 Air Spots By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, Jan. 14. — Possibili- ties of accommodating as many as 500 additional broadcasting stations of not exceeding 100 watts power on the fre- quencies between 1,510 and 1,600 kilo- cycles were today called to the at- tention of the Federal Communica- tions Commission in a report of the engineering division on the broadcast- ing hearings which were held last Oc- tober. While all cities of over 100,000 population now have one or more broadcasting stations, it was pointed out, there are 329 between 10,000 and 100,000 population which have no (Continued on page 20) Washington, Jan 14. — Exhaustive investigation by a special Congres- sional committee of alleged monoply in radio and of the activities of the Federal Communications Commission is sought in a resolution introduced in Additional radio — page 20 the House today by Representative Connery of Massachusetts. Explaining the measure, similar to one he unsuccessfully pressed last ses- sion, Connery expressed the belief (Continued on page 20) Hagen to Make 12 Yearly for Maxwell By BRUCE ALLAN London, Jan. 14. — Julius Hagen, head of Twickenham, at a press lunch- eon today at the Mayfair, revealed that he has signed a five-year agree- ment to produce 12 pictures annually for John Maxwell, head of Associated British Pictures. He declared the recent receivership of his three companies was due to an increased expenditure in an effort to obtain a world market for his product. He said, "I got caught hook, line (Continued on page 8) RKOReorganization Hearing Postponed A first hearing of RKO creditors on the company's plan of reorganiza- tion, scheduled for yesterday before Federal Judge William Bondy, was postponed to Feb. 18 on the applica- tion of White & Case, attorneys for the RKO general creditors' committee. All pending motions set for hearing concurrently with the reorganization (Continued on page 7) Report Odium May Become SEC Head Floyd B. Odium, head of Atlas Corp., which is heavily interested in RKO and Paramount, is reported in financial circles to be slated for the chairmanship of the Securities & Ex- change Commission, succeeding James M. Landis. Odium is out of town and could not be reached for comments on the reports. The Atlas head, who resigned from the Paramount board last summer, al- though his company retains its large holdings of Paramount securities, has (Continued on page 7) Southern Receipts Total $20,759,000 Washington, Jan. 14. — Amusement enterprises in the four east south cen- tral states, totaling 2,079, had box- office receipts in 1935 of $20,759,000, according to figures made public to- night by the U.S. Census Bureau. An average of 5,595 persons were given employment for the year, the aggregate payroll being $4,500,000, of (Continued on page 8) Dude Ranch Play Very Good For Film Comedy or Musical By PLAYBOY The hallmark of fame in the theatre will never, never register "Howdy, Stranger." But the play at the Long- acre last night was never designed to be that kind of offering. Rather was it intended for those who may seek amusement without being critical about dramaturgy and, on that score and in the main, it reaches its objec- tive. The evening might have been a more successful one, but, unlike other evenings in the theatre such as (Continued on page 22) 1st Copyright Measure Goes Before House Would Give Owner Right To Exhibition By CLARENCE LINZ Washington, Jan. 14. — Copyright legislation has been thrown into the Congressional mill with the introduc- tion by Representative Moser of Pennsylvania, a new member who took his seat in the House only 10 days ago, of the first copyright measure of the session. The bill would give to the copy- right owner the exclusive right to ex- hibit if it be a film, or to communicate it by broadcasts, television or other means of transmission. Specific pro- vision is made for the copyrighting of films or works prepared expressly for radio. Copyright would extend to the work of an author or proprietor who is a citizen or subject of a foreign coun- try not a party to the Berne Conven- tion only when such author or pro- prietor is domiciled in the United States at the time of first publication or when the foreign country grants the benefits of copyright to Americans on the same basis as to its own citi- zens. The terms of copyright would be limitedto 28 years with provision for extension for a similar period. The _ penalties for infringement would include restraining injunctions, payment of damages, including profits, or payment in lieu of proved damages (Continued on page 22) Sales Tax Hearing Expected on Monday Major distributors are prepared for a hearing by the Court of Appeals at Albany on their appeal from the Ap- pellate Division ruling holding film rentals to be subject to the city's two per cent sales tax. O'Brien, Driscoll & Raftery, attor- neys for United Artists, an assess- ment against whose rentals provided the test case for the sales tax, said (Continued on page 22) Ask Registration of Paramount Issues Washington, Jan. 14. — The regis- tration on the N. Y. Stock Exchange of securities -running into many mil- lions was asked of the Securities and Exchange Commission today in state- ments filed by five film organizations. The largest registration was that of (Continued on page 7) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, January 15, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Insiders' Outlook Vol. 41 'January 15, 1937 No. 12 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager By RED KANN Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Pub- lishing Company, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Avenue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copy- righted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc. Address all correspondence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publica- tions, Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, Teatro Al Dia, International Motion Picture Almanac and Fame: The Box Office Check-Up. Hollywood Bureau: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Streets, Boone Mancall, Manager; Chicago Bureau: 624 South Michigan Avenue, C. B. O'Neill, Man- ager; London Bureau: 4 Golden Square, London W 1, Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable Address "Quigpubco, London"; Berlin Bureau: Stuelerstrasse 2, Berlin W 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative; Paris Bureau: 29, Rue Marsoulan, Pierre Autre, Representative; Rome Bureau: Viale Gorizia, Vittorio Malpassuti, Representative; Aus- tralian Bureau: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins Street, Melbourne, Cliff Holt, Representative; Mexico City Bureau: Apar- tado 269, James Lockhart, Representative; Budapest Bureau: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest, II, Endre Hevesi, Representative ; Tokyo Bureau : 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken, H. Tominaga, Representative; Prague Bureau: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1, Harry Knopf, Rep- resentative; Shanghai Bureau: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Building, 142 Museum Road, /. P. Koehler, Representative; Rio de Janiero Bureau: Caixa Postal 3358, A. Weissman, Representative; Buenos Aires Bureau: Corrientes 2495, N. Bruski, Representative; Montevideo Bureau: P. O. Box 664, Paul Bodo, Representative; Moscow Bureau: Petrovski Per 8, Beatrice Stern, Representa- tive; Viennai Bureau: Neustiftgasse, 55, Vienna VII, 'Hans Lorant, Representative; Amsterdam Bureau: Zuider Amstellaan 5, Philip de Schaap, Representative; Helsing- fors Bureau: Fredriksgatan 19 C, Charlotte Laszlo, Representative; Warsaw Bureau: Sienna 32, R. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. National Buy Awaits Tally-Corbar Moves Hollywood, Jan. 14. — F u r t h e r moves by 20th Century-Fox for the purchase of the remaining 58 per cent of the controlling interest in National Theatres will not be made until it is definitely determined whether Tally and Corbar Corp. plan to carry the F. W. C. bankruptcy case to the Su- preme Court for a rehearing. Joseph M. Schenck today stated that he would not continue with purchase moves until the next Tally move is seen. Following the Wednesday hearing, when the U. S. Court of Appeals upheld the bankruptcy ruling, it was learned that William H. Neblett and Dearn Warner, counsel for Tally, left on a three-week vacation. It is be- lieved here that the case won't be carried to high court but nothing defi- nite is known. Einfeld on Coast Hollywood, Jan. 14. — S. Charles Einfeld is here for Warner confer- TSIDORE and Maurice, the two riddle men from London and Gaumont British, finally quit these shores yesterday. Before departing, however, they left a second trail of curiously and apparently unrelated state- ments, noting the past, present and the future — perhaps — of mat- ters germane to their American distributing organization. Like the jig-saw columning of a day early last December — the fourth, if you insist — once again we turned to the reliable news columns of Motion Pic- ture Daily for yesterday's fun and found it. Here goes ;the second whirl at the Ostrers : New York, Jan. 2. — G.B. will have its own exchanges in all key cities. . . . "Have not had any notice from Kent as yet or the opportunity of seeing him, but if 20th Century-Fox will not physi- cally distribute what we have exhibited, we will then open our own offices right away as it is only a matter of time before we would have to do this anyway, due to our growing business" — Arthur A. Lee, by wire from Miami in a reply to a query as to intent. New York, Jan. 5. — Opening of G.B. exchanges throughout the country will get under way within the next few weeks. Offices will be opened one at a time, it was stated yesterday, since there is no disposition on the part of 20th Century-Fox to inconvenience G.B. . . . Isidore and Maurice Ostrer are understood deferring their return to England until de- tails in connection with G.B. exchanges are completed. New York, Jan. 11. — Return- ing from "a few days' rest" in Miami. . . . Isidore Ostrer stated upon his arrival last night he had made no decision on opening ex- changes in this country. Ostrer gave reporters the impression he knew nothing, or very little, about the stories which appeared in the newspapers and trade press with regard to G.B.'s own exchange system. When he was told the story appeared in Miami papers, he said: "Oh, yes. I heard some- thing of that. I haven't given the matter any thought and will not consider any such plan until I return to England." In reference to the letter sent by Sidney R. Kent, advising G.B. that the 20th Century-Fox exchanges could not physically handle other than G.B. product, he said he had not seen the letter, but "Arthur Lee men- tioned it" to him. "There hasn't been any change in our situation with 20th Cen- tury-Fox since I left London," Ostrer stated, and asked whether G.B. will continue to distribute through the present setup, he answered "I imagine so." New York, Jan. 12. — Arthur A. Lee, American head for G.B., will confer today with Sidney R. Kent, president of 20th Century- Fox, on the status of G.B. distri- bution. . . . G.B. is anxious to con- tinue releasing its product through 20th Century-Fox . . . provided that the current schedule of 24 pictures can be handled without looking to outside sources to dis- tribute. New York, Jan. 13. — G.B. will continue to distribute through 20th Century-Fox exchanges for the time being. . . . While further details are lacking, it is under- stood that further discussion will be held between Kent and Lee when pictures other than G.B.- made come up for distribution. . . . Plans for establishing its own exchange system have not been dropped entirely by G.B., it is understood, and it is likely the company may set up its own na- tional distribution outlet for next season. Yesterday in New York. — "Everything is the same as before. There is no change. Until a better arrangement presents itself, there is nothing to say." — Isidore. Asked about setting up G.B. exchanges in this country, the assistant managing director [Maurice} said : "It is almost inevitable." Next stop, London. G. N. to Have 2 Imports Grand National will distribute two English-made films on the current season's lineup. One is "Scotland Yard Commands," an A.B.F.D. film, and the other "Mr. Bliss," produced by Garret Clements. The A.B.F.D. picture is part of the deal closed by Edward L. Alperson when he was in London and closed a two-year dis- tribution pact for Grand National's output in England. G. N. in Far East Deal Hollywood, Jan. 14. — Grand Na- tional today completed a deal with H. S. Everett for the distribution of its product in the Philippine Islands. The distribution setup will be arranged by Jack Barnstyn. Mrs. Atwell Dead Mrs. Ben H. Atwell, wife of the theatrical publicity man, died Wed- nesday of a heart ailment in the Mt. Sinai Hospital where she had been a patient for six weeks. Mrs. Atwell was known professionally as Marcella Albus. She was an operatic and con- cert soprano. In addition to her hus- band, she is survived by a sister, Mrs. Lillian Stevens of Kansas City. Fu- neral arrangements have not been set. Levy Keeps Bank Post New Haven, Jan. 14. — Edward G. Levy, general counsel of the M.P.- T.O.A., has been re-elected chairman of the board of The Community Bank and Trust Co. Lina Pictures Sues HER Lab for $62,000 A suit for $62,000 damages brought by the Lina Pictures Corp. against H. E. R. Laboratories, Inc., Garrison Film Distributors, Inc., and the Alad- din Pictures Corp. became known yes- terday when the plaintiff filed a mo tion to examine before trial Stephen H. Eller, president of the H. E. R Laboratories, and Tom Brandon, treas- urer of Garrison Films. This motion will be argued this morning in Su- preme Court before Justice John E. McGeehan. The suit is over 32 negatives which the plaintiff claims the defendants had in their possession for a year which they assert rightfully belong to them. Originally these negatives were the property of Talking Picture Epics which went into bankruptcy and the properties of which on Nov. 5, 1934, were sold by the trustee, Irving Trust Co., to Joseph Briskman, president of Lina. Briskman, in turn sold them to Lina Pictures. H. E. R. Laboratories claim they had a lien on these negatives for ser- vices rendered to Talking Pictures Epics and they sold the negatives to Aladdin Pictures who in turn sold them to Garrison. Lina Pictures fur- ther assert in their complaint that the defendants have wrongfully made prints of these films which they off- ered to the trade and are also offering to enter into contracts with exhibitors and distributors for exhibition of these prints. They claim the value to be $50,000 and also ask for $1,000 per month for the use of the negatives. RFC Moves to Take Assets of Prudence Attorneys for the R. F. C. yester- day petitioned Federal Judge Grover M. Moskowitz in U. S. District Court at Brooklyn for leave to foreclose on the assets of the Prudence Co., which are part of the collateral securing an R. F. C. loan of $20,000,000 made by the company in 1932. The Prudence Co. is a subsidiary of N. Y. Investors, Inc., which guar- anteed the loan and assigned all of the capital stock of the Prudence Co. to the R. F. C, and also the stock of its other subsidiaries, which include Allied Owners Corp. The latter fi- nanced the construction of a number of theatres for Paramount in 1930 and had a claim of $5,000,000 allowed in the Paramount reorganization pro- ceedings. The company has two rep- resentatives on the Paramount board of directors, Stephen Callaghan and Harry O. King, and preferred stock estimated to have a market value of $2,000,000. Reorganize Talent Dep't Hollywood, Jan. 14. — Paramount has reorganized its talent department. The talent school has been placed under the direction of Oliver Hins- dale, who recently left a similar post at M-G-M. Ted Lesser, former as- sistant to Adolph Zukor, has been added to the staff. Hinsdale and Lesser will work under the supervi- sion of A. M. Botsford. Melville Shauer, in charge of the department since the resignation of Jack Votion, has resumed his duties as an associ- ate producer. Nate Watt has been signed to di- rect "The Round-Up," fourth Hop- along Cassidy film being made by Harry Sherman. BACKED BY THE PRESTIGE OF SENSATIONAL $2.00 PREMIERE RUNS IN HOLLYWOOD AND NEW YORK. i HE LOVE STORY. . . DOWN-TO ■ WHICH CHANGED THE DESTINY Ait Ei WAITING TU att! EARTH AND ELEMENTAL . . . OF AN EMPIRE! The world has heard . . . over the networks ... through the papers ... in the magazines ... by word of mouth . . . how both coasts hailed "Lloyds" as the top hit of the year and acclaimed Tyrone Power the screen's newest sen- sation ! Seldom has a picture been so showered with praise! This critic-reaction the public has thunderously seconded at the box- office. It means that you have in your hands one of the mightiest attractions in the history of en- tertainment - making ! Romance so impassioned that it places a nation in peril! The pageantry and drama of an empire facing its greatest crisis! The intrigue that branded a man "Liar! Traitor! Betrayer!" because he dared to claim the happiness denied him! A stirring and tremendous achievement . . . warming every heart with the excitement and adventure of good, honest melodrama, with its intimate emotions, its human and understandable story ! The production brains of 20th Century- Fox give you LLOYDS OF LONDON! The showmanship sense of 20th Century-Fox gives it to you NOW! THE KEYSTONE OF YOUR FUTURE Friday, January 15, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Ask Registration of Paramount Issues {Continued from page 1) Paramount Pictures, Inc., covering $24,866,145 of 20-year six per cent sinking fund debentures due Jan. 1, 1955; $1,621,197 of 20-year six per cent sinking fund debentures due Jan. 1, 1955; 16,211 shares of $100 par value six per cent cumulative first preferred stock; 644,140 shares of $10 par value six per cent cumulative second preferred stock; 1,590,751 shares of $1 par value common stock ; 2,454,472 shares of $1 par common stock; $8,553,500 of limited guaranty of Paramount Broadway Corp. first mortgage sinking fund loan certifi- cates, and $225,500 of limited guaranty of Paramount Broadway Corp. first mortgage sinking fund loan certifi- cates. A registration for the two issues of first mortgage sinking fund loan certificates also was filed by the Par- amount Broadway Corp. A statement also was filed by Harry Cohn, et al, as voting trustees, cover- ing voting trust certificates for 5,393 shares of no par value Columbia Pic- tures Corp. common and the underly- ing securities. Columbia also filed a statement covering 10,990 shares of no par value common. General Theatres Equipment Corp. filed a statement covering 527,024 shares of capital stock, issued, and 227,081 shares to be registered on notices of issuance. Voting Certificates Listed The N. Y. Stock Exchange yester- day approved applications by Colum- bia Pictures Corp. for listing voting trust certificates for 5,393 additional shares of common stock and 5,393 shares of common stock, both without par value. Stockholders of United Artists The- atre Circuit, Inc., received notice yes- terday of the company's plan of re- capitalization, which is scheduled to become effective Feb. 15. The plan provides for the elimination of $1,- 050,000 of accrued dividends on the seven per cent preferred through the exchange of the old shares for a new five per cent cumulative but uncon- vertible preferred, together with three and one-third shares of new common and $15 in cash. The plan requires $450,000 in cash and the new capital- ization will consist of 30,000 shares of new five per cent preferred and 600,000 shares of common. Joseph M. Schenck heads United Artists Theatre Circuit which, in ad- dition to about 20 houses in key cities, holds a controlling stock interest in Metropolitan Playhouses here. color pictures at $50,000 in which Grand National has invested $115,000; one foreign color picture for 20th Century-Fox to cost $40,000 and four foreign color films for M-G-M to cost $160,000. The statement showed that the cap- ital stock of the company heretofore has been in the hands of three per- sons : George H. Hirliman of Culver City, holding 23 per cent ; Amadee J. Van Beuren of New York, holding 20 per cent, and Albert H. Lieberman of Philadelphia, who holds 56 per cent. It was disclosed further that B. E. Buckman & Co., Madison, Wis., who will underwrite the new issue, have an option on 372,818 shares of stock at $2.65 per share for 120 days after the effective date of the registration and that there are outstanding war- rants for stock, to be taken up be- tween March 1, 1937 and March 1, 1947, at $3.25 per share for the first five years and $5 per share for the re- maining period. These warrants are held as follows : A. J. Van Beuren, 45,000 shares; A. H. Lieberman, 30,- 000; Buckman & Co., 73,930, and M. H. Hoffman of Hollywood, G. A. Hirliman, Frank M. Snell of New York and H. J. Rothman of New York, 65,000 each. Current Salaries Listed Salaries to be paid during the cur- rent year are estimated at $15,000 for Van Beuren as president, $25,000* for Hirliman as general manager of pro- duction, $25,000 for Hoffman as pro- ducer, $15,000 for Snell as vice-presi- dent and production manager, and $10,000 for Lieberman as treasurer. The company, the registration state- ment sets forth, proposes to make a five-year contract with Van Beuren at $15,000 annually for the first two years, $20,000 for the next two and $25,000 for the final year and also will guarantee his $15,000 salary from the Van Beuren Corp. A two-year contract at $15,000 a year will be made with Snell, and if renewed for three additional years will be at the rate of $20,000 for the first two years and $25,000 for the final year. A similar contract, at $10,000, renewable for three years at $15,000, $20,000 and $25,000, respectively, will be made with Lieberman. Contracts are to be made with Hirli- man and Hoffman for two years at five per cent of production costs with a guaranteed minimum of $30,000 to Hirliman for each year and $25,000 to ifoffman for the first year and $30,000 for the second. The contracts will be renewable for three years dur- ing which time each is guaranteed $35,000 for the first year, $40,000 for the second and $50,000 for the third. Piano Decision Los Angeles, Jan. 14.— A piano yesterday decided the $1,000,000 damage suit of Leo Mantin and Eleanor Ninon against Paramount, in favor of the latter in U. S. District Court here. Judge Yankwich ordered a piano brought into court and listened to the playing of a Paramount film theme song, "One Hour With You," and "Si Si Senorita of Spain," which the plaintiffs charge had been used as the basis of the Paramount song. The judge rendered an oral verdict in which he declared he could distinguish no simi- larity between the two songs. He took under advisement the defense plea that the plaintiffs pay attorney's fees. Para. Manager Heads Hungary Association By ENDRE HEVESI Budapest, Jan. 4. — Miklos Palug- yay, local Paramount manager, has been elected managing president of the Union of Hungarian Film Dis- tributors, replacing the late Marton Libertiny. It is the first time the head of an American company has been elected to the important dis- tributor post. * * # If present production plans for the new season are realized, a total of 30 to 35 Hungarian productions will be released next year. Film reviewers, however, who were extremely lenient with domestic product in the early stages of its development, have be- come increasingly critical, on the be- lief that the native product has be- come strong enough to stand impartial criticism. "Sing, Sinner, Sing" and "My Man Godfrey" have been fanned. Condor Files Detail For Film Financing Washington, Jan. 14. — Proceeds from the proposed issue of 999,999 shares of common stock by Condor Pictures, estimated at $1,227,967, will be used to finance the production of films on which distribution contracts have been made, it was disclosed to- day by the registration statement filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The pictures included six featuring George O'Brien to cost an average of $82,500 each and in which RKO Radio _ has invested $225,000; four featuring Conrad Nagel, to cost an average of $22,500, in which Grand National has invested $43,750; five King Vidor's Pact Voided with Para. Hollywood, Jan. 14. — King Vidor's contract with Paramount for the pro- duction and direction of two more pictures, today was voided by mutual agreement. "Texas Rangers" is the latest of the Vidor films. RKO Reorganization Hearing Postponed (Continued from page 1) plan were also postponed to the same date, including the new motion by Isi- dor J. Kresel, attorney for a com- mittee of Orpheum Circuit preferred stockholders, for leave to intervene in the reorganization proceedings. Kresel's petition will be opposed by the general creditors' committee, Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett, attor- neys for the proponents of the RKO plan, and other creditor factions. Judge Bondy declined to hear the petition yesterday despite urging by Kresel. The court pointed out that opposition to the plan could be voiced at any time by the Orpheum stock- holders even though they were not given the right to intervene in the proceedings. The court also declined to hear arg- uments yesterday on the "unconstitu- tionality" of the RKO proceedings by Edward J. Hickey, a Washington, D. C, attorney who is the owner of old RKO Class A stock, which he failed to convert into common stock under the company's 1931 recapitalization plan. Report Odium May Become SEC Head (Continued from page 1) had one of the most phenomenal rises of any Wall Street factor in recent years, most of the company's ad- vances having been achieved during the depression years. He has been an active supporter of the Administra- tion and contributed heavily to the Democratic campaign fund during 1936. Atlas, in association with Lehman Bros., is the proponent of the RKO plan of reorganization, now before the Federal court here. He is reported to be prepared to personally super- vise settlements of conflicting reor- ganization interests which have been delaying hearings on the plan, im- mediately upon his return to New York. The Atlas consolidated portfolio, just made public, showed that the company owned on Oct. 31, last, $2,- 164,597 principal amount of RKO debentures, exclusive of common stock holdings and options to acquire ad- ditional RKO securities. Net assets of Atlas were given as $106,578,591. Condor to Start Feb. 15 Condor Pictures will begin opera- tions Feb. 15, it was learned yester- day. Offices of the new company will be established in the RCA Bldg. M. H. Hoffman, who will produce a number of films for the company, will return to Hollywood shortly after completing story buys here. Para. Illness on Wane Hollywood, Jan. 14. — The epidemic of colds and influenza which has seri- ously interfered with Paramount pro- duction appears to be waning, the studio reports. Balaban, Griffis Leave Coast Hollywood, Jan. 14. — Barney Bala- ban and Stanton Griffis, who have been here for Paramount conferences, left today by train. Judge Assesses Song Writers Hollywood, Jan. 14. — Judge Yank- wich today assessed Gene Johnston and Grant Lamont, song writers, $1,000 for defendants' attorneys fees in ruling in favor of Paramount Studios. Plaintiffs asked an amount approximating $500,000 from Par- amount charging infringement on their song, "Stairway of Love," which the defendants allegedly stole from the film, "Two for Tonight," and used as "Without a Word of Warning." No testimony was taken, the judge obviously basing his deci- sion largely on the Mantin case heard earlier. Simultaneously, Hortense Hirsch filed a $500,000 infringement suit against Paramount, alleging that the company took her song, "Lady of Love," in composing "Without a Word of Warning." Judge Yankwich took the case un- der advisement. Landis Resignation Next July Washington, Jan. 15.— James M. Landis, chairman of S. E. C, will re- sign in July. No decision concerning his successor has been reached. Shift Omaha Tax Plan Omaha, Jan. 14.— Although the or- dinance has not reached final read- ing, the City Council apparently has decided to forego enactment of a gen- eral occupation levy, which would have hit Omaha theatres, and pass instead a selective occupation tax which would not include the amuse- ment business in its provisions. Marzoni Taking Post Birmingham, Jan. 14. — Peterson Marzoni tomorrow takes office as di- rector of the new Dep't. of Amuse- ment Supervision here. Mrs. Harriet B.' Adams, former city censor, has been named as his assistant. MOTION PICTURE DAILY 8 Big Year Is Ahead, View On the Coast (Continued from page 1) lease on life. Fox West Coast, which has carried on a continual renovation program, announces a $1,500,000 bud- get for new theatres and further im- provements. Independent owners will shortly open two new houses in the Wilshire district. Similarly, the radio field is engaged in an intensive building program. CBS has started a new studio to house all its coast activities. California Radio System likewise is erecting a new building. NBC already finds the facili- ties of its building opened in 1935 in- adequate and is contemplating ex- pansion. Exhibitors are confident that busi- ness will be materially increased. Pointing out that the quality of pro- duct delivered in 1936 enabled the circuit to enjoy one of the best years in its history, Charles P. Skouras, head of Fox West Coast, predicts an- other rosy year. Commenting on the trends, Harry Vinnicoff, president of I.T.O says, "The A's and specials are all right, but what our members would like to see is an improvement in the class B pictures. It's hard to get the people who have the money and want to spend it out to see something that they know just doesn't measure up." Southern Receipts Total $20,759,000 (Continued from page 1) which $473,000 was for part-time em- ployes. A total of 1,746 proprietors and firm members were active in the conduct of the establishments. Analysis of the bureau's figures showed that of the four states, Ken- tucky led with 614 establishments with receipts of $7,815,000, followed by Tennessee with 670 establishments with receipts of $7,102,000; Alabama, 495 establishments with receipts of $4,539,000, and Mississippi, 300 es- tablishments with receipts of $1,303,- 000. The returns for Mississippi are incomplete owing to the impossibility of securing reports from a small num- ber of establishments due to the ab- sence of legislation making the fur- nishing of information mandatory. The report covers amusements of all types, including film and other thea- tres, circuses, shows, amusement parks, dance halls, bowling alleys, etc. No segregated figures for the exhibition branch have yet been compiled. The four states covered were the third group reported upon, previous releases by the bureau having covered the six New England states where 2,763 establishments had receipts of $59,086,000, and the eight mountain states where 1,722 places had receipts of $19,267,000. Buy at Glens Falls Glens Falls, N. Y., Jan. 14. — Schine Theatrical Co. has purchased the Rialto here after having controlled the property under lease for several years. The four-story property in- cludes a hotel and stores. Hagen to Make 12 Yearly for Maxwell (Continued from page 1) and sinker" by stories that "The Priv- ate Life of Henry VIII" had opened the American market. He declared all the talk about the friendliness of the American market was "terrible nonsense." Continuing, he asserted, "They are not friendly. They do not try to help us and have never tried to help us." Hagen said that on "Scrooge," New York had ordered 140 prints for Christmas of 1935, and excused the bad returns by saying the prints had arrived too late for general release. A forecast had been made for Christ- mas of 1936 of business from the United States of $200,000, while actu- ally the U. S. market brought a total of $6,000. There is no use trying to make pictures for American release, Hagen declared, expressing the belief that the only hope is for the British trade to approach the chiefs of the American industry, with the declara- tion : "You are taking millions out of England. Give us dollars when you sign contracts and we will sign your big stars and give you the sort of pic- tures you give us." Hagen detailed the cost and world grosses of various pictures handled by Twickenham Distributors as follows : "Scrooge," £24,000 cost, £33,000, world gross ; "Private Secretary," £30,000 and £25,000 ; "She Shall Have Music," £48,000 and £60,000; "In the Soup," £32,000 and £20,000. On "She Shall Have Music" Jack Hylton, star, received £7,000 and 2y2 per cent of the gross. Hagen said the pictures for Max- well will be for the British market only. "They will be wonderful pic- tures because they won't cost much," he declared. Criterion Adds Specials London, Jan. 15. — Five major films with internationally known directors will be made by Criterion Films on the enlarged program for the 1937 season. • The first of these, "The Killer," will be started in March under the direction of Raoul Walsh. The Scot- tish border film postponed last year because of weather conditions will be resumed by Tay Garnett. It is tenta- tively titled "High Treason." Three others are to average eight weeks each in production. British Features Up By 24 for the Year London, Jan. 4. — The Board of Trade figures of films registered in the 12 months ended Dec. 31, 1936, show an increase of British features, as compared with 1935, of 24, extra footage of 150,424 and a shorts in- crease of 52 subjects. Released during the year were 222 British features and 530 foreign, of which the majority were from the United States. The footages were 1,428,281 domestic, and 3,453,473 for- eign. A total of 196 British shorts were released during the year, with a footage of 213,253, and 612 foreign shorts, with footage totaling 784,943. British films accounted for 27.9 per cent of all pictures, and 29.5 per cent of the features. The current quota requirement of the Films Act is 20 per cent for both distributors and ex- hibitors. Shard Tells 'em Cincinnati, Jan. 14. — Elmer Shard, operator of the Monte Vista, suburban, has this on his window cards: "We do not play Bingo, Banko or anything but pic- tures. We do not teach wives and children how to gamble." Lee 1935 Salary Is Reported at $30,000 Washington, Jan. 14. — Arthur A. Lee, vice-president of G. B., received a salary of $30,000 in 1935; George W. Weeks, general sales manager, $20,800, and A. P. Waxman, advertis- ing and publicity director, $18,800, it was revealed here today with the publication of additional 1935 salar- ies. Edward Bowes, as managing direc- tor of the Moredall Realty Corp., re- ceived $26,000; Arthur L. Mayer, man- aging director of the Midtown The- atre Corp., $22,024; William Morris, Jr., president of the William Morris Agency, $20,400; Abe Lastfogel, treasurer of the company, $31,600 ; Truman H. Talley, general manager, Movietonews, Inc., $40,525 ; Laurence Staltings, editor, $31,750; Herman Shumlin, producer ; $36,702 ; Abe Schneider, treasurer of Columbia, $35,400; Nathan Burkan, attorney, $27,000 ; Abe Montague, general sales manager, $42,066; J. A. McConville, assistant sales manager, $28,850; Louis Weinberg, assistant sales man- ager, $16,650; Nate Spingold, $33,- 725 ; M. J. Cohn, branch manager, $22,475. America Led Imports To Germany in 1936 By J. K. RUTENBERG Berlin, Jan. 4. — Of the total of 180 features released in Germany in 1936, of which foreign countries sup- plied 65, the United States led with a total of 31. In 1935 the United States supplied 50 of 107 foreign features out of a total released of 201, and in 1934 the U: S. furnished 37 of the foreign total of 74 and a grand total of 196 released. The United States led the foreign field in releases in Germany in all three years, the second ranking going to Austria, which supplied 17 in 1936, 17 in 1935 and nine in 1934. France furnished 15 in 1935, but only five in 1936 and eight in 1934. Other countries accounted for only a neg- ligible fraction of the total in all three years. Ufa led the German producers in 1936 with 22 films. In all, 41 Ger- man producers supplied the 115 Ger- man films shown in this country last year. Seeks St. Louis Censors St. Louis, Jan. 14. — Alderman L. H. Couplin says he will present a bill to the Board of Aldermen for crea- tion of a city board of censors. Dis- tributors would be called upon to pay a city tax of one cent for each foot of film inspected by the censors. Texas Town Quits Game Franklin, Tex., Jan. 14. — Bank Night at local theatres has been dis- continued in keeping with a recent ruling of the state Supreme Court. Friday, January 15, 1937 Blumenthal to Sail Soon on G.B. Deal (Continued from page 1) is no change. Until a better arrange- ment presents itself there is nothing to say." Maurice Ostrer stated he had com- pleted tentative deals with independent producers for the distribution of 20 to 24 films in England by G.B. He also asserted he made several good contacts and would return in two to three months to complete negotiations. With 20 pictures on the current schedule, Ostrer said it is likely the company will produce about 24 next season. There is no intention of mak- ing any pictures in Hollywood. Asked about setting up G.B. ex- changes in this country, the assistant managing director said: "It is almost inevitable." He pointed out that with increased production the only solution was to open an exchange system here. He said the American company was making money. From other sources it was learned that G.B. will make every endeavor to release its schedule of 24 films sold this season. In the event 20th Cen- tury-Fox refuses to handle pictures promised exhibitors, then steps will be taken to establish a separate exchange system. Arthur Lee, American head, will sail for England to attend the Coron- ation, according "to Maurice Ostrer. Jack Barnstyn, vice-president in charge of Grand National's foreign sales, sailed on the same liner for a five-month tour of Europe. Gottlieb Quits Columbia Alex Gottlieb of the Columbia ad- vertising department resigned yester- day, the resignation to take effect im- mediately. He will announce a new affiliation on Monday. Prior to join- ing Columbia, Gottlieb was advertis- ing manager at United Artists. Wall Street Short Gains on Board Net High Low Close Change • 37J4 36J4 3634. — Vi Columbia, pfd. .. . 4554 4554 4554 4- Yi • 554 556 556 + 56 Consolidated, pfd. . 18 1754 1734 + 54 Eastman Kodak . .172 172 172 +2 Gen. T. Equip. . . 3156 3156 - v% K.-A.-O., pfd 110 110 110 Loew's, Inc . 7oyt 69 6954 . 2434 2456. 2454. + 54 Paramount 1 pfd. .17354 17054 17254 +154 - 56 Paramount 2 pfd. . 2254 22 22 Pathe Film 93,4 954 + 56 RKO . 9 m 9 + 56 20th Century-Fox. 3634 3434 3654 +156 20th Century, pfd. ■ 45M 4354 4434 +2 Universal, pfd. . . .102 102 102 Warner Bros. . . . . 17 16*4 16H Little Curb Movement Net High Low Close Change Grand National . Sentry Safety . . . . 354 • % 2 354 % 2 356 2 • 2156 • 456 2156 454 1254 2154 454 1254 -54 Universal Pict. . . 1254 + 54 RKO Bonds Off Sharply Net High Low Close Change Loew's 354s '46.... 10054 10056 10054 + 56 Paramount B'way 3s '55 7354 7354 7354 — 56 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 10054 10056 10054 + 54 RKO 6s '41 125 121 122 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 9954 99 99 — 56 (Quotations at close of Jan. 14) Best "BOOK" of the Month: CHAMPAGNE WALTZ Chosen by Adolph Zukor himself as the picture to celebrate his Silver Jubilee in motion pictures. Booked by world's leading exhibitors, "Champagne Waltz", starring Gladys Swarthout and Fred MacMurray, blends sweet and swing music in a big-time musical comedy produced in the best Paramount manner. AMERICA'S ACE DANCE TEAM.. . Veloz and Yolanda show you a couple of steps from their sensational rendition of the country's newest dance craze, The Champagne Waltz. See inside for contest facts! 25 YEARS A WINNER... The Adolph Zukor Jubilee Medallion, com- memorating Mr. Zukor's quarter century as a builder of hit pictures. SOLD! MOST POPULAR CONCERT STAR. . . America's favorite concert singer, Gladys Swarthout, leaves on a coast- to-coast concert tour gathering wider audiences for "Champagne Waltz". ^/im^fZ^^Z ssto 1 to ^1 i newspapers ^*^S- have displays by 200 line sxze Lpc fth exhibitor. and advertising to tie ,11 over the country have MEN'S STORES . . . Men's stores ^ Co., makers been contacted by ^ ^ supplied J* blow- of merchandise shown ^ piess Book. ups, stills, ad mats. See UN*..', ^ate n^«fl been sent stores ""^Jge ads, featuring star an picture, m leading u- « sheet music (Famous „ ,,readv selling b.g as shee „The Music, Popular w ls A Kiss Not A Kiss Merry-Go-Round , wn SOLD not only by its own excellence as one of the big-time musical shows of the year, but by one of the strongest promotional campaigns ever put be- hind a picture, "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ" already has started piling up records at the box-office. 0k ior Hit ^ finally T r*Corr't»'-» *«/i»t and „ . Posted ^ .lw.l»S Po«», ,l„ . . , - ■«•>• if f opular 1881 (R) SUED . . ■ One*. Ui' ™te"„° amaccive display x sPpRBB" . fteld Paramount has home omcc ' iTt ^° , PosS\^V m -kes excellent plug or '-Champagne WaUz hlStory s long as average trailer, g moed with telegrams from RESUUS: Paramount swampe ^^^^ speaal Gladys Swarthout and Fred MacMurray in "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ" •ilk JACK OAKIE • VELOZ and YOLANDA ■ Herman Bing ■ Vivienne Osborne • Frank Forest Benny Baker • Ernest Cossart • A Paramount Picture ■ Directed by A. Edward Sutherland PERFORMANCE INGREDIENTS of SUCCESS No selling campaign, however good, can make a pic- ture. "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ" is sweeping into the top grosser class because it has the elements you see on this page. GLADYS SWARTHOUT contributes her first really great performance to pictures. FRED Mac MURRAY now is solid box-office. Jack Oakie comes through with a rip-snorting comedy job, supported by such experts as Herman Bing and Ernest Cossart. Veloz and Yolanda, after all, are the top ball- room dancers of a day when ballroom dancing is at its peak of popularity. "Champagne Waltz", under the keen direction of A. Edward Sutherland, proves to be a fast-moving story, with many hit tunes — all in all a swell production. " 4 X MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, January 15, 1937 "Thin Man" Up To New Record In Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Jan. 14. — Not even bad weather, the holiday excitement or the Rose and Orange Bowl games, could prevent "After The Thin Man" from running up a new all-time record _ at the Penn. In seven days, including the New Year's Eve midnight show, the picture grossed over $32,000, topping the eight-day take of "Born to Dance" by $3,000. _ The house's booking jam prevented it from being held and the comedy hit was moved to the Warner. Everywhere else, business was con- siderably above average. At the Stan- ley, "Rainbow on the River" and a stage show got off to a good start but then fell way off and settled down to a moderate $21,500, while "Three Smart Girls" at the Alvin likewise looked headed for great things at the getaway, but also drooped in the mid- dle and took $8,750. Total first run grosses were $74,100. Average is $44,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 7: "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) ALVIN— (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,750. (Average, $5,500) "STOWAWAY" (20th-Fox) FULTON— (1,750), 25c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $4,500) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) PENN— (3,300), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $32,000. (Average, $11,000) "RAINBOW ON THE RIVER" (Radio) STANLEY — (3,600), 25c-60c, 7 days. Stage: Clyde Lucas' band, Buster Shaver and Olive and George Brasnow, Liazeed Arabs. Gross: $21,500. (Average, $18,500) "WANTED: JANE TURNER" (Radio) "LET'S MAKE A MILLION" (Para.) WARNER— (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,350. (Average, $4,500) "Plainsman" $9,500 Indianapolis Smash Indianapolis, Jan. 14. — "The Plainsman," doing S. R. O. business much of the week and turning them away on Sunday, took a smash $9,500 at the Circle, above normal by $5,500. It was held. "Camille" did excellent business of $11,000 at Loew's, $5,000 into the black. "Gold Diggers of 1937" was worth $5,500 to the Apollo, which was $1,500 upstairs. "Sing Me a Love Song," abetted by an elaborate stage show, brought $2,800 over the average to the Lyric for a total of $9,800. Competition was nil and the weather continued mild. Total first run business was $39,900. Average is $28,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 8 : "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (F. N.) APOLLO-(1,100), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $4,000) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) CIRCLE— (2,800), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $9,500. (Average, $4,000) "THAT GIRL FROM PARIS" (Radio) "MAKE WAY FOR A LADY" (Radio) INDIANA— (3,200), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,100. (Average, $7,000) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) LOEW'S— (2,800), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $6,000) "SING ME A LOVE SONG" (F. N.) LYRIC— (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Stage: Wither's "Opry" and Will H. Hill's "So- ciety Circus." Gross: $9,800. (Average, $7,000) Thin Man" Grabs New High, Buffalo Buffalo, Jan. 14. — "After the Thin Man" was a smash at the Buffalo during a week of record breaking box- office receipts in all houses. It gar- nered $27,200, topping normal by $15,200 and moved to the Great Lakes. "Pennies from Heaven" took $15,- 000, a record at the Lafayette where average is $6,000. It was held. "Gold Diggers of 1937," at the Great Lakes, went to $12,000, over the line by $4,700. The Hippodrome was a close runner up, "The Smartest Girl in Town" and "Mad Holiday" netting $11,400, up by $4,100. "Banjo on My Knee" ajid "15 Maiden Lane," on a dual at the Century, grossed $7,600 in a $5,800 house. The weather was mild and wet. Total first run business was $73,200. Average is $38,400. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 9 : "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) BUFFALO— (3,000), 30c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $27,200. (Average, $12,000) "THE SMARTEST GIRL IN TOWN" (Radio) "MAD HOLIDAY" (M-G-M) HIPPODROME— (2,500), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $11,400. (Average, $7,300). "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (F.N.) GREAT LAKES— (3,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $7,300). "BANJO ON MY KNEE" (20th-Fox) "15 MAIDEN LANE" (20th-Fox) CENTURY— (3,000). 25c, 7 days. Gross: $7,600. (Average, $5,800) "PENNIES FROM HEAVEN" (Col.) LAFAYETTE — (3,300), 25c, 7 days. Gross: $15,000. (Average, $6,000) "Thin Man" Smash Hit in Louisville Louisville, Jan. 14.— "After the Thin Man" led the way as all first runs ran up grosses which topped average by a wide margin. The film at Loew's State did $14,000, against an average of $5,500. Business was so heavy on New Year's Eve that the sale of tickets was suspended. The film was held another week. "College Holiday" beat an average $4,500 by 100 per cent at the Rialto, taking $9,000. The picture was moved to the Brown. The weather was warm and rainy, with night clubs, hotel floor shows, and private parties providing most of the competition. Total first run business was $36,500. Average is $22,400. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 7 : "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) BROWN— (1,500), 15c-25c-40c, 7 days, 2nd downtown week. Gross: $2,400. (Average, $2,500) "PIGSKIN PARADE" (20th-Fox) "CRAIG'S WIFE" (Col.) "STAR FOR A NIGHT" (zOth-Fox) "MUMMY'S BOYS" (Radio) KENTUCKY— (900), 15c-25c, 7 days, split week. Gross: $2,400. (Average, $1,700) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE^(3,000), 15c-25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $14,000. (Average, $5,500) "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (F. N.) MARY ANDERSON— (1,000), 15c-25c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $2,700. (Average, $3,500) "20,000 YEARS IN SING SING" (F. N.) "I FOUND STELLA PARISH" (F. N.) "CASE OF THE LUCKY LEGS" (F. N.) "ALICE ADAMS" (Radio) OHIO— (900), 15c, 7 days, split week. Gross: $1,500. (Average, $1,200) "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) RIALTO— (3,000), 15c-25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $4,500) "ONE IN A MILLION" (20th-Fox) STRAND — (1,500), 15c-25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $3,500) What a Life! Boston, Jan. 14. — Small wonder that managers get grey! Francis Gooch, man- ager of the M. & P. Columbia in Bath, Me., had a special show scheduled the other morning. The film didn't ar- rive on time. He had to bor- row shorts. The feature ar- rived and was the wrong one. Gooch announced from the stage that those present could get refunds or passes. Every light in the city went out during the announcement. The light came back on in 10 minutes, but when it came time to put on the evening show there was too little power for projection. Gooch asked for volunteers for an impromptu amateur show. An old phonograph was too old. Gooch borrowed a radio, but there wasn't enough power to run the radio. For the climax, the Columbia showed two emer- gency features that night without any advance adver- tising— and broke the all-time house record! "Love on Run" Is Milwaukee's High Milwaukee, Jan. 14. — "Love on the Run" and "Can This Be Dixie?," were top money for the week, gross- ing $10,000 at Fox's Wisconsin, just $2,000 above average. Second money went to "The Plainsman" and "Hats Off" with a $6,500 take at the circuit's Palace. This was $1,500 to the good. With all houses opening their new shows for the benefit of New Year's Eve celebrants at a 75-cent top, in- stead of the usual 50 cents, business for the new week opened strong and all first runs cleared par. The only house charging less than 75 cents for New Year's Eve was the Riverside, which raised its top ante from 30 to 40 cents. It grossed $5,800 with "The Man Who Lived Twice" and a stage show. This was $800 above average, while "Gold Diggers of 1937" and "Wanted : Jane Turner," did $5,500 at the Warner. All houses ran only a single feature program with selected shorts for the New Year's Eve entertainment. Total first run business was $29,600. Average is $24,500. Estimated takings : Week Ending Jan. 6: "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (F. N.) "WANTED: JANE TURNER" (Radio) WARNER— (2,400), 25c-35c-50c, 6 days. Gross: $5,500 (Average, $5,000) Week Ending Jan. 7: "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) "HATS OFF" (G. N.) PALACE— (2,400), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500 (Average, $5,000) "THE MAN WHO LIVED TWICE" (Col.) RIVERSIDE— (2,300), 20c-25c-30c, 8 days. Stage: "Hello 1937" Revue. Gross: $5,800. (Average, $5,000) "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) "ARIZONA MAHONEY" (Para.) STRAND— (1,400), 25c-35c,50c, 7 days. Gross: $1,800. (Average, $1,500) "LOVE ON THE RUN" (M-G-M) "CAN THIS BE DIXIE?" (20th-Fox) WISCONSIN— (3,200), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Gros: $10,000. Average, $8,000) 13 "Diggers" Big Detroit Draw With a Show Detroit, Jan. 14. — "Gold Diggers of 1937" was a gold mine at the Michi- gan, with Ina Ray Hutton heading a stage show. The $29,300 take was over par by $9,300. In spite of this terrific business "One in a Million" and a stage show headed by Francis Lederer ran up to $28,600 at the Fox, and "The Plains- man" was strong with $12,200 at the United Artists. Total first run business was $93,800. Average without the Downtown is $65,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 7: "CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA" (20th-Fox) "YOU CAN'T GET AWAY WITH IT" (Univ.) ADAMS— (1,770), 10c-40c, 7 days. .Gross: $4,700. (Average, $5,000) "ONE IN A MILLION" (20th-Fox) FOX— (5,100), 15c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Francis Lederer, 3 Slate Bros., Pappy, Zeke & Ezra, Dorothy Martin & Co., 6 DeCardos. Gross: $28,600. (Average, $20,000) "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (F.N.) MICHIGAN— (4,100), 15c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Ina Ray Hutton & Melodears, Win- stead Trio, Trado Twins, Jackie Gilford, Margie Palm. Gross: $29,300. (Average, $20,000) "POLO JOE" (W.B.) "JUNGLE PRINCESS" (Para.) STATE— (3,000), 10c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,200. (Average, $5,000) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) UNITED ARTISTS— (2,070), 15c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $12,200. (Average, $10,000) "GARDEN OF ALLAH" (U.A.) MADISON— (2,000), 15c-65c, 2nd week. Gross: $9,200. (Average, $10,000) "I COVER CHINATOWN" (Wm. Steiner) "HOUSE OF SECRETS" (Chesterfield) DOWNTOWN— (2,950), 10c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $4,600. "Smart Girls" and Band Hit at Omaha Omaha, Jan. 14. — The Orpheum set the pace New Year's week, grossing $13,300 for "Three Smart Girls" and Louis Armstrong's band. This topped par by $5,800. Business at the Omaha for "One in a Million" and "General Spanky" surged over the top with a take of $8,500, or $3,000 above average. The Paramount continued to find its readopted policy of a 55-cent top pay- ing dividends when "The Plainsman" and "Under Your Spell" grossed $11,- 000, or $1,700 over par, for the second best take since the October reopening. Midnight shows New Year's Eve helped offset the weather for all houses. Total first run business was $38,200. Average is $26,300. Estimated takings : Week Ending Jan. 6: "THAT GIRL FROM PARIS" (Radio) "NIGHT WAITRESS" (Radio) BRANDEIS— (1,200), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,400. (Average, $4,000) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) "UNDER YOUR SPELL" (ZOth-Fox) PARAMOUNT— (2,900), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $9,300) Week Ending Jan. 7: "ONE IN A MILLION" (20th-Fox) "GENERAL SPANKY" (M-G-M) OMAHA— (2,200), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,500. (Average, $5,500) "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) ORPHEUM— (3,000), 35c-55c, 7 days. Stage: Louis Armstrong's Band. Gross: $13,300. (Average, $7,500) 14 MOTION' PICTURE DAILY Friday, January 15, 1937 "Smart Girls" Minneapolis' Lead, $8,300 Minneapolis, Jan. 14. — "Three Smart Girls" started the new first run policy at the Century by forging ahead for a gross of $8,300. Estimated average is $3,500. The show was held for another week. At the Orpheum, "That Girl From Paris" grossed $10,000. Average is $6,000 on a bill with a stage show, "Riviera Follies." "A Midsummer Night's Dream" closed a two-week run at the World with $2,500, over normal by $500. "College Holiday" upped the normal of $5,500 at the Paramount by $500 and "That Girl From Paris" did $1,300 more than the usual $4,000. Grosses still kept above normal even after the holiday period. Total first run business in Minne- apolis was $38,800. Average is $27,- 000. Total first run business in St. Paul was $15,900. Average is $14,500. Estimated takings : Minneapolis : Week Ending Jan. 6: "STOWAWAY" (2ttth-Fox) STATE— (2,400), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,500) "A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM" (W. B.) WORLD— (400), 25c-35c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $2,500. (Average, $2,000) "THAT GIRL FROM PARIS" (Radio) ORPHEUM— (2,900), 25c-40c, 7 days. Stage: "Riviera Follies." Gross: $10,000. (Average, $6,000) Week Ending Jan. 5: "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) MINNESOTA— (4,000), 25c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $10,000) "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) CENTURY— (1,600), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,300. (Average, $3,500) St. Paul: Week Ending Jan. 6: "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (2,300), 25c -40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,500) "WITHOUT ORDERS" (Radio) "HOT MONEY" (W. B.) TOWER— (1,000), 25c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $1,600. (Average, $1,500) Week Ending Jan. 5: "RAINBOW ON THE RIVER" (Radio) RIVIERA— (1,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $3,500) "THAT GIRL FROM PARIS" (Radio) ORPHEUM — (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,300. (Average, $4,000) Yellow Dogs to Move Denver, Jan. 14. — The local Yellow Dogs chapter has arranged for new club rooms which will be open soon. Three rooms on the second floor of the Brown Palace Hotel will be set aside. It is planned to have another show in the near future to raise addi- tional funds. It has been decided that the mem- bership in the future will be confined to those connected with the amusement industry. Ohio's Revenue Gains Columbus, Jan. 14. — Despite the fact that the 1936 Ohio sales tax law did not become effective until Jan. 27, and that receipts were materially reduced by the repeal of tax on foods later in the year, the total revenue to the state for 1936 amounted to $55,798,781. This was more than $9,427,940 in excess of the 1935 fig- ures. "Thin Man" Leads Big N. H. Business New Haven, Jan. 14.— Midnight New Year's Eve shows at advanced prices at all but the College, an excel- lent New Year's Day, with evening admissions in effect throughout, and a fine week-end, sent grosses sky- rocketing. The Poli broke the house record at present prices and beat the takes for the circuit with "After the Thin Man" and "Come Closer, Folks," more than doubling the usual $7,000 with a $15,000 gross. The bill was moved to the College for another week. The Paramount used its s.r.o. sign for the vaudeville on New Year's Eve at $1.10, and, continuing to do business through the week with "The Plainsman," made a brilliant showing at $11,600, over par by $6,700. The picture was held. "Gold Diggers of 1937" and "King of Hockey" at the Roger Sherman took $8,000, well over the average $4,700. Total first run business was $38,900. Average is $19,400. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 8: "BANJO ON MY KNEE" (20th-Fox) "COUNTERFEIT LADY" (Col.) COLLEGE — (1,499), 25c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $4,300. (Average, $2,800) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (2,348), 35c-50c, 7 days. (Midnite show, $1,10, vaudeville and "Let's Make a Million".) Gross: $11,600. (Aver- age, $4,900) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) "COME CLOSER, FOLKS" (Col.) POLI— (3,040), 35c-50c, 7 days. (Midnite show, 50c-75c.) Gross: $15,000. (Average, $7,000) "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (F.N.) "KING OF HOCKEY" (W.B.) ROGER SHERMAN — (2,200), 35c-50c, 7 days. (Midnite show, 50c-75c.) Gross: $8,000. (Average, $4,700) "Born Dance" Gets Lead in Montreal Montreal, Jan. 14. — "Born to Dance" was the leader in a neck- and-neck box-office race. It grossed $13,000 at the Palace, over par by $2,000. "College Holiday," one of the duo at the Capitol, was responsible for $11,500, while "Smartest Girl in Town," backed by vaudeville, brought $12,500 to Loew's. "Pennies from Heaven," one of two features at the Princess, took $8,500 while the second week of "Rembrandt" at His Majesty's was worth $6,500 and was held for a third week. The weather included rain and sleet, pave- ments being in wretched condition. Total first run business was $52,000. Average is $43,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 9 : "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) "ACCUSING FINGER" (Para.) CAPITOL — (2,547) , 25c-35c-40c-50c-60c, 7 days. Gross: $11,500. (Average, $9,50C) "REMBRANDT" (British) "MAN IN THE MIRROR" (British) HIS MAJESTY'S— (1,700), 25c-35c-40c-50c. 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $5,000). Held over for third week. "SMARTEST GIRL IN TOWN" (Radio) LOEW'S— (3,115), 25c-34c-40c-50c-60c, 7 days. Stage: Red Skelton's "Manhattan Scandals." Gross: $12,500. (Average, $10,- 500) "BORN TO DANCE" (M-G-M) PALACE — (2,600). 25c-35c-4Oc-50fc-65c, 7 days. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $11,000) "PENNIES FROM HEAVEN" (Col.) "MAN WHO LIVED TWICE" (Col.) PRINCESS — (2,272), 25c-30c-35c-50c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $8,500. (Average, $7,000) "Thin Man" $8,300 Grosser in Seattle Seattle, Jan. 14. — Top money for the week went to "After the Thin Man" at the Fifth Avenue with a take of $8,300, over par by $1,300. "One in a Million" and "Smart Blonde" at the Orpheum were in the money on a gross of $7,150. New Year's business was excellent, but a heavy snowstorm and severe cold followed, with all kinds of busi- ness hard hit. Total first run business was $41,oUU. Average is $41,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 4: "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) FIFTH AVENUE— (2,500), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $8,300. (Average, $7,000) "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) BLUE MOUSE— (950), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week, extended run from Fifth Avenue. Gross: $2,850. (Average, $4,000) "PENNIES FROM HEAVEN" (Col.) "NORTH OF NOME" (Col.) LIBERTY— (1,800), 15c-25c-30c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $6,100. (Average, $5,000) "STOWAWAY" (20th-Fox) "CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA" (20th-Fox) MUSIC BOX— (950), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week, extended run from Paramount. Gross: $3,100. (Average, $4,000) "LET'S MAKE A MILLION" (Univ.) "ARIZONA MAHONEY" (Para.) MUSIC HALL— (2,275), 25c-35c, 7 days. Vaudeville headed by Earl Earle & Co. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $4,500) "ONE IN A MILLION" (20th-Fox) "SMART BLONDE" (F.N.) ORPHEUM — (2,450), 25c-30c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,150. (Average, $6,000) "COUNTRY GENTLEMEN" (Republic) PALOMAR— (1,500), 15c-25c-35c, 7 days. Vaudeville headed by Sammy White. Gross: $4,900. (Average, $4,500) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) "LUCKIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD" (Univ.) PARAMOUNT— (3,050), 25c-30c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,200. (Average, $6,000) "Theodora" Second Week Portland Top Portland, Jan. 14. — "Theodora Goes Wild" in its second week at the Paramount again led the way and grossed $8,500, over average by $3,- 500, with the assistance of "Can This Be Dixie?" "After the Thin Man" was held for a third successful week at the Broad- way, bringing in $7,000, over the regu- lar take by $2,000. In its second week at United Art- ists, "Camille" drew $7,900, up by $2,- 900. Total first run business was $36,- 900. Average is $24,700. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 9 : "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) "DOWN THE STRETCH" (F. N.) BROADWAY— (1,912), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $5,- 000) "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) "CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA" (20th-Fox) BLUE MOUSE— (1,700), 30c-35c-40c, 4th downtown week. Gross: $2,500. (Average, $1 ,700) "THE PLOT THICKENS" (Radio) "NORTH OF NOME" (Col.) MAYFAIR— (1,700), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $3,000) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) "SMART BLONDE" (W. B.) ORPHEUM— (1,700), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $5,000) "THEODORA GOES WILD" (Col.) "CAN THIS BE DIXIE" (20th-Fox) PARAMOUNT— (3,008), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $8,500. (Average, $5,000) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS— (945), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $7,900. (Average, $5,000) 44 Thin Man" up With $40,000 In Washington Washington, Jan. 14. — Loew's Capitol hit $40,000 in eight days for "After the Thin Man" and the "Folies Parisienne" Revue. The gross was $19,100 over average and represented the greatest gross since inauguration, 1933, when $39,000 was taken on seven days. The New Year's spurt continued throughout the week to a total take of $100,400— the largest in more than three years. A return engagement of "Born to Dance" at Loew's Columbia took $6,100, over the first run average by $2,500. "Smart Blonde" at the Metro- politan was good for $6,800, to top average by $2,500. "That Girl from Paris" at RKO- Keith's took $15,500, or $4,900 over average, and went into a second week. Casualty of the week, however, was the Belasco, which folded Jan. 4. Total first run business was $100,- 400. (Average is $76,700.) Estimated takings, exclusive of tax : Four Days Ending Jan. 4: "WEEKEND MILLIONAIRE" (G. B.) BELASCO — (1,140), 25c-65c, 4 days. Gross: $300. (Average, seven days, $3,000.) House closed. Week Ending Jan. 7: "GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN" (F. N.) EARLE— (2,218), 25c-77c, 7 days. Stage: Little Jack Little and Orchestra, Herbert Mundin, Three Robins. Gross: $21,000. (Average, $18,400.) "BORN TO DANCE" (M-G-M) LOEW'S COLUMBIA— (1,243), 25c-40c, 7 days (return engagement). Gross: $6,100. (Average, first run, $3,600.) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) LOEW'S PALACE^(2,370), 25c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $10,700. (Average, first week, $15,900.) "SMART BLONDE" (F. N.) METROPOLITAN — (1,591), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,800. (Average, $4,300.) "THAT GIRL FROM PARIS" (Radio) RKO-KEITH'S— (1,836), 25c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $15,500. (Average, $10,600.) Eight Days Ending Jan. 7: "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) LOEW'S CAPITOL— (3,434), 25c-66c, 8 days. Stage: "Folies Parisienne" Revue, with Four Craddocks, Red Dust, League of Nations Trio, George Campo & Elsie Roy, Rosalean & Seville, Georges Bruaya, Andre Randall, Meta Carlyle, Eight Argentinas, chorus of "60 French models." Gross: $40,- 000. (Average, seven days, $20,900.) First Run in 3 Houses Seattle, Jan. 14. — Some sort of record is being established here by "College Holiday," the first picture to play a first run engagement in three different theatres. It opened at the Fifth Avenue, was moved to the Blue Mouse for an extended run, then went to the Music Box for a third-week continuation of the extended run. Bronson Is Promoted Pittsburgh, Jan. 14. ■ — George Bronson has been promoted by War- ners from the Sheridan Square to manage the Enright in East Liberty, replacing John McCurdy, resigned. Lyle Harding has been moved from the Regent to the Sheridan Square, Sam Gould from the Cameraphone and Sam Kleeban, assistant at the Regal in Wilkinsburg, to manage the Cam- eraphone. WRI N IN STE OF A WOMAN IN LOVE! . . tout a Friday, January 15, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 19 "Camille" Wins in Providence Pickup Providence, Jan. 14. — Midnight shows spelled a happy New Year for exhibitors and sent grosses soaring to the skies. Loew's State came down the stretch in the lead with "Camille," which caught $17,500, bettering the house average by $5,500. "Racing Lady," coupled with the "Hollywood Hotel" Revue, did a land office business at the RKO Albee, garnering $10,800, over by $3,800. "Go West, Young Man," on a dual with "Beware of Ladies," brought in $10,000 to the Strand, $3,500 to the good and "Gold Diggers of 1937" upped the Majestic take $10,500. Fay's, with "Career Woman" and vaudeville, was $1,000 over at $8,000. Sonja Henie in person and pro hockey games provided plenty of competition. The weather was warm and fair. Total first run business was $56,800. Average is $39,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 7 : "GO WEST, YOUNG MAN" (Para.) "BEWARE OF LADIES" (Republic) STRAND — (2,300) , 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $6,500) "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (F.N.) MAJESTIC — (2,400), 15c-40c, 7 days Gross: $10,500. (Average, $7,000) "CAREER WOMAN" (20th-Fox) FAY'S— (1,600), I5c-40c, 7 days. Stage: Five acts of vaudeville. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $7,000) "RACING LADY" (Radio) RKO ALBEE— (2,300), 15c-40c, 7 days. Stage: "Hollywood Hotel" Revue. Gross: $10,800. (Average, $7,000) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE — (3,400), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $17,500. (Average, $12,000) Marquee Law Advanced Wilmington, Jan. 14. — A proposed amendment to the building code regu- lating marquees and signs has been given first and second readings by the Board of Directors of the Street and Sewer Dept. The present move fol- lows a request of the Stanley- Warner Co., for information regarding the erection of signs on marquees and following the request of the Ace, an independent house, to be allowed to maintain a sign-type marquee already installed. The amendment gives the directors power to permit signs, advertising and ornamentation on marquees. Missouri Tax Shift Asked by Governor Kansas City, Jan. 14. — In his in- augural address to the legislature of Missouri, Gov. Stark asked that the present one per cent sales tax be doubled and that other taxes be in- creased to support a social security program. The present sales levy ex- pires at the end of this year. At the _ same time Stark recom- mended discontinuance of the prop- erty tax of five cents on the $100 valuation for state purposes, provided other tax sources are adequate. If the legislature carries out this suggestion, then exhibitors probably would benefit, inasmuch as they only collect the sales tax ; they have to pay the property tax. In Kansas Gov. Walter A. Huxman was inducted into office, and he also asked for increased revenues to pro- vide for social security and other state needs, although he made no specific recommendations. 'After Thin Man "Leads In Cincinnati at $18,300 Cincinnati, Jan. 14. — "After the Thin Man," led the first runs with $18,300 at the RKO Albee. Aver- age is $12,000. It was moved to the RKO Capitol. The runner-up was "College Holi- day," which gave the RKO Palace $16,000, up $6,000. It continues at the RKO Lyric. "Wanted, Jane Turner," plus "Revue Continental" on the RKO Shubert stage, grossed $17,000 in eight days, including New Year's Eve show at 75 cents, 99 cents and $1.25. The seven-day average at the regular scale is $12,000. Total first run business was $74,150. Average is $58,700. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 7 : "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) RKO ALBEE— (3,300), 35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $18,300. (Average, $12,000) Moved to RKO Capitol. "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) RKO PALACE— (2,700), 35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $16,000. (Average, $10,000) Moved to RKO Lyric. "WANTED, JANE TURNER" (Radio) RKO SHUBERT— (2,150), 40c-60c, 8 days including special New Year's Eve show at 75c-99c-$1.25. Gross: $17,000. (Average, $12,000) "THE STOWAWAY" (20th-Fox) RKO CAPITOL— (2,000), 35c-42c, 7 days, 2nd downtown week. Gross: $5,300. (Aver- age, $6,500) "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (F.N.) RKO LYRIC— (1,400), 35c-42c, 7 days, 2nd downtown week. Gross: $5,100. (Aver- age, $6,500) "BORN TO DANCE" (M-G-M) RKO GRAND— (1,200), 25c-40c, 7 days, 2nd downtown week. Gross: $3,650. (Aver- age, $2,750) "MISSING GIRLS" (Chesterfield) RKO FAMILY— (1,000), 15c-25c, 4 days. Gross: $1,700. (Average, $1,250) "YELLOW CARGO" (G.N.) RKO FAMILY— (1,000), 13c-25c, 3 days. Gross: $1,400. (Average, $1,200) "BANJO ON MY KNEE" (20th-Fox) KEITH'S— (1,500), 30c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $5,700. (Average, $6,500) Moved to RKO Grand. Two Films, Show Lincoln's Leader Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 14. — Cold weather bore down on box-offices late in the week, but not until most houses had grabbed a sizeable amount of coin over the holiday weekend. The leader was the Orpheum with a stage show, "Texas Centennial Revue" and two films, "Let's Make a Million" and "Tundra," which picked up $3,100. This was $1,350 over average. "Stowaway" was strong at the Lin- coln, $2,800 in, and $600 to the good. "The Plainsman" hopped along in the fore part of the week at the Stuart and came out with $3,900, $800 up. Total first run business was $11,350. Average is $9,000. Estimated takings : Week Ending Jan. 6: "GENERAL SPANKY" (M-G-M) "VOICE OF BUGLE ANN" (M-G-M) "RED SALUTE" (U. A.) "CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA" (20th-Fox) LIBERTY— (1,200), 10c-15c, 7 days. Gross: $850. (Average, $850) Week Ending Jan. 7: "STOWAWAY" (20th-Fox) LINCOLN— (1,600), 10c-20c-25c, 8 days. Gross: $2,800. (Average, $2,200) "LET'S MAKE A MILLION" (Para.) "TUNDRA" (Burroughs-Tarzan) ORPHEUM— (1,350), 10c-15c-20c-25c-35c, 7 days. Stage: "Texas Centennial Revue" 3 days and midnight show. Gross: $3,100. (Average, $1,750) "GREAT GUY" (G. N.) VARSITY— (1,100), 10c-20c-25c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $700. (Average, $1,100) Week Ending Jan. 8: "PLAINSMAN" (Para.) STUART— (2,000), 10c-25c-40c, 8 days. Gross: $3,900. (Average, $3,100) Turnquist to Imperial Boston, Jan. 14. — Elmer Turnquist has been named booking manager of Imperial Pictures by District Man- ager Leo Britton. Turnquist was booker for Academy Pictures, which was taken over by Philip Smith of Imperial a few days ago. Is Evergreen Assistant Seattle, Jan. 14. — Robert Williams, former assistant manager of the Or- pheum here, has gone to Wenatchee, Wash., as assistant to Morrie G. Nim- mer, in charge there for Evergreen- Fox West Coast. Houston Gets Two Hits in One Week Houston, Jan. 14. — "Camille" at Loew's State and "The Plainsman" at the Majestic ran nip and tuck to take honors with an estimated take of $11,- 500 each. Average for each theatre is $7,000. In the face of this oppo- sition, "One in a Million" came through at the Metropolitan with $9,300, which was $2,300 above par. The Kirby had an average week of $5,000 with "Mad Holiday," "Every- thing Is Thunder" and "Under Your Spell." The weather was as warm as spring, and fair. Opposition was held to a few scattered night clubs. Total first run business was $37,300. Average is $26,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 7 : "MAD HOLIDAY" (M-G-M) KIRBY— (1,450), 15c-35c, 3 days. Gross: $2,000. (Average, 7 days, $5,000) "EVERYTHING IS THUNDER" (G. B.) KIRBY— (1,450), 15c-35c, 1 day. Bank Night. Gross: $1,200 (Average, 7 days, $5,000) "UNDER YOUR SPELL" (20th-Fox) KIRBY— (1,450), 15c-35c, 3 days. Gross: $1,800. (Average, 7 days, $5,000) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE— (2,750), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $11,500. (Average, $7,000) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) MAJESTIC — (2,250), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $11,500. (Average, $7,000) "ONE IN A MILLION" (20th-Fox) METROPOLITAN— (2,600), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $9,300. (Average, $7,000) Name Awards Committee Hollywood, Jan. 14. — Ray June, chairman of the photographic branch of the Technicians' Section of the Academy, has named a committee to formulate rules for the cinemato- graphic award nominations. It includes : John Arnold, Joseph August, George Crane, Edward Cron- jager, Arthur Edeson, George Joseph Folsey, Jr., Fred Gage, Merritt B. Gerstad, Thomas Angman, E. B. Mc- Greal, Virgil Miller, Victor Milner, Hal Mohr, Ira Morgan, J. M. Nick- olaus, Karl Sturss, John Swain, Joseph Valentine, Joseph Walker, Vernon Walker, Ray Wilkinson and June. "Thin Man" Denver Smash in Big Week Denver, Jan. 14. — "After the Thin Man" packed the Orpheum repeatedly and made a remarkable showing — $17,000, over par by $11,000— in the face of competition that resulted in four holdovers. "The Plainsman" went to $10,000, over normal by $5,500, in seven days at the Denham, and "The Garden of Allah" was $5,000 to the good on a take of $12,500 at the Denver. "Banjo on My Knee" was par at $3,000 in the Aladdin. "Allah" was moved to the Aladdin and "Banjo" was transferred to the Broadway. Principal competition was the an- nual Shrine Circus at the Municipal Auditorium. Total first run business was $50,000. Average is $28,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 7 : "BANJO ON MY KNEE" (20th-Fox) ALADDIN— (1,500), 25c-40c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $3,000) "STOWAWAY" (ZOth-Fox) BROADWAY— (1,500), 25c-40c, 7 days, following a week at the Denver. Gross: $2,500. (Average, $2,000) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) DENHAM— (1,500), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $4,500) "GARDEN OF ALLAH" (U. A.) DENVER— (2,500), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Stage band. Gross: $12,500. (Average, $7,500) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) ORPHEUM— (2,600), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $17,000. (Average, $6,000) "MORE THAN A SECRETARY" (Col.) "SLALOM" (World) PARAMOUNT— (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $3,500) To Open in Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Jan. 14. — Warner's will open a new neighborhood house, the Squirrel Hill, located in the resi- dential district bearing that name, on Feb. 12. The theatre will have 1,000 seats and will be one of the most modern in the tri-state area. Warners have another theatre in the same district, the Manor, three blocks away from the Squirrel Hill. Coast SMPE Meet Set Hollywood, Jan. 14. — The Pacific Coast section of the S.M.P.E. will meet here Jan. 28. Dr. Kenneth Mees will present a paper on "Photographic Developments During the Past 25 Years" for the group. All studio heads will be invited to attend. Union Will Celebrate Birmingham, Jan. 14. — Operators' Local No. 236, will celebrate its 25th anniversary at the Thomas Jefferson Hotel Feb. 13. Members from nearby states will at- tend, including R. M. Cooke, city commissioner of Chattanooga, and W. P. Raoul, Atlanta. Form Torrington Firm Bridgeport, Jan. 14. — The State Theater of Torrington, Inc., has been organized here by Charles Levine and Morris Jacobson. Levine and Jacob- son are the owners of a string of local neighborhood houses. Switch Pittsburgh Policy Pittsburgh, Jan. 14. — After op- erating the small Palace, Diamond St., as a first run for the last six weeks, the Harris Amusement Co. has gone back to subsequent run duals at 15 and 20 cents. MOTION PICTURE RADIO DAILY RADIO 20 Engineers See Room for 500 New Air Spots (Continued from page 1) radio service and 562 towns between 5,000 and 10,000. By opening the band between 1,510 and 1,600 kilocycles now reserved for experimental use, additional stations, ranging from 40 using 5,000 watts to 500 using 100 watts could be accom- modated. As anticipated, the division rec- ommended the creation of six classes of broadcasters in the regular band, to consist of A stations operating with not less than 50,000 watts; B sta- tions of 10,000 to 50,000 watts ; C sta- tions of 5,000 to 50,000 watts ; D sta- tions of 1,000 to 5,000 watts; E sta- tions of 500 to 1,000 watts, and F stations of 100 to 250 watts. The A stations would operate on powers up to 500,000 watts. As a means of meeting the pro- tests of educators that insufficient at- tention was being paid to cultural programs, the engineering division suggested the commission consider the use of the ultra-high frequencies for that purpose. To allocate a block of frequencies to any special group, it was pointed out, "would be unsound engineering and would limit the serv- ice which can be rendered to the pub- lic." "It is the opinion of the engineer- ing department that the band 550- 1,600 kilocycles is too small a band with which to solve the perplexing engineering problems presented by such special groups," the report con- tinued, "and that resort must be had to the ultra-high frequencies if the problems of these groups are to be solved by the use of sound engineer- ing." All changes determined upon by the commission, the engineering division warned, should be brought about grad- ually, so as to minimize the difficulties of the broadcasters and the expense involved. Beau Geste to Gravet . As a farewell gesture to Fernand Gravet, the French actor, NBC today is dedicating a special musical pro- gram to him and short-waving it to Europe. Gravet will sing two num- bers on the program, which will be aired over the Blue from 3 :45 to 4 P. M., and transmitted to Europe via W3XAL and W8XK. "Singing Lady" Renewed The Kellogg Co., through N. W. Ayer & Son, Inc., yesterday renewed its NBC "Singing Lady" program for 48 weeks. The program is heard Mondays through Thursdays on the Blue, 5:30 to 5:45 P. M., E.S.T., and Fridays, 5 :30 to 6 P. M., E.S.T. ' Gluskin Starting Series Lud Gluskin, who was recently named music director for the CBS west coast stations, will inaugurate a new series Jan. 16. The program will be known as "Fiesta" and will originate in the studios of KNX, Hol- lywood. Guest stars will be featured and it is expected that screen players will be used in the main. The series will be heard Saturdays at 10 :30 P. M., E.S.T. WMCAlo Broadcast "Good Will Clinic" What WMCA hopes will be a fool- proof "Good Will Court" begins a stay on that station and the affiliated intercity stations Jan. 20. The pro- gram will be known as "Good Will Clinic" and will be broadcast weekly for a full hour beginning at 10 P. M., E.S.T. John J. Anthony will direct the series. Like its ill-fated predecessor, the "Good Will Clinic" will deal with human problems, but it is promised the new series will not conflict with any bar association or court rulings in that advice will be rendered only by Anthony, not by jurists or lawyers. The new director is an official of the Marital Relations Institute: Natur- ally, a sponsor will be sought. One Way of Doing It Two new Mexican singers were signed by NBC yesterday. They are Ramon Armengo, tenor, and Josef Negrete, baritone, and their network debut has been set for Jan. 21 at 3 :30 P. M., E.S.T. on the Blue. The following week they will be heard over the Red. How they came to be signed makes a humorous story. Recently, while visiting a radio studio in Mexico, John Royal, NBC vice-president, heard them sing and after extending perfunctory compliments told them to drop in and see him if they ever decided to come to New York. Royal thought he had seen the last of them when he left Mexico, but yesterday the surprised executive found them in his office. As good as his word, Royal granted them an au- dition and signed them to a contract. Form Westinghouse Company Westinghouse Electric & Manufac- turing Co. has formed a broadcasting company, it was revealed recently by a statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The new company, Westinghouse Radio Sta- tions, Inc., is expected to operate the present Westinghouse chain of four stations, including KDKA. The statement related that Westing- house bought all the outstanding capi- tal stock of the Main Auto Supply Co. of Indiana on Aug. 1 and the name was changed to Westinghouse Radio Stations, Inc., two days later. N. H. Sheriff Refuses Offer New Haven, Jan. 5. — High Sheriff J. Edward Slavin of New Haven County whose staging of "First Of- fender" program Sundays over WELI has resulted in several national net- work offers, has refused in the hope that a Connecticut sponsor will be found and the present WELI cast re- tained. The script is written from county jail prisoners' accounts of their first encounters with the law, and has been presented for 13 weeks, in co- operation with a volunteer WELI group headed by Adelaide Poli, niece of S. Z. Poli. Audition for Marx Bros. Hollywood, Jan. 14. — The Marx Brothers will make an air debut soon over CBS if the special audition for an unnamed sponsor scheduled for Friday is successful. Audition will be played before an audience with Raymond Paige's Orchestra at the Music Box Theatre. It will not be broadcast. He Got It Kosciusko, Miss. Editor, Motion Picture Daily. New York. Dear Sir: WHEF has a daily pro- gram of Hollywood news made up of information sent us by the industry and run as a daily feature at 1:15 P.M. except Sunday. We would like permission to quote your publication on such occasion as it may carry news which is suitable to the occasion. Yours very truly, Attala Broadcasting Corp. Radio Station WHEF, J. E. WHARTON, President Non-Network Gross Gains 23% Over 1935 The National Ass'n. of Broadcast- ers' estimate of the total U. S. non- network revenue is available only for the first nine months of 1936. Below it is compared with NBC's gross from national spot and local advertisers (non-network) on NBC operated sta- tions : Total U. S. non-network revenue, first nine months 1936, $31,893,930 or an increase over the preceding year for a corresponding period of 23 per cent. Total NBC national spot and local revenue, first nine months 1936, $2,- 674,844 or an increase over 1935's figures for a similar period of 64 per cent. The CBS non-network spot busi- ness estimate is not available. Templeton, Flynn, Et Al Short Shots: Alex Templeton, blind pianist formerly featured with Jack Hylton's band, was signed for the Studebaker "Champions" program yesterday . . . Cissie Loftus, Dorothy Dresslin and Douglas Stanbury will guest appear on the Hammerstein "Music Hall" program Jan. 19 . . . First of the "College Campus" series will emanate from the University of Michigan Jan. 22 . . . Lois Bennett will substitute for Milo Miloradovich in the "Metropolitan Opera Auditions of the Air" this Sunday, the latter having contracted grippe . . . Wedd- ing bells will ring for Arthur Peter- son, Jr. Jan 23. He is heard on the "Modern Cinderella" programs : the bride-to-be is Norma Ransom, a non- professional . . . Bess Flynn, author of "Bachelor's Children," treks coast- ward March 1 . . . New accounts re- ported by WCKY, Cincinnati : Plough, Inc., 300 spot announcements starting Jan. 11 through the Lake-Spiro-Cohn agency; Standard Oil Co. of Ohio, 40 spot announcements beginning to- day through McCann-Erickson ; Car- ter Medicine Co., 260 one-minute an- nouncements starting Jan. 18 through Street & Finney . . . Three members of Lyn Murray's troupe, Marlyn Stu- art, Toney "Oswald" Labriola and John H. Hyman were signed to five- year contracts . . . Fats Waller, Doris Kerr and Glen Miller will appear as guests on the CBS "Saturday Night Swing Club" tomorrow . . . Because of the Jessica Dragonette program as- signment, Jean Paul King has been replaced as announcer on the "Gang- busters" program by Tiny Ruffner . . . Al Clauser's WHO (Des Moines) Radio Probe By Congress Sought Again (.Continued from page 1) that "it would be in the public in- terest that a thorough and exhaustive investigation be made of the entire radio monopoly situation." Hundreds of complaints, he said, have come to him in the past year from all over the country "showing that without doubt the monoply ex- ists," and he has also received num- erous requests that something be done to remedy the situation. Favorable action by the Rules Com- mittee was predicted by Connery, who said also that if the House passes the measure, and the speaker, as is the custom, appoints him chairman of the investigating committee, he would "go into every angle of radio, and after a thorough investigation the committee would report to Congress what leg- islation it believed necessary to remedy the intolerable conditions now exist- ing." Shift Two Programs West Because Richard Crooks, co-star with Margaret Speaks on the "Voice of Firestone" program must fulfill sev- eral coast concert dates, the program will shift to Hollywood for the broad- casts of Feb. 1 and 8. Nathaniel Shil- kret's orchestra will provide the music for the program in Hollywood. Hollywood Awaits Crooks Hollywood, Jan. 14. — Richard Crooks is due to arrive here soon for two coast broadcasts on Feb. 1 and 8. Margaret Speaks will fly out from New York to join him. No local orchestra or announcer has been set for the program. Firestone is the sponsor. Arnold in RCA Post Frank A. Arnold recently was named managing director of the RCA Institutes Technical Press by Charles J. Pannill, president of RCA Insti- tutes. Arnold has been prominent in the broadcasting field for many years. He will direct publication of the RCA Review. Robinson to Lux Edward G. Robinson has been en- gaged for next Monday's Lux "Radio Theatre" offering, "The Criminal Code." The supporting cast is as yet unknown. Produced by Cecil B. De- Mille, the program will be broadcast over CBS at 9 P. M., E. S. T. Bergen Pact Causes Stir Chicago, Jan. 14. — Announcement that Rudy Vallee had signed Edgar Bergen for a long term caused ex- citement here today as the Chez Paree has Bergen signed for four weeks starting Feb. 12 and plans to hold him to the contract. cowboy band have been signed for a stint in a Gene Autry western picture by Republic . . . Eddie Klein was in- terviewed over WMCA by Martin Starr yesterday afternoon on the use of English dialogue in American and British talkers and its effect in spread- ing the use of the language in non- English speaking countries. Radio Acceptance OP The Sa g"o Sun Dec. 25, 1936. Mr. Maurice Kann, Motion Picture Daily, New York Dear Mr. Kann: The coverage of radio and movies in the same medium seems to me to be a logical trend and I think you have approached the matter in a completely satisfactory manner. Your coverage seems to be not only complete, but up-to-the-minute and I notice where at least one other Coast columnist has made use of it, giving credit, of course. My reactions are that your radio department is thorough and au- thoritative and one of its advantages is that it is concise. If you can keep all the news boiled down to a page a day, it should become tops as a radio news service. If one can read just one page a day and know he's up on all the latest, it's a great satisfaction. Yours very truly, Willis Werner, Radio and Theatres. MOTION PICTURE DAILY ROCKEFELLER CENTER NEW YORK 22 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, January 15, 1937 i Purely Personal ► LEON J. BAMBERGER, RKO promotion manager, has returned from Peoria where he addressed the Peoria Advertising and Selling Club. He also held a meeting with Great States managers while there. • Arnold Picker of the Columbia foreign department yesterday wed Ruth Cohen of the same office. The ceremony took place at Mr. David Picker's San Remo apartment with Lou Weinberg as best man. Wein- berg, incidentally, has been best man for the three other Picker boys and today leaves for the coast to cele- brate his 20th anniversary. • Sophie Tucker, ending a Chicago theatre engagement, will fly to New York tomorrow for one hour, to ap- pear on the Vincent Lopez program over WABC, then will leave for the coast to appear in "Broadway Melody of 1937." Quip of the Day Everywhere I look I see in big, bold, bad type Black Legion By Red Kann What is all this — another com- petitor of Technicolor? AH GAGA (who is being haunted by the suggestion that all this might be termed "Black and Kann" publicity) George Batcheller says there'll be no successor to Edward Golden as sales manager of Chesterfield Pic- tures. • Harry Haskel, talent scout for 20th Century-Fox, is here from the coast looking for talent for "Cafe Metropole." • Max A. Cohen will make a trip to the coast soon and from there will go to Mexico on an extended vaca- tion. • Maurice McKenzie, C. C. Petti- john and Walter Trumbull of the M. P. P. D. A. returned to New York from Indiana yesterday. • Florence Browning, secretary to J. Robert Rubin, is back from a three-week visit to the M-G-M stu- dios. • Phillip Sherman, former G. B. manager, has been named manager of the new Imperial exchange in New Haven. • Bob Taplinger of CBS and Lynn Farnol will leave tonight for the coast via American Airlines. • William Barrett, head of Amer- anglo, sailed yesterday on the Aqui- tania on his regular trip to England. • Dave Rubinoff leaves today for Philadelphia to entertain at the Poor Richard Club. • Gertrude Merriam of the Mana- gers' Round Table Club of Motion Dude Ranch Play Very Good For Film Comedy or Musical {Continued from page 1) Wednesday and "Behind Red Lights" for instance, it was not without its merits. In this writing job by Robert Sloane and Louis Pelletier, Jr., about dude ranches and what might be its occasional consequences, the screen- ing could have been tighter, the stage direction better and the acting more so. Inherently, however, and as these matters are wont to, it is this opinion "Howdy, Stranger" contains enough in basic situations to fit it into a popu- lar, but non-discriminating, mould on the stage and into a potentially better one, considerably, as a motion picture. As a comedy or a musical, either way would fit easily. The story has to do with Frank Parker, beating his way across the country to California. His phobia is a deadly fear of animals and he waxes so hysterical over it and them that birds are included as well. That brings him to a dude ranch where Dorothy Libaire takes a fancy to him and gives him a job. It appears Parker can sing. Louis Sorin, a Broadway agent so much like Sam Lyons that Lyons recognized himself and laughed along last night, hears Parker and signs him as Wyoming Steve Gibson. The scene switches to New York. There, Parker's real father and mother from Brooklyn visit. It looks as if the jig is up and actually it is when Parker is exposed on the Major Bowes' radio hour that night. The remainder of the play deals with ways and means of preserving the built-up identity, swinging around a genuinely funny pivotal situation when Parker is hypnotized into dropping his phobia about animals long enough to smash the dogie roping contest at Madison Square Garden and forever more es- tablish his claim to Wyoming's open spaces. Not a new situation, but still a funny one made funnier when Sorin himself galls under the spell and goes completely western, Jewish accent and all. This was the initial producing sweat of Bob Goldstein, an inveterate first nighter who stopped poking fun at the new plays weeks ago, or as soon as he embarked on his own in deference to Der Tag which was last night. There have been more auspicious debuts in the producing field. But also there have been decidedly less. One thing he has. That's a comedy built to order for Hollywood purposes. "Aged 26" Closing "Aged 26," stage play which opened at the Lyceum Dec. 21, closes its run tomorrow night. Picture Herald left last night for Lakewood to recuperate from a recent siege of pneumonia. • William Wyler sailed yesterday on the Aquitania for a few weeks of winter sports at St. Moritz. • Douglas Fairbanks and Kay Francis yesterday returned from Eu- rope. • Fred Meyers, RKO division mana- ger, is due from Rochester this morn- ing. • Lynn Farnol left for the coast last night. This time by rail. Adolph Zukor arrives from Hol- lywood Wednesday. • Harry C. Arthur and Mike Marco will leave for St. Louis tomorrow. • Howard Dietz will leave tonight for El Paso, Tex. • Mildred Lewis is scheduled to take a plane tonight for El Paso, Tex. • Johnny Dowd will return from his Bermuda honeymoon tomorrow. • Ed Sullivan will leave for Detroit Sunday to open his act at the Fox. o Abe Warner is down in Miami on his usual winter vacation. • Pat O'Brien has arrived in town from South Bend, Ind. Sales Tax Hearing Expected on Monday (Continued from page 1) yesterday that there was every indi- cation that the appeal would be reached by the court on Monday and argued as scheduled. T. Newman Lawler of that law firm will attend the hearing in Albany with Frederick Wood of Cravath, de Gersdorff, Swaine & Wood, who is scheduled to make the principal argument for the distributors. Attorneys for Keith-Al- bee-Orpheum, Allied of New Jersey and other industry groups will also go to Albany for the hearing. 1st Copyright Measure Goes Before House (Continued from page 1) and profits, such damages not exceed- ing $20,000 as may be fixed by the court. An unauthorized performance by two or more connected radio sta- tions would be considered as the act of one infringer. Merely incidental and no reasonably avoidable inclusion of a copyrighted work in a motion picture or broadcast depicting or re- lating current events would not be in- fringement. Randforce and RKO Pool 2 in Brooklyn Negotiations are practically com- pleted between RKO and Randforce for the pooling of the Republic and Greenpoint in Brooklyn. The con- tracts are now in the hands of at- torneys with the arrangement sched- uled to become effective Sept. 1. RKO operates the greenpoint and the independent circuit the Republic. Under the partnership deal, RKO will operate both houses with both com- panies sharing in the profits. Await McVickers Plans Chicago, Jan. 14. — Plans for the McVickers are awaited here, as B. & K. now has all the Loop first runs except the RKO Palace. John Bala- ban is expected to return from Holly- wood Monday. Flash Review "Devil's Playground" — Built around a sea rescue of the crew of a sunken submarine, this will rate well on dual programs. This film will be reviewed in full in a coming issue of Motion Picture Daily. Levy Is Treasurer Sidney B. Levy has been named treasurer of Signer & Bryne, Inc., producers and distributors of advertis- ing films. "Million" at $41,500 In Second Roxy Week "One in a Million" wound up a second week at the Roxy last night with a gross of $41,500. Each day's intake has been better than $4,000. The picture is one of 11 that has been held by the theatre for three weeks and there is a possibility, if weekend business holds up, that an extra week may be added. According to 20th Century- Fox, the picture has gone into its third week at the Orpheum, Seattle, and is being held a second week in San Fran- cisco and Baltimore. In Milwau- kee, according to the company, the film has outgrossed any 20th Cen- tury-Fox film of the past year, and in St. Louis, Philadelphia and Al- bany it has been shifted to other first run theatres for additional playing time. "Lloyds of London" opened yes- terday at the Music Hall at popular prices. The first day's business was reported to be above average and the film may be held another week, the decision dependent on weekend busi- Award Procedure Is Changed by Academy (Continued from page 1) in a supporting role and by an actress m a supporting role in addition to usual best performance award. The system of nominations also un- derwent a change. Four major awards, for production, acting, direct- ing and writing will be made through a committee of fifty chosen from five Academy branches. Members will nominate five leading choices for each award with general membership elect- ing winners from ballot. Heretofore each branch made its own nomina- tions. Capra stated, "We feel this commit- tee _ will be able to give various achievements of the year more indiv- idual discussion and consideration than could be done by the old method. Also, opinions of a more diversified group will be taken into consideration. Auto Strike Hits Houses Cincinnati, Jan. 14. — Harold Bernstein and Andrew G. Hette- sheimer, operators of the Plaza and Norwood, respectively, both large houses, and the only ones in sub- urban Norwood, report business has fallen off 40 per cent as result of idleness of the 2,800 operatives of the Chevrolet and Fisher Body plants, located in this suburb. VERSATILITY UNUSUAL and special though it is in its characteristics, Super X fills every require- ment of general cinematography. Proof? It is used throughout features and shorts made under every possible condition. In Super X, specialization has surprisingly led to supreme versatility. Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y. (J. E. Brulatour, Inc., Distributors, Fort Lee, New York, Chicago, Hollywood.) EASTMAN SUPER V PANCHROMATIC NEGATIVE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD! One of the leading editors of this industry said: "I believe that every exhibitor, regardless of his present affiliation or the circum- stances that dictate it, wishes in his \w secret heart that he had been able to jm obtain M-G-M attractions/' And thousands of happy M-G-M exhibitors agree as they welcome HIT after HIT after HIT! y "CAMILLE" is following right "AFTER THE THIN MAN" with hold-overs I Then "THE LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY" will pack 'em in. And your wintry days will be brightened by "MAYTIME" and you'll clean up with "A DAY AT THE RACES." Then the giant drama "CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS." That's M-G-M/ The Leading Motto Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert. Intelligent the in All Branches VOL. 41. NO. 13 NEW YORK, SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 1937 TEN CENTS Radio Revenue For November 11,419,143 Advertising Returns 1% Under October Record By CLARENCE LINZ Washington, Jan. 15. — Broadcast- ing station advertising revenue in No- vember amounted to $11,419,143, a de- cline of less than one per cent from the record figure achieved in October, according to figures made public to- day by the National Ass'n of Broad- casters. The November business brought the total for the first eleven months of 1936 to $96,503,945, it was stated. The association's record showed that advertising on national networks to- taled $6,149,818 in November against $6,722,926 the preceding month; re- gional networks, $122,725 against $154,979; national non-network, $2,- 873,200 against $2,401,800, and local, $2,273,400 against $2,234,800. Radio advertising of the amusement indus- tries totaled $45,880, of which $31,- 760 was spent with local stations and $14,120 with national non-network stations. The food industry was the heaviest advertiser, followed by toilet goods, drugs and pharmaceuticals and auto- mobiles. Radio News — Page 3 Conciliators Need Prestige — Myers Boston, Jan. 15. — Members of a conciliation board may be valuable "only where their prestige as Govern- ment officers or their reputation for honesty and fair dealing are so high as to command admiration or respect," Abram F. Myers, general counsel of Allied States Ass'n., declares in an article appearing in the current pub- lication of the Independent Exhibitors, Inc., of New England, in which he comments on the proposed establish- ment of the local conciliation boards suggested by the M.P.T.O.A. Despite Allied's advocacy of "fair (Continued on page 2) UMPTO ToldMGM Agreement Not Set Philadelphia, Jan. 15. — Members of the U.M.P.T.O. were informed at a meeting here today by the negotiat- ing committee that final details of the agreement pending with M-G-M have not yet been ironed out, but that a (Continued on page 4) CEA's Moyne Reply Favors Quota Scheme But Sees Suggested 50% Top Impracticable By BRUCE ALLAN London, Jan. 15. — The Cinemato- graph Exhibitors' Ass'n, in its offi- cial statement to the Board of Trade on the Moyne report suggesting re- vision of the Films Act, which expires in 1938, welcomes the suggested in- stitution of a preference to exhibitors in the quota over distributors, but re- serves comment on the figures pre- sented. The Moyne report had sug- gested an initial new quota of 15 per cent for exhibitors and 20 percent for distributors, against the present 20 per cent for both. The exhibitor organization depre- cates the Moyne recommendation for a graduated quota, reaching 50 per cent in 10 years, declaring it imprac- ticable, but favors the principle of flexibility involved. The group ap- proves the quality clause in the report, but suggests that the recommended viewing committee for determination (Continued on page 2) New Fund for Phone Probe Held Certain Washington, Jan. 15. — Inclusion in a deficiency appropriation bill shortly to be reported to the House of a $350,000 fund for the continuance of the telephone company investigation by the F.C.C. was seen here as prac- tically assured by the request for the money sent to Congress this week by President Roosevelt. The request was made in a letter to (Continued on page 4) Senator Has Idea Des Moines, June 15. — In- troducing a bill in Iowa's legislature seeking to have children under 18 barred from film theatres in which the characters are divorced, Senator L. H. Doran of Boone, a Republican, an- nounced he is trying to "help the film industry clean its own house." Senator Boone carried his divorce legislation farther by introducing a measure seek- ing a 30-day jail penalty for persons violating provisions of a divorce decree. Kansas City Showed Good Gain in 1936 Kansas City, Jan. 15. — General business in Kansas City and its trade area definitely improved during 1936, and should continue to do so in 1937, judging from available statistics. Theatre grosses suffered a setback due to abnormally cold weather the first three months of the year, and from the drought, but theatre expen- ditures being made or budgeted for 1937 point to improved business at some box-offices in the area at least. The report of the Tenth Federal Reserve district shows principal busi- ness indices substantially improved in the 11 months, with very few excep- tions. Retail stores had the best holi- day business in six years, and street car traffic, car and truck sales and electric consumption registered sub- stantial gains. Missouri banks showed a gain in (Continued on page 4) Columbia Hooks 'em Up by Telephone and Peps 'em Up By SHERWIN A. KANE The N. Y. telephone Co. threw a switch or pressed a button or plugged in on a master trunk line or some- thing at 5 :04 P. M. in the board room at the Columbia home office yester- day, and whatever it was they did it opened the "Columbia's Montague Sweepstakes" in 31 sales territories across the country. The national sales and playdate drive will remain open until May 1. Once the telephone hookup with 31 Columbia branch offices had been com- pleted, it was utilized by home office executives for the first national sales "meeting" ever held in this industry without either executives or salesmen having to leave their own offices. Loudspeakers were set up in the branches and around them were gath- ered an estimated 1,500 Columbia em- ployes, to say nothing of the numbers of exhibitors who had been lured into the exchanges by the novelty of listen- ing in on the coast-to-coast and bor- (Continued on page 4) Para. Reports Owning of 72 Subsidiaries SEC Statement Reveals $45,000,000 Issues By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, Jan. 15. — Ownership on Oct. 3, last, of 72 subsidiaries which in turn fully owned 16 others, and part interest of 50 per cent or more in 13 others which themselves have ownership in varying degree of 31 companies is shown by the regis- tration statement for more than $45,- 000,000 of securities filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday by Paramount. The most important subsidiary, it was disclosed, is Balaban & Katz Corp., Chicago, in which Paramount has a 92.09 per cent interest. Balaban & Katz in turn have 100 per cent ownership of 10 subsidiaries and lesser interests in three others, and these 13 own three subsidiaries themselves. Nine of the subsidiaries, it was shown, have been liquidated or dissolved since last October. Paramount, the company reported, owns 42 exchanges, and owns, leases or operates 569 theatres, of which 361 are leased and 49 are covered by man- aging agreements. Of the total the- atres, 372 are in the United States, 178 in Canada and 19 in other coun- tries, chiefly the United Kingdom. The only holder of 10 per cent or more of any class of Paramount se- curities was shown to be Allied Own- ers Corp., New York, with 25,000 (Continued on page 4) Equity for Subsidy Of New Playwrights Subsidization of playwrights by the legitimate theatre is urged upon stage producers by Actors' Equity Ass'n. in a leading editorial in the current issue of Equity, monthly publication of the organization. The editorial cites the employment of writers by film producers as il- lustrative of the soundness of the idea in solving Hollywood's problem of (Continued on page 2) Legitimate Theatres Circuit Is Planned Plans for inaugurating a new legiti- mate theatre circuit of 20 houses in the metropolitan area are being formu- lated by Jules Leventhal, Louis Werba and Jack Under, producers, accord- ing to the current issue of Equity, (Continued on page 2) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Saturday, January 16, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 January 16, 1937 No. 13 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manqger Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Pub- lishing Company, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Avenue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copy- righted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc. Address all correspondence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publica- tions, Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, Teatro Al Dia, International Motion Picture Almanac and Fame: The Box Office Check-Up. Hollywood Bureau: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Streets, Boone Mancall, Manager; Chicago Bureau: 624 South Michigan Avenue, C. B. O'Neill, Man- ager; London Bureau: 4 Golden Square, London W 1, Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable Address "Quigpubco, London"; Berlin Bureau: Stuelerstrasse 2, Berlin W 35; Joachim K. Rutenbcrg , Representative; Paris Bureau: 29, Rue Marsoulan, Pierre Autre, Representative; Rome Bureau: Viale Gorizia, Vittorio Malpassuti, Representative; Aus- tralian Bureau: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins Street, Melbourne, Cliff Holt, Representative; Mexico City Bureau: Apar- tado 269, James Lockhart, Representative; Budapest Bureau: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest, II, Endre Hevesi, Representative; Tokyo Bureau: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken, H. Tominaga, Representative; Prague Bureau: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1, Harry Knopf, Rep- resentative; Shanghai Bureau: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Building, 142 Museum Road, /. P. Koehler, Representative; Rio de Janier^i Bureau: Caixa Postal 3358, A. W eissman, Representative; Buenos Aires Bureau: Corrientes 2495, N. Bruski, Representative; Montevideo Bureau: P. O. Box 664, Paul Bodo, Representative; Moscow Bureau: Petrovski Per 8, Beatrice Stern, Representa- tive; Vienna Bureau: Neustiftgasse, 55, Vienna VII, Hans Lorant, Representative; Amsterdam Bureau: Zuider Amstellaan 5, Philip de Schaap, Representative; Helsing- fors Bureau: Fredriksgatan 19 C, Charlotte Lasdo, Representative; Warsaw Bureau: Sienna 32, if. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Clark Sets Feb, 4-5 For Session at K. C. John D. Clark, general sales man- ager of 20th Century-Fox, has set Feb. 4-5 as the dates for the annual district managers' convention at the Muelbach, Kansas City. Delegates from New York will leave Feb. 2 and arrive in Kansas City the night of Feb. 3. Clark will leave by plane for the coast tomorrow to confer with Darryl F. Zanuck on production and new pic- tures which will be discussed at the two-day session. Divisional Sales Head William Sussman, William Kupper and William C. Gehring also will attend. Skouras Party to Tour Spyros Skouras, Ed Zabel, William T. Powers, Sumner Gamby and Irv- ing Barry will leave tomorrow for Milwaukee, Kansas City, Denver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles for one and two-day meetings with divisional operating heads of National Theatres. Product, operations and budgets will highlight the sessions. Conciliators Need Prestige — Myers (Continued from page 1) arbitration" as the most effective means of solving industry disputes, Myers states that he "would not want to be understood as implying that high-minded conciliation has no place in the affairs of the motion picture business. An airing of grievances, actual or supposed," he writes, "often accomplishes some good even though no formal action is taken." He implies that the personnel of the conciliation boards will spell their success or failure, pointing out that "conciliation means merely friendly intervention in an effort to bring the disputants together," and that "con- ciliators have no authority and cannot render decisions or enforce orders. Either party to a dispute may, at any stage of the proceedings, tell the con- ciliators to jump into the lake." That Allied is not inherently op- posed to the submission of trade dis- putes to a conciliation board is also brought out by Myers in recalling that the independent organization joined with the M.P.T.O.A. in 1932 in work- ing out proposals for a national board of appeals and conciliation and an op- tional license agreement. His article, however, concludes with the statement that "the distribu- tors will have nothing to do with any boards, whether they be arbitration boards, code boards or conciliation boards unless they can control the per- sonnel of such boards, unaffiliated as well as affiliated." The annual meeting of the Inde- pendent Exhibitors, Inc., has been set for Jan. 26 at the Hotel Touraine, Boston. White Funeral Today St. Louis, Jan. ices for John W. Gordon S. White New York office, will be held here was 83 years old, widow, three sons, sister. 15. — Funeral serv- White, father of of the Educational who died recently, tomorrow. White Surviving are a a daughter and a Waxman at Mother's Deathbed Mrs. Sarah Waxman, mother of A. P. Waxman, died early yesterday morning from injuries received when struck by a taxicab in Atlantic City. Waxman, informed of the accident, chartered a plane and flew to the re- sort city only to run into a dense fog which made landing impossible. Land- ing finally at Camden, he drove the 56 miles to the shore, reaching his mother's bedside just before she suc- cumbed. Mrs. Waxman was 68. Funeral ar- rangements have not been made. Thomas Ormiston Dies London, Jan. 15. — Thomas Ormis- ton, 58, exhibitor in Scotland for many years, and the holder of important executive positions in the Cinemato- graph Exhibitors' Ass'n., is dead here. Name Films for Awards Hollywood, Jan. 15. — -Art directors, film editors and directors of photo- graphy have received ballots on which they will name the productions of their own in 1936 which they consider their best. Each will name one film for consideration for the Academy awards in art direction, editing and photo- graphy. Nominating committees will meet on Jan. 25. Equity for Subsidy Of New Playwrights (Continued from page 1) story material supply. It declares that there is a dearth of good play material being written, that the entire stage in- dustry suffers as a result, and that the only means of insuring a definite supply of play material lies in sub- sidizing a new school of playwrights for the theatre. "It is," the editorial observes, "the steady, dependable stream of plays coming from brilliant minds which the theatre must have to survive. "Hollywood producers," it contin- ues, "are farseeing enough to know they have to have stories, and writers must furnish them. So . . . they subsidize brains. A group of promis- ing young playwrights put under con- tract and put to work (by the stage) their output at the subsidizing man- ager's disposal, could earn their salt many times over. Suppose one of these writers was to be paid three or four thousand dollars a year. One hit alone would earn the manager and himself many times over what had been paid to him." Equity has been engaged during re- cent months in joint conferences with the League of N. Y. Theatres and the Dramatists' Guild in an attempt to discover what is wrong with the present day theatre and what can be done to increase its popularity with the public, particularly that part of it residing anywhere between 110th St. and the west coast. The Equity edi- torial is regarded as an outgrowth of the discussions. Japan Bars Two Films Tokyo, Jan. 15. — "Mary of Scot- land" and "Mutiny on the Bounty" have been barred in Japan, the former on the ground that it might be dis- respectful to the throne and the latter because it is regarded as too revolu- tionary for Japanese audiences. Set Two 20th-Fox Meets Two foreign sales conventions will be held by 20th Century-Fox sales forces, starting April 28. The first will be held in Paris from April 28 to May 1. The second will take place in London, starting May 3. To Redeem Loew Notes Dillon, Read & Co., as paying agent, has selected for redemption on Feb. 15, out of money in the sinking fund, $260,000' in principal amount of Loew's Inc., V/2 per cent sinking fund deben- tures due Feb. 15, 1946. AT &T Net $174,715,000 Net income of A. T. & T. for 1936 amounted to $174,715,000 after deduc- tion of interest on its funded debt. This is equal to $9.36 per share on the common stock outstanding. Denies Dividend Report London, Jan. 15. — Gaumont British has officially denied reports that it is considering deferring payment of the preference share dividend due March 31. RKO Coast Meet Monday Hollywood, Jan. 15. — Production conferences of RKO will begin here Monday. No sessions were held to- day. CEAVMoyne Reply Favors Quota Scheme (Continued from page 1) of quality should be composed of two exhibitors, one producer, one distribu- tor and an independent chairman. It declares its belief that the aboli- tion of the advance booking restric- tions would be ill advised and a retro- gressive step. The suggestion is vigorously opposed in the statement. The statement said, "We are em- phatically opposed to a film commis- sion vested with executive powers and composed of people entirely inde- pendent of the industry. In similar schemes applied to other industries it is noted that the main essential of their personnel is long and intimate experience in the business concerned." The statement indicates that the statutory machinery suggested for the disposal of trade disputes amounts to compulsory arbitration. Any trade dispute, says the organization, should be reported to the Board of Trade by any trade association, and the par- ticipants should be free to refer for settlement to the special new official arbitration court suggested or to in- dividual arbitrators. The arbitration court, it is said, should have "execu- tive powers to settle points in dispute which relate to questions of policy." K. R. S. Approached The official C.E.A. statement states that an offer has been made to the Kinematograph Renters' Society (dis- tributors) for an additional voluntary conciliation committee but that the K.R.S. objected to statutory arbitra- tion, and the C.E.A. general purposes committee came to the conclusion that the arbitration machinery is useless unless enforceable by statutory author- ity. The C.E.A. council has appointed a new overbuilding committee in place of the old redundancy committee, and has decided to drop the word "re- dundancy." Legitimate Theatres Circuit Is Planned (Continued from page 1) official publication of Actors' Equity Ass'n. The magazine reports that arrange- ments for theatres have been com- pleted at Philadelphia, Newark, Brighton, Englewood and Jackson Heights, and that negotiations are in progress for additional locations in Brooklyn, Stamford, Atlantic City, Providence and other cities. A policy of $1 top would be main- tained by producing inexpensively mounted plays, each with a 20 weeks' run, it was said. The managers hope to have their arrangements completed by the end of the month, the magazine reports. Confirm Rank Quitting London, Jan. 15. — J. Arthur Rank has resigned as chairman of the board of directors of British National, Ltd., it was officially announced today. The resignation was reported in Motion Picture Daily some time ago. Rank has retained his 45 per cent of the total shares of British National. MOTION P1CTURI Saturday, January 16, 1937 RADIO DAILY RADIO CBS Billings for '35 Totalled $23,168,148 CBS network billings for the past year, which could only be approxi- mated until now, totalled $23,168,148, an increase of 31.4 percent over the 1935 figure of $17,637,804, the previ- ous all-time CBS high. Billings for December were $2,433,- 353, an increase of 29 per cent over the December, 1935, total of $1,885 977. Suit Details Are Ordered N. Y. Supreme Court Justice Sam- uel I. Rosenman yesterday ordered Henry Dagan, artists' manager, to serve a bill of particulars to Colum- bia Artists' Bureau, Inc., and Ger- trude Niesen, whom he is suing for $200,000 for alleged breach of con- tract. Dagan claims that in December, 1932, he, Columbia Artists' Bureau and Miss Niesen entered into a joint contract for the purpose of publiciz- ing the services of Miss Niesen for which he was to get five per cent of what Columbia received for her serv- ices. In January, 1935, he claims, this contract was broken and Colum- bia refused to give him any of the proceeds. Renew "Sidewalk Interviews" The Cummer Products Co. yester- day renewed its Tuesday night NBC program, "Sidewalk Interviews," from 9 to 9:30 P. M., E.S.T. over 28 Red network stations. The pro- gram is broadcast in behalf of Molle and Energine products. Stack-Goble is the agency. Additionally, effective Feb. 26, the Duff-Norton Manufacturing Co., mak- ers of lifting jacks, begins a program entitled "The House That Jacks Built" over three NBC stations, WEAF, New York; WMAQ, Chi- cago; and KDKA, Pittsburgh. The program will be heard from 7 :45 to 8 P. M., E.S.T. Walker & Down- ing, Pittsburgh, is the agency. "Ranger" Goes National "The Lone Ranger" one of Mu- tual's first commercial programs, will go coast-to-coast beginning Jan. 18. The program is currently heard over WOR and the eastern portion of the Mutual network Mondays, Wednes- days and Fridays at 7:30 P. M., E.S.T. Effective with the addition of the Don Lee stations the program will be heard the same days as above from 10:30 to 11 P. M., E.S.T. Gordon Baking sponsors. Lauda, King, Et Al Short Shots: Charles Lauda, World Broadcasting production execu- tive, has been elected a member of the board of directors . . . Wayne King and his orchestra have left Chi- cago for a Miami engagement. The "Lady Esther" broadcasts will ema- nate from Miami for four weeks . . . Harry Azinsky, KDKA (Pittsburgh) concert master has purchased a $5,000 violin . . . Waldemar B. Kaempffert, science editor of The Neiv York Times, will guest speak on the "Maga- zine of the Air" program Monday at 11 A. M., E.S.T., CBS network . . . Helen Musselman makes her debut on "One Man's Family" Jan. 27. She is the wife of William J. Andrews, an- nouncer of the program . . . Operatic tenor Joseph Bentonelli will be Ed Wynn's guest Jan. 23 . . . Webb Mill- er, European news manager of United Press, will be heard in a talk from London over the NBC-Blue Jan. 19 from 8:45 to 9:10 A. M., E.S.T. . . . Viscount Hidemaro Konoye, of the Japanese House of Peers, arrived here yesterday to appear as guest conduct- or of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He will make his air debut Feb. 14 on the RCA "Magic Key" program . . . Alan Shurr, tenor who vocals with Bill Landau's orchestra on WHN, has been screen tested for a series of shorts . . . Baby Rose Marie returns to the air this week after an extended personal appearance tour. She will be heard nightly except Saturdays at 6 :30 P. M. on WHN, and twice on Sun- days, 1 :30 and 6 :30 P. M. . . . Gloria Swanson and Monroe Silver join "Showboat" for the Jan. 21 perform- ance . . . Jessica Dragonette's physi- cian has assured her sponsor that she will be able to appear next Wednesday for her "Desert Song" performance on the Palmolive "Beauty Box The- atre" program . . . Dave Carter, KNX (Hollywood) publicity head, gave a press luncheon yesterday to in- troduce Lud Gluskin to coast radio ed- itors. Gluskin recently was appointed musical director of the station, and comes from New York . . . Kenneth Ormison, chief engineer at KNX, re- covering from an appendix operation. Josiah Hopkins Dead Hollywood, Jan. 15. — Rev. William B. Hogg, founder of Country Church of Hollywood, known on national networks as Josiah Hopkins, the Goose Creek Parson, died last night following complications resulting from two operations. The deceased was 56 and is survived by his widow and four daughters. K. G. Ormiston Passes ' Hollywood, Jan. 15. — Kenneth G. Ormiston, chief technical engineer for KNX of CBS air network, died here today. Negro Broadcasters Ask Approval of SEC Washington, Jan. 15. — Plans for establishment of a negro-controlled broadcasting chain were disclosed in the registration statement filed this week with the Securities and Ex- change Commission by the Gold Star Radio & Television Corp., Boston, covering 99,795 shares of $5 par value six per cent common stock to be of- fered at $6.26 per share. The company plans to construct broadcasting stations in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, New Orleans and Los Angeles at a cost of $100,000 each, to be manned by negroes and to broadcast negro programs. The pro- moters of the scheme have agreed to take no salaries until the first station starts operation, and for the first year thereafter their salary is not to exceed $20,000. From San Francisco Short Shots — David Elton, former NBC announcer, will produce the Wo- men's Magazine of the Air, filling the vacancy created when Caryl Coleman joined a Los Angeles advertising agency . . . Peter Abenheim has joined the KPO production staff . . . KFRC-ites are taking time out, while juggling the new Mutual schedules, to congratulate Murray Bolen, Don Lee producer and technician, on his secret marriage to Mildred Bruce, station stenographer. Bolen is slated for a transfer to KHJ shortly . . . Henry King and the new Mrs. whose surprise wedding was announded by Grace ("Scoop") Allen over the Campbell Wednesday night program, are here for King's orchestra en- gagement at the Fairmont Hotel. He will fly to LA weekly for the Burns and Allen broadcast . . ; Greta Gahler, vocalist, is now with "Echoes From the Orchestra Pit," NBC sustaining program. 4 Purely Personal ► FRANK C. WALKER, C. C. Petti- john, Floyd Odlum and Ed Kuy- kendall are among the industry fig- ures who will attend the inauguration ceremonies in Washington next Wed- nesday. • Clinton White, assistant sales manager of G. B., left yesterday for Albany, Buffalo, New Haven and Bos- ton. Shortly after his return he will make a swing of the company's south- ern exchanges. • Felix Feist, Jr., left for Hollywood yesterday after completing two shorts here with Bob Benchley. They are "How to Figure Your Income Tax" and "The Romance of Indigestion." e Fernand Gravet, Molly Picon, the Marquis Henri de la Falaise and Capt. Philip Astley, husband of Madeleine Carroll, sail today on the Paris. • Sig Wittman of Universal will leave Tuesday for a short business trip to Philadelphia. • Dave Levy, New Jersey sales head for M-G-M, is back at his desk after a 10-day illness. • William Gedris of Ideal Seating is in town from Grand Rapids, Mich. SAM EPSTEIN has suceeded Ted Shaw as assistant to Jack Bloom, contract manager of 20th Century- Fox. Shaw recently was promoted to assistant to W. C. Gehring, central division head. • Boyce DeGaw and Isabel Dawn are back from Washington where they conferred with U. S. Navy officials on "Wings Over Honolulu." • Jack Skirball and Joe Pincus are back from Miami vacations. Wil- liam Sussman is due from the same resort next week. • • Vladimir Sokoloff, noted Russian actor who is under contract to War- ners, will arrive Thursday on the Champlain. • Charles Mayer, Dutch East In- dies manager for 20th Century-Fox, is mourning the loss of his father. • Lester Sturm, Detroit manager for 20th Century-Fox, has recovered from an appendectomy. • Jack Sichelman is rapidly recov- ering from bronchial pneumonia. • James R. Grainger, general sales manager of Universal, will arrive from the coast on Monday. Last Night On the Air Best "Hotel" Yet "Hollywood Hotel" minus Dick Powell but plus Fred MacMurray, skittered across the airways last night to provide an hour of plus entertain- ment. The broadcast was one of the fastest moving of the programs ever aired with never a dull moment. It's hard to pick the hour apart to see what made it tick as well as it did, and harder still to determine which artist or unit is to be singled out for praise. But if individual honors are to be granted they must go to Carole Lombard and Fred Mac- Murray. The re-enactments from "Swing High, Swing Low" provided by this pair were particularly ear- pleasing. The portrayals by the throaty screen siren and MacMurray whetted the appetite of this reviewer to hear more of the proceedings, which means that we'll be visiting our neighborhood theatre to see the pic- ture when it plays there. Multiply us by even a small percentage of the mill ions who listened to the program last night and the value of this excel- lent performance to the producers of the picture will be realized. Raymond Paige's Orchestra, Igor Gonn, Ann Jamison, Tony Martin and Francis Langford, singers all, and tuneful Hawaiian troupes, piloted by Ray Kinney were excellent. "Hollywood Hotel" is heard Fri- days from 9 to 10 P. M., E.S.T., on the CBS network. Campbell's Soup sponsors. Banner Eickelberg to KFRC San Francisco, Jan. 15.— Wilber Eikelberg has been appointed manager of KFRC, replacing Tom Breneman, who went with CBS to KSFO, Wall Street Paramount Issues Hit New Highs Net Columbia, pfd. Consolidated . Eastman Kodak Eastman, pfd. ... Gen. T. Equip... Loew's, Inc. High Low Close Change 373/8 37 37 + Va 45*4 45/ 45/ SVs im 5/ 5/ 1734 18/ + Vi myt 172 173/ +1/ 160 160 160 —2 32/ 31/ 32 + 'A 110 110 110 70/ 69y2, 6% 26/ 24/ 26M +m 18SJ4 174 185J4 +1254 23/ 22/ 23% +1/8 10/ 954 934 m 854 8?4 -54 36 373/8 +1/ 46/ 46 46/ +m + 54 17/ 17 17/ RKO 20th Century-Fox. 20th Century, pfd.. Warner Bros. . . , Curb Rises Slightly Net High Low Close Change Grand National ...354 3/ 354 + / Sonotone 2 1%. 1% _ / Technicolor 21/ 21/ 21/ + 54 Trans-Lux 4/ 4/ 4/ Universal Pict. ..13 13 13 + / Most Bonds Gain Net High Low Close Change Loew's 3/s '46. ...1005/ 100% 10054 + / Paramount B'way 3s '55 7354 7354 7354 — / Paramount Pict. 6s '55 100/ 10034 10054 — / RKO 6s '41 pp.... 123/ 123 123/ + % Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 9954 99 9954 + 54 (Quotations at close of Jan. 15) MOTION PlCTUKt DAT LY Saturday, January 16, 1937 Para. Reports Owning of 72 Subsidiaries Columbia Hooks 'em Up by Telephone and Peps 'em Up (Continued from page 1) shares, or 10.45 per cent of the first preferred. Holdings of officers and directors were reported to the commission as follows : Adolph Zukor, chairman of the board, none; Neil F. Agnew, vice- president, none; George L. Bagnall, assistant treasurer, none; Barney Bal- aban, president, six shares of com- mon; Stephen Callaghan, director, none; Walter B. Cokell, treasurer, none; Norman Collyer, assistant sec- retary, 300 shares common and 120 shares second preferred; Y. Frank Freeman, vice-president, none directly, but beneficially, 1,000 snares common; H. A. Fortington, director, none di- rectly but beneficially, 1,000 shares common and 300 shares first preferred ; Harvey D. Gibson, director, none; A. Conger Goodyear, director, none directly but beneficially, 1,000 shares common and 300 shares first pre- ferred; Stanton Griffis, director, none directly but beneficially, 1,000 shares first preferred; Duncan C. Harris, di- rector, none; Henry Herzbrun, vice- president, 209 shares common and 83 shares second preferred; John D. Hertz, director, none directly but bene- ficially, 15 shares first preferred and $21,500 in debentures and (owned by Lehman Bros.) 600 shares common and 8,000 shares, second preferred; John W. Hicks, vice-president, 59 shares common and 23 shares sec- ond preferred; Harry O. King di- rector, none; Earl I. McClintock, director, 100 shares, second preferred; Jacob H. Karp, assistant secretary, none directly but beneficially, 100 shares common; Austin C. Keough, vice-president and secretary, 59 shares common and 23 shares second pre- ferred; Charles A. McCullough, di- rector, none directly but beneficially, I, 000 shares first preferred and $58,- 000 debentures ; Frank Meyer, assist- ant secretary, 10 shares common, 100 shares first preferred and four shares second preferred; Fred Mohrhardt, comptroller, none; Maurice Newton, director, none directly but beneficially, 4,518 shares common and 2,413 J shares second preferred and (owned by Hall garten & Co.) 5,000 shares common and 5,000 shares second preferred E. V. Richards, director, none directly but beneficially, 2,000 shares common; Atlas Corp., principal underwriter, none directly but beneficially, 1,516.4830 shares first preferred; Allied Owners Corp., 25,000 shares first preferred, and beneficially, $2,500,000 debentures The statement reported that the company has 11 managing contracts with various individuals for managing houses and subsidiaries, the most im- portant being contracts of Balaban & Katz with John and Barney Balaban, to run seven years from Dec. 28, 1935, guaranteeing them a percentage of the profits of Balaban & Katz and its subsidiaries ; other contracts are for a percentage of the net of various companies. Zukor Salary Listed The company's report on remunera- tion of directors, officers and others showed that, for the 1935 fiscal year, (Continued from page 1) der-to-border talks which are a part of the drive. The sales stunt was scheduled to begin at 5 o'clock, but after a minute of silence at that hour the telephone company's sound man in the home office board room looked up from his portable gadgets with a puzzled ex- pression and announced : "They say Detroit doesn't answer." "I hope they haven't joined the strike out there," Jack Cohn, Colum- bia vice-president, remarked drily. Then at 5 :04 the sound man an- nounced that the connections to all 31 branches had been completed and Cohn led off with a speech he had contemplated saving for the annual sales convention in June after read- ing it. He was followed by Abe Mon- tague, general sales manager, for whom the campaign has been desig- nated, and then by Joe McConville and Rube Jackter. Free Inspiration for Metro When the speeches were completed the troublesome sound man again looked up from his gadgets, a little dubiously, this time. "I think," he said, "that we were hooked up with M-G-M in Cincin- nati." The hookup was on the wires for a total of 14 minutes and at the telephone company's conference rates for the num- ber of stations involved, and their loca- tion, which is $51 a minute, cost about $714. In addition, broadcasting and receiving equipment had to be rented, and for a minimum rental period of two months, despite the fact that the conversations were calculated in min- utes. Cooperating for the hookup were 15 telephone companies, 30 technicians, 100 operators (and only one probable wrong number ! ) and 26,722 miles of wire. The New York speeches were car- ried to a central radiating station in Chicago, from where they were dis- tributed simultaneously to the 31 branch offices. This involved sending the talks back over the wires to the New York exchange, as well as such other eastern offices as Albany, Buf- Horwitz Signs First Cleveland, Jan. 15.— M. B. Horwitz was the first in the Cleveland territory to sign a Columbia contract in the Montague Sweepstakes after hearing the coast-to-coast talk today. Horwitz signed a blank con- tract for a Columbia Serial for Haltnorth. falo, New Haven, Philadelphia and Boston. A special line was run into the Columbia studio as well as to the Los Angeles exchange. Expect 800 at ITOA Approximately 800 local exhibitors, exchange men and persons identified with the industry will attend the an- nual dinner and dance to be staged by the I.T.O.A. tonight at the Waldorf. Governor Lehman has promised to at- tend and other prominent figures have promised to be on hand. Biophone Takes Appeal Trenton, Jan. 15. — An appeal to the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Philadelphia, has been taken by the Biophone Corp. from a ruling of Judge Philip Forman against the company in a suit over patents. Plaintiffs in four suits started in 1929 are Western Electric, Erpi and A. T. & T. /. A. Meets End Today Hollywood, Jan. 15. — Meetings of the I.A.T.S.E., which have extended throughout the week and at which plans were discussed for organizing various branches of the industry, will end tomorrow. Postpone Game Trials Chicago, Jan. 15. — The scheduled trial of 16 exhibitors arrested in a police drive on giveaways here last month was postponed today until Jan. 21. Adolph Zukor received a total of $91,645 from the parent company and subsidiaries which included his re- muneration both as president and chairman of the board ; John E. Otter- son, who succeeded Zukor as presi- dent on June 17, 1935, received $84,000 for the remainder of the year ; Steph- en A. Lynch, chairman of the advisory committee, $79,500 ; 22 trustees and directors received a total of $298,891 ; eight other officers who were not on the board received a total of $145,623; two employes receiving more than $20,000 a year got a total of $40,911, and Simpson, Thatcher and Barlett, New York, received $25,000 as counsel. Para. Issues at New High Paramount's three issues on the N. Y. Stock Exchange yesterday hit new highs with two of them closing at the highs. The common reached 26J4 and finished at 26^ for a gain of \% on a turnover of 63,100 shares. The first preferred closed at a new peak of 18554, a Sam °f 12^4 points, with 3,300 shares traded. The second pre- ferred is now 23^, V/% hetter than Thursday's closing. A total of 7,100 shares of this issue changed hands. Ask Zukor Dinner Shift Because Adolph Zukor will remain in New York for only three to four days following his arrival next week to attend the premiere of "Champagne Waltz" in Washington, Paramount executives are asking that the pro- posed testimonial by the Broadway Merchants' Ass'n., scheduled for Jan. 25, be postponed until March. Zukor is understood not to be feel- ing well after several days of excite- ment before and after his birthday, and is anxious to return to his home near Hollywood as soon as important business here can be disposed of. Paramount Group Back Neil F. Agnew, Albert Deane, Charles Gartner and Frank Meyer will return today from the coast where they attended the Zukor Jubilee din- ner. John W. Hicks, Jr., got in Thursday. Kansas City Showed Good Gain in 1936 (Continued from page 1) deposits of $36,036,426 since June 30. Loans gained $16,676,105, and real estate owned dropped over $1,000,000. Other statistics show that Kansas has had one of its best years since early in the depression. Increased admissions is one of the most significant indices of improving theatre business, and exhibitors in this area are just beginning to put higher prices into effect. Fox Midwest has increased admission tops five cents in about 30 situations, although not in Kansas City. Here the Tower has gone from a straight 25 cents to 25 cents-35 cents, and W. D. Fulton, op- erator of five suburban houses, has raised the level of his admissions by eliminating bargain nights. As a whole, for the year first runs in Kansas City showed little or no improvement in grosses. However, conditions here are probably as com- petitive as anywhere in the United States. One strong indication of improve- ment is the approximate $225,000 spent during the past month or now being spent by Kansas and Missouri exhibitors on new theatres or on new quipment, furnishings and remodel- ing. Unaffiliated circuits have made no announcements but are expected to spend substantial sums during 1937 for rehabilitation. Business of National Theatre Sup- ply, according to Walter Shreve, man- ager, was one-third ahead of 1935. New theatres contributed most of the increase. New Fund for Phone Probe Held Certain (Continued from page 1) Speaker Bankhead of the House. The commission already has had $400,000, of which all but $65,000 has been spent, and the additional money must be furnished if the investigation is to be completed. The commission recently suspended publication of certain preliminary re- ports because of lack of funds. While there may be opposition to the granting of further funds for the inquiry by critics in Congress who as- sert the commission has produced lit- tle of real value with the money so far spent, it is not anticipated undue difficulty will be encountered in secur- ing the additional money. UMPTO Told MGM Agreement Not Set (Continued from page 1) satisfactory conclusion of the arrange- ment may be expected in a few days. The members went on record against weekly payments for shorts, insisting on a pay-as-played policy. The question of non-theatrical com- petition again came to the fore. It was reported several upstate churches are running film programs, obtained from exchanges. The organization called on distributors to cease the practice. Members also were assured that if any move toward intimidation was threatened, the organization would protect them to the limit. The Leading Motio Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, Intelligent the in Alt Branches VOL- 41. NO. 14 NEW YORK, MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 1937 TEN CENTS Distributors Urged to Aid Local Boards Kuykendall Makes Plea For an Early Start Distribution companies are urged by Ed Kuykendall, M.P.T.O.A. presi- dent, to take the initiative in setting up local conciliation boards in coopera- tion with exhibitors who petition them "at the earliest possible date." In a letter to Ned E. Depinet, vice- president of RKO Radio Pictures, ac- knowledging the company's recent statement of policy on the M.P.T.O.A. trade practice program, Kuykendall points out that only through the opera- tion of the local boards can "six or seven of the exhibitors' 10 trade prac- tice proposals be accomplished effect- ively." Under this heading Kuykendall lists unreasonable clearance, overbuy- ing, unfair competition, non-theatrical competition, designation of Sunday playdates, forcing of shorts and "other local complaints and grievances not involving contract enforcement." "The M.P.T.O.A.," Kuykendall ob- serves, "has gone as far as it can to secure the establishment of the boards. It is now up to the distributors to work out each such local board, where (Continued on page 9) Furst Takes Spry's Warner Boston Post Boston, Jan. 17. — Nat Furst, Warn- er branch manager in New Haven, has been named to succeed Tom Spry, who has resigned the post of Boston branch manager which he had held since the original First National in 1915. Gradwell L. Sears, general sales manager, expressed the good wishes of the organization toward Spry on his resignation. Furst has been in the film business for 32 years. He became New Haven sales manager for Pathe in 1917, join- ing Warners there four years ago. John Pavone, New Haven salesman for 11 years, has been promoted to succeed Furst as manager there. Additional 1935 Salaries Listed Washington, Jan. 17. — Additional salaries for 1935, in excess of $15,000, as made public here, follow. The list- ing is by companies. Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc., P. W. Kesken, $30,756; L. W. Lowman, $27,249; H. K. Boice, $42,970; H. L. Atlass, $15,834; Sam Pickard, $25,064; M. R. Run- yon, $18,849; W. C. Gittinger, $16,819; W. (Continued on page 9) Radio in Complete Hold of Hollywood as Talent Source Exhibitor charges that Hollywood is indiscriminately turning over its talent to radio, thereby creating unwarranted competition in the theatre field and generally loose statements about the extent of the penetration of radio into films led James P. Cunningham, news editor of Motion Picture Herald into an exhaustive checkup of facts and fancy. The conclusions and their proofs are presented herewith in the first of a series to appear in this and subsequent issues of Motion Picture Daily. By JAMES P. CUNNINGHAM Radio has taken virtually complete possession of Hollywood as a principal source of talent for popular air enter- tainment, and it intends to strengthen its hold. Radio's broadcasters have yielded to the strong demands for the services of motion picture stars made by their liberal sponsoring advertisers, spend- ing $100,000,000 annually on the air alone, and in six months have so liter- ally moved in on the motion picture talent market that Hollywood stands today nearly as important to the radio field as a purveyor of amusement as to the screen. It is almost entirely an arrange- ment between the air advertisers and stars, with broadcasters and produc- ers as witnesses. To the stars it is bringing $3,000,000 a year. All parties concerned appear satisfied over the results : The broadcasters are success- fully delivering to their advertisers the sales medium specified; the pro- ducers feel they are benefiting by the "free" occasional mention of their mo- tion pictures. There is, however, a little uneasi- ness among the producers, caused by the vociferous complaints expressed by their own customers, the exhibitors, against the stars' radio shows com- (Continued on page 10) Pittsburgh Sees '36 Revival Continuing Pittsburgh, Jan. 17. — This thriv- ing city of steel and smoke definitely came back during 1936 and all indica- tions are that 1937 is destined to be even better. Everything is up, pro- duction, employment, industry and the- atre grosses. The past year found the public becoming conscious that Pennsyl- vania at last has Sunday films. Sun- day grosses have been building steadi- ly all year and are expected to climb still further during 1937. Also, the extra trade has affected business dur- ing the other six days, as many show- men predicted. But the lights in the sky at night (Continued on page 8) Austro-German Talks Are Postponed Again By HANS LORANT Vienna, Jan. 8. — Austrian-Ger- man film negotiations, fixed for this month, again have been postponed, be- cause of the wide differences of opin- ion among the parties involved. The problem of the pending arrangement between the two countries is the most vital in the Austrian industry at the moment, and is one which affects American product. The increase in the importation to this country of German product, (Continued on page 9) 4 States' Receipts Total $41,437,000 Washington, Jan. 17. — Box-office receipts totaling $41,437,000 were re- ported for 1935 by 3,626 places of amusement in the four west south cen- tral states, which gave employment to an average of 11,189 persons during the year and had a payroll of $8,559,- 000, of which $1,025,000 was for part time work, according to figures made public by the U. S. Census Bureau. A total of 3,105 proprietors and firm members were active in the conduct of the establishments. The census report gave no specific figures for film theatres, but covered the amusement industry only as a (Continue don page 9) Directors Protest Soviet Restriction By BEATRICE STERN Moscow, Jan. 4. — The most sig- nificant outcome of the recently con- cluded conferences among film work- ers and officials of the Soviet industry was the protest of leading directors against the limitations imposed on them. The conference was for the purpose of discussion of the unful- filled state plan and the general short- comings of the film industry. The conference concluded with no indication that steps will be taken in the direction of a reorganization of the Soviet industry. . Y. Area Has 24 New Spots, 32,481 Seats Theatres Here Now Total 1,140; Circuits Gain Twenty-four new theatres with a total seating capacity of 32,481 were added to the Greater New York terri- tory last year, according to the latest survey of the New York Film Board of Trade. The number of theatres listed during 1935 was 1,140 with a combined seating of 1,298,066. Last year's records show that there were 1,164 houses with 1,330,547 seats. Of the new list, 117 theatres are closed. In 1935 109 were dark. By states, there are 839 houses seating 979,698 in New York, indicating an increase of 23 units over the year before, while New Jersey has 325 theatres seating 350,849, or one theatre more than in 1936. Circuit representation increased by 25 theatres and 31,960 seats. The lat- est figures show that there are 711 theatres seating 978,672 now affiliated with the circuits as compared with 686 units and 946,712 seats in 1935. Affili- ated theatres in New York total 120, with 252,751 seats, an increase of 10 houses over the previous period and 12,030 seats. Affiliated units in New Jersey are now listed at 63 in com- parison to 66 in 1935. The unaffiliated (Continued on page 12) Suits Against AT&T And W. E. Dismissed Wilmington, Jan. 17.— The anti- trust suits against A. T. & T. and Western Electric brought by General Talking Pictures Corp. and Duovac Radio Corp. were dismissed in U. S. District Court here yesterday by Judge John P. Nields. The court held that restrictive clauses in film licensing agreements during the research stage of talking pictures were legal but were not legal in subsequent commercial stages. With regard to the complaint against Erpi, the court ruled that (Continued on page 12) Midwest Men to Join 20th-Fox K. C. Meet In addition to eight district man- agers, branch heads of Chicago, De- troit, Indianapolis and Milwaukee will attend the two-day mid-season sales session of 20th Century-Fox in Kan- sas City on Feb. 4-5. Among those who are listed to at- tend are William Sussman, W. C. (Continued on page 9) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, January 18, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 January 18, 1937 No. 14 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager B^&OM\ Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Pub- lishing Company, Inc., Martin HHyfl Quigley, president; Calvin Brown, ^^^■J vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Avenue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copy- righted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc. Address all correspondence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publica- tions, Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, Teatro Al Dia, International Motion Picture Almanac and Fame: The Box Office Check-Up. Hollywood Bureau: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Streets, Boone Mancall, Manager; Chicago Bureau: 624 South Michigan Avenue, C. B. O'Neill, Man- ager; London Bureau: 4 Golden Square, London W 1, Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable Address "Quigpubco, London"; Berlin Bureau: Stuelerstrasse 2, Berlin W 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative; Paris Bureau: 29, Rue Marsoulan, Pierre Autre, Representative; Rome Bureau: Viale Gorizia, Vittorio Malpassuti, Representative; Aus- tralian Bureau: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins Street, Melbourne, Cliff Holt, Representative; Mexico City Bureau: Apar- tado 269, James Lockhart, Representative; Budapest Bureau: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest, II, Endre Hevesi, Representative ; Tokyo Bureau : 880 Sasazuka, lchikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken, H. Tominaga, Representative; Prague Bureau: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1, Harry Knopf, Rep- resentative; Shanghai Bureau: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Building, 142 Museum Road, /. P. Koehler, Representative; Rio de Janiero Bureau: Caixa Postal 3358, A. Weissman, Representative; Buenos Aires Bureau Corrientes 2495, N. Bruski, Representative; Montevideo Bureau: P. O. Box 664, Paul Bodo, Representative; Moscow Bureau: Petrovski Per 8, Beatrice Stern, Representa- tive; Vienna Bureau: Neustiftgasse, 55, Vienna VII, Hans Lorant, Representative; Amsterdam Bureau: Zuider Amstellaan 5, Philip de Schaap, Representative; Helsing fors Bureau: Fredriksgatan 19 C, Charlotte Laszlo, Representative; Warsaw Bureau Sienna 32, if. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Legion Approves 13 Of 14 New Pictures The National Legion of Decency, in its list of new pictures for the cur- rent week, has approved 13 out of 14 new films either for general patron- age or adults, and classed one, "Bro- ken Blossoms," as objectionable in part. Eight were approved for gen- eral patronage and five for adults. The films and their classification fol- low. Class A-l, Unobjectionable for Gen- eral Patronage — "The Dead March," "A Doctor's Diary," "God's Country and the Woman," "Larceny on the Air," "The Mighty Treve," "A Mil- lion to One," "They Wanted to Mar- ry," "Round-Up Time in Texas." Class A-2, Unobjectionable for adults — "Bulldog Drummond Escapes," "The Eternal Mask," "Green Light," "Men Are Not Gods," "Under Cover of Night." Ann Harding to Marry London, Jan. 17. — Ann Harding and Werner Janssen, New York Sym- phony Orchestra conductor, have filed notice of their intention to marry. i Purely Personal ► SHIRLEY LUTTENBERG, associ- ate editor of Columbian Beacon, Columbia house organ, will be in- stalled tonight as worthy matron of the Goelet Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. • Frank Kassler, co-director of The Golem," European-made feature based on a Hebrew legend, is here from Prague, Czecho- Slovakia, to set an American distribution deal. • George O'Brien will meet his wife, Marguerite Churchill, in Boston this week. She is doing a play there for John Golden. • Charles S. Goetz has been signed as personal representatives of Hans Feher and his father, Frledrich Feher, producer of "The Robber Symphony." • Cyril Von Baumann intends to return to South America to make an- other jungle film. This one probably will be made in Venezuela. • Lucille Page, wife of Buster West, has been signed to make two shorts on dancing tor Monotone Pic- tures. • Edgar Selwyn and Benny Thau arrived from the coast Saturday Howard Strickling met them. • Stephen Pallos, general manager of London Films, will sail for home in about two weeks. • Boyce and Mrs. De Gaw are here from the Universal studio on a vaca- tion. • Norma Shearer is in New York from Hollywood. • Harriet Eberhardt back from a visit to Duluth. . . . Cincinnati Charles Lowenthal, erstwhile Cincinnatian, here on a visit from Milwaukee. Jerome M. Jackson, neighborhood exhibitor, elected president East End Civic Ass'n. George Gomersall and Nate Le- vene have motored to Florida. H. L. Stahl, Oil City, Pa., here on a visit with his brother Max, of U. A. • . . . Denver Harry Marcus of Allied, Nat Wolfe of Commercial Film, and George Kerer of Capital have re- turned from Salt Lake City. Roy Notheis engineered the big Fox theatre party for its Denver em- ployees, held at the Broadmoor Country Club. Notheis, manager of the Webber, was master of cere- monies. Donnelly James, director of the Denver theatre orchestra, and Kay Andre, soloist, are recovering from the flu. Hugh Braly, district manager for Paramount, went to California for the holidays. Lee and Mrs. Mote, owners of the theatre at Riverton, Wyo., were in town. Big Business Denver, Jan. 15.— One night during last week's cold spell, Kenneth Richards, manager of the Rex, decided it would be cheaper to refund the ad- missions rather than operate, since only two paying patrons had showed up! . . . London Reginald Smith, Oxford Reper- tory Theatre graduate, appointed as- sistant television stage manager by British Broadcasting Corp. Simon Rowson, A. S. Newman, P. Bastie and A. G. D. West nominated for presidency of British Kinemato- graph Society. Sidney Bernstein, Sam Eckman and Alexander Korda joint chairmen of committee which is to organize super "Midnight With the Stars" show, Coronation time, in aid of Bene- volent Fund. Montague Cohen resigning from Twentieth Century Cinemas, Ltd. Queen Mary to attend premiere of Bergner's "Dreaming Lips," Pavilion Feb. 2. • . . . Los Angeles Harry White and Frank Bax- man are the new owners of the Arrow in downtown Los Angeles. J. A. Manard was the former owner. J. S. Nelson is the new manager of the Nile in Bakersfield. The thea- tre is owned by F. W. C. • . . . Omaha Joe Scott, 20th Century-Fox ex change manager, and his bride, the former Nynee Lefholtz, leave late this month on a belated honeymoon which will take them to Texas and Mexico. • . . . Pittsburgh Joe Gins of Columbia has been joined by his wife and baby. They have been -living in Washington for the last year. Robert Kail has been sent here by the Loew office from Columbus to re- place temporarily the ailing Bob New- kirk as Mike Cullen's assistant at the Penn. Mrs. John McGreevey, wife of the Harris booker, and her son have left for Florida to spend the winter. Benny Davis wrote a Pitt Victory March here the other day and dedi- cated it to the Rose Bowl victors on the Stanley stage. • . . . Seattle L. J. McGinley, manager of the local Universal branch, has returned to his office after a siege of the flu. Morrie Siegel, Paramount sales representative in Eastern Washington, is being congratulated on the birth of a son in Spokane. Mike Goodman, formerly with Paramount-Famous Players in the British Columbia territory, was a visitor on Film Row this week. He is at present out in advance of the "Northwest Mountie Band." Hugh W. Bruen, 1934-1935 presi- dent of M.P.T.O.W., and now an ex- hibitor of Whittier, Cal., a visitor here. • . . . Washington Edward Heiber and his Universal staff are moving into their new build- ing. Ben Lust, theatre supplies, will soon ocupy new quarters on New Jer- sey Ave. Samuel A. Galanty has recovered from a brief illness. Rudolph Berger recently underwent two operations one on his eyes and a tonsilectomy. Jack Nelson, local Bank Night Agent, eloped to Elkton, with Elea- nor Dial, sister of Theatre Art Dis- play's Roy L. Dial. J. Henry Hiser, operating the State Bethesda, became a father for the third time with the birth of Bar- bara Allison Hiser. A. E. Lichtman and Joseph Mor- gan are vacationing, and may visit Hawaii before returning to Washing- ton. Bob Campbell has shifted from G. B. to United Artists. Sam Wheeler is back from a Flor- ida vacation. Gottlieb Joins W anger Alex Gottlieb, who resigned last week from the Columbia advertising department, today joins Walter Wang- er Prod. He will work on special advertising campaigns and spend half of his time in Hollywood and the other half in New York. Hal Home, who is casting for "Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1938," plans to leave for the coast in 10 days. It is possible Gottlieb will ac- company him. Hold Hamrick Meeting Seattle, Jan. 17. — Division execu- tives and managers of the Evergreen State and Hamrick-Evergreen cir- cuits met here for the quarterly check- up of quotas and distribution of prize money. Al Rosenberg's Washington state division won first place for the 13-week period just ended. Second place went to Al Finkelstein's Port- land sector. Delay Sales Tax Appeal At the request of the corporation counsel's office, hearing of arguments before the Court of Appeals at Albany on the distributors' appeal from the application of the city sales tax to film rentals, which was scheduled for to- day, has been postponed for one week. The city asked for the additional time in order to complete its reply briefs. Imperial in New Deal New Haven, Jan. 17. — Mutual re- leases have been executed by Imperial Pictures and Connecticut Films Dis- tributing Co., following suit brought by the latter for damages* as the result of alleged violation of a franchise agreement dated Nov. 12, 1936. 1TO A Dance at Waldorf The annual dinner and dance of I. T. O. A. was held at the Waldorf Saturday night and ended early Sun- day morning. Approximately 800 local exhibitors, exchange men and other persons identified with the industry attended. John Miltern Killed Hollywood, Jan. 17. — John Mil- tern, veteran actor, was struck and killed by an automobile while out walking with Basil Rathbone Friday night. RKO Renews License RKO Radio Pictures has renewed its R. C. A. sound recording license agreement for an additional 10 years. Publix First Run k Minneapolis? JKw Minneapolis Fifteen below zero weather and pneumonia and flu epi- demic undoubtedly are adverse business factors, but, in spite of them, Three Smart Girls,' is a highly sensational box office performer. PSriEty Publix First Run , HOLD OVER Birmingham: AND GOING LIKE r A HOUSE AFIRE! just one record after another! ... and just another reason why everybody is talking about THREE SMART GIRLS and the NEW UNIVERSAL ! MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, January 18, 1937 B. & D. Weakness Is Blamed on U. S. Field London, Jan. 8. — That disappoint- ing results from the American market were largely responsible for the dis- couraging state of the company's finances was the keynote of speeches by E. Ronald Crammond, chairman, and C. M. Woolf, managing director, at the annual meeting of British & Dominions Film Corp. The report and accounts of the company, already reported, showed a net loss for the 12 months to Oct. 31, last, of £105,599 and a total debit bal- ance of £131,148. Crammond said that films like "Escape Me Never" and "Brewster's Millions" obtained only a small pro- portion of the expected revenue from the United States, and had compelled a drastic writing down of film values. Further, United Artists had agreed to a revision of the contract calling for 12 pictures a year, and a further revision was being discussed. In the meantime, it was indicated the com- pany will concentrate on the manage- ment of the Pinewood studios, of which it owns half the capital and from which it received a yearly man- agement fee of £10,000 a year. Woolf, saying the ultimate policy of the company would be to produce for the home market as economically as possible, declared, "We haven't got the American market, and I doubt if we shall ever get it." The Films Act, he declared, had increased British production but it had doubled studio costs and it had not helped British films in America. Answering a share- holder he declared nothing could be done to stop American films here. "Ninety per cent of the films shown on British screens are American, and no president of the Board of Trade will take the risk of rationing them, with the serious risk of reprisals from America," he stated. Woolf said the policy of B. & D. was to manage the studios and make as few films as it could, in view of their agreements. Selznick Changes Made Hollywood, Jan. 17. — Henry Gins- berg, general manager of Selznick In- ternational, has realigned the executive setup of the company. Under the new arrangement the department heads will be: E. L. Scanlon, comptroller; Charles Richards, casting director; Charles Morrison, talent scouting; C. R. Walrod, purchasing agent; Lillian K. Deighton, research department; Val Lewton, story department; Bar- bara Keon, stenographic; Hal Kern, film editing ; Lyle Wheeler, art ; Har- old Fenton, construction; Ernst Dry- den, wardrobe designing; Edward Lambert, wardrobe department, and Edward G. Boyle, property depart- ment. 'Romeo' Beats 'Ziegfeld* Portland, Ore., Jan. 17. — "Romeo and Juliet," roadshowed at the May- fair here for four days, exceeded by 20 per cent the corresponding take of "The Great Ziegfeld." Manager Fen- ney established tieups with local schools and colleges. Lilli Palmer Re-signed London, Jan. 17. — Lilli Palmer, Viennese actress who is co-starred with Richard Arlen in "The Great Barrier," has been given a new term contract by G. B., and may go to Hollywood under a loan arrangement. Looking 'Em Over "Scotland Yard Commands" (ABFD — Grand National) An importation from England and produced there by A.B.F.D., this picture offers a touch of mystery and romance and a final flash of lively action, but for the most part it appears to be rather heavily handicapped by the considerable amount of English-accented speech. The only familiar name is that of Clive Brook, as the wealthy young man who comes upon a smuggling group while he is intoxicated, is knocked unconscious, meets a young girl in a dance hall in Leeds, be- friends her, falls in love and finds himself involved, with her, in the activities of Scotland Yard, investigating the smuggling. Her brother, it appears, is the unwilling tool of the miscreants, who are using his truck to transport their smuggled armament from the shore. Actually, the film, if produced here, would be ranked as ordinary program material, suitable for double bill programs. Victoria Hopper is the girl who, caught up in the Yard's net after her brother is ap- prehended, marries Brook when the investigation closes with the mur- der of the brother by the gang leaders and their capture by Brook in an active closing sequence. James Flood directed. Reviewed without production code seal. Running time, 60 minutes. "G." Overseas Previews « The Mill on the Floss (National Provincial) London, Jan. 8. — There is an enormous amount of good work in all the details of this adaptation of George Eliot's novel, a British classic, period early nineteenth century. An American release has not been fixed, but should be obtainable for a film well above British average. It is a John Clein production, directed by Tim Whelan from a Garnett Weston adaptation with dialogue by John Drinkwater. The story is centered upon an old English mill and the picturesqueness of background provided by this rambling wooden building, on the banks of an old English river, pervades the whole picture which is a fascinat- ing, sometimes discursive, study of English life when men wore tall hats and tight trousers and the girls were be-flounced and hadn't heard the word "emancipation." The plot chiefly concerns Maggie Tulliver, daughter of the miller, the innocent victim of a family feud which prevents her marrying Phillip Wakem, son of her father's enemy. The vindictive pursuit of the vendetta by her brother, Tom, and the girl's submission to his authority is effective dramatically and incidentally gives a picture of woman's status in pre- Victorian and early Victorian days which will seem inconceivable to many of the present public. Spectacularly, there are many fine scenes. Particularly good are the episodes of small-town intolerance which, after Maggie has innocently been stranded with a male companion, lead to an angry mob marching on her retreat to hound her out of town. These scenes link to a strik- ing final sequence when flood sweeps away the mill and half the town and drowns the girl and her still faithful lover. The outstanding performance is that of Geraldine Fitzgerald as Mag- gie Tulliver. In a cast containing an array of names famous on the English stage and screen, Frank Lawton, Victoria Hopper, Griffith Jones, Athene Seyler, Mary Clare, Martita Hunt, Felix Aylmer, Sam Livesey, William Devlin and James Mason all do excellent work. It demands respect as a faithful transcription of a great book and, whatever may be thought of the "costume" angle, it should interest part at least of the American public as an English picture which does vividly portray a characteristic and important phase of English life. Running time, 90 mins. "G" "Love from a Stranger" (Trafalgar — United Artists) London, Jan. 8. — Melodrama, from the Frank Vosper stage play founded on an Agatha Christie story, which has been a considerable success in the West End here. Basil Rathbone has the part played by Vosper on the stage and Ann Harding, in her first British film, is the other big name. Rowland V. Lee directed the Frances Marion script for Max Schach who made the picture at Denham. The story is that an office girl wins a big lottery prize, is infatuated (Continued on page 5) Short Subjects "Pigs Is Pigs" (Vitaphone) Entertaining stuff about a family of pigs, one of which has an insatiable appetite. Finely colored, the piece has the always hungry one eating so much he has a nightmare in which he be- comes the victim of an ogre who stuffs him until he bursts. Awakening in a fright, the pig promptly goes down to breakfast and starts gorging again. Good animation and many comic twists. Production Code Seal No. 2,939. Running time, 7 minutes. "G." "Deep South" (Radio) The Hall Johnson Choir celebrates in song the marriage of a pair of cot- ton pickers. Filmed in natural set- tings, the short in a pleasantly en- tertaining manner combines excellent choral singing with fairly diverting story. Production Code Seal No. 2,748. Running time, 17 mins. "G." "Gold Mania" (Van Beuren-Radio) Beautifully filmed outdoor composi- tions are a highlight of this sentimen- tal treatment of a day in the life of a prospector. With a perfect "type," for the part and as tasteful a spoken accompaniment, it should bring good audience reaction. Production Code Seal No. 01,394. Running time, 11 mins. "G." "Merry Cafe" ( Mints- Columb ia ) Weak from starvation, Krazy Kat wanders into an Eatomat and passes out. While unconscious he has hallu- cinations in which the various edibles come to life and put on a show. Hun- ger revives him, but it is still a cruel world and he lapses back into a coma where at least he eats. Some clever in- vention makes it enjoyable. Produc- tion Code Seal No. 2,736. Running time, 7 mins. "G." "A Vitaphone Pictorial Revue No. 4" ( Vitaphone) The first two sequences of this short manage to sustain interest. The last part is mere filling. Shown in order are the methods of testing the physical reactions of would-be aviators, the merchandise testing laboratory of a department store and finally what the well dressed woman wears in warmer climes. Production Code Seal No. 01,399. Running time, 11 minutes. "G." To Show Hungary Film "Salary, 200 Monthly," a Hungarian musical starring Paul Javor, described as Hungary's Clark Gable, will have its American premiere at the Modern Playhouse, 81st St. and 3rd Ave., Jan. 21. Big in Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Jan. 17.— "One in a Million," starring Sonja Henie, gave the Alvin here its biggest opening day of the past six months. The picture did more than $2,000 in the 2,000-seat house and continued the pace through the second day. A second week is as- sured. Monday, January 18, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Bernstein Issuing New Questionnaire London, Jan. 8. — Sidney L. Bern- stein, whose patron questionnaires are famous, is issuing another to the 350,- 000 weekly visitors to his Granada circuit, in which he particularly aims to get a public opinion on color and on films running two hours or more. Bernstein's last questionnaire, to which 124,837 replied, was issued in 1934. In the current form he repeats the standard questions about stars, subject preferences, directors, stage shows, and so forth but adds two new questions : "Do you like colored feature talkies ?" "Say whether you prefer two 'big' pictures or one super lasting more than two hours, and shorts." Another new question asks the patron to list players whose names lead them to stay away from the the- atre. Suggestions from the Board of Education and the National Institute of Industrial Psychology helped in framing the questionnaire, which is being circulated in the Bernstein the- atres from Jan. 4-18. New Enterprises The following film and theatre com- panies have been incorporated: At Albany: Dover Theatres Corp., New York, exhibition, by Betty Schneider, Wil- liam Permison and Harry Gotesky. B. & D. Film Corp., New York, dis- tribution, by Harold J. Sherman, Martha Harris and Eleanor Brook. Filmland Amusement Corp., New York, exhibition, by Theodore Perl- man, Irving Feinman and Benjamin L. Rose. Three Villages, Inc., Whitesboro, exhibition, by Lynn B. Fenner, Fran- ces L. Tumposky and Bette Taylor. Arlihar, Inc., New York, exhibition, by Leonard R. Speiss, Laura Hart and Elias M. Felief. At Austin: Tad Screen Advertising, Inc., Dal- las, by R. A. Duncan. At Dover : Associated Artists of America, Ltd., film business, by L. H. Herman, B. R. Jones, J. P. Murray, Wilmington. At Spokane: Baker Amusement Corp., Newport, Wash., by Vernon L. Baker, George H. Unternehrer and Nelson W. Baker. At Newport, Wash. Baker Amusement Corp., exhibition, by Vernon L. Baker, George H. Un- ternahrer, Ivy A. Unternahrer and Nelson W. Baker. At Jacksonville, Tex. Ajax Amusements, exhibition, by G. Zapf, F. Schwartz and L. S. Joel. May Revive Magazine M. P. Associates will revive its monthly house organ dropped seven years ago. It may be called The Reel with Jack Ellis of RKO as editor. Activities of the organization will be publicized for the benefit of the cur- rent 190 members. The first issue is due to come out Feb. IS. Loew's to Reopen House Meriden, Conn., Jan. 17. — Loew's will reopen the Poli here, 1,000-seat house which has been dark for more than a year, on Jan. 29, with Lou Falk, manager of the local Palace, in charge. For the present a weekend policy will be followed. Overseas Previews "Love from a Stranger9 {Trafalgar-United Artists) {.Continued from page 4) by a plausible stranger who comes to hire her flat and, during a trip to Paris, decides to marry him, turning down the faithful but unpre- tentious lover of her working days. Returned from the honeymoon, the young couple settle down in an isolated country cottage where the husband begins to show eccentricities, awakening the girl's suspicions until she realizes, when he is about to murder her, that he is a homicidal maniac. Her attempts to outwit him lead to a good suspense finish. The material is artificial and there is a good deal of over-acting from the leads in the "big" scene, but direction is skilful in detail, there is considerable humor in the early scenes and all the dialogue will be easily understandable in America. It is lacking in convincing human interest. Running time 75 mins. "A" Allan Le Mort en Fuite "Death Escaped" (Films Richebe) Paris, Jan. 6. — This weird comedy is based on an original idea, and its development leads to many amusing situations which, although often touched by the thought of death, never lose their humor. Two third-rate and absolutely untalented, but ambitious, actors, Trig- nol and Baluchet, decide to pretend to be murderer and victim to gain publicity. Trignol, believed to be dead, goes into hiding, and from his retreat sends an anonymous letter to the police. The author of the supposed "crime" is caught by the police and condemned to death. His appeal for time to prove his innocence is rejected. In the meanwhile, Trignol, the supposed "victim," who knows nothing of his friend's plight, is mistaken for an officer who is wanted by his country on a charge of treason. He is arrested and condemned to death. He manages to escape and return to Paris in time to save his friend from the guillotine, and the two are hired as performers. From an original story by Lois le Gouradiec, the film is directed by Andre Berthomieu. Technical work and photography are good, but although the subject is very amusing, it has not been developed to full advantage. The cast includes Michel Simon, an excellent comedian; Jules Berry and Marie Glory. Running time, 90 minutes. "G." Autre MOTION PICTURE DAILYS HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW « Devil's Playground ( Columbia) Hollywood, Jan. 17. — It is only in the final reel that this picture emerges from the classification of less than routine, trite gob-girl material to that of the suspense-laden type of action stuff that rates well on dual programs. Therein, the unsuccessful attempts from a stormy sea to rescue part of the crew of a sunken submarine, and the final win- ning effort of a diving ace to save them lifts the film with a leap into good entertainment of its kind. Chester Morris and Richard Dix are buddies in the Navy, Morris woman-conscious, Dix home and garden struck. Dix meets and marries a cheap dance hall gold digger, Dolores Del Rio. When he is away, she goes after Morris, who is unaware of Dix's marriage. Dix finds them together, she makes it appear that Morris is at fault, and Dix throws him out. Later when Morris is among the part of the crew trapped in the damaged submarine, Dix refuses to answer the call for aid, until Miss Del Rio tells him the truth. Then in a crackling sequence, he goes down, brings air to the men, and they are rescued. Erie C Kenton directed from a screenplay by Dalton Trumbo and Jerry Chodorov. Interesting are the shots depicting the escape of some of the men through the hatch wearing artificial lungs, and the manner in which Dix fixes an air line to the compartment in which the men are trapped. Production Code Seal No. 2,033. Running time, 72 minutes. "G." Variety Club Cincinnati Cincinnati, Jan. 17. — Olsen and Johnson, members of Tent No. 2, were very much in evidence around the local tent during their engagement at the RKO Shubert. The team en- tertained the entire company of some 60 members at a dinner in the club's quarters, at which presents were dis- tributed. John Hawthorne, president of Operators' Local 327, is the latest re- cruit into resident membership. Maury White again is back in the fold, having reinstated his member- ship. E. V. Dinerman, as well as Solon R. Worthington, both of the RKO advertising department, have joined the ranks of benedicts. Cleveland Cleveland, Jan. 17. — New officers of the Cleveland Variety Club were conducted into office at a dinner-dance at the Statler Hotel yesterday. New officers are: M. B. Horowitz, president; David Miller, first vice- president; Frank Drew, second vice- president; Frank H. Boyd, secre- tary; J. S. Jossey, treasurer. The directors are: Col. Harry E. Long, Jack Shulman, I. J. Schmertz, Nat Holt, Harry H. Goldstein and Jerome Friedlander.. Columbus Columbus, Jan. 20. — Political and industry leaders here will participate in the President's Birthday Ball spon- sored by the local Variety Club tent. It is scheduled for Jan. 30 at the Neil House. Among those active are : Gov. Mar- tin L. Davey, Myron B. Gessman mayor of Columbus ; Col. Lynn Black, chief of the Ohio highway pa- trol; J. W. Thompson, Thompson Decorating Co. ; William James, for- mer president of the O.T.O.A.; Harry Schreiber, city manager for RKO ; M. R. Clark, Paramount man- ager; John Barcroft, RKO publi- city head ; P. J. Wood, secretary of the I. T. O., and Congressman Arthur P. Lam neck. Kansas City Kansas City, Jan. 17. — Variety Club will move from the Country Club Plaza, where it has been located the past two years, to Film Row on March 1, Chief Barker Frank Hens- ler declared this week after a poll of members. While the lease on pres- ent quarters does not expire until April, the Tent gets possession of the large building at 108 W. 18th street Feb. 1. Extensive remodeling and decorating is planned. Barkers Charley Shafer, Frank Bowen and Bill Warner won a lot of praise for themselves with the New Year's Eve party at the Muehlebach Hotel. It was so successful — at $10 throw — that reservations already have been made for the affair Dec. 31, 1937. The Variety Club-Film Row annual charity ball, still the big affair of the season for the industry, will be held at Pla-Mor Jan. 25. Proceeds go to relief fund with which the industry here takes care of its own. Arthur Cole of Paramount is general chair- man. LGARDEN spots of J| W1P UNITED ARTIS1 729 SEVENTH THE GARDEN OF BUSINESS FRIE THEATRE ALLEh BETHLEHEM STC BOTH HOUSES I DAY STOP PATF OF TECHNICOLC OF MARLENE DI GEORGE J SCHAEFER UNITED ARTISTS CORF 729 SEVENTH AVE NYC DIETRICH IS THE IDE. THE FINEST DEVELOPS THE CONCENSUS OF L0< HEAPED COLORFUL PHR AND MAGNIFICENCE THi rica are all ALLAH spots NED TO TREMENDOUS BOYDS EMBASSY 10YD THEATRE r BUSINESS AT THAT OF OPENING BOUT EXCELLENCE ! PERFORMANCES I CHARLES BOYER PAUL W ALLENDER BOYD THEATRE BETHLEHEM PA W ?T0P Cn7 AT n,- wv ?Wn ft p To OH ,ITY FOR WICOLOR IS 3 WHO HAVE S EEAUTY IS FORD S CAPITOL NGTON DC JLL SELZNICK INTERNATIONAL Presents ene DIETRICH- BOYER IN TECHNICOLOR Produced by DAVID O. SELZNICK Directed by Richard Boleslawski • From the book by Robert Hichens Released thru UNITED ARTISTS MOTION PICTURE DAILY Walter Reade Takes Third Circuit Site American Community Theatres, of which Walter Reade is president, has acquired its third site, at Morristown, N. J. The first is at Toms River, N. J., and the second at Saratoga, N. Y. Approximately $500,000 will be spent on the construction with Thomas W. Lamb drafting the plans. Work will start about March 1, and it is expected the theatre will be ready by July 1. The Morristown plot is located at South and Pine Sts. and was pur- chased from Shelton Pitney, Mahlon Pitney, Jr., and Henry P. Van Dusen, trustees for the estate of Henry C. Pitney. Seek Sunday Show Vote Oakland, Md., Jan. 17. — Officials here will ask that the Legislature enact a bill which will authorize this city to hold a referendum on Sunday shows. If it is permitted and ap- proved by voters there would be levied on admissions a five-cent tax to help support the fire department, relief and the library. Get Santa Monica House Los Angeles, Jan. 17. — Seth Parker and Chester Black, operators of the Drive-In Theatre here, have taken over the Wilshire, Santa Mon- ica. The house recently had difficul- ties with Projectionists' Local 150 of the I.A.T.S.E., which have been set- tled amicably. Seeks a Giveaway Tax Raleigh, N. C, Jan. 17. — Repre- sentative Withrow of Rutherford will introduce a bill calling for a tax upon Bank Night or Jack Pot Night at theatres. Representative King of Scotland is proposing an amendment whereby cities and towns could tax carnival companies operating at agri- cultural fairs a maximum of $200. Col. Signs Lull Desti Hollywood, Jan. 17. — Luli Desti, European star, has been signed to a long term contract by Columbia, which is releasing her latest picture, "Thunder in the City," in which she played opposite Edward G. Robinson. The film was made in England by At- lantic Films. Seek Auditorium Ban St. Louis, Jan. 17. — An injunction suit aimed to prevent use of the Municipal Auditorium for sporting events or other commercial purposes has been filed by the Reorganization Investment Co., owners and operators of the Arena. Buy Story for Hepburn Hollywood, Jan. 17. — Radio has purchased "A Bridge in the Sky" which will star Katharine Hepburn. It is an original by Grace Norton. Edward Kaufman will produce and Dorothy Yost will do the screen treat- ment. Heads Col. Committee Kansas City, Jan. 17. — E. A. Briles, Stafford, Kan., exhibitor and newspaper publisher, has been named chairman of the important Ways and Means Committee of the Kansas House of Representatives. "Hollywood, Jan. 17. — Frank Buck signed by Columbia to make a serial called "Jungle Menace;" Buck has two boatloads of animals en route from India. Joe Allen, Jr., to be known here- after as Allen Brook, given term contract by Columbia. . . . First as- signment "Speed Mad.". . . Bob Burns spoke at the inaugural banquet of Gov. Carl E. Bailey of Arkansas at Little Rock by using the telephone from Hollywood. . . . James FitzPatrick to leave for England Fed. 11 to photo- graph the Coronation. Nat Pendelton suffering from lumbago and Republic calls off "Ever Since Adam" until he recovers. . . . Leonard Spiegelglass back from New York. . . . Gladys George due at M-G-M early next week. . . . Van Faust now singing and dancing director at M-G-M, succeeding Mil- ton Becher.- . . . Sir Guy Standing signed to new four-year contract at Paramount. + Casting — Jean Perry and Margu- erite Marquis in 'Espionage," Mel- ville Cooper in "The Man in Pos- session," and Robert Wildback in "Broadway Melody of 1937," M-G-M. . . . Gloria Roy and Georgia Cane in "Time Out for Romance," 20th Century-Fox. John Howard, on loan from Para- mount, in "Stones Cry Out," Univers- al. .. . Reginald Denny in "Weather or No," Columbia. . . . Paramount castings include: Charles Moore in "Internes Can't Take Money," Stan- ley Blystone in "Murder Goes to College" and Esther Howard in "Swing High, Swing Low." + Title Change — Universal's "Person to Person Call" now "Girl Over- board." + Cameraman — Bert Glennon signed by Selznick International to photo- graph "The Prisoner of Zenda." Central Films Formed Kansas City, Jan. 17. — Central Films Cop. has been incorporated in Nebraska by Robert Russell, Lincoln, and A. F. Baker and George Baker, his son, who operate the Electric in Kansas City, Kan., to distribute 16 mm film. Russell is president, George Baker vice-president. The Bakers own a half interest in the closed cor- poration, which is capitalized at $25,000. The Central has been franchised by Films, Inc., New York, to distribute its 16 mm releases of feature recrea- tional film in Missouri, Kansas, Neb- raska, Iowa, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas. In addition the company rep- resents Erpi's 16 mm visual educa- tion service for schools, and handles the 16 mm projection equipment (for rental or sale) of the Victor Animat- ograph Co., Davenport, la. Goldberg Buys Theatre Omaha, Jan. 17. — Ralph Goldberg, head of Goldberg Theatre Corp., con- tinues as Nebraska's largest inde- pendent exhibitor by buying the 500- seat Winn, neighborhood house, from the Winn Theatre Corp., bringing Goldberg's nol dings to eight theatres. Sultan Invites 'em Hollywood, Jan. 17. — Leo Carrillo, currently working in Columbia's "I Promise to Pay," and Irving Cobb have been invited by the Sultan of Johore, India, to accompany him on a big game hunt early this spring. Carrillo and Cobb are try- ing to arrange their working schedules, so they can accept. Nebraska Unit Sets Legislative Group Omaha, Jan. 17. — A committee, in- cluding R. E. Falkenberg, L. C. Ehlers, M. Thompson, I. N. Kuhl and Charley Prokop, was appointed at a meeting here of the M.P.T.O. of Nebraska and Western Iowa to pre- pare for any detrimental bill which might come before the legislature. President Charles Williams of Omaha will act as liason. He doesn't anticipate any tax problems in the legislature, however, since Gov. R. L. Cochran is opposed to new levies. The organization also believes the current session of the Iowa legislature will be content to keep the theatres under the general Iowa sales tax instead of enacting a selective theatre ticket tax. Would Ban Contests Denver, Jan. 17. — Two bills have been introduced into the Colorado legislature that would prohibit the holding of endurance contests that last over 24 hours. Wall Street Light Losses on Board Net Low Close Change 36% 36% — % 5% 554 + % 18 18 — % 17354 175 +1% 159 160 High Columbia 3754 Consolidated Film. 554 Consolidated, pfd.. 18 Eastman Kodak.. 175 Eastman, pfd 160 General Theatre Equipment 3254 Loew's, Inc 7054 Paramount 26% Paramount 1 pfd.. 185% Paramount 2 pfd.. 24% Pa the Film 10% RKO 9 20th Century -Fox. 37% Universal Pictures pfd 102 Warner Bros 17% Warner Bros., pfd. 6654 32 70 325* + % 7054 + % 2654 2654 - % 18454 18454 —1 2354 2354 — % 9% 9% + % 854 8% 36% 37 - % 102 102 17% 17% — 5 6654 6654 —1 "U" Up 2 Points on Curb Net High Low Close Change Grand National... 3% 354 354 — % Sentry Safety % % % Sonotone 2 2 2 +% Technicolor 2154 2154 2154 Trans Lux 4% 4J4 4% + % Universal Pictures 15 14 15 -j-2 Small Bond Changes Net High Low Close Change Loew's 354s '46... 100% 10054 100% Paramount Broad- way 3s '55._ 74 74 74 Paramount Pic- tures 6s '55 10054, 100% 100% RKO 6s '41 pp.... 123% 123% 123% + % Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 9954 99 99 — % (Quotations at close of Jan. 16.) Monday, January 18, 1937 Pittsburgh Sees '36 Revival Continuing (Continued from page 1) definitely herald Pittsburgh's advance. Steel production is within only a little less than 10 per cent of complete capacity, mercantile establishments will show their biggest profit since 1929, rolls have been depleted and sal- aries have increased. Theatre grosses for 1936 were about 25 per cent better than the preceding year and showmen all over the tri- state district expect 1937 to show an even better percentage. Theatre construction, which has been at a standstill for eight years, has suddenly become active again. In the last few months, at least six new houses have been opened in the city it- self and that many more are now in work; the suburban districts have be- come theatre-conscious again and dur- ing 1937, new and more modern houses are expected to supplant a limitless number of old theatres. There are many who insist now that the spring flood was a blessing in dis- guise. It revitalized Pittsburgh, poured new millions into every con- ceivable trade and the eventual recov- ery brought both spiritual and finan- cial freedom to industry. Cash re- serves were unleashed for rehabilita- tion. In one case, that of Mort Shea's Fulton, the business increase during the first eight weeks of operation more than paid for the flood repairs and on a lesser scale, the same was true else- where. Atlanta Area's Gains High Atlanta, Ga., Jan. 17.— With about a 12 per cent increase in postal receipts, the biggest Christmas busi- ness since 1929 and a definite and equally large increase in "luxury" buying in the district, embracing Georgia, eastern Tennessee, northern Alabama and Florida, a huge increase in business for 1937 is predicted. Theatres in this district have been gaining for several months, with nu- merous holdovers of films. The Atlanta Chamber of Com- merce, in its annual statement, indi- cates that both retail and wholesale business in 1936 was the best in seven years, and postal figures are slightly above those of 1925, the best year in the postoffice in recent years. Theatre managers of the entire dis- trict are of the opinion that the outr look for the new year is excellent, pro- vided the material given them is of the quality of that of the past few months. Mullin Heading Drive Boston, Jan. 17.— Martin Mullin, the M of M. & P. Theatres, has been elected a division chairman in the Greater Boston Community Fund campaign, an annual charitable affair. Other division chairmen are Joseph Brennan of Allied Theatres of Massa- chusetts and E. A. Cuddy and Hy Fine of M. & P. C. W. Koerner, H. M. Addison, Max Finn, Rufus A. Somerby, F. W. McManus, Harry Wasserman, Frank Lydon, Sam Soule, W. J. Doyle, Albert Kane, Martha Ferris, John Loftus, E. S. Canter and Al Bevan are other theatremen asso- ciated with the campaign. Johnson to Millinocket Boston, Jan. 17. — The Graphic cir- cuit has appointed W. W. Johnson manager of the Opera House in Millinocket. Monday, January 18, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Distributors Urged to Aid Local Boards (Continued from page 1) one is desired, in cooperation with the leading local theatre owners and the local exhibitor association." Evidencing some disappointment over the statements setting forth what the distribution companies which have replied to the exhibitor organization to date are willing to grant in the way of trade practice concessions, Kuykendall reiterates his statement that the 10-point program was not conceived as a bargaining basis which could be pared down by distributors and, when granted in part, still be satisfactory to exhibitors. "They were intended," he writes, "as moderate, reasonable proposals for the genuine and immediate benefit of all independent exhibitors, not as trading points to be cut down as far as possible by each distributor, nor to create artificial controversy, nor to defeat any legislation." Blames Distributors His letter reminds distributors, also that responsibility for the failure of the program and the consequences of its failure "is entirely yours." "It is no secret," he says, "that many exhibitors feel that the distribut- ors will give up little or no com- mercial advantages without Govern- ment intervention to regulate our busi- ness by statute. How far the distributor will go to convince the exhibitors this attitude is without justification ob- viously is demonstrated by how un- yielding the distributor is in respond- ing to exhibitor complaints and pro- posals." Kuykendall's letter, however, calls the distributors' replies to date "the only actual step toward solving our problems in the last two years. With your qualified acceptance of our pro- posals as a beginning," he writes, "we hope to resume negotiations with you on those proposals which you have refused to accept and on any additional proposals that may develop." Kuykendall is due here late this week. Additional 1935 Salaries Listed 4 States' Receipts Total $41,437,000 (.Continued from page 1) whole. Texas was the most important of the four states reported upon, hav- ing 1,895 places of amusement with receipts in 1935 of $24,452,000, fol- lowed by Oklahoma where 830 places reported $8,255,000 ; Louisiana, 453 places with $4,974,000, and Arkansas, 448 places with $3,756,000. Report Institute Profit London, Jan. 8. — The British Film Institute received £5,000 in 1934 and £6,000 in 1935 from the Cinemato- graph Fund established by the Sunday Entertainments Act, and provided by a levy on theatre receipts, it was re- vealed in the House of Commons by Ramsay MacDonald, President of the Council. The Institute is a semi- official body chiefly concerned with educational and non-entertainment films. (Continued from page 1) H. Ensign, $20,749; George Bijur, $18,686; L. F. Erikson, $15,860. Consolidated Film Industries, R. I. Poucher, $19,746. Cosmopolitan Corp., E. B. Hatrick, vice- pres., $20,000. Dictograph Products Co., Edward S. Perot, jr., $25,000. De Lux Laboratories, Inc., Alan E. Freed- man, pres., $45,886. H-M Pictures Corp., Ben Hecht, $20,700; Charles MacArthur, $34,500. Haenschen, Inc., Walter G. Haenschen, musical director, $23,400. Hurok Attractions, Inc., L. Leonidoff, $18,300. Hearst Metrotone News, Inc., $23,400; E. B. Hatrick, gen. mgr., $33,600; Edwin C. Hill, commentator, $23,250. National Broadcasting Company, Inc., M. H. Aylesworth, $45,180; Joseph Stopak, $36,404; R. C. Patterson jr., $35,240; David Rosenblum, $35,000; Edgar Kobak, $28,958; J. F. Royal, $21,600; A. L. Ashby, $18,000; George Engles, $18,000; F. E. Mason, $18,000; F. M. Russell, $18,000. Paramount International Corp., J. W. Hicks jr., $18,200. Paramount News, Inc.. L. S. Diamond, $19,450; Fred Waller, $19,050. Paramount Pictures Distributing Corp., M. F. Agnew, $27,150; Milton Kussell, $18,200; Joseph J. Unger, $26,000; C. M. Reagan, $19,500; Russell Holman, $23,400; Henry L. Salsbury, $25,870; G. J. Schaeffer, $39,750. Paramount Pictures, Inc., R. E. Ander- son, $17,850; Walter B. Cokell, $18,200; Austin C. Keough, $31,200; Louis Phillips, $20,450; Fred Mohrhardt, $15,600; Frank Meyer, $18,203; Dr. N. M. Laporte, $20,461. Paramount Theatres Service Corp., Y. F. Freeman, $27,950; M. F. Gowthorpe, $15,470; L. D. Netter, $20,800. Reliance Pictures, Inc., H. M. Goetz, $26,222. Ross Federal Service, Inc., Harry A. Ross, $37,500. RKO Radio Pictures, Inc., Jules Levy, $40,600; Phil Reisman, $38,269; Cresson E. Smith, $20,800; S. Barrett McCormick, $16,900; E. L. McEvoy, $16,900; Herman Zohbel, $25,000; William Mallard, $19,999; B. B. Kahane, $20,104. Technicolor, Inc., H. T. Kalmus, $43,859; Natalie Kalmus, $19,275. Time, Inc., H. R. Luce, $43,517; R. E. Larsen, $39,010; R. L. Johnson, $20,384; P. R. Prentice, $15,288; J. S. Martin, $33,634; J. S. Billings, $25,480; L. S. Goldsborough, $20,384; H. J. Black, $29,480; W. H. Carey, $17,365; G. B. Sadler, $18,288; H. Dole, branch advertising mgr., $18,288. Trans -Lux Movie Ticker Corp., Percy M. Furber, $24,000; James W. Decker, $24,000 Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp., Jo- seph M. Schenck, $47,500; Sydney Towell, $28,050; Felix A. Jenkins, $20,500; W. J. Eadie, $20,800; A. John Michel, $20,800; Dan Michalove, $18,200; Charles E. McCarthy, $23,400; E. I. Sponable, $18,000; E. C. Grainger, $18,850; W. J. Kupper, $18,850; Harry Bal- lanca, $20,800; Tom Bailey, $18,200; Edgar Moss, $26,000; H. H. Buxbaum, $18,720; C. W. Eckhardt, $16,224; T. B. Costain, $41,600; D. A. Doran jr., $26,000; William Goetz, $38,000; Alfred Wright, $20,800; Saul E. Rogers, $15,600; W. J. Hutchinson, $19,500; Eric Pommer, $47,000; George White, $48,001. Vitaphone Corp., George E. Quigley, $39,750; Roy Mack, $20,458; Sam Sax, $39,750; David Mendoza, $26,885; Joseph Henaberry, $19,491; Lloyd French, $19,833. Theatre Guild, Inc., Elisabeth Bergner, $24,390; George M. Cohan, $41,907; Jane Cowl, $24,746; John Halliday, $21,999; Helen Hayes, $45,804; Philip Merivale, $43,709; Lee Simonson, $16,000. Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., Joan Blon- dell, $39,050; Aline McMahon, $43,000; Ann Dvorak, $49,050; Barbara Stanwyck, $49,000; Lyle Talbot, $32,000; Veree Teasdale, $31,- 666; Genevieve Tobin, $40,000; Ross Alexan- der, $30,124; Mary Astor, $41,662; George Brent, $40,416; Bette Davis, $18,200; Claire Dodd, $20,833; Glenda Farrell, $33,462; Allen Jenkins, $21,612; Guy Kibbee, $48,583; Frank McHugh, $32,800; Henry O'Neill, $21,525; Donald Woods, $39,800; William Gargan, $25,725; Anita Louise, $18,733; Josephine Hutchinson, $41,125; Everett Marshall, $20,- 549; Helen Lowell, $16,866; Robert Barrat, $19,975; Hobart Cavanaugh, $15,287; Hugh Herbert, $34,966; Patricia Ellis, $15,766; Margaret Lindsay, $19,800; Phil Regan, $15,299; Edward E. Horton, $34,416; Joseph Cawthorne, $16,083; Robert Armstrong, $30,- 000; Ruth Donnelly, $20,616; Grant Mitchell, $16,924; Helen Morgan, $21,500; Barton Mac- lane, $15,375; Ned Sparks, $27,083; Bernard Kaun, $18,- 550; Malcolm Boylan, $21,750; Edward Chodorob, $31,100; Delmar Daves, $39,100; Laird Doyle, $33,950; Warren Duff, $27,466; Sheridan Gibney, $23,500; F. Hugh Herbert, Films and Facials Cincinnati, Jan. 17. — A local beauty salon is showing come- dies, travelogues and other shorts while milady is sitting for a facial, permanent and what not. The pictures are projected on a large screen with 16mm. film, the innovation being ad- vertised as "the first time in America." $25,900; Charles Kenyon, $44,383, Ben Mark- son, $37,600; Seaton Miller, $28,000; Robert Presnell, $30,833; Tom Red, $27,300; Casey Robinson, $37,500; Jerry Wald, $20,400; Carl Erickson, $15,712; Harry Sauber, $17,854; Manuel Seff, $17,783; Al Colin, $15,900; Brown Holmes, $16,075; Mary C. McCall Jr., $19,300; Peter Milne, $17,500; Bobby Connelly, $22,650; Ray En- right, $41,725; Robert Florey, $30,583; Wil- liam Keighley, $35,750; Ralph Straub, $21,- 200; Helen Thimig, $25,000; George Barnes, $19,248; Arthur Edeson, $19,693; Gaetano Gaudio, $18,793; Ernest Haller, $23,850; Byron Haskins, $18,656; Sid Hickok, $16,- 978; Sol Pplito, $21,938; Fred Jackman, $40,433; Leo Forbstein, $37,100; Ray Heindorff, $26,500; Maxwell Arnow, $23,850; F. N. Murphy, $29,150; Nathan Levinson, $24,558; Anton F. Grot, $18,350; Harold McCord, $19,500; Percy Westmore, $16,500; Fred Gage, $20,291; Stanley Logan, $16,508; Samuel Carlisle, $26,500; Harold S. Bareford, $34,450; Sam Schneider, $34,450; T- H. Hazen, $34,450; R. W. Perkins, $31,800; J. S. Hummel, $15,- 650; Ralph Clark, $18,400; Mort Dixon, $20,783; Harry Warren, $48,416; Allie Wrubel, $18,782; Al Dubin, $40,466; Earl Baldwin, $48,000; Lou F. Edelman, $19,366; James Seymour, $22,100; Henry Blanke, $30,550. Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp., Clayton Bond, $26,500; H. L. Charnas, $20,- 063; M. A. Silver, $22,464; Merman Maier, $15,660; W. S. McDonald, $26,500. Others listed were: George Abbott, $17,150; Fanny Brice, $27,755; Roy Del Ruth, $48,333: Wiliiam Goetz, $18,333; Bert Lahr, $39,000; Beatrice Lillie, $34,184; Loretta Young, $21,- 473; Darryl F. Zanuck, $39,833; Dave Rubinoff, $30,000. Midwest Men to Join 20th-Fox K. C. Meet (Continued from page 1) Gehring, W. J. Clark, Martin Mos- kowitz, Nat B. Finkler, C. A. Hill, E. H. Collins, Theodore Shaw, Jack Bloom, Felix Jenkins, Charles E. Mc- Carthy, Lee Balsly, Roger Ferri, Harvey Day, William J. Kupper, Walter J. Hutchinson, Leslie Whelan, H. H. Buxbaum, J. J. Lee and Tom J. Bailey, all from New York; dis- trict managers, Herman Wobber, J. P. O'Loghlin, A. Levy, Edgar Moss, George Roberts, Harry A. Ballance and Ward E. Scott. Branch managers include Clyde Eckhardt, Lester Sturm, George T. Landis and Jack Lorentz. John D. Clark, general sales head, who will conduct the meetings, left for Movietone City yesterday to con- fer with Darryl Zanuck on the balance of this season's and next season's product. The output will be analyzed in detail. Early in June, the entire sales force of the company will con- gregate at the studios for the annual sales conclaves. Reviving Denver Club Denver, Jan. 17. — The old Rocky Mountain Screen Club is to be re- vived, with rooms in the Brown Pal- ace hotel. Officers are Harry Golub, president ; Chester Bell, first vice- president ; Joseph Dekker, second vice- president; Ross Bluck, secretary and Harry Goodridge, treasurer. Buzz Briggs was named chairman of the membership committee. Austro-German Talks Are Postponed Again (Continued from page 8) sought by the Reich interests, will be at the expense of American films, since they are the dominant source of prod- uct. It is estimated that 160 Ameri- can films will be released in Austria in 1937, against 115 from Germany. Another part of the problem lies in the purchase by the German Tobis com- pany of the largest Austrian studio and distributing company, Tobis- Sascha. All provisions of the so- called Aryan paragraph have been carried out, which means the dismissal of numerous managers. It is seen as possible that if Ger- man interests obtain control of the 50 per cent share holding in Tobis-Sasch, owned by Dr. Pilzer, general manager, the Germans might terminate the company's activities, in order to ex- tend the market for German films in Austria. The Austrian Government is seeking a means by which the shares may be retained in Austrian hands. A limited company, composed of several Austrian banks, will buy the shares, according to present plans. Shift FWC Managers Los Angeles, Jan. 17. — Several F. W. C. managers have been shifted. At the Ravenna Claude F. Spaeth re- places John J. Cardas, resigned. In San Diego at the Mission John Robinson replaces John D. Redmond, and at the Plaza Fred G. Alwaise is temporarily replacing James O'Toole, resigned. Balto. Orchestra Back Baltimore, Jan. 17.— William K. Saxton, Loew's city manager, has closed a deal with the musicians' union for the return of an orchestra to the Century. It is expected that stage shows also will be resumed. THEATRE ACCOUNTING by WILLIAM F. MORRIS Tells all the facts about your business each week. • Payroll data for Social Security Taxes. • Profit at a glance — Daily or Weekly. • All expenses deducted — In- cluding Rent, Taxes and Depreciation. • Complete record of ad- vance bookings. • Itemized Schedule of All Assets and Equipment with Table of Depreciation Rates. • Does not require a book- keeper to handle it. $3 ENOUGH FOR A FULL YEAR'S BOOKKEEPING QUIGLEY BOOKSHOP ROCKEFELLER CENTER NEW YORK MOTION PICTURE 10 RADIO DAILY RADIO Monday, January 18, 1937 NBC's December Net Hits 10-Year High NBC's revenue for Dec. 1936, was 23 per cent above the same period in 1935, making it the highest December in the 10-year history of the company and enabling NBC to close the year with a total of $34,523,950, its greatest year. This total is 10.8 per cent higher than 1935's total. The total for the Red network in December was $2,418,713, while the Blue network total was $1,139,877. More WOR Renewals WOR reports a flock of renewals and new program additions, to wit : "Lenten Recipes," given by Eilen Douglas and sponsored by the Japan Crabmeat Ass'n., starts Feb. 8 at 1 :35 P. M., Mondays, Wednesdays and Fri- days. Beginning March 8 the pro- gram will be aired at a new time, 1 :35 P. M., same days. Maxon, Inc., is the agency. E. P. Reed & Co., through its. agency Geyer, Cornell & Newell, be- gins a new electrically transcribed musical series Feb. 24, from 1 :45 to 2 P. M. "Gambling's Musical Clock" (6:45 to 7:30 P. M.) and Vincent Sorey's orchestral program (7:30 to 7:58 A. M.), both sponsored by the Illinois Meat Co. renew for extended periods beginning Feb. 1. George H. Hart- man Co., Chicago, is the agency. The Anderson Co., through Schwab & Beatty Inc., New York, renews Frank Singiser's Transradio news pro- gram beginning Feb. 14. The pro- gram is heard Sundays at 11 P. M. All programs listed above are E.S.T. Radio in Complete Hold of Hollywood as Talent Source "Criminal Code" Tonight "The Criminal Code," starring Ed- ward G. Robinson and Beverly Rob- erts, which is the Lux Theatre of the Air program for tonight, will consist of the following assisting players : Paul Guilfoyle, Noel Madison, Walter Kingsford, Phillip Voze, Earl Roth, William Williams, Richard Abbott, Ernie Adams, Justina Wayne, Joe Franz, Hilda Haywood, Lou Merrill, Margaret Brayton, Ross Forrester, David Kernan and Frank Nelson. "Melodiana" Starts on WOR "Melodiana," a new program spon- sored by Winx Mascara, began a 13- week stay on WOR yesterday at 3 P. M., E.S.T. The Hudson Adver- tising Co. placed the program. John Shepard in Town John Shepard, president of the Colonial Network, New England's principal web, is in New York this week on station business. At It Again Charles MacArthur is up to his old stunts again. He left on the Century for Hollywood the other day and had him- self registered on the pas- senger list as Mr. Helen Hayes. Coast scribes and photogra- phers, puzzled, but still be- lieving that it was really Helen Hayes who was arriv- ing, crowded the depot yes- terday — and out stepped Charley. (Continued from page 1) peting with the same players' simul- taneous appearances on screens. Radio's union with Hollywood has been in the making ever since the first successful commercial broadcast, some 16 years ago. Its crystallization, however, really began only six months ago — at the beginning of the fall pro- grams. Now, they say that Shirley Temple and Mae West are the only stars in Hollywood who cannot be reached by radio for a price. In the six months from July 1 to Dec. 31, some 255 motion picture play- ers made 532 "guest" appearances on the air, and additionally performed hundreds of times in 24 series of pro- grams which in the period featured stellar film names. Besides, Holly- wood shared other players with the air — those considered as combination radio-film performers, stage-film per- formers, concert-film performers, as follows : Jean Harlow , 3 Robert Montgomery ... 3 Pat O'Brien 3 Franchot Tone 3 Helen Vinson 3 Bert Wheeler 3 Jean Arthur 2 John Barrymore 2 Ralph Bellamy 2 Charles Boyer 2 Joe E. Brown 2 Virginia Bruce 2 Frank Buck 2 Leo Carillo 2 Jackie Coogan 2 Stuart Erwin 2 Glenda Farrell 2 Errol Flynn 2 William Frawley 2 Clark Gable 2 Hoot Gibson 2 James Gleason 2 Lucille Gleason 2 Betty Grable 2 Jean Hersholt 2 John Howard 2 Boris Karloff 2 June Lang 2 Jerry Lester 2 Peter Lorre 2 Edmund Lowe 2 Class Number of Players Number of Guest Percentage Appearances Number of Series of Programs Motion Picture Players 235 53% 381 24 Radio-Film Players ... 55 12 49 39 50 11 71 6 Stage-Radio-Film Players.. 28 6 31 30 Miscellaneous ( Concert- Film, etc.) 78 18 446 100% 532 99 To broadcasters' charges that Holly- wood has "stolen" virtually all of radio's talent, and, therefore, they have been forced to transport their micro- phones to Hollywood Boulevard, the foregoing chart provides a rebuttal. Where radio took 235 "straight-film" players for commercial broadcasts in the last six months of 1936 alone, mo- tion pictures used only 55 players who had radio associations. Less than a dozen of those were of the top rank, whereas the stars taken from films by radio represented the best available as witness the following compilation of "straight-film" players who made air broadcasts in the period from July 1 to Dec. 31 : Film Players on the No. of No. of Air, Guest Series July 1 to Dec. 31 Appearances Programs Olivia de Haviland 7 Ann Sothern 7 Joan Bennett 6 Patsy Kelly 6 Robert Taylor 6 Alice Faye S Joel McCrea 5 Frank Morgan 5 Gertrude Niesen 5 Walter O'Keefe 5 Gene Raymond 5 Barbara Stanwyck 5 Sheila Barrett 4 Kitty Carlisle 4 Ruth Chatterton 4 Guy Kibbee 4 Elissa Landi 4 Anita Louise 4 Herbert Marshall 4 Adolphe Menjou 4 Jack Oakie 4 Edward Arnold 3 Lionel Barrymore .... 3 Wallace Beery 3 Constance Bennett 3 Joan Blondell 3 John Boles 3 James Cagney 3 Madeleine Carroll 3 Claudette Colbert 3 Jackie Cooper 3 Dolores Costello 3 Joan Crawford 3 Irene Dunne Cary Grant 3 Fred MacMurray 2 Dorothy Mackail 2 Merle Oberon 2 Roger Pryor 2 George Raft 2 Claude Rains 2 Gregory Ratoff 2 Lyda Roberti 2 Ginger Rogers 2 Beverly Roberts 2 Charles Ruggles 2 Rosalind Russell 2 Ann Shirley 2 Anna Sten 2 Margaret Sullavan 2 Es telle Taylor 2 Warren William 2 Loretta Young 2 Robert Young 2 Joan Marsh 1 Charles Butterworth . . 1 Fifi D'Orsay 1 Tom Howard 1 Alan Jones 1 Dorothy Page 1 Dick Powell 1 George Shelton 1 Tom Mix Fred Astaire Bernice Claire Betty Jane Cooper James Hall Edward Everett Horton . . Ken Maynard Jean Muir Ken Murray Clarence Muse Conrad Nagel Irene Rich 105 players appeared in 253 guest appearances and 34 series programs; 128 players in single performances and 128 guest appearances. Grand Totals Film Players: 233 players appeared in 381 guest appearances and 24 series programs Fitch Co. Show to MBC Beginning March 13, the F. W Fitch Co. will sponsor an as yet un- titled program on five NBC-Red net- work stations, from 11 :45 A. M. to noon. The series will be presented over WEAF, New York; WCAE, Pittsburgh ; WTAM, Cleveland ; WWJ, Detroit; WMAQ, Chicago. Additional Radio News — Page 12 CBS to Start News For Latin-America Marking the first step in the net- work's plans for a schedule of special broadcasts to Latin-America, CBS has begun a daily news program for Pan- American listeners over W2XE, the network's short-wave station. Jorge Leal is handling the broadcasts, Mon- days through Fridays from 6:45 to 7 P. M., E.S.T. CBS expects to put its full Latin America schedule into effect some time in February when W2XE places in service a new transmitter having 10 times the power of its present facili- ties. More Guests for Cooper Jackie Cooper will have as his film guests Bela Lugosi, Jackie Coogan and Betty Grable today on his "Lessons in Hollywood" program, heard Mon- days and Wednesdays at 8 P.M., E.S.T., over the Mutual network. Lu- gosi will be heard Jan. 18 ; while Coo- gan and Grable will appear Jan. 20. Cunningham in New York Robert Cunningham, program direc- tor of the Central States Broadcast- ing System of Nebraska, arrived in New York over the weekend to con- fer with Mutual officials on program coordination. The Nebraska network recently joined up with Mutual. Columbia Has "Sing" Shorts Columbia has completed arrange- ments for the release of a series of shorts based on "Community Sing," the Sunday evening broadcasts over a CBS network. The subjects will be released nationally Jan. 24. Bampton, Tracy, Et Al Short Shots: Rose Bampton and Lee Tracy will appear on Bing Cros- by's "Music Hall" program Jan. 21. . . . NBC's inaugural staff of 16 men and 118 pieces of equipment left for Washington Saturday, in charge of Operating Engineer George McElrath. . . . Emile Corwin of NBC's press staff makes his radio debut today on the "Music is My Hobby" program. He'll play the piano. . . . Eddie Du- chin's band and Frank Albertson will guest appear on "Morning Matinee" Jan. 28. . . . WOR will broadcast ex- clusively the National Aviation Show proceedings which begins Jan. 28. . . . "News of Youth," CBS serial, cele- brates the start of its second year Jan. 25. . . . Martha Dulin, WBT (Charlotte) program department, is vacationing in Florida. . . . Nicholas Massue, Metropolitan Opera tenor, will head the guest stars on the Ham- merstein Music Hall program Jan. 26. . . . Block and Sully will "visit" Jack Oakie's "College" Jan. 26. . . . Peggy Allenby will be the guest star of "Your Unseen Friend" Jan. 24. . . . Sylvia Cyde, who has been absent from the air for the past few months, (Continued on page 12) Listening Groups Kansas City, Jan. 17. — They even have a "radio listening^' group in Kansas City, Kan. It is a part of the Morse Parent-Teacher Ass'n. They meet to listen to outstanding cultural or educational pro- grams. Radio Acceptance Young & Rubicam,imc- NEW YORK — 185 MadUon Avenue CHICAGO 3} 3 No. Michigan Avenue DE TR OIT 74.} o Second Boulevard MONTREAL — 660 St. Catherine St, Wat January 13, 1937 Mr. Red Kann, Motion Picture Daily, Rockefeller Center, New York City. Dear Mr. Kann: The purpose of this note is merely to record our appreciation of the swell job Motion Picture Daily is now doing on radio broadcasting. Sincerely, Young & Rubicam, Inc. ROCKEFELLER CENTER NEW YORK 12 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, January 18, 1937 N. Y. Area Has 24 New Spots, 32,481 Seats {Continued from page 1) theatre list for New York indicates an increase of 13 units and 12,030 seats. The New Jersey resume has five new units with a total seating of 5,727. The current number of un- affiliated theatres in New York is 425, and in New Jersey, 103. The combined independent theatres in New York and New Jersey show a decrease of one, with 294 in New York and 159 in New Jersey currently listed as compared with 294 in this state and 160 across the Hudson in 1935. The new total of 1,144 sound theatres is an increase of 32 over the previous year. The new number of silent houses is 20 ; the year before it was 28. More units are now closed, the new figure being 117 as compared with 109 in the previous survey. Of this number, 97 have sound, while in 1935, 81 had sound apparatus installed. There are 46 circuits in the local territory, 43 of which are indepen- dents. Loew's has the greatest number of theatres in the major class division with 68; RKO is next with 54, and Warners last with 48. Harry Brandt leads the independent field with 59, Skouras Theatres is second with 57, Randforce next with 45 and Century fourth with 32. Listed Geographically The circuits, the number of theatres, states and boroughs are listed as fol- lows : Belle, 12 in Manhattan ; Brandt, 19 in Manhattan, 20 in Brooklyn, six in Bronx, six in Long Island, six in New Jersey and two upstate; Leo Brecher, 10 in Manhattan ; Century, 13 in Brooklyn, 19 in Long Island; Cinema, four in Manhattan, one in Bronx and two in New Jersey; Co- calis, one in Manhattan, one in Brook- lyn, three in Bronx, two in Long Island, four upstate, eight in New Jersey ; Consolidated Amusements, three in Manhattan, 16 in Bronx ; Consolidated Theatres, four in New Jersey; Estates Operating, four in Brooklyn; Fabian, two in Brooklyn, two upstate and several others which are not in the serving district of local exchanges ; Fanchi, three in Manhat- tan, one in Bronx ; Fourth Ave. Amusement, six in Brooklyn ; Harris, six in Manhattan, three in Bronx ; Harry Hecht, four in New Jersey ; Hildinger, seven in New Jersey ; Im- perial, three in New Jersey ; Inter- boro, 20 in Brooklyn, one in Bronx, eight in Long Island ; Isle, eight in Staten Island, two upstate, and two in New Jersey ; I. Kafko, three in Brooklyn ; Kenroe, five in Long Island; Ben Knobel, one in Manhat- tan, one in Bronx, one in Brooklyn, four upstate. A. Litovi, three in Brooklyn; Leff- Myers, one in Manhattan, nine in Bronx; Loew's, 22 in Manhattan, 19 in Brooklyn ; 12 in Bronx, eight in Long Island, four upstate, three in New Jersey ; Netco, 1 1 upstate ; New- bury, eight in New Jersey; Pru- dential, 23 in Long Island; three upstate; RKO, 16 in Manhattan, 10 in Brooklyn, five in Bronx, six in Long Island, five upstate, 12 in New Jersey ; Randforce, 39 in Brook lyn, six in Long Island; Rapf, Ruden How One Theatre Does It Reproduction of Motion Picture Daily reviews for use in theatre exploitation is not new. The latest, illustrated above, demonstrates how Warners are using a two-page advertising layout, 40 by SO inches on a 6-foot-high easel, in the lobby of the Strand. This display and two others like it in other parts of the theatre went up a week in advance of the opening Saturday morning and will remain there during the run. Lederer, three in Manhattan, one in Brooklyn, one in Long Island, five in New Jersey; Reade, two in Man- hattan, two upstate, 17 in New Jersey, and three under construction ; Rosen Bros., three in Brooklyn; Rosenblatt- Welt, three in Brooklyn, five in Staten Island, five in New Jersey ; Moe Rosenberg, three in Bronx, one in New Jersey ; Roth, four in New Jersey ; Rugoff & Becker, one in Man- hattan, nine in Brooklyn, three in Long Island. Skouras, five in Manhattan, four in Bronx, 21 in Long Island, nine up- state, 18 in New Jersey ; Snaper, five in New Jersey; Springer, 10 in Man- hattan, four in Brooklyn; Springer- Cocalis, six in Manhattan, 13 in Bronx, one in New Jersey ; Stamatus, seven in Brooklyn ; Stanley-Mark Strand, one in Brooklyn, one in Man- hattan; H. Sussman, four upstate; Warners, 48 in New Jersey; Windsor, three in Brooklyn ; William Yoost, five in Manhattan. Four Plays Close Four stage plays called it off Satur- day. "Swing Your Lady," which opened at the Forty-Sixth St. Oct. 18 and thereafter moved to the Booth, closed after 101 performances. "Johnny Johnson," which opened at the 44th St. Theatre Nov. 19, left after 68 performances. "Aged 26," as noted, stole away from the Lyceum after 32 perform- ances. "A House in the Country," which opened at the Vanderbilt Mon- day night, quit Saturday afternoon after seven performances. Suits Against AT&T And W, E. Dismissed {Continued from page 1) the "quality" clause and the "re- pair and replacement" clause on talking film equipment were originally legal but are not now. In view of the fact, however, that at the time the hearings in the case took place, the clauses were practically abandoned by Erpi, the court declared he will issue no injunction. The plaintiffs had asked that the defendants be enjoined from enforcing the provisions of its equipment licenses "insofar as they restrict or limit pro- ducers in the distribution of talking films." In his opinion Judge Nields said that the holding of the court "should advise the trade that no dam- age or threatened injury can arise therefrom in the future." He said the court will retain juris- diction "for the purpose of taking such other action for adding to its de- cree such relief as may become neces- sary should any attempt be made by Erpi to enforce such clauses." {Continued from page 10) has returned to WOR. . . . Oscar Bradley, bandleader on the Phil Baker program, celebrates a birthday Jan. 24. . . . Josef Hofmann will be the guest soloist on the Ford Sunday Eve- ning Hour Jan. 24. . . . Lum and Abner and Elinor Harriott arrive in Hollywood today. . . . Peggy Alien- by and Hanley Stafford will do the leads on the "Court of Human Re- lations" broadcast Jan. 22. . . . CBS will feed the inauguration to WNEW. . . . Jimmy Braddock will be Earl Harper's first guest on the sports commentators opening program to- night at 7:15 P. M. on WNEW. In and Around WBT Trade news and chatter from WBT, Charlotte, N. C. affiliate of CBS: Albert Mills Groceries of Cincin- nati this week begins a nightly 15- minute transcribed program, placed through Matteson, Fogarty and Jor- dan, Chicago agency. Cheney's Cough Syrup has placed an order for 26 spot announcements through Groves-Keen, Inc., of At- lanta. Empire Plow Co., Cleveland, re- sumes its weather reports during sta- tion breaks. The contract runs in- definitely. General Foods begins a half-hour weekly transcribed program, in behalf of Log Cabin Syrup. The program is heard Thursdays at 6:30 P. M., and will run for 13-weeks. Philco "Morning Melodies" begins a stay on the air from WBT Jan. 18, from 8:15 to 8:30 A. M. Philco Radio is sponsoring. Texaco-Presidential Tie The Texaco Co., sponsors of Eddie Cantor, are donating part of their program time Jan. 24 to promote the President's Birthday Ball, which is held annually throughout the country Jan. 30. Midway through the show Cantor will take several minutes to pay tribute to the work being done for crippled children with the funds so raised, then the air will be switched to the 76 individual stations carrying the program for talks by local speak- ers who will outline plans for the Ball in their own cities. Two Managers Shifted Lincoln, Jan. 11. — Leland Misch- nick has been transferred from the Kiva here to the Colorado, at Pueblo, Col., and has been replaced here by Harry Bretzer. Both are Westland Theatres houses. Stop Auto Film Shows Omaha, Jan. 17. — Here's an angle on the General Motors plant strike that may be new to many. The op- erators' union has called out members who have been running machines showing an advertising film for local auto dealers in sympathy with the sit- down strikers. Rebuild 20th-Fox Branch Kansas City, Jan. 17. — Twentieth Century-Fox has revamped its ex- change here, consolidating the busi- ness department and shifting the office of Ward Scott, district manager, to the front. The exchange is being re- decorated throughout. "Joyce Jordan" Over WHN "Joyce Jordan — Girl Interne" is the title of a new program which will be broadcast Mondays through Fridays from 1 :15 to 1 :30 P. M., E.S.T. over WHN starting Feb. 1. Additionally, the series will be piped to three sta- tions of the Yankee Network, WNAC, Boston; WTIC, Hartford; and WTAG, Worcester. McKesson & Robbins is sponsoring for Calox Tooth Powder. Brown & Tarcher, Inc., is the agency. Heinz Adds 6 Stations The H.. J. Heinz Co., sponsors of the "Magazine of the Air" program, heard Mondays, Wednesdays and Fri- days at 11 A. M., E.S.T. over CBS, adds six stations beginning with the next broadcast. The additions are WADC, Akron; WPG, Atlantic City ; WHP, Harrisburg ; _ WMAS, Springfield; KFH, Wichita; and WMBG, Richmond, which will make a total of 57 stations carrying the pro- gram. Maxon, Inc., is the agency. The Leading Motiol Picture industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, intelligent the In Ail Branches VOL. 41. NO. 15 NEW YORK. TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1937 TEN CENTS No 20th-Fox, G. B. Friction Lee Tells Men 'Sensational News" Is Promised Staff Despite reports to the contrary, here are no differences between G.B. md 20th Century-Fox, Arthur Lee, \merican head for G.B., states in a nessage to the sales force. "We will >roceed just as we have for the past wo and a half years," he says. "We have sold 24 pictures this sea- ion and we have that many to dis- ribute," Lee adds. "In contacting exhibitors just remember that it is >ictures you are selling and not umors. "Before the season is finished you yill hear some sensational news — lews of such a nature as to make you jlad you stuck by your guns and let he rumors take care of themselves. When the news will come, I cannot iay right now. But I do know, and ; want to assure you of the fact, that fou, by your work in the field and by four selling of G.B. product, can lasten the day on which the news will )e made known to the motion picture {Continued on page 13) Appoint 3 to Head Metro-British Unit London, Jan. 18. — S. C. Balcon, for- mer production manager of Gaumont British, will be associate producer ; Harold Boxall, former general mana- ger of G. B. production, will be pro- duction manager, and Angus Mac- Phail, former story supervisor of G. B., will be scenario editor of M-G-M's British production unit. All of the new appointees will work under the general supervision of Michael Balcon, former G. B. pro- duction chief, who will be in charge of Metro British productions. Supreme Court Halts Action in Fox Case By CLARENCE LINZ Washington, Jan. 18. — A stay of proceedings in the Eastern Pennsyl- vania District Court today was or- dered by the U. S. Supreme Court pending its decision on the petition for review filed last week by Hiram Steel- man, trustee in bankruptcy in the Wil- liam Fox case. The court granted Steelman's peti- tion for a temporary restraining order and injunction against further pro- ceedings in the suit brought by the All-Continent Corp. as a creditor of (Continued on page 7) Film Business In Cleveland Good in 1936 Grosses Reflected Gain in All Activities Cleveland, Jan. 18. — Cleveland af- filiated and independent theatre own- ers, opposed in many issues, are agreed that business in the Greater Cleveland area was good in 1936. Col. Harry E. Long, Loew division manager, states that the first run down town business in his Cleveland circuit was up ap- proximately 20 per cent over the pre- vious year. Other affiliated circuit heads, while not giving out definite figures, freely admit there was a very substantial increase in both attendance and gross receipts over 1935. Independent circuit owners however, report that their 1936 business held to the 1935 level without materially in- creasing it. Myer Fine of Associated {Continued on page 13) Buys Frisco Theatre From United Artists San Francisco, Jan. 18. — Follow- ing Lou Anger's recent visit here, Herman Cohen, operator of the United Artists Theatre, revealed completion of a deal with the Joseph Schenck in- terests whereby the local man takes over the other 50 per cent interest in the Market St. first run. Some $75,- 000 was involved in the transfer, (Continued on page 7) Buys Game Preserve Spokane, Jan. 18. — Wallace Beery has purchased 157 acres of choice hunting ground in Idaho County, Idaho, about 75 miles from here. The film star hunted in this district last fall. There'll be room on it for a flock of homing pigeons. Patent Pool Talks Set for Next Month Negotiation of a new royalty agree- ment and discussions of an extension beyond 1945 of the international pat- ents pool of American companies and Tobis Klangfilm will be undertaken here late next month with the arrival from Europe of Tobis officials. The last conference of principals in the patents pool was held in Zurich, Switzerland, last summer, but resulted in no agreement on an extension of the current pooling agreement beyond the 1945 expiration date. Western Electric, RCA and American com- panies distributing in the Germanic (Continued on page 2) U. S. Firms Seeking Austrian Quota End Suggestions that the Hays office make efforts to have the Austrian Government abolish the "kontigent" and abandon plans for increasing its quota restrictions have been made by the Paris offices of American com- panies. The cabled protests charge (Continued on page 1 3 J Untapped Film Players on Air Less Than Three Dozen The second installment of an exclusive survey into the radio-film equa- tion, demonstrating with facts and figures the extent to which broadcast- ing has forayed into Hollytvood to bolster the air zuai'es. By JAMES P. CUNNINGHAM The roster of picture players on the air from July 1 to Dec. 31 reads like Motion Picture Almanac's "who's who" on the screen. The only first- grade star names not making air ap- pearances in the six months included Richard Arlen, George Arliss, Regin- ald Denny, Marlene Dietrich, Richard Dix, Louise Dressier, Ann Dvorak, Sally Eilers, Leon Errol, Louise Fazenda, W. C. Fields, Wallace Ford, Greta Garbo, Janet Gaynor, Ann Harding, Laurel and Hardy, Shirley Temple, Mae West, Raymond Hatton, Katharine Hepburn, Jack Holt, Miri- am Hopkins, Sybil Jason, Victor Jory, Ian Keith, Victor McLaglen and Fredric March. It is to be noted that Shirley Temple, without any radio ap- pearances, was the exhibitors' choice as money-making star of 1936 as well (Continued on page 14) More radio developments — Page 14 Para.'s "B" Film Policy Not Yet Set Definite Plan Seen With Arival of Zukor Paramount's "B" picture produc- tion policy for the balance of the sea- son has not been definitely worked out yet, although some changes as a result of the objections to this type of product voiced by the company's theatre operating partners at the studio recently are almost certain to be made, it was stated here yesterday following the arrival from the coast of Barney Balaban, Paramount president; Stan- ton Griffis, chairman of the executive committee, and Neil Agnew, general sales manager. Indications are that a definite policy may be decided upon this week follow- ing the arrival here of Adolph Zukor tomorrow. With 10 pictures said to be in work now, the studio is at its greatest stage of activity in the past several years, and whatever realign- ment of "B" product may be made would not be reflected in releases for some time to come, it was stated here. For that reason, no substantial change in production policy is regarded as likely in advance of the new season. A special deal for Zukor involving a percentage of profits, which has been discussed by directors of the com- pany, will have to be submitted to and approved by Paramount stockholders before being placed in effect. For this reason, and due to the fact that the annual meeting of stockholders is not (Continued on page 7) Kent Gets Data for Warner-F. & M. Deal Sidney R. Kent is gathering docu- mentary essentials to aid him in the determination of film rental and clear- ance between the Warners on one hand and F. and M. on the other under the court stipulation which brought to an end the St. Louis liti- gation of many months ago and which named him the arbitrator. The settlement included a 10-year (Continued on page 7) U. A. to Have First Drive for Executive For the first time in its history, United Artists will stage a sales drive for one of its executives. A. W. Smith, Jr., general sales manager, and a number of home office executives yesterday decided to set aside Jan. 24 to May 1 as the George J. Schaefer (Continued on page 7) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, January 19, 1937 MOTION PICTURI DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Boleslawski Funeral Will Be Held Today Vol. 41 January 19, 1937 No. 15 Martin Quigley Edit or -in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Pub- lishing Company, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Avenue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copy- righted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc. Address all correspondence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publica- tions, Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, Teatro Al Dia, International Motion Picture Almanac and Fame: The Box Office Check-Up. Hollywood Bureau: Postal Union Lite Building, Vine and Yucca Seieets, Boone Mancall, Manager; Chicago Bureau: 624 South Michigan Avenue, C. B. O'Neill, Man- ager; London Bureau: 4 Golden Square, London W 1, Bruce Allan, Representative; Cable Address "Quigpubco, London"; Berlin Bureau: Stuelerstrasse 2, Berlin W 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative; Paris Bureau: 29, Rue Marsoulan, Pierre Autre, Representative; Rome Bureau: Viale Gorizia, Vittorio Malpassuti, Representative; Aus- tralian Bureau: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins Street, Melbourne, Cliff Holt, Representative; Mexico City Bureau: Apar- tado 269, James Lockhart, Representative; Budapest Bureau: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest, II, Endre Hevesi, Representative; Tokyo Bureau: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken, H. Tominaga, Representative; Prague Bureau: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1, Harry Knopf, Rep- resentative; Shanghai Bureau: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Building, 142 Museum Road, J. P. Koehler, Representative; Rio de Janiero Bureau: Caixa Postal 3358, A. Weissman, Representative; Buenos Aires Bureau: Corrientes 2495, AT. Bruski, Representative; Montevideo Bureau: P. O. Box 664, Paul Bodo, Representative; Moscow Bureau: Petrovski Per 8, Beatrice Stern, Representa- tive; Vienna Bureau: Neustiftgasse, 55, Vienna VII, Hans Lorant, Representative: Amsterdam Bureau: Zuider Amstellaan 5, Philip de Schaap, Representative; Helsing- fors Bureau: Fredriksgatan 19 C, Charlotte Laszlo, Representative; Warsaw Bureau: Sienna 32, R. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Hollywood., Jan. 18. — Funeral serv- ices for Richard Boleslawski, M-G-M director, who died at his home here yesterday, will be held Tuesday at 10 A. M. in St. Augustine's Chapel, Cul- ver City. Only the family and inti- mate friends will attend the burial at Forest Lawn. Father John O'Don- nell will officiate. Pallbearers are: Basil Rathbone, Robert Montgomery, Gilbert Emery, Al Birmingham, Dr. Serg Bertensson and Marcus Goodrich. Russian memorial services will be held next Sunday. George Fitzmaurice will succeed Boleslawski as director of "The Last Mrs. Cheyney." Monogram Has Seven Franchise Deals Set Seven franchise deals have been set by Monogram, according to W. Ray Johnston, president. A number _ of other territories are now being worked out by Johnston and Edward Golden, general sales manager, and are expected to be announced very shortly. Boleslawski was born in Warsaw, Poland, and received his education in Odessa. While attending the Mos- cow University in 1906, he became an actor in the Moscow Art Theatre, studying under Stanislawsky. Short- ly thereafter he abandoned acting for directing and staging. He arrived in Hollywood in 1929. His first assignment was "Treasure Girl" for Pathe. He was an assistant director on "Paris Bound" and "This Thing Called Love." In 1930 he did "The Last of the Lone Wolf" for Col- umbia. In 1932 he published "Way of a Lancer," the first book of a trilogy dealing with his war experiences. Following the publication of his first book, he returned to the coast to direct "Rasputin and the Empress," for M-G-M, and for the same company "Storm at Daybreak," "Beauty for Sale," "Men in White," "The Painted VeiV' "Give of India" and "Les Miserables." Among his latest pic- tures were "Theodora Goes Wild" and "The Garden of Allah." Howard White Dead Howard White, pianist member of Landt Trio and White, radio act, died at his home early Sunday morning of a heart attack. White is survived by his wife, Madeline. Funeral services were held last night at his home. Burial will be today at Teckville, Pa. MITCHELL MAY, Jr. CO., INC. • INSURANCE Specialists To The Motion Picture Industry 75 Maiden Lane, N. Y. City 510 W. 6th St., Los Angeles, Cal. Patent Pool Talks Set for Next Month (Continued from page 1) countries will participate in the con ferences next month. The distributors will tender a state ment on royalties due Tobis for 1936 to Milton Diamond, American repre sentative of the company, today, which offers $75,000 in settlement of royalties for the accounting year ended last Dec. 30. The offer pro vides for payment of the royalties in dollars for every country except Ger many, the sums due from German distribution to be paid in marks. American distributors are seeking an arrangement with Tobis under which the European royalties may be paid in the currency of the country in which they originate, rather than in dollars, and this subject is expected to be thrashed out at the February conference. Miss Fields to 20th-Fox London, Jan. 18. — Gracie Fields, English actress, will make four pic- tures in two years for 20th Century- Fox in Hollywood, it was revealed here today. Crosby Returns It Kansas City, Jan. 18.— "Thank you very much for the $10 check," Bing Crosby wired City Manager H. F. McElroy. "And delighted you liked my slogan. I am re- turning $10. I wish to donate a cup for grand prize in your safety driving slogan con- test." Crosby last week submitted a slogan in Kansas City's current safety slogan contest, and was awarded one of the prizes given for the best five per week. Delay Press Meeting On Col. London Plan "Million" at Roxy May Pull $155,000 "One in a Million" is heading for a $155,000 gross for its three-weeks run at the Roxy. For the first three days of the third and last week, the picture garnered $24,000 and is ex- pected to wind up the week with $33,- 500. The first week's take was $78,000, the second $43,500. "After the Thin Man" at the Cap- itol tallied about $35,000 in the third week. The current and last week is running close to this figure, accord- ing to Loew executives. "Camille" will open Friday. "God's Country and the Woman" took in about $17,500 at the Strand. The current picture, "Black Legion," in the first two days did better than $12,000. "Beloved Enemy" ended its third week at the Rivoli with ap- proximately $16,000. Allied, Consolidated Sued by Credit Assn. Los Angeles, Jan. 18— M. P. In- dustry Credit Assn., through its at- torneys, Goldstone & Berger, today filed suit against Allied Pictures Corp. and Consolidated Film Industries ask- ing an accounting and seeking recovery of proceeds from the releasing of films amounting to approximately $80,000. The plaintiffs also seek the recovery of negatives. Prior to January 29, 1934, the credit association asserts, Allied assigned negatives and the contracts for the leasing of these negatives to Consoli- dated to apply on a debt. Plaintiff alleges on January 29, 1934, Allied consigned these same negatives and contracts to M. P. Industry Credit Assn. /. A. Men Coming East Hollywood, Jan. 18. — Fred Demp- sey and Louis Krouse of I.A.T.S.E. home office leave the coast Tuesday. Others departing are : Traveling Rep- resentatives William C. Scanlon, Ed Tinney, Richard Walsh, also the De- troit business manager of union opera- tors, Roger Kennedy, and the Phila- delphia contingent, Abe Friedman William Freeman and George Bray- field. George Browne will remain through- out the week. Ben Rosenberg Improves Los Angeles, Jan. 18. — Ben Rosen berg is past a crisis and convalescing at his home in his battle with pneu- monia. Rosenberg recently resigned from National Screen. By BRUCE ALLAN London, Jan. 18. — Paul Soskin to- day cancelled the press reception scheduled for tomorrow when he was to reveal details of Columbia's pro- duction plans here. The delay is be- lieved to be due to the lack of con- firmation so far on M-G-M's intention to use the Amalgamated Studio. It is understood, however, that Columbia will occupy the Amalgama- ted plant, and exercise direct super- vision of the Soskin features to be made for Columbia release. Robert Riskin will approve all scripts and William Perlberg will be in charge of casting. The directors from Holly- wood who will be loaned are under- stood to include Ed Ludwig, Richard Wallace, Elliott Nugent, Eddie Buz- zell, Harry Lachman and possibly Tay Garnett and Howard Hawks. Writers will include Barlett McMormack and Nat Perrin, and players, Jean Arthur, Melvyn Douglas, Walter Connolly, and possibly Miriam Hopkins, Irene Dunne, Charles Boyer and Edward Arnold. First Columbia Film Set The first Columbia picture, "Isn't Life Beautiful?" will be the first from the Amalgamated Studio and will go into work March 15. Perrin did the script and Wallace or Buzzell will direct. Soskin is seeking Jack Oakie, Ann Sothern and Connolly. He also wants James Cagney for "Shadow on the Wall," and Miss Dunne for the Lili Langtry role in two supers planned for August production. Columbia's eight pictures for next season's release are expected to cost £500,000. They are planned for world distribution. At the home office of Columbia yes- terday, it was said it had not yet been determined, whether or not the eight films will be released on Columbia's American schedule next season. It was indicated that the decision probably will depend largely on the suitability of the productions for this market when they are completed. Extend Authority of FTC by New Measure By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, Jan. 18. — Legislation giving the Federal Trade Commission authority to proceed against business concerns practicing unfair methods, even though no competitor may be in- jured, was introduced into the House of Representatives today by Congress- man Lea of California, - chairman of the Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee. Pointing out that the Commission's power to prevent dishonest methods in commerce unless they affect competi- tors is doubtful under the present law, Lea would give it the authority to move against such practices on its own initiative, even though the practices as- sailed might be used by an entire in- dustry. Levine Quits Republic Hollywood, Jan. 18. — Abe Levine, who has been handling talent trades with other studios for Republic, has resigned his post. Barney Cohen has also resigned from the studio staff. Herbert J. Yates is expected here next week to institute a reorganiza- tion of the production personnel. £f ifl ^ # # for the tremendous tip-off that's it ltd &t W& Ul started everybody flashing t » * # * fe for the tremendous tip-off that's fiw fiw started everybody flashing * ♦ the great news everywhere! WARNER BROS WILL RELEASE "Celluloid dynamite! Moves motion pictures one notch for- ward!"—Red Kann, M. P. Daily • • • "Powerfully packed with emotional wallop! Director Archie Mayo never did anything better."— Film Daily "A mighty picture! What the public needs!"— Elizabeth Wilson, Silver Screen • • • "You'll see something when you see this flicker! The Warners and Archie Mayo are to be complimented!"— Sidney Skolsky, Daily News • • • "A four bell picture! One of the most tense, gripping photoplays of its kind ever produced— to be classed with 'I k Am a Fugitive7! For a thrilling evening, I advise, for your 'must see' list— 'Black Legion'!"— Jimmie Fiddler • • • "Divine! Should be seen by everyone! IHm —Sara Hamilton, Photoplay • • • "A picture everyone should see! Splen- gfflflLl did entertainment!"— Ed Smithson, Fawcett Pubs. • • • "Swell! Sends ^ Humphrey Bogart rocketing into star brackets."— Ted Magee, Screen Book • •• "One powerful picture! An inspired job!"— John Schwartzkoff, Motion Picture Magazine • • • "Dandy, powerful picture."— Harold HefFerman, Detroit News • • • "A New Year present exhibitors can be thankful for!"— Film Curb • • • "A swell picture! Best in long time."— Leo Townsend, Modern Screen Magazine • • *"One of the outstanding pictures of the year!"— Hitchcock, Showmen's Trade Review • • • 'Should mean SRO signs! A box office natural!"— Jay Emanuel Pubs. ON JANUARY 30lh But The Raves Are Released Already! u N D M I STAKE B 0 UT IT.. ITS CELLULOID! n —Liberty Magazine said it, and awarded the show its critic's highest and rarest rating ! The Kind of Dramatic Dynamite Only LACK LEGION with Can Make! HUMPHREY BOG ART Dick Foran • Erin O'Brien-Moore • Ann Sheridan Robert Barrat • Helen Flint • Joseph Sawyer • Eddie Acuff • Addison Richards 'Directed by ARCHIE MAYO MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, January 19, 1937 Para.'s "B" Film Policy Not Yet Set {Continued from page 1) held until June, the arrangement prob- ably would not become effective until next season, it was said. Zukor will preside at a meeting of the Paramount board on Thurs- day, which has been advanced from Jan. 28 in order that it may be held while Zukor is here. He plans to leave for Washington Thursday night to attend the opening there of "Cham- pagne Waltz" the following night. He will return to New York there- after and spend several days here be- fore leaving for the coast about the middle of next week. Para. Stock Converted Approximately $5,500,000 of Para- mount's first preferred $100 par stock has been converted into common, rep- resenting more than 21 per cent of the total number of shares of first pre- ferred which was issued for claims allowed in the company's reorganiza- tion proceedings. The first preferred is convertible at the rate of one share for seven of common, resulting in an increase of approximately 385,000 shares in the common stock outstanding, or a total of 1,995,000 shares of common. The second preferred is convertible at the rate of 10 shares for nine shares of common, and hence conversion of this issue has little effect on the total num- ber of shares outstanding. There are 4,500,000 shares of common author- ized, 2,300,000 of which was set aside for conversion purposes ; 1,610,000 was originally outstanding, and the remainder is in the company treasury. Paramount's fourth quarter finan- cial statement is expected about Feb. 20. Paramount Wins Suit Los Angeles, Jan. 18. — Judge Yankwich in U. S. District Court here today dismissed the copyright in- fringement suit of Hortense Hirsch against Paramount, in which damages of $500,000 were asked, and assessed the plaintiff $1,500 attorneys' fees. The court ruled the plaintiff's song lacked originality. Capital Spot Quits Films Washington, Jan. 18. — The Belasco, for nearly two years operated by Radin and Leavine of New York for films has reverted to Messrs. Shu- bert with L. Stoddard Taylor again becoming actively their representative here. Future of the house is undecided but possibility of stock company is men- tioned as the most likely development. Plan New Village House University Place Theatre Corp. has leased property on University Place between Waverly Place and 8th St. for construction of a theatre. Build- ings at present on the site will be demolished. Close Brooklyn Manor The Century circuit has closed the Manor, Brooklyn, for alterations and will reopen the theatre shortly under the name of Vogue. Supreme Court Halts Action in Fox Case (Continued from page 1) Fox, until a decision is reached on the petition for review. Bringing the case to Washington a week ago, Steelman sought immediate action from Associate Justice Car- dozo, who, however, felt the matter was one for the consideration of the entire court and refused to act. Reade Sues on New Ban at Toms River Atlantic City, Jan. 18. — Walter Reade, well known North Jersey op- erator, and his new American Com- munity Theatres Corp., have appealed to New Jersey Supreme Court here against an alleged attempt to shut him out of Toms River, N. J. His counsel told Justice Joseph B. Perskie that Dover Township, Ocean County, granted a building permit last fall for a site about 100 feet from the grade school building in Toms River, and that Reade's organization has gone ahead with the foundation for a $40,- 000 house. Then on Nov. 27 the township en- acted an ordinance forbidding theatres within 300 feet of churches, schools or hospitals. Reade's counsel com- plained that this specifically exempts the Traco, a home-owned theatre established for some 17 years and less than 200 feet from the school. Adding to the allegedly suspicious looks of the whole thing, he declared that Dover Township never has used the rest of its regulatory powers by zoning such things as garages, sev- eral of which are close to the school, gasoline stations or the like. Justice -Perskie granted a writ of certiorari calling for Part 2 of the State Supreme Court to review the legality of the ordinance on Feb. 5 in Trenton. "If ever a case merited a thorough airing," he remarked, "this does." Sale of Television Shares Is Enjoined N. Y. Supreme Court Justice Rich- ard P. Lydon yesterday granted a mo- tion made by the Attorney General's office for the naming of a temporary receiver in the case of the Television Corp. of America and also granting a temporary injunction to restrain the defendants from selling, advertising or promoting any of its stock. Named as defendants also are Oliver C. Harriman, president and principal stockholder ; Jack M. Oppen- heim, director, and Hamilton Hoge. Robert F. Collins, William H. Milne, Fred Knapp and Louis G. Duell who were engaged in promoting and selling the stock. The company has 6,000,000 shares of common stock at a par value of $1.00, and was incorporated in Mary- land. The complaint asserts that the defendants failed to register their ca- pacity as dealers in securities in ac- cordance with the laws of New York, that they had no bank account from Nov. 1, 1934, to April 24, 1936, nor did the corporation keep any corporate books or records. Ryan to Momand Trial Boston, Jan. 18. — George S. Ryan, film attorney of Boston, has left for Oklaloma, where he will act as prose- cutor in the $5,000,000 anti-trust suit of A. B. Momand. Allied Neutral in Detroit Game Fight Detroit, Jan. 18. — Following a mass meeting of exhibitors in the organiza- tion's offices, Allied of Michigan, through H. M. Richey, general man- ager, has declared it will maintain a neutral stand in Detroit's war on cash prize games. Richey said the decision was reached because the opinion of exhibitors as to the use of the games was about evenly divided and also because it would be unfair to discriminate against theatres when it seemed impossible to obtain a general ban on them which would in- clude the many churches, clubs and societies using them now. Allied heretofore has been active in the drive against the games. George W. Trendle, president of United De- troit Theatres and opposed to the games, is expected to continue his fight against them, possibly through the courts. A survey of the local situa- tion shows more than 60 houses in the metropolitan area using either Bank Night, Screeno or some other such game. Exhibitors employing them say they have been important in build- ing weekly grosses. Church Protests Bank Night Omaha, Jan. 18. — The City Council has received a letter from the Omaha Lutheran Ministerial Ass'n, signed by the Rev. John F. Streng, presi- dent, asking the council to "give thoughtful consideration to the de- moralizing effects upon the people" of the weekly Bank Night operated co- operatively by 26 theatres here. The protest said that during Lent, starting Feb. 10, Bank Night will hinder attendance at the Wednesday night services of Lutheran churches. Orders Details in Suits on Electrics A motion to require plaintiffs in an action for treble damages of $3,000,000 against A. T. & T., Western Electric and Erpi to file complete bills of par- ticulars was granted yesterday by Federal Judge John C. Knox on mo- tion by counsel for the electrics. The court order aoplies to five of 22 complainants who filed actions in 1934 and 1935 alleging violation of the anti- trust laws through the enforcement of Erpi's reproduction license agree- ments. The complainants are Milton C . Weisman as receiver for Fox Theatres Corp.. William Fox Isis In- vestment Co., Winchester Amusement Co., Harrison Amusement Co. and Stillwell Theatres, Inc. The motions for bills of particulars were opposed by the complainants. End Trans-Lux Stay The U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals vesterday reversed a ruling of U. S. District Judge Robert C. Inch in granting a temporary injunction against Torr & Co., brokerage firm, preventing the firm from allegedly vi- olating an order of the Securities and Exchange Commission in selling Trans-Lux Daylight Pictures securi- ties. The reversal hinged on an inter- pretation of the constitutionality of the act creating the commission. Phillipson Returning London, Jan. 18. — Percy Phillip- son, head of General Register Corp. of New York, sails Thursday on the Aqnitania for America. Kent Gets Data for Warner, F. & M. Deal (Continued from page 1) Warner franchise for F. and M. in St. Louis, but neither rentals nor clearance were set up at the time. These factors were left for determina- tion by a pre-determined date at which time were to be fixed the terms for the 1936-37 season. An initial meet- ing, it was learned yesterday, was held in Kent's office at 20th Century- Fox on Saturday. Present were Gradwell L. Sears and I. Levinson for Warners and Harry Arthur and Irv- ing Lesser for F. and M. St. Louis, Jan. 18. — Harry C. Arthur and Mike Marco arrived here Sunday from New York. Buys Frisco Theatre From United Artists (Continued from page 1) which gives Cohen complete owner- ship of the 1,200-seat house. In addition to the theatre deal, Cohen recently arranged a five-year exclusive franchise on all U. A. product. George Schaefer, United Artists distribution executive, ar- ranged the new contract. Cohen, who also operates the Strand, and the Em- bassy, in which RKO has an interest, bought into the U. A. in 1930, and has managed it ever since. U. A. to Have First Drive for Executive (Continued from page 1) Sales Drive. Schaefer is vice-presi- dent and general manager. L. Jack Schlaifer, western division sales head, and Harry Gold, eastern division manager, will be the sales captains with the three major prizes to be divided as follows : first to the leading branch manager in the east, second to the leading branch manager in the west, and third to the di- vision manager showing the best results. Six other prizes will be awarded to leading salesmen. The Walt Disney cartoons will be included in the drive. There will be six pictures released during the 14 weeks. The films and release dates are: "Men Are Not Gods," Jan. 22; "You Live Only Once," Jan. 29 ; "Fire Over England," Feb. 19 ; "Man Who Could Work Miracles," Feb. 26; "History Is Made at Night," March 5 ; "A Star Is Born," April 3. Schaefer yesterday announced the promotion of Sidney Lehman from the Washington sales force to the man- agership of the Buffalo exchange. No successor to Lehman has been chosen. Harding, Janssen Wed London, Jan. 18. — Ann Harding and Werner Janssen, symphony orchestra conductor, were married Sunday at the Registrar's office. Attendants at the wedding were Clive and Mrs. Brook, Sir Banville Bantock and Jane Harding, seven-year-old daughter of the bride, among others. There will be no wedding trip. Miss Harding will appear in G. B. Shaw's "Candida" at Brighton today. Allwyn, Kent Married Hollywood, Jan. 18. — Astrid All- wyn and Robert Kent were married last Sunday in Tiajuana, it was re- vealed here over the weekend. His First Serial! Big Jboxoffice because Buck is constant front- page news . . . his animal shows smash records everywhere . . his books are best sel- lers . . . he's tops on the air . . . he's advertised in biggest newspapers and maga- ;inesf with SASGHA SIEMEL Brazilian "tiger man" who kill* with a »p«ar/ COLUMBIA'S FOUR Birdmen..-«« USSEW home.; Hi For Audiences Of Adults And Juveniles w3 Kg^A, - , w ' sr.. THE SECRET OF Every week — every installment will be serialized in big-circulation Argosy. L. Ron Hubbard — ■ famous action writer — stunt pilot — world adventurer — wrote the excitement- jammed yarn with one of the best boxoffice titles in years/ TREASURE ISLAND tfEW-STYLE SERIALS I iO MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, January 19, 1937 "Thin Man" at $24,000, 2nd Week on Loop Chicago, Jan. 18. — Bad weather throughout the week hurt business somewhat, but "After the Thin Man" continued to do very well at the United Artists and was the leader with a big $24,000 for the second week. Hotels packed with convention dele- gates helped swell the evening trade in the Loop houses. "Lloyds of London" got off to a good start and did $18,800 which is excellent for the Roosevelt. "Pennies from Heaven," after opening in a neighborhood house the week pre- vious, did well to get $8,000 at the Garrick. The Oriental and State- Lake felt the loss of the give-away games and grosses were slightly bet- ter than average. "The Plainsman" finished a strong two weeks at the Chicago and was moved to the Apollo for a third loop week. Total first run business was $142,- 800. Average is $115,000. Estimated takings : Week Ending Jan. 12: "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,700), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $24,000. (Aver- age, $15,000) Week Ending Jan. 14: "THAT GIRL FROM PARIS" (Radio) PALACE— (2,509), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days, 2nd week. Stage: "Riviera Follies." Gross: $20,000. (Average, $19,000) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) CHICAGO — (4,000) , 35c-55c-75c, 7 days, 2nd week. Stage: "Magazines Revue." Gross: $33,000. (Average, $32,000) "HIDEAWAY GIRL" (Para.) ORIENTAL— (3,490), 35c-55c, 7 days. Stage: Sophie Tucker and Revue. Gross: $17,500. (Average, $15,000) "LLOYDS OF LONDON" (20th-Fox) ROOSEVELT— (1,591), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $18,800. (Average, $11,000) "BANJO ON MY KNEE" (20th-Fox) APOLLO— (1,400), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $5,500) "PENNIES FROM HEAVEN" (Col.) GARRICK— (900), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $5,500) Week Ending Jan. 15: "MISSING GIRLS" (Chesterfield) STATE-LAKE— (2,776), 25c-3Sc-40c, 7 days. Stage: Don Zelaya and Revue. Gross: $16,500. (Average, $13,000) Ohio's Censors See 756 Reels; 42 Cuts Columbus, Jan. 18— Ohio censors reviewed a total of 756 reels in De- cember from which 42 eliminations were ordered. This compares with 504 reels in November and 22 elimi- nations. For 1936 a total of 6,807 reels was reviewed, and 342 eliminations or- dered. The greatest number of reels and eliminations during any one month was 768 reels in October, with 49 eliminations. The smallest number was in June, with 390 reels reviewed and 15 eliminations ordered. Oppose Unlicensed Agent Boston, Jan. 18. — Lewis Frey and Leslie Kreidberg of the Massachusetts Theatrical Agents' Protective Ass'n, have lodged a protest with the At- torney General against the operation of unlicensed booking agents in this state. The office assured the associa- tion's president and counsel that the law would be enforced. "Smart Girls" Big In K. C. Despite Snow Kansas City, Jan. 18. — "Three Smart Girls" outwitted the snow, sleet and icy weather at the Mainstreet by pulling $10,400, over by $2,400 in only a fair week for first runs. "The Plainsman" held up strongly in its second week at the Uptown, and after grossing $5,500, $1,500 over average for the house, was held an additional three days. Other houses felt the effects of bad weather and the competition of the Katz brothers (drugs) free municipal orchestra concert at the Municipal Auditorium. "Great Guy" was shy $100 of a $7,000 average at the New- man. Total first run business was $38,500. Average is $37,500. Estimated takings : Week Ending Jan. 14: "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) MAINSTREET— (3,100), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $10,400. (Average, $8,000) "GARDEN OF ALLAH" (U.A.) "SINNER TAKE ALL" (M-G-M) MIDLAND— (4,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $10,200. (Average, $11,500) "GREAT GUY" (G.N.) NEWMAN — (1,900), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,900. (Average, $7,000) "CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA" (20th -Fox) TOWER— (2,200), 25c-35c, 7 days. Stage. Irene Vermillion & Co., with Carr Brothers & Betty, Naida & Ernie Perez, Ted Cook, and Rice & Shafer. Gross: $5,500. (Aver- age, $7,000) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) UPTOWN— (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $4,000) •'Million" a Smash Hit in Providence Providence, Jan. 18. — Sonja Henie's twinkling skates brought a sweet $11,- 500 to the Majestic, topping all grosses and exceeding the house par by $4,500. Next in line was "The Plainsman" which garnered $11,000 for the Strand, also over by $4,500. It was held. "Smart Blonde" and five acts of vaudeville at Fay's were good for $7,400, up by $400 and the RKO Albee did a par $7,000 with "That Girl From Paris" on a dual with "The Mysterious Crossing." In its second week at Loew's State, "Camille" picked up $6,800. Competition was provided by minor sport attractions. The weather was clear and unprecedentedly warm. Total first run business was $43,700. Average is $39,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 14: "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) STRAND— (2,300), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $6,500) "ONE IN A MILLION" (2ttth-Fox) MAJESTIC — (2,400), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $11,500. (Average, $7,000) "THAT GIRL FROM PARIS" (Radio) "THE MYSTERIOUS CROSSING" (Radio) RKO ALBEE— (2,300), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $7,000) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE— (3,400), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,800. (Average, $12,000) "SMART BLONDE" (Z°& J' in " . \nb o" , be icV-s be" - f les cH^tH! pictures) « i Doubling in brass., and i/ie name's FRED MacMURRAY,,, Sure, the lad with the cornet is one of the most popular stars in pictures. But have you heard the latest? This lad is now joining the very top flight of radio celebrities with a big program of his own . . . which means that you have another Paramount star doubling in brass... starring in hit pictures for you and plug- ging those pictures for you to the radio millions at the same time. No wonder the lads are all yelling for Paramount Jubilee pictures. V>or« Program— ganger «^hoJtonigw and %rkM ^C/tj / ^tures announced I The m..wiU^ ^hownock b„ yf^kn^ j Paramount Uo„ ^ , g 30 308 v >^ ' < vestevday a *30 ,uw, twelve America« . V .w V^*' Program tor J. J* ambitious ^Fifty-mnth Str_ ^ nt Pictures announce^ ^£01.nV..,U be - Paramount Pic odocuon totnovvo* £ ^ Center. 508 v w Circuit Heads Are Schaefer Sponsors Veering from the usual sales drive formula, the United Artists force un- der the supervision of A. W. Smith, Jr., general sales manager, has formed a special honorary committee of lead- ing circuit operators throughout the country to sponsor the 14- week drive for George J. Schaefer, vice-president and general manager. The drive also will commemorate Schaefer's first year with the company. Among those on the committee are Joseph Bernhard, general manager of Warner Bros. Circuit Management, Inc. ; N. L. Nathanson, head of Fa- mous Players Canadian ; Mike Kincey, head of the Kincey circuit in North {Continued on page 10) Name Short Subjects For Academy Awards Hollywood, Jan. 26. — Nominations in the short subjects department for Academy awards for 1936 have been divided into four classes. Departing from the procedure followed in pre- vious years the nominations in the four classes are : 1. Black and white subjects not exceeding 1,000 feet in length: "Wanted A Master," M-G-M ; "Bored {Continued on page 10) Skouras, RKO Pool Here Is Discussed The pooling of a dozen or more Skouras and RKO theatres in the metropolitan area is being discussed by heads of the two organizations with a probability that final details may be ironed out during conferences {Continued on page 12) IA Includes Checkers in Planned Drive See Only Question Now As Starting Date Theatre checkers will be included in the I.A.T.S.E.'s impending drive to organize all classifications of employes from the front to the rear of the house, according to reports reaching here yesterday from the coast where the organizing move was again con- sidered during the meeting last week of I.A.T.S.E. officials. The move would take in ushers, cashiers, doormen, janitors, cleaners, scrubwomen, ticket takers and check- ers, according to the coast reports. Indications are that the I.A.T.S.E. has made no definite decision on the start of the new organizing activity but there appears to be no basis for doubt that the move is actively in mind and now is just a question of when the organization decides to make its first move. Some of the stronger locals of the I.A.T.S.E., such as those in Chicago, Los Angeles or Kansas City, most probably will be selected to make the first move. The New York territory is not likely to see any of the new or- ganizing activity until the current mergers of the rival operators' organ- izations have been disposed of, ac- cording to present indications. The I.A.T.S.E. was granted sole jurisdiction over all theatre employe groups by the A. F. of L. two years ago. Since then, in labor quarters, at {Continued on page 9) Allied Union Votes To Back Agreements Complete settlement of the multiple union situation here and the estab- lishment of a "permanent peace" were a step nearer conclusion yesterday as the membership of the Allied Union, after an all-night session, voted to support the stand of its own commit- tee in its negotiations with the com- {Contintied on page 9) Yamins Elected by N,E. Exhibitor Unit Boston, Jan. 26. — Nathan Yamins today was unanimously elected Presi- dent of Independent Exhibitors, Inc., at the annual business meeting of New England Allied held in the Hotel Bradford, Boston. Exactly 50 mem- bers attended. Max Levenson was elected first vice- {Continued on page 10) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, January 27, 1937 2 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 January 27, 1937 No. 22 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday ^and holidays by Quigley Pub- lishing Company, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Avenue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copy- righted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc. Address all correspondence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publica- tions, Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, Teatro Al Dia, International Motion Picture Almanac and Fame: The Box Office Check-Up. Hollywood Bureau: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Sereets, Boone Mancall, Manager; Chicago Bureau: 624 South Michigan Avenue, C. B. O'Neill, Man- ager; London Bureau: 4 Golden Square, London W 1, Bruce Allan, Representative; Cable Address "Quigpubco, London"; Berlin Bureau: Stuelerstrasse 2, Berlin W 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative; Paris Bureau: 29, Rue Marsoulan, Pierre Autre, Representative; Rome Bureau: Viale Gorizia, Vittorio Malpassuti, Representative; Aus- tralian Bureau: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins Street, Melbourne, Cliff Holt, Representative; Mexico City Bureau: Apar- tado 269, James Lockhart, Representative; Budapest Bureau: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest, II, Endre Hevesi, Representative; Tokyo Bureau: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken, H. Tominaga, Representative; Prague Bureau: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1, Harry Knopf, Rep- resentative; Shanghai Bureau: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Building, 142 Museum Road, /. P. Koehler, Representative ; Rio de Janiero Bureau: Caixa Postal 3358, A. Weissman, Representative; Buenos Aires Bureau: Corrientes 2495, N. Bruski, Representative; Montevideo Bureau: P. O. Box 664, Paul Bodo, Representative; Moscow Bureau: Petrovski Per 8, Beatrice Stern, Representa- tive; Vienna Bureau: Neustiftgasse, 55, Vienna VII, Hans Lorant, Representative; Amsterdam Bureau: Zuider Amstellaan 5, Philip de Schaap, Representative; Helsing- fors Bureau: Fredriksgatan 19 C, Charlotte Laszlo, Representative; Warsaw Bureau: Sienna 32, R. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Croris Mother Dies Mrs. Florence Cron, mother of James A. Cron, advertising manager of Motion Picture Daily, died late Monday evening of a paralytic stroke. She was 80. Another son, Louis, survives. The funeral will be .held at Cedar Rapids, la., original home of the family, on Friday. Louis Cron will take the body west. "Jimmy" is ill at his New Rochelle home with a heavy cold and will be unable to go. Frankie Lyons Killed Hollywood, Jan. 26. — F r a n k i e Lyons, who was working in Colum- bia's "Racing Luck," as a racing driver, was killed at Gilmore Stadium. Lyons' car went into a skid and crashed into a fence. He is survived by his wife. Col. Drive Starts Big Columbia's home office declared yes- terday that 165 per cent of the weekly quota was reached in the first week of the "Columbia Montague Sweep- stakes," sales drive. The campaign will continue until May 1. i Purely Personal ► AL STEFFES returns this morn- ing from Boston where he talked before the Independent Exhibitors of New England. He may stay on for the Louis- Pastor fight, and then again he may leave for Minneapolis tonight. • The Edward L. Kleins will not sail for London today, as planned. Telephone contact with members of Mrs. Klein's family in Louisville was established finally at six o'clock yester- day morning. Arrangements are under way for them to leave the flooded city. • Howard Estabrook's original story and screenplay of "The Port of Missing Girls" has been purchased by Monogram from Brenda Pictures Corp. It will be produced for 1937-38. • Andre Kostelanetz yesterday was awarded a silver cup by American Airlines for being the outstanding air traveler in 1936. He made 13 round trips to the coast in as many weeks. • Margaret Speaks, radio singer, will leave for the coast today via American Airlines. Ditto Mrs. Mack Miller, wife of the Hollywood res- taurant publicity head. • Gertrude Merriam, her illness be- hind her but still weak in the pins, is back at the Managers' Round Table department of Motion Picture Tterald. • Sam Goldstein, treasurer of Guar- antee Pictures, left yesterday on the Manhattan for a two-month business trip to England and the Continent. • Stephen Pallos, general manager of London Films, will leave for Miami the end of the week. He plans to sail for London the end of next week. • Jimmie Lunceford and his orches- tra will play Loew's State the week of Jan. 29 and will sail for Europe on the Batory on Feb. 13. • Marsha Hunt, Paramount player, arrives here today en route to Wash- ington to attend President Roosevelt's birthday ball on Saturday. • Col. H. A. Cole, who came up from the two-day Allied directors meet in Baltimore, is expected to leave for Dallas today. • Frank Downey, Loew's Detroit branch manager, has returned to his territory after a short visit at the com- pany's home office. • Mrs. Lela Rogers, head of Radio's talent school, left yesterday for the coast studio after looking at numerous Broadway plays. • Lou Irwin is due in from Holly- wood today. His office here reports he has placed the Diamond Boys with Universal. • Teddy Trust, publicity head for the Brooklyn Strand, is recuperating at Christ Hospital, Jersey City, from an operation. • Charles Samuels, formerly of King Features, has joined the U. A. Extra Copies Following publication in Motion Picture Daily on Jan. 18 of the blow-up at the New York Strand on Red Kann's review of "Black Legion," Dinty Moore, Metropolitan district manager for War- ners, received an air mail re- quest from H. C. Federer of the Chief Theatre in Greeley, Colo., and three Warner houses in Philadelphia for similar enlargements. Moore has ordered extra copies and will send them to each theatre. home office publicity department under Myer Beck. • Marlene Dietrich sails from Eng- land on the Berengaria today, arriv- ing here next Wednesday, en route to the coast. • George J. Schaefer will leave next Wednesday for Bimini, 40 miles east of Miami, on a 10-day to two-week fishing trip. • Harold Eckert, dramatic critic of the Columbus, O., Journal, is in town for a two-week looksee at plays and films. • Ethel Walters, secretary to Abe Montague, leaves today on the Em- press of Australia for a 16-day cruise. • Martin Beck has been discharged from the Mt. Sinai Hospital and hies to Miami in a few days to recuperate. • Lamar Trotti, 20th Century-Fox writer, left yesterday for the coast after a New York vacation. • Sol Edwards, Grand National eastern division sales head, returned yesterday from Boston. • Robert Taylor and Jean Harlow arrived in Washington from the coast yesterday by plane. • Lou Diamond, Paramount short subject head, is due to arrive today from the coast. • S. E. Appelgate, branch manager of Loew's in Philadelphia, was in town yesterday. • Edward Peskay, general sales manager of Grand National, is in the south. • C. C. Moskowitz and Oscar Doob returned yesterday from Washington. • Norma Shearer and Constance Bennett left for the coast yesterday. • Douglas and Mrs. Fairbanks left New York for Hollywood yesterday. • Gradwell L. Sears is due from the south either tomorrow or Friday. • Arline Judge is in from Florida and at the Waldorf-Astoria. Erick Charell arrived from the coast yesterday. Clyde Elliott of Screeno is in from Chicago. • Al Lichtman returns from Miami tomorrow. Earnings of Extras Down Sharply in '36 Hollywood, Jan. 26. — E x t r a s earned $2,420,453.55 in 1936, showing a decrease of $150,840.29 from the 1935 figures, according to information made available by Campbell McCul- loch, general manager of Central Casting. The total placements for the year were 268,436 against 278,486 for 1935. A breakdown of the statistics shows the average daily placement for 1936 was 858 against 889 for 1935. The average daily wage paid was $9.02 which was 21 cents less than the pre- vious year's average. Feminine placements showed an in- crease of approximately 7,000 over the previous year while for men it showed a corresponding decrease. The total average daily placement was 558 men and 259 women. Forty-one child ex- tras had daily employment. Aronson U. S. Agent For Capitol Films Al Aronson, one-time general man- ager of distribution for M-G-M in Central Europe, has been appointed American representative of Capitol Films of London, of which Max Shach is the head. Aronson arrived on the Manhattan earlier in the week. Loew's Drop New Game Bulls Eye, the new game sponsored by Loew's, will be dropped by the circuit after tomorrow night when it will make its final appearance at the Lincoln Square. Loew's booked the game one night a week and planned to extend it in the event it clicked. After several trys, executives decided to supplant Bulls Eye with either Screeno or Bank Night. Up to yes- terday no decision had been made. /. L. Warner Heads Club Hollywood, Jan. 26. — Jack L. War- ner has been named chairman of the board of directors of the Hollywood Turf Club. Alfred E. Green, director, is president of the organization. They will operate a new track now being constructed in Inglewood if permission is granted by the California Horse Race Board. Notables Seeing 'Plough* A distinguished group of Irish no- tables will attend the opening of "The Plough and the Stars" at the Music Hall tomorrow night. Leo T. Mc- Cauley, Irish consul, and Sean Nunan, vice-consul, and Erin O'Brien-Moore, who has a role in the film, will be among them. M-G-M Signs Six Hollywood, Jan. 26. — M-G-M has closed contracts with Sophie Tucker, Bruce Cabot, Noel Langley, writer ; Leonid Raab, arranger, and Robert Wright and Chester Forrest, compos- ers. Slumber g Starts East Hollywood, Jan. 26. — Nate Blum- berg left by train today for San Francisco. He will stop at Salt Lake City en route to New York later. Board Luncheon Feb. 6 The 22nd annual luncheon of the National Board of Review will be held at the Hotel Pennsylvania, as usual, on Feb. 6. POWELL LOY LOVE LOVE LOVE There's millions in it it's the world's greatest industry ASK ANY EXHIBITOR WHO IS PLAYING AFTER THE THIN MAN and CAMILLE I LOVE LOVE -ALL THJE_ WORLD LOVES METRO- GOLDWYN- MAYER GARBO • TAYLOR MOTION PICTURE RADIO DAILY RADIO Wednesday, January 27, 1937 4 Radio Personals ► DR. MAX A. JORDAN, Euro- pean representative of NBC, sails for London today . . . Dave Driscoll, of Mutual's special events staff, left by plane for the flood area late yester- day . . . The Ritz Brothers are out of Friday's "Hollywood Hotel" cast and Irving Berlin is in. Berlin will sing the first song he ever wrote, "Marie From Sunny Italy," which was composed in 1907 . . . Erin O'Brien-Moore, prominently cast in "The Plough and the Stars," the CBS "Hammerstein Music Hall" guest for the Feb. 2 broadcast. . . . + Alan Roberts of WMCA is slated for a new night spot. Formerly heard Sunday afternoons, Roberts will now broadcast from 9 to 9:15 P. M., E.S.T. . . . Jean Parker, sister of Frank Parker, will be Bide Dudley's WOR guest tomorrow at noon . . . General Mill's "Gold Medal Feature Hour" will feature a short-waved talk from Europe by Sarah Pennoyer, stylist, on the Feb 5 broadcast . . . "Dan Hardin's Wife," popular NBC serial will be heard hereafter from 1:45 to 2 P. M., E.S.T. beginning Feb. 1. The program is heard Mon- days through Fridays . . . The new Gladys Swarthout series for the ice and refrigerator industry is set at long last. The program be- gins Feb. 10 at 10:30 P. M., E.S.T. over the NBC-Red . . . Maggy Rouff, Paris fashion expert, has been signed by John H. Woodbury, Inc., as style and color consultant . . . The Joe Louis-Bob Pastor fight Friday will be broadcast exclusively over WHN . . . Betty Vandenberg, daughter of the Michigan senator, will appear as guest piano soloist with the NBC symphony orchestra Feb. 4 on the NBC- Blue . . . Joseph Martin, singer from Cleve- land, has been signed by NBC's Artists Bureau. Two Stations Added To NBC's Networks NBC has added two additional sta- tions to its networks, it became known yesterday. The stations are WBOW, Terre Haute, and WGBF, Evans ville, Ind. Both stations will join NBC Feb. 1. The two additions will bring the NBC station total to 115 It is not known at the moment with which network the stations will be come affiliated, the Blue or the Red. WBOW is a 100 watter, owned and operated by Banks of Wabash, Inc. WGBF is a 500 watt station, owned and operated by the Evansville on the Air Co., Inc. Construction of 3 Stations Approved Washington, Jan. 26. — Construe tion of three new broadcasting sta- tions, at La Junta, Colo., Corpus. Christi, Tex., and Ashtabula, O., today was authorized by the F. C. C. The first will be of 100 watts power, the other two of 250 watts power each. The commission also awarded oper ating licenses to three new stations lo cated at Evansville, Ind., Newport News, Va., and Dublin, Tex., all to use 100 watts at night and 250 watts daytimes. $42,497,970 Spent by 20 Agencies with NBC and CBS The following chart shows the 20 leading advertising agencies ranked by the total network billings with both major networks, NBC and CBS: Agency Time Buys Blackett-Sample-Humraert $6,011,665 Lord & Thomas 5,573,278 J. Walter Thompson 5,148,557 N. W. Ayer & Son 3,276,155 Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn 2,716,819 Benton & Bowles 2,419,182 Young & Rubicam 2,244,484 Biackman 2,018^44 Stack-Goble 1,501,678 Erwin Wasey 1,467,959 F. Wallis Armstrong 1^56,154 Ruthrauff & Ryan 1,237,926 Wade Adv. Co 1,220^132 Newell-Emmett 1,189,426 Roche, Williams & Cunnyngham. . . 1,048,683 Wm. Esty & Co 1,047,534 Campbell- Ewald 854,279 Lennen & Mitchell 782,043 Hutchins Adv. Co 745,020 Paris & Peart 738,652 Total 20 agencies $42,497,970 The leading 20 agencies at CBS for 1936 made the following time pur- chases : Agency Time Buy Batten, Barton, Durstine & Os- born $2,360,292 Blackett-Sample-Hummert 1,963,086 N. W. Ayer 1,822,945 Benton & Bowles 1,562,135 F. Wallis Armstrong 1,256,154 Ruthrauff & Ryan 1,192,704 Newell-Emmett 1,095,810 Lord & Thomas 1,080,908 Wm. Esty Co 1,047,534 J. Walter Thompson 997,181 Hutchins Advertising Co 745,020 Stack-Goble 568,427 Paris & Peart 566,060 Young & Rubicam 499,300 Erwin Wasey 410,673 J. Stirling Getchell 344,437 Knox-Reeves 341,410 Frances Hooper 324,596 Arthur Kudner 321,390 Maxon 306,006 Forty-two advertising agencies bought Mutual time in 1936 to an aggregate of $1,881,316. This is the breakdown for that network: Agency Time Buy Blackett-Sample-Hummert $282,976 Sehl Advertising 184,356 William Esty 118,589 Erwin Wasey 99,055 Young and Rubicam 85,630 Stack-Goble 85,165 Ruthrauff and Ryan 72,252 Lennen and Mitchell 61,668 Chas. Daniel Frey 61,324 H. M. Kiesewetter 60,737 De Garmo Corp 59,897 Marschalk and Pratt 54,460 U. S. Advertising Corp 54,028 H. W. Kastor and Sons 51,605 Couldn't Keep Well Memphis, Jan. 26.— Station WNBR contracted recently for a daily five-minute pro- gram on "How To Keep Well" under sponsorship of a local chiropractor. The sponsor was to conduct the program personally. He went on the air with his health talk the second day — after missing the first broadcast because of illness — but on the third day had to suspend indefinitely as he was taken to a Memphis hospital with an internal ailment. Hanff-Metzger 41,807 Albert M. Ross 41,660 Lord and Thomas 40,496 Luckey Bowman 37,942 Kelly Stuhlman 37,644 Kenyon and Eckhardt 34,968 Reinecke, Ellis, Younggreen and Finn 30,950 Geyer, Cornell and Newell 30,851 Dorland Inter'l 29,500 Baggaley, Horton and Hoyt 27,691 Roche, Williams and Cunnyngham. 23,257 Donahue and Coe 21,936 Batten, Barton, Durstine and Os- born 21,403 Neisser-Meyerhoff 19,892 Presba, Fellers and Presba 15,902 Ralph H. Jones 14,697 Henri, Hurst and MacDonald 14,277 Aitkin Kynett 9,031 Rogers and Smith 8,652 Aubrey, Moore and Wallace 7,867 Vanderbie and Rubens 7,631 Brooke, Smith and French 7,482 James R. Flanagan 6,201 Newell-Emmett 5,279 Samuel C. Croot 4,032 Guenther-Bradford 3,536 Franklin Bruch 3,487 Neff-Rogow 1,503 Total, 42 agencies $1,881,316 Rector Signed for Series George Rector has been signed for a new daytime series featuring food talks with recipes over CBS begin- ning Feb. 17 and continuing three times weekly for Phillips Packing Co., Inc. The series will be heard Wednes- days, Thursdays and Fridays from 1 :30 to 1 :45_ P. M., E. S. T., over 31 CBS stations. Biackman Adver- tising, Inc., is the agency. Lord & Thomas, First at NBC, Moved from 3rd Place in '35 Lord & Thomas, largest agency time buyer at NBC in 1936, moved up from third to top spot, nosing out J. Walter Thompson & Co. and Benton and Bowles. Lord & Thomas, on behalf of its clients, spent $4,492,369, an increase of 47.9 per cent over 1935. Benton and Bowles was 10th in 1936, its expendi- tures with NBC reflecting a shrinkage of 75.5 per cent. Erwin Wasey and Co. and Stack-Goble moved into the first 10, while McCann-Erickson which was seventh in 1935, dropped to 13 in 1936. Cecil, Warwick and Cecil, 10th in 1935, fell to 18th. _ The statistical picture follows : 1936 193S % Change Rank 1936 Rank 1935 from 1935 1. Lord & Thomas $4,492,369 3 $3,037,441 +47.9% 2. J. Walter Thompson Co 4,151,376 1 4,198,113 — 1.1 3. Blackett-Sample-Hummert, Inc 4,048,579 4 2,273,512 +78.1 4. Biackman Advertising, Inc 2,018,344 5 1,304,886 +54.7 5. Young & Rubicam, Inc 1,745,184 8 1,032,041 +69.1 6. N. W. Ayer & Son, Inc 1,453,210 6 1,141,565 +27.3 7. Wade Advertising Agency 1,220,132 9 858,671 +42.1 8. Erwin Wasey & Co., Inc 1,057,286 11 683,538 +54.7 9. Stack-Goble Advertising Agency 933,251 13 540,429 +45.7 10. Benton & Bowles, Inc 857,047 2 3,499,439 —75.5 Name Mrs. Van Loon To Do Federal Show Washington, Jan. 26. — Plans of the U. S. Office of Education to un- dertake broadcasting in a big way were made public today by Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes with announcement of the appointment of Mrs. James Van Loon to the script department of the educational radio proj ect. Daughter-in-law of Hendrik Wil- lem Van Loon, writer and NBC commentator, Mrs. Van Loon will write a series of radio scripts on the functions of municipal government, the first to cover some community near New York. The initial program will be offered over a local station. If sufficiently popular, similar programs will be offered to stations all over the country. Yankee's Official Entity Authorized Washington, Jan. 26. — Establish- ment of the Yankee Network as an entity in radio was accomplished to- day when the F. C. C. approved ap- plications of the Shepard Broadcast- ing Service to change its name to Yankee Network for both of its sta- tions, WNAC, Boston, and WEAN, Providence and the Southern Connecti- cut Broadcasting Corp. assigned its license for WICC, Bridgeport, to the Yankee Network. Noonan 'Cathedral' Revived by WMCA WMCA has revived one of radio's earliest "hit" programs, "The Ca- thedral of the Underworld." The pro- gram was originally made famous by the late Tom Noonan, the "Bishop of Chinatown," and was abandoned shortly after his death in 1934. Homer Rodeheaver, an ex-associate of Bill Sunday, is now charge of the series, which returned last Sunday over WMCA and the Inter- City net- work stations. Tells of Job Done In Restoring WCKY (Continued from page 1) city and the outside world. The sta- tion went on the air at 9:17 A. M. yesterday powered by a Diesel electric unit after having been silent since Monday morning as a result of a burned generator bearing. Studio staffs worked by the light of candles until current could be supplied by their portable unit. The staff worked with- out rest, day and night, in dark and cold, surmounting terrific odds at both the studio and transmitter. "In addition to our power being off," said Dressman, "our telephone lines to the transmitter were down and only monumental efforts on the part of our engineers and the phone com- pany's men restored them to use, again bringing the news to the outside world. The cellar of the studio building is being slowly flooded and the river waters which inundate the streets are within half a block of us. Many ma- chines have been transferred from the studio to the Wilson Theatre, where current is still available. Here at the (Continued on page 9) More Radio — Page 9 20th century-fox FEBRUARY • MARCH ^^^^^^^ APRIL We've kept it brief to save you time. The box office will do our talking anyway! Please begin . . . IP DICK MADELEINE POWELL and CARROLL m IRVING BERLIN'S ON THE AVENUE with ALICE FAYE • RITZ BROTHERS • GEORGE BARRIER Alan Mowbray, Cora Witherspoon, Sfepin Fetchit, Sig Rumann. JANE WITHERS in THE HOLY TERROR with Anthony Martin, Leah Ray, Joan Davis, El Brendel, Joe Lewis. WILL ROGERS in DOCTOR BULL with Rochelle Hudson, Marian Nixon, Ralph Morgan, Berton Churchill, Andy Devine. ANNABELLA • HENRY FONDA LESLIE BANKS in WINGS of the MORNING in Natural Technicolor Presenting the world-famous tenor JOHN McCORMACK u The Jones Family m OFF TO THE RACES with SLIM SUMMERVILLE and the screen's foremost box-office family. A VICTOR WALTER McLAGLEN CONNOLLY PETER LORRE NANCY STEELE IS MISSING with JUNE LANG, ROBERT KENT and Shirley Deane, John Carradine, Jane Darwell, Helen Jerome Eddy, Frank Conboy. FAIR WARNING with J. Edward Bromberg, Betty Furness, John Howard Payne, Victor Kilian, Billy Burrud. TYRONE LORETTA DON POWER * YOUNG * AMEGHE in LOVE IS NEWS with Slim Summerville, Dudley Digges, Walter Catlett, George Sanders, Jane Darwell, Pauline Moore, Stepin Fetchit. TIME OUT FOR ROMANCE with CLAIRE TREVOR, MICHAEL WHALEN, Joan Davis, Douglas Fowley, Bennie Bartlett. SIMONS SIMON a„d JAMES STEWART in SEVENTH HEAVEN with Jean Hersholt, Gregory Ratoff, Gale Sondergaard, J. Edward Bromberg, John Qualen, Victor Kilian, Thomas Beck, Sig Rumann. MIDNIGHT TAXI with BRIAN DONLEVY, Alan Dinehart and a cast of noted players. SHIRLEY TEMPLE Rudyard Kipling's WEE WILLIE WINKIE with VICTOR McLAGLEN JUNE LANG, MICHAEL WHALEN C. Aubrey Smith, Douglas Scott, Constance Collier, George Hassell, Cesar Romero STEP LIVELY, JEEVES! with ARTHUR TREACHER, Patricia Ellis, Robert Kent, Alan Dinehart, George Givot, Helen Flint. Based on the character "Jeeves" created by P. G.Wodehouse. WARNER WALLACE BAXTER and BEERT in SLAVE SHIP with ELIZABETH ALLAN, MICKEY ROONEY George Sanders, Helen Westley, Miles Mander, Joseph Schildkraut, Arthur Hohl, Minna Gombell. MARRIED LADY (Tentative Title) Based on a smash showmanship idea, the kind 20th is famous for, this picture is destined to pay off big in box-office dividends. Watch for further news. Wednesday, January 27, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Radio Tells of Job Done In Restoring WCKY (Continued from page 4) studio we may soon be isolated but, having water, food and candles on hand, we intend to carry on as long as possible. With our present, though limited, facilities we certainly can hold out for several days." L. B. Wilson, listening in to WCKY at Miami Beach yesterday, wired his congratulations to the staff for the excellent job done. The technical men principally re- sponsible for the achievement at WCKY are: Charles Topmiller, chief engineer; Arthur Gillette, Harvey Glatstein, Clyde Wend, Wesberry Galvin and Ed Reed. Bill McClure, of International Harvester Co., also was of great assistance in restoring the station to the air. Renews McConnell The Acme White Lead and Color Works Co. yesterday renewed "Smil- ing" Ed McConnell for an addition- al two years of broadcasting, effective immediately. McConnell has been fea- tured by the company for the past five years. Henri, Hurst & MacDonald, Inc., is the agency. Seeking Flood Relief WNEW has come through with an idea which may intrigue other sta- tions. At the conclusion of all pro- grams to which studio audiences are invited, WNEW staff workers will pass the hat among the onlookers, asking for contributions for flood suf- ferers. Philco Re-Signs Carter Boake Carter, news analyst and commentator, has been re-signed for 52 weeks by his sponsor, Philco Radio & Television Corp., effective Feb. 22. The extension of the contract marks Carter's fifth year with Philco. Lee Network Dickers For Picture Players Hollywood, Jan. 26. — The Don Lee network, through KHJ, is now nego- tiating with two major studios with the ultimate purpose of closing with one for the appearance of a film star on a mutual hookup. The deal under discussion calls for the exclusive air rights to the star name on the studio roster. This is the first move of Mutual to compete with NBC and CBS for the use of top screen names. The Lee network at the same time is planning to bring to the air a prominent male star not previously heard on a broad- cast. This star will head his own show. Current plans include preliminary release over 10 Lee stations in Cali- fornia with a tryout later for the ex- tension of the program to the entire Mutual network. Both deals are ex- pected to be closed momentarily. Cut Power Because of Flood Because of the flood and its neces- sary conservation of electrical power, WLW, Cincinnati, has reduced its power from 500,000 to 50,000 watts. "Hams" to Aid Flood Relief New Orleans, Jan. 26. — Amateur short-wave broadcasters, commonly known as "hams," have organized in the area between here and Baton Rouge to cooperate in the handling of flood relief messages in the event that the Baton Rouge River, which is ris- ing rapidly, reaches flood stage. Wilbur T. Golson of Baton Rouge, is organizing the amateurs. Writer Joins KTAR Ida Grove, la., Jan. 26. — Harold Roach, formerly on the editorial staff of the Pioneer Record here, has joined KTAR at Phoenix, Ariz., as con- tinuity writer and announcer. I.A.T.S.E. Includes Checkers in Drive (Continued from page 1) least, it has been merely a question of when the organization would de- cide to assert that jurisdiction by bringing the unorganized theatre em- ployee groups within its membership. Many I.A.T.S.E. officials are of the opinion that current public sentiment toward labor favors the immediate launching of the contemplated organiz- ing drive. Is Argentine Agent The Rador Cinema Bureau has been appointed representative in charge of equipment purchases and distributors for Metropolitan Prod., an Argentine company, in North America, Central America, the West Indies and parts of South America. Goldwyn-Baker Deal Set Hollywood, Jan. 26. — Phil Baker is due here from New York in August to start work in the first picture for Samuel Goldwyn under a three-year pact. Plan Dinner for Drew Cleveland, Jan. 26. — A testimonial dinner in honor of Frank Drew's 10th year as local M-G-M branch manager is set for Feb. 1 at the Statler Hotel. Arrangements are in the hands of David Miller, Universal branch man- ager ; Col. Harry E. Long, Loew di- , ision manager; Nat Holt, division manager for RKO theatres, and Fred Meier of the News. U. A. Australia Top United Artists led the annual check- up of performance conducted by Everyones, Australian trade paper, according to the home office. The point ratings were : United Artists, 4.76; M-G-M, 4.17; and G. B., 4.13. The score is based on the ratings given films by polls taken of paper's critics. See $60,000 in Week For "Girls" at Roxy Two Branch Heads III Portland, Ore., Jan. 20. — James Beal, local Columbia manager, and Jack Kloepper, manager for United Artists, are ill with flu. "Three Smart Girls" and Borrah Minevitch and his rascals on the stage garnered $39,700 in the first four days at the Roxy with indications that the week will end with approximately $00,000. According to the manage- ment, Monday's take was the largest for any week day. Standing room was the rule yesterday. The picture is being held a second week and may go a third. The Criterion yesterday decided to hold "Great Guy" a fifth week. This pic- ture grossed about $10,000 for the third week. Although "Man of Affairs" is dated into the house for Feb. 5, there is a possibility "Great Guy" may be held a sixth week. The picture now holds the record for long runs at the house. After tallying $60,000 in the first seven days, "The Plainsman" and Ray Noble on the stage wound up a second week at the Paramount with slightly over §40,000. The same picture is on a double bill at the Paramount, Brook- lyn, and took in $21,000 in four days. Estimated gross for the week is $31,000. The Strand got $28,000 on the first week of "Black Legion." On Satur- day, "Stolen Holiday" will open for a week's run. "Men Are Not Gods" at the Rivoli got $21,000 for the first week. "You Only Live Once" opens there Satur- day. "Fire Over England," the Eric Pommer production directed by Will- iam K. Howard, will start an en- gagement at the Music Hall on March 4. The Capitol will hold "Camille" for a second week. "After the Thin Man" finished its fourth week there by grossing $25,000. Allied Union Votes To Back Agreement "B" Label on Films Hit by C. R. Rogers (Continued from page 1) no producer or director is ever justi- fied in aiming at a B category, and added that Universal certainly will not countenance the intentional plan- ning of second rate productions. Rogers stated that all the skill, care and resourcefulness of which the pro- ducers are capable will be put into Universal pictures regardless of their place on the program. Rogers pointed out that the budget on "Three Smart Girls" was increased three times during production to achieve the desired result. Budgets are now being rearranged to conform to the new production policy, he said. James R. Grainger and Charles B. Paine arrived today. Fuller Suit Starts Soon New Orleans, Jan. 26. — The suit of George Fuller against major dis- tributors here charging conspiracy is expected to get under way within 10 days, with distributor executives rather than just their local managers answering interrogations of Judge Borah. Rome Going to Boston R. W. Rome, assistant to E. C. Mills, Ascap general manager, leaves for Boston today where he will be in charge of the Ascap office there. Rome succeeds Paul Amundson, who had been in charge of the Boston of- fice for the past 15 years and who resigned recently because of ill health. (Continued from page 1) mittee of Local 306 on an agreement between the two unions. The two or three points still unsettled were described yesterday as of minor na- ture, and susceptible of ready solution. "Things are going smoothly," was the comment of a representative of Mayor LaGuardia's survey board, charged with a solution of the union problem. It is expected that a roll call meeting of the membership of 306 will be held in a day or two, to act similarly on the negotiations of the union's committee. Support of the 306 committee procedure is ex- pected, and it is anticipated that a formal and final contract form will be drawn and signed by the two unions early next week. Since the major 306 agreement with the I. T. O. A. merely awaits the conclusion of the 306- Allied agree- ment, it is anticipated that the com- plete agreement will be made effective sometime next week. Rose Decision Reserved Decision was reserved by Justice John E. McGeehan in N. Y. Supreme Court yesterday on a motion to require Billy Rose, creator of "Jumbo," to submit to an examina- tion before trial in a $2,300 suit against him and others brought by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, playwrights. The plaintiffs claim they were not paid for use of their Jumbo material on radio programs broadcast on Jan. 21 and 28, 1936. The defendants deny that the programs in question were adopted from ma- terial of the plaintiffs. Orders Details in Suit An order requiring William S. Weinberger, an inventor, to submit a bill of particulars in connection with his $50,000 suit against Thomas A. Edison, Inc., and others was handed down in N. Y. Supreme Court yes- terday by Justice Salvatore A. Cotillo. The other defendants are Eastman Kodak, Inc., International Mutoscope Reel Co., Inc., and Wil- liam H. Hays. They are charged with having appropriated certain of the plaintiff's models without his per- mission for use in the making of films. Orders Examination Justice Richard P. Lydon in N. Y. Supreme Court has directed that Ralph S. Peer, president of Radio Orchestra Corp., and Edward Fish- man, representative, submit to exam- ination before trial in an action brought against them by Mills Artists, Inc. The plaintiff asks $100,000 from each defendant, asserting they caused Carlos Molina, orchestra leader, to disregard a contract made with Molina in February, 1936. Postpone Kelban Trial The trial of Joseph Kelban, Brook- lyn business agent of Local 306, ar- rested recently on the complaint of Paul Weintraub, manager of the Folly in Brooklyn, yesterday was postponed for two weeks in Brooklyn Special Sessions. The complaint was based on the alleged action of Kelban in hav- ing the theatre's lights turned out be- cause of the alleged non-payment of back wages due union projectionists. 10 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, January 27, 1937 Cincinnati's Branches All In Operation {Continued from page 1) is completely paralyzed, many situa- tions being under martial law or its equivalent. Practically every com- munity in the lower valley is flooded and no theatres or amusements are operating. The majority of radio pro- grams have been suspended and those stations still in operation are confining themselves for the most part to flood relief messages. A benefit performance will be given at midnight tomorrow at the RKO Colonial in Dayton with the coopera- tion of the Journal Herald and the Red Cross. The entire cast of "The Scandals of 1937," current stage show, plus the talent from Dayton's WHIO and WMSK will take part. The per- formance will be managed by Millard M. Blattner, RKO city manager, and Nathan Wise, publicity director. Top price has been set at $1.50. Other houses in Dayton are also arranging benefits. Memphis Area Is Hit Memphis, Jan. 26. — Owing to the impossibility of transporting film in this section because of flood condi- tions, theatres are known to have sus- pended operations in Princeton, Owensboro, Mayfield and Hickman, in Kentucky; Tiptonville, Ridgely, Mar- tin, Union City and Dyersburg, in Tennessee; Kennett and Senath in Missouri ; Caraway, Manila, Monette, Leachville, Marked Tree and Lepanto, in Arkansas. The extent of the damage suffered by houses in these situations cannot be determined owing to lack of com- munications. Mississippi has not been affected by flood conditions as yet and the theatres of this city itself are not yet in danger. Pittsburgh Danger Past Pittsburgh, Jan. 26. — The level of the rivers here has started to fall after having reached a crest of 35 feet. Theatre men are hoping that the danger has passed and business is again assuming a semblance of nor- malcy. The Stanley reopened late this after- noon after having been shut for 24 hours. The house yesterday took the precaution to remove seats, carpets and valuable electrical equipment to avoid the possibility of a loss such as was suffered last year. The Alvin, Penn and Barry are still manning pumps night and day in an effort to clear flooded basements. May Use Planes in South New Orleans, Jan. 26. — A river rise of 15 feet, bringing it within two feet of flood stage, is expected here about Feb. 1., according to a bulletin of the U. S. Weather Bureau. Dam- age to upstate points is already high and it is reported that film distributors are considering servicing the area by plane. Benefit in Indianapolis Indianapolis, Jan. 26. — An elab- orate benefit show will be held at the Indiana here Thursday night for Home Grown Films Denver, Jan. 26. — Sixteen mm. films are being shown by theatres in several Colorado cities. L. J. Finske, district manager for J. H. Cooper Enterprises, Inc., has in- stalled in theatres in Gree- ley, Grand Junction, Pueblo and Colorado Springs high- priced 16 mm. projectors, for showing films taken by local 16 mm. enthusiasts, The pic- tures for the most part are of local sport events, festi- vals, fairs, and the like. the relief of flood victims, with a minimum admission of $1. The entire proceeds will be turned over to the Red Cross. Virtually all theatres, exchanges and the Variety Club will participate. The performance will run for four hours. Mayor John W. Kern is chairman of the committee in charge, assisted by Charles M. Olson, Carl Niesse, Marc J. Wolfe, Arthur Baker, Harry Markum, Roy R. Bair, George Landis, Kenneth T. Collins, Ted C. Nichols, and L. Ward Farrar. About 8,000_ refugees are housed in public buildings and homes here. All theatres in Evansville, the largest Indiana city affected, are closed. Report 50 Houses Closed St. Louis, Jan. 26 — About fifty theatres in 35 towns served by ex- changes here are known to have ceased operations as a result of flood conditions. Among the localities af- fected are : Cairo, Rosiclare, Shawnee- town, Cave-in-Rock and Galconda, in Illinois ; New Madrid, Hornersville and East Prairie, in Missouri; Padu- cah, Bardwell, Wickliffe, Morganfield, Dixon and Marion, in Kentucky. President Fred Wehrenberg* of the M.P.T.O. of St. Louis, Eastern Mis- souri and Southern Illinois, assured the Red Cross that theatres in this area will cooperate to the utmost in the work of raising funds. Name Short Subjects For Academy Award (Continued from page 1) of Education," Hal Roach; "Moscow Moods," Paramount. 2. Cartoons, black and white and color, one and two reels : "Country Cousin," Walt Disney; "Sinbad the Sailor," Paramount; "Old Mill Pond," Harmonizing. 3. Subjects in color not more than 3,000 feet: "La Fiesta de Santa Bar- bara," M-G-M; "Popular Science J-6-2," Paramount; "Give Me Lib- erty," Warners. 4. Black and white between 1,000 and 3,000 feet: "Dummy Ache," Radio; "The Public Pays," M-G-M; "Double Or Nothing," Warners. Spanish Versions Set Hollywood, Jan. 26. — George Hir- liman has completed arrangements for the domestic and foreign release of Spanish versions of three Hirlicolor productions. Jack Barnstyn, Grand National foreign sales manager, left last week with prints to arrange for European distribution. The produc- tions are "Devil on Horseback," "Captain Calamity," and "We're in the Legion Now." Yamins Elected by N.E. Exhibitor Unit (Continued from page 1) president, Francis Lydon, second vice president, Adolph Bendsley, secre- tary, and Harold Stoneman treasurer. The executive committee will be com- posed of Edward Ansin, Elias M. Loew, Charles Hodgdon, Irving Isaacs, Walter Littlefield, William McLaughlin, Daniel Murphy, Francis Perry, Morris Pouzzner, George Ramsdell, Richard Rubin, Philip Smith and William Viano. A local legislative committee to function on New England film bills was named. It includes Ansin, Lev- enson, Littlefield, Lydon and Busi- ness Manager Arthur K. Howard who was chosen unanimously to serve an- other year. Members voted to sup- port legislation for the divorcement of producing and exhibition and to pledge a sum equal to one year's dues to be assessed one-eighth quarterly for two years. Lydon, Ramsdell, Jack Findley and Howard were named as a local defense committee. Yamins presented Al Steffes who addressed the meeting, which was a closed session. Steffes outlined na- tional defense plans, after which the annual report was submitted by How- ard and accepted. The substantial increase in the or- ganization's membership during recent months was attributed largely to the insurance deal with Lloyds of London which was originated here by How- ard and later extended nationally. Bad Weather Hurts K. C. Area Grosses Reports Allied Meeting New Haven, Jan. 26. — Jack B. Fishman today reported to the Allied Theatres of Connecticut the resolu- tions passed at the recent national Allied directors' meeting favoring the Duffy bill with Allied amendments and the Pettengill bill. A committee was appointed to investigate the Boston independent group insurance plan for possible adoption here. Circuit Heads Are Schaefer Sponsors (Continued from page 1) Carolina; Frank C. Walker, vice- president of the Comerford circuit ; Edward Beatty, general manager of the Butterfield circuit ; George W. Trendle, president of United Detroit Theatres ; John Balaban, vice-president of B. & K. ; and Vincent McFaul, general manager of Buffalo Theatres. With the drive in its first week, eastern branch managers yesterday conferred with Smith and Charles Stern, district manager, at the home office. Attending were Charles Kranz, Washington; Lou Wechsler, New Haven, Sidney Lehman, Buffalo; John Dervin, Boston; Harry Bodkin, Phil- adelphia; Charles Rosenzweig, New York. Salesmen from the local ex- change and other home office repre- sentatives at the session included Moe Streimer, Nat Beier, Sam Rifkin, Eddie Mullins, Larry Brown, Sam Stern, Arthur Weinberger, Monroe Greenthal, David Burkan, Seymour Poe, Phil Dow, and John Wrege. After the morning session, the men lunched at the Tavern. In the after- noon they attended a showing of "Kid From Spain," and in the evening the group saw "The Women," the Max Gordon show which is to be produced by Gordon and Harry Goetz under the Reliance banner for U. A. release. .(Continued from page 1) Kansas Cities and of other cities in the area have been warning persons to avoid crowds, which doesn't stimu- late film attendance any. Even with good pictures, Kansas City first runs have felt the bite of the bitter weather. Among the theatres closing are the Mida, D. J. Foley's house at Sweet Springs, Mo., permanently; L. E. McClelland's Rex at Gilman City, Mo., which has gone dark for a month. Both these houses depend somewhat on their trading areas for support, and bad weather has closed practically all country roads. The 41st Street Theatre in Kansas City, Mo., is remaining closed until moderation of the weather, according to H. A. Parker. A. H. Shafer has darkened the Strand, Kansas City, Mo., for reconditioning at the present time. Close Omaha Paramount Omaha, Jan. 26. — With business handicapped by below-zero tempera- tures, hazardous streets and undue radio publicity on possibilities that Bank Nights may be declared illegal, Tri-States has been forced to close its 2,900-seat deluxe Paramount, effective tomorrow. After being dark a year, the house reopened last Oct. 22 and for a time appeared to be successful. See 750,000 Joining Loew's Game Splurge (Continued from page 1) and Loew theatres in New Jersey and Westchester will be excluded. Cash awards totaling $3,500 will be given away on the second night. A telephone hookup will be used to announce the winners simultane- ously in the 55 houses. With the Metropolitan, Brooklyn, as the base, 75 telephone operators, each to serve nine houses, will be on the job. More than 5,000,000 coupons are expected to be deposited in lobby boxes. Wall Street Board Recessions General Net High Low Close Change Columbia, vtc 37% 36 36 — 1% Columbia, pfd. ... 44% 445£ 44% — 1% Consolidated 5%. 5% 5J4- Consolidated, pfd.. 17% 17% 17*6 — % Eastman 172% 171% 171J4 — 1% Loew's, Inc 73 7054 71 —2% Paramount Publix 27% 26% 27 + % Paramount 1 pfd.. 190 183% 190 +2 Paramount 2 pfd.. 2454 23% 24% Pathe Film 9% 954 9% — % RKO 8% 8% 8% — % 20th Century- Fox. 37% 36% 36%, — % Warner Bros 12 11% 11% — % Warner, pfd 34 34 34 — % All Curb Issues Decline Net High Low Close Change Grand National ... 4 3% 3% — % Sentry Safety .... 1% 1 1 — % Sonotone 254 2% 2%, Technicolor 21% 21% 21% — % Trans -Lux 4% 4% 4% — ys Paramount Bonds Lone Gain Net High Low Close Change Loew's 6s '41 ww deb rights 100% 100% 100% — % Paramount Pict. 6s '55 100% 10054 100% + % RKO 6s '41 pp.... 121 12054 12051 —3'/s Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 100% 99% 100 — ys (Quotations at close of Jan. 26) another large issue of TCDTRO PL DM RDminisiRniidn-EQuipo-PRovEicion-ntusTicn OP PUBLISHED QUARTER LY As part of the international service of the Quigley publica- tions, Teatro al Dfa is published in Spanish and circulated to all the industry in the Spanish reading markets. Devoted to the maintenance, equipment, construction and kindred phases of motion picture theatre operation, Teatro al Dfa is the only publication of its kind serving the industry in the Spanish World. NEXT ISSUE APRIL, 1937 QUICLEY PUBLICATIONS NEW YORK • HOLLYWOOD • CHICAGO • LONDON MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, January 27, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY5 HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Mama Steps Out" (M-G-M) Hollywood, Jan. 26. — Despite the fact that the situations are trite, this has been built into amusing program entertainment by the direction of George Seitz, the production of John Emerson and the screen play of Anita Loos, based on a play of John Kirkpatrick. The plot revolves about Alice Brady, who is attempting to inject European culture into Guy Kibbee, her retired husband, and Betty Fur- ness, their daughter. Moving the family to a foreign villa in order that Continental manners may be absorbed more readily, the family soon be- comes involved in the petty chiseling and intrigues of Gregory Gaye, Ivan Lebedeff and Heather Thatcher. Later, complications are added by the development of a romance between Miss Furness and Stanley Morner. To this trouble is added a sit-down strike by the servants of the house. When things finally adjust themselves the family is glad to return to its native Indiana convinced that the American standards of living are the best after all. An able supporting cast includes Gene Lockhart, Edward Norris, Mitchell Lewis and Frank Puglia. As good farce entertainment the pic- ture should give satisfaction in the smaller towns and neighborhood houses. Reviewed without production code seal. Running time, 71 min- utes. "G." "Park Avenue Logger' (Hirliman-Radio ) Hollywood, Jan. 26. — A pleasing combination of stirring drama and light comedy make this one of the better B productions with special drawing power for neighborhood and small town audiences. Based on a Saturday Evening Post story by Bruce Hutchinson, adapted by Dan Jarrett and Ewing Scott, the story has those attributes that go to make a quality action picture. George O'Brien is sent to his father's logging camp under an assumed name to receive a few hard knocks and to learn what real work is like. Immediately he learns of crooked dealings between Willard Robertson, his father's field boss, and Ward Bond, field boss of Lloyd Ingraham, a competitor, in which an effort is being made to secure the holdings of Ingraham. O'Brien secures evidence which exposes the conspirators and which wins him the hand of Beatrice Roberts, Ingraham's daughter. Comedy relief supplied by Bert Hanlon and Gertrude Short is pleas- ing. O'Brien, who has ranked high as a western favorite in recent polls, should not lose any of his popularity through his efforts in this film. The photography by Frank B. Good is effective, especially in the logging camp sequences. David Howard directed and kept the picture running at an even pace throughout. Production Code Seal No. 2,985. Running time, 64 minutes. "G." 12 "Plainsman" Best Chicago Picture Draw Chicago, Jan. 26. — Palace had the outstanding draw, with "Women Alone" doing $28,300 against an av- erage of $19,000, thanks to George White's Scandals on the stage. The best film business was done by "The Plainsman," with |8,S00, $3,000 over par. "After the Thin Man" went over par by $1,500 at the United Artists, to do $16,500 in a third week, while "One in a Million" also was $1,500 over, grossing $33,500 at the Chicago. Snow, sleet and rain cut heavily into grosses. The first cold spell of the year hurt to some extent but checked the flu epidemic which had been keep- ing many people away from theatres. Total first run business was $136,- 100. Average is $115,000. Estimated takings : Week Ending Jan. 19: "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,700), 35c-S5c-75c, 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $16,500. (Aver- age, $15,000) Week Ending Jan. 21: "WOMAN ALONE" (G-B) PALACE— (2,509), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: George White's Scandals. Gross: $28,300. (Average, $19,000) "ONE IN A MILLION" (20th-Fox) CHICAGO-(4,000), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: "June in January" Revue. Gross: $33,500. (Average, $32,000) "JUNGLE PRINCESS" (Para.) ORIENTAL— (3,490), 35c-55c, 7 days. Stage: Buddy Doyle and Revnue. Gross: $16,500. (Average, $15,000) "LLOYDS OF LONDON" (20th-Fox) ROOSEVELT— (1,591), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $11,- 000) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) APOLLO1 — (1,400), 35c-55c-65c, 7 days, 3rd loop week. Gross: $8,500. (Average, $5,500) "MAN OF AFFAIRS" (G. B.) GARRICK — (900) , 35c-55c-6Sc, 7 days. Gross: $5,800. (Average, $5,500) Week Ending Jan. 22: "FLYING HOSTESS" (Univ.) STATE-LAKE — (2,776), 20c-35c-40c, 7 days. Stage: "Spices of 1937" Revue. Gross: $15,000. (Average, $13,000) Set Nat Furst Party New Haven, Jan. 26. — A testi- monial dinner for Nat Furst, recently promoted from the management of the New Haven Warner exchange to a similar post in Boston, and John Pavone, promoted from salesman to manager in New Haven, will be held Feb. 1 at the Hotel Taft. Harry Shaw, Poli New England, division manager, will handle the affair with a committee headed by Barney Pitkin, RKO, and including Harry Shaw, Edward Ruff, Paramount; B. E. Hoffman, Warner Theatres, and Sam Rosen, of Rosen Film Deliveries. Morris Roche has been named Warner salesman here in Pavone's place. 1,000 at K. C. Party Kansas City, Jan. 26. — More than 1,000 attended the Variety Club-Film Row annual charity ball at Pla-Mor her last night. The affair included an elaborate floor show, for which George Baker, Lawrence Lehman, John Mc- Manus, Ralph Lawler, Bill Reinke, Stanley Chambers and Barney Joffee were responsible. Barker Arthur Cole was general chairman. The film indus- try is one of the few in this section that takes care of its own charity needs, and the money is raised by the annual ball. Study Sunday Film Bills Raleigh, N. C, Jan. 26. — The House measures to legalize Sunday films and baseball in Cherokee County have been referred to the Senate Ju- diciary Committee. Offers Two Mass. Bills Boston, Jan. 26. — A censorship and a Sunday film bill have been intro- duced into the Massachusetts legisla- ture by Charles Hiller of Newton. The first calls for censorship of the use of allegedly obscene and sacrile- gious language films and on the stage, and the second would ban vaudeville shows in theatres on Sunday from opening until 7 P. M. See Mo. Tax Rate Hike Jefferson City, Mo., Jan. 26. — Little opposition is expected from legislators gathered here to the in- crease from one to two per cent in the Missouri sales tax rate as recommend- ed by Governor Stark. The one per cent rate has been in effect since 1935. No Toronto Sunday Ball Toronto, Jan. 26. — A move to per- mit Sunday baseball in Toronto has been squelched by the Civic Board of Control in turning down a proposal by Alderman Percy Quinn to amend the statutes. The question was of paramount im- portance to theatre owners because of the general belief that the lifting of the lid on Sunday activities would pave the way for the operation of theatres on that day. Bill on Passes Killed Columbia, S. C, Jan. 26. — The House has killed the Witherspoon bill to prohibit theatres from giving free passes to certain groups, members of the General Assembly among them. Kalmine to Vacation Pittsburgh, Jan. 26. — -Harry Kal- mine, zone manager for Warners here, and his wife will sail on the Britannic tomorrow on their annual winter vaca- tion. Short Subjects "Reel Vaudeville" ( Vitaphone) A collection of routine acts, readed by Harry Rose, do their turns in this item. As the m.c, Rose introduces, with no great wit or novelty, the Three Queens, Carroll and Howe and the Bee Hee Rubyatee Troupe, dancers, ■ comic singers and an acrobatic troupe, respectively. Production Code Seal ^ No. 01,393. Running time, 11 min- | - utes. "G." i "See Uncle Sol" (Educational) A comic burlesque of the peren- J nial "good-will court" radio programs, Eddie Lambert plays the judge with | heavy accent and, as he seeks to give advice, a number of well-timed and 1 ' snappy acts are presented, giving an entertaining account of themselves. Production Code Seal No. 01,413. f Running time, 11 mins. "G." "The Land of Genghis Khan" (Twentieth Century-Fox) A Magic Carpet trip through the j! interior of Mongolia. Handsomely r filmed and accompanied by an up-to- ^ the-minute narrative, it manages some highly interesting moments. Reviewed without production code seal. Run- ning time, 10 mins. "G." "Free Rent" (Columbia) Comedy centering around life in a trailer is responsible for standard sit- uations which, however, will supply the required laughs. Monty Collins { and Tom Kennedy do the slapstick. c Production Code Seal No. 2,767. Run- s ning time, 18 mins. "G." c Skouras, RKO Pool Here Is Discussed I (Continued from page 1) to be held in Los Angeles this week between Leo Spitz, president of RKO, ( and Spyros Skouras. Involved in the discussions are houses operated by the two interests on upper Broadway, Manhattan, and [ the Newark, N. j., and Jamaica, ] ) Queens, theatres. The list is reported | $ to include Proctor's Palace and the I £ Terminal, Newark; the Jamaica and \ Alden, Jamaica, and the Riverside, Nemo, Riviera, 81st St., Colonial, 1 e Hamilton, Coliseum and others in 7 Manhattan. \ Preliminary discussions are under- 0 stood to have been held here between George Skouras and Nate Blumberg, earlier, and what may be final de- 1 cisions are expected to be reached in J the course of the conferences on the ! , coast. Blumberg is now en route ' back to New York after conferences with Spitz. p: Set Commonwealth Meet Kansas City, Jan. 26.— The 25 I managers of Commonwealth theatres ti in Missouri, Kansas and Iowa, will ft meet here Jan. 27-28 with C. A. di Schultz, head of the circuit ; O. K. Mason, and other circuit executives, tr Managers will discuss the new tax laws (social security, unemployment, etc.) and Schultz will outline the new 13-week campaign which begins Jan. 31. The Leading Motto Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, Intelligent the In in All Branches VOL. 41. NO. 23 NEW YORK, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 1937 TEN CENTS New Season's Films Trend Toward Drama All Studios Leaning on Vivid, Strong Yarns By gus McCarthy Hollywood, Jan. 27. — Production schedules for early 1937 definitely point to drama as the element in enter- tainment upon which all picture mak- ers are concentrating. Not only is the trend toward drama, but it is swinging towards vivid and vigorous melodramatic drama. A few already well identified pic- tures, "Parnell," "Michael Strogoff," "The Good Earth," "Souls at Sea," "Maid of Salem" and "The Black Legion," clearly indicate the pathway being followed. While the production mill will continue to grind out a grist encompassing the full entertainment gamut and there will be no lack of comedies, romances and musicals, three stages of picture making — those in preparation, presently shooting and re- cently completed — emphatically indi- cate the swing towards drama. Naturally, as in any season wherein a particular form of production is re- ceiving major attention, there is a (.Continued on page 6) Greta Garbo's 1935 Salary Was $332,500 Washington, Jan. 27. — Greta Garbo received $332,500 in 1935 from M-G-M, it was revealed today in a supplementary income report filed by the Treasury Dep't with the House Ways and Means Committee. Other high salaried M-G-M play- ers included: Wallace Beery, $278,- 749; Joan Crawford, $241,403, and William Powell, $238,750. Salaries of others above $15,000 follow : Clark Gable, $211,552; Madge Evans, $43,- (Continued on page 6) Equity Report Will Commend WPA Play The work of the WPA theatre project will be commended as a means of popularizing the stage in a report to the council of Actors' Equity Ass'n to be submitted in the near future by Alfred Harding, editorial representa- tive of Equity, who returned recently from a six-month study of theatre con- ditions in central Europe. Subsidization of the theatre in Aus- tria, Hungary, Poland, Czecho-Slo- {Continued on page 6) Radio News — Page 8 Freeman Sees Cut In B Film Output That major studios will reduce the number of B pictures now being made as a result of exhibitor-distributor protests was the opinion expressed yesterday by Y. Frank Freeman, vice- president of Paramount in charge of the company's theatre operations, on his return to the city after a three- week trip which included production conferences at the studio and visits to some of the Paramount theatre oper- ators in various sections of the coun- try. "There is no question about there being a definite place in the industry, and some real need for B product," (Continued on page 6) Allied Urges Delay In Product Buying Washington, Jan. 27. — Indepen- dent exhibitors are urged to defer 1937-'38 film buying until after the Allied States convention to be held in May at Milwaukee, in the current bulletin of the exhibitor organization which summarizes recommendations and action taken by the board of direc- tors at the Baltimore meeting last week. The bulletin makes it clear that Allied is not advocating a buyers' strike or the boycotting of distribu- tion companies in urging exhibitors to defer their new season buying. "The buying season should normally (Continued on page 6) Seek Statewide Open Sunday in Delaware Wilmington, Jan. 27. — Delaware's Sunday film bill which is being drawn up by the law and legislative com- mittee of the M. P. T. O. A. for pres- entation in the Legislature this session will call for statewide Sunday films and not local option, several exhibi- tors indicated. Samuel Schwartz, representative of Warners, is chairman of the commit- tee. Other members are Benjamin Shindler of Wilmington and Reese Harrington of Harrington, Del. Several exhibitors pointed out that (Continued on page 5) Universal to Hold Coast Meet in May Universal will hold its first inter- national sales convention under the new regime in Los Angeles some time in May. All branch and division man- agers in this country and approxi- mately 12 foreign exchange heads will attend. A number of home office executives (Continued on page 6) Korda Deal Off London, Jan. 27. — Alexan- der Korda's deal to produce a series of B pictures at Denham for Sam Smith of British Lion has been called off. The B program previous- ly announced will be made by Robert T. Kane for 20th- Century-Fox release here. No New Closings In St. Louis Area St. Louis, Jan. 27. — No additional theatres were added today to the list of those closed in this area as the Ohio River apparently had reached its crest west of the Indiana line. The entire local industry determined to assist in a fund-raising drive at a special meeting today of the M.P.T.O. with exchange managers. Each of the 400 houses in this district not affected by the floods will participate in the drive which will open Friday night. A special sound trailer, with Leo Carrillo, now appearing at the Ambas- sador here, making the personal ap- peal for donations, will be used by every theatre. C. D. Hill, Columbia manager, was named campaign manager by Fred Wehrenberg, M.P.T.O. president. Spe- cial benefit shows are planned by many houses in addition to the planned Friday night shows. Local first runs will join in a show at the Fox at an early date, at which a $1 admission will be charged. About $10,000 has (Continued on page 7) Thirteen More Loew Spots Shift Opening With five theatres already opening- on Thursday instead of Friday, 13 more Loew houses today will adopt this policy. They are the Tri-Boro, Kings, 116th St., Victoria, Rio, In- wood, Delancy, Commodore, New Ro- chelle, Mt. Vernon, Yonkers, Sheri- dan and Orpheum. "Rembrandt" and "Pennies from Heaven" will be the combination show in all units. The five theatres which inaugurated the policy last week are the 83rd St., 72nd St., 175th St., Ziegfeld and Lex- ington. Two Openinas Make Century9 s Total 30 With the reopening of the Manor, Brooklyn, under the name of the Vogue, and the Bellerose, Bellerose, L. L, on Feb. 5, Century will have all 30 of its houses in operation. The Vogue is undergoing altera- tions which include reducing the num- ber of seats from 1,800 to 1,200. The (Continued on page 7) Philadelphia Police Halt Theatre Games Exhibitors Get Two-Day Respite After Talks Philadelphia, Jan. 27. — Police de- scended on neighborhood theatres last night and forced the abandonment of Bank Night, Lotta, Bingo, Radio and other games of chance. The order was issued by Superintendent of Po- lice Hubbs, said to be acting for Mayor Wilson. Fifty independent exhibitors, rep- resenting part of the 75 theatres af- fected by the ruling, held a stormy session today at U.M.P.T.O. head- quarters and sent a committee to con- fer with Director of Public Safety Emanuel in the Mayor's absence. Lewen Pizor, U.M.P.T.O. president; Norman Lewis, Emanuel Lewis, Herb Elliott, Samuel Kantor, Samuel Som- erson and David Milgrim acted for the exhibitors and secured a two-day respite on the order. Games will be undisturbed tonight and tomorrow night, but the campaign will be resumed Friday unless -the order is rescinded. If the order holds, exhibitors will seek an injunction or launch a test case. Mayor Wilson said the order had (Continued on page 7) Frels' Dallas Suit Comes Upon Feb. 17 Rubin Frels' anti-trust suit against Jefferson Amusement Co. and major distributors for triple damages amount- ing to approximately $500,000 is scheduled to come to trial on Feb. 17 in the Dallas Federal Court, it was learned yesterday. Last May a demurrer by the de- fendants was sustained with the proviso that Frels could file an amended peti- tion, which he has done. Representing Frels will be Pat Rus- sel, Dallas attorney; Touchstone, (Continued on page 5) Playdate Promises Denied by Rodgers William F. Rodgers, general sales manager of Loew's, disclaims any knowledge of his sales force making promises to independent exhibitors to the effect that Loew's would play M-G-M product a specific number of days, it was revealed yesterday. Rodgers has sent a letter to the I.T.O.A., in response to a telegram protesting the Loew theatre plan for (Continued on page 6) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, January 28, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 January 28, 1937 No. 23 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Pub- lishing Company, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Avenue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copy- righted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc. Address all correspondence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publica- tions, Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, Teatro Al Dia, International Motion Picture Almanac and Fame: The Box Office Check-Up. Hollywood Bureau: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Sereets, Boone Mancall, Manager; Chicago Bureau: 624 South Michigan Avenue, C. B. O'Neill, Man- ager; London Bureau: 4 Golden Square, London W 1, Bruce Allan, Representative; Cable Address "Quigpubco, London"; Berlin Bureau: Stuelerstrasse 2, Berlin W 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative; Paris Bureau: 29, Rue Marsoulan, Pierre Autre, Representative; Rome Bureau: Viale Gorizia, Vittorio Malpassuti, Representative; Aus- tralian Bureau: Regent Theatre Buildings. 191 Collins Street, Melbourne. Cliff Holt, Representative; Mexico City Bureau: Apar- tado 269, James Lockhart, Representative; Budapest Bureau: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest, II, Endre Hevesi, Representative; Tokyo Bureau: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken, H. Tominaga, Representative; Prague Bureau: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1, Harry Knopf, Rep- resentative; Shanghai Bureau: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Building, 142 Museum Road, /. P. Koehler, Representative : Rio de Janiero Bureau: Caixa Postal 3358. A. Weissman, Representative; Buenos Aires Bureau: Corrientes 2495, N. Bruski, Representative; Montevideo Bureau: P. O. Box 664, Paul Bodo, Representative; Moscow Bureau: Petrovski Per 8, Beatrice Stern, Representa- tive; Vienna Bureau: Neustiftgasse. 55. Vienna VII, Hans Lorant, Representative; Amsterdam Bureau: Zuider Amstellaan 5, Philip de Schaap, Representative; Helsing- fors Bureau: Fredriksgatan 19 C, Charlotte T^aszlo, Representative; Warsaw Bureau: Sienna 32, R. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, snd foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Blumenthal Sailing A. C. Blumenthal, who has been acting as intermediary in the Loew's- 20th Century-Fox-G. B. deal, is scheduled to sail for London tomor- row on the Aquitania. He is under- stood planning to spend four weeks in England for conferences with the Ostrers on the three-company alliance. Skouras in Portland Portland, Jan. 27.— Spyros Skou- ras, William Powers and Edward Za- bel are holding midwinter conferences here with Hamrick-Evergreen officials of this city and Seattle. James Thornton Dead Providence, Jan. 27. — -James Thorn- ton, operator of the Palace, Majestic and Gem theatres at Arctic, R. I., died 3resterday. Loach Pathe Treasurer Thomas P. Loach yesterday was elected treasurer of Pathe by the board of directors. He also is secretary of the company. MOTION PICTURE DAILYS HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Outcast" {Major Prod.-Paramount) Hollywood, Jan. 27. — Aptly titled, this is human interest drama with powerful audience appeal. Intelligently produced, directed and acted, it contains those down-to-earth qualities in dialogue', action and situa- tions that appeal alike to mass and class, leaving memorable impres- sions. Pointing a stern but compassionate moral, it is an indictment of worldly judgment fired by savage fury. In its atmosphere a blend of "The Country Doctor" and "Fury" motives, it features Warren William, Karen Morley, Lewis Stone, Esther Dale, John Wray and Jackie Moran in skillfully handled and realistic performances. William, a doctor acquitted of a murder charge, is shunned by his brother physicians. Broken in spirit, he lands in a small town where, heartened by the inspirational guidance of Stone, he sets up as a coun- try doctor. He is pursued by Miss Morley, sister of the allegedly mur- dered patient, bent on revenge and determined to completely wreck his career. He wins her respect, however, when he performs the doctor's greatest duty of bringing a new life into the world under most difficult circumstances. Idolized by his townsfolk, William is detested by Miss Dale, mother of Moran, and a dealer in quack nostrums. Miss Dale, on the day that Miss Morley is ejected from her boarding house as a bad woman, finds the clippings concerning the earlier murder trial of William. At the same time, Moran, her son, falls grievously ill. Responding to the appeal of Wray, the boy's father, William operates to save the lad's life as Miss Dale publishes the scandal and later causes her son's death by destroying the results of William's operation. Infuriated by the written and spoken words of Miss Dale, the towns- people are convinced that William is a murderer and plan mob violence against him. William and Miss Morley are saved from lynching only by the masterful plea of Stone, which shames Miss Dale into the con- fession of her mad act. Built from those qualities which invoke audience sympathy for all the characters, the film avoids artificial theatrics. It generates interest quickly and holds it constantly. Based on an original by Frank R. Adams, the screenplay is the work of Doris Malloy and Dore Schary and is intelligently prepared to include those elements having definite entertainment value. In his direction, Robert Florey elected to concen- trate on unvarnished human drama, permitting the leads in the cast to act in a natural manner as human beings rather than merely as shadows on the screen. Production Code Seal No. 3,007. Running time, 75 minutes. "G." Looking 'Em Over "High Treason" (Treo-Real Art) Offering little differing from the treatment accorded the story as written by Ethel M. Dell, this English film is barely suitable for double billing. The trite tale, with situations that are only possible in Miss Dell's romantic novels, concerns the plight of a young, mischievous English girl who falls in love with a French officer while visiting on the con- tinent. Forced to spend the night with him when a landslide blocks the passage to a cave where they were celebrating her birthday, the girl, reproved by her guardian, is sent home. John Garrick, the lover, fights a duel with one who would defame her. The defamer frames the robbery of Garrick's rapid fire gun plans and sells them to foreign agents. Garrick is degraded following a trial and sent to Devil's Island. Later the girl marries her long-ignored champion and 10 years later the spectre of blackmail looms. But Garrick, pardoned, arrives in time to settle with his betrayer and the piece ends accordingly. The story is told in flashback. It starts when Winifred Shotter, who plays the leading feminine role, many years later visits her old lover's deathbed. Follow- ing the relating of the tale, she dies. The performances by the leads are passable. Lewis Shaw as Miss Shotter's brother gives the only standout characterization. The cast includes Leslie Perrins, Michael Shepley and Athene Seyler. Henry Edwards directed. Production Code Seal No. 0,706. Running time, 62 minutes. "G." (Additional reviews on page 5) Security Ruling Is Made on Operators By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, Jan. 27. — Substitute projection machine operators are em- ployes of the exhibitor for the pur- pose of the taxes of the Social Se- curity Act, it was held today in a ruling published by the Internal Rev- enue Bureau. The bureau's opinion was rendered in answer to an inquiry as to the stat- us under the tax for unemployment compensation of an operator who sub- stituted for a regular man. The reg- ular man under a contract between the theatre and the union was permitted to work 36 hours a week. During a certain week he worked only 30 hours, being relieved by another operator. The regular operator was paid by the exhibitor for 36 hours and paid to the union the amount received for the six hours' work performed by the sub- stitute, to whom the union turned over the money. Records for Both Necessary The ruling held that the wages re- ceived by both operators were with respect to employment and that both were under the control of the theatre during their respective periods of em- ployment. It was held, therefore, that the relief operator as well as the regu- lar operator was an employe of the theatre, and that the theatre "must deduct from the wages paid by it the amount of the income tax on employes imposed by Section 801 and must pay the excise tax imposed by Section 804 in respect of the wages paid to both employes, with a proper allocation of the tax to cover the wages received by each. The theatre is required to carry both men as its employes and to keep such records and make such reports as will show the employment of both." The foregoing rule, it was stated, also applies to the taxes under Title IX of the Act relating to old-age pension taxes. Flash Preview "Masquerade in Vienna" — Being the Austrian-produced version of the same picture made in 1935 by M-G-M, this offers equally strong entertain- ment value. This film will be reviewed in full in a coming issue of Motion Picture Daily. 20th-Fox Signs Styne Jule Styne, formerly Harry Rich- man's pianist, has been signed to a long term contract with Twentieth Century-Fox to handle vocal arrange- ments and coach singers. Lou Irwin acted in the deal. Danielle Darrieux Contracted Hollywood. Jan. 27. — Universal has signed Danielle Darrieux, European player, on a five year contract. She recently finished the lead opposite Charles Boyer in "Mayerling" in London. Selznick Casts March Hollywood, Jan. 27. — Selznick In- ternational has signed Fredric March for "Let Me Live," to be produced by E. Lloyd Sheldon in Technicolor. Hudson Joins G. N. Portland, Jan. 27. — Edward Hud- son, formerly with Paramount, has been named Oregon manager for Grand National. STOLEN HOLIDAY' possesses ALL the attributes that have given KAY FRANCIS a wide and loyal following!" Daily Variety WARNER BROS. KAY FRANCIS in STOLEN HOLIDAY' With an Exceptionally Btilliant Cast of Supporting Artists CLAUDE RAINS . IAN HUNTER . Alison Skipworth Alexander D'Arcy • Directed by MICHAEL CURTIZ A First National Picture Thursday, January 28, 1937 MOTION PICTURI DAILY Eytinge Loses Suit To Regain Negatives MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Two Wise Maids" {Republic) Hollywood, Jan. 27. — The fight of an old maid school teacher to keep her position in spite of a trend toward younger teachers fostered by a principal and school board and accusations of a student's mother that the teacher had struck her son go to make this excellent entertainment. Things look dark for Alison Skipworth, the teacher, until at a school board meeting which is to decide her fate a body of former students, including bakers, actors, a prizefighter and truck drivers arrive in time to give character testimonials which make Jackie Searl, accusing student, so ashamed of himself that he confesses he received his black and blue marks in a fall from a transom while trying to steal examination questions. Miss Skipworth is exonerated and given back her job. Phil Rosen's direction packs the picture with human and touching- sequences that will take most anyone back to school days. Ample com- edy relief is furnished by Harry Burns and Louis Alberni. These quali- ties supply smooth-running entertainment which will hold up any double bill and should help Republic at the box-office. Marcia May Jones, juvenile actress, received acclaim from a preview audience in her big scene. Polly Moran as Miss Skipworth's running mate, and Jackie Searl are both good, as are Hope Manning, Donald Cook, Lila Lee and Maxie Rosenbloom. The story is by Endre Boehm, the screenplay by Sam Ornitz and the photography by Ernest Miller. Exploitation should be aimed at the kids. Production Code Seal No. 2,984. Running time, 84 minutes. "G." Overseas Previews "Thunder in the City" ( Atlantic-Columbia) London, Jan. 18. — Alexander Esway's production for Atlantic Films is being distributed in England by United Artists and in America by Columbia. Edward G. Robinson is the big selling value and it is a strong cast all around with Nigel Bruce, Constance Collier, and Ralph Richard- son supporting Robinson and the woman lead, Luli Deste. There are good audience values in the story of an American go-get- ting salesman, who loses his job and takes his ex-employer's hint to try England and learn the value of dignity in business. Contacting a duke who is a distant relative, the salesman finds that he owns mines of a metal lighter than aluminum and stronger than steel and that an English financier is after the metal, also the duke's daughter. Without a cent in his pocket, the American "buys" the mines and then by the wildest stunt methods persuades the public to put $5,000,000 in a company to work them. Then he finds his English rival controls the only process of work- ing the metal. However, his luck and his love hold. Robinson's role is comedy, slickly presented. There is a lot of good- humored joking about American and English business methods with the pokes evenly divided. Bruce gives a very good picture of the uncon- ventional duke. Ned Mann provokes some clever effects, including a convincing presentation of Zeppelins flying over London, in one of the ingenious Ed's publicity stunts. It's a lively skit of the high-pressure salesmanship, well directed by Marion Gering, and gives the showmen a chance to put over some salesmanship in his turn with the ballyhooing duke as the most obvious peg to hang the talk on. Running time, 76 minutes. "G." Allan "The Plough and the Stars," this morning's opener at the Radio City Music Hall, was previewed by wire from the coast on Dec. 23. "Three Smart Girls" at the Roxy, "The Plainsman" at the Paramount, "Camille" at the Capitol and "Great Guy" at the Criterion, are holdovers. "Stolen Holiday," reviewed by wire from Hollywood on Dec. 17, will open Saturday morning at the Strand. Justice James T. Hallinan in Brook- lyn Supreme Court yesterday denied a motion by Bruce Eytinge, a World War aviator, for an order to compel H. E. R. Laboratories and its sub- sidiary, Aladdin Pictures, to turn over to him the negatives and all prints of "The First Ten Years of Flying" v and "Exhibition Days." Eytinge stated in his complaint that the films were being held on a lien which he alleged was invalid. He had a five-year contract with the de- fendants, he said, for distribution of the films and a 60 per cent royalty for himself. The defendants submitted that they had gone into bankruptcy and had foreclosed on the liens on the pictures to satisfy expense and service charges amounting to $16,829. In dismissing the motion the court held that it lacked jurisdiction and was powerless to force the litigants to do anything. The plaintiff has a suit pending for an accounting and an in- junction to restrain the defendants from further commercial use of the films. An order was granted by Judge William Bondy yesterday to have a commissioner take the testimony in California of certain witnesses in the suit of Mihran K. Andreasin against Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc. The plaintiff is a retail rug and carpet merchant. In Dec, 1933, Warners produced a picture called "From Head- quarters" in which appeared an Ar- menian rug dealer called Anderzian and described as a thief and black- mailer. The plaintiff asks for $100,000 dam- ages, claiming that his reputation was hurt. The parties to be examined are the author of the play, Robert N. Lee, and Peter Milne, the director, William Dieterle and the associate producer, Hal B. Wallis. Enjoin Bruno Laboratories A consent decree was signed yester- day by Judge William Bondy perma- nently enjoining William A. Bruno and Francis T. Kopple who are doing business as the Bruno Laboratories from using certain patents. The action was brought by RCA for an injunction and damages for infringe- ment of three patents covering micro- phones. Extend Knickerbocker Stay An order was signed yesterday by Judge William Bondy extending to Knickerbocker Theatres, Inc., time to file its record of appeal to March 1, 1937. _ On July 16, 1936, Louis Schneider, as president of Knicker- bocker, filed a bankruptcy petition for the corporation. Charles Steiner, vice- president, opposed the bankruptcy, saying that the president had no au- thority to file such a petition. On Oct. S, 1936, Judge Samuel Mandelbaum dismissed the proceeding and an ap- peal is now being taken. Terre Haute Hard Hit Terre Haute, Jan. 27. — Terre Haute's street car and bus strike, which has tied up transportation in this city and in West Terre Haute for more than a week, seems to be deadlocked. Elliott to Leave Soon Hollywood, Jan. 27. — Clyde E. Elliott and his technicians will leave Los Angeles on the Asama Maru Feb. 1 for Malaysia to be gone seven months in the production of "Asia Roars." A contract for sponsorship of the expedition by the California Zoologi- cal Society was signed by Edgar Rice Burroughs. 5 Frels' Dallas Suit Comes Up on Feb. 17 (Continued from pane I) Wight, Gormely & Price and Abram F. Myers. For the defense will be the Dallas legal firm of Thompson, Knight, Baker & Harris, for the dis- tributors, in addition to personal coun- sel for Sol E. Gordon and Joe Clem- mons. Theatres operated by Frels are in Victoria, El Campo and Yorktown, all in Texas. The Belleville, Belle- ville, which Frels dropped some time ago, is included in the complaint. The trial is expected to last a week. Modify Bruce Grant Suit An order was signed yesterday by Federal Judge Clancey discontinuing action against all defendants except Jack Lait in the suit of Bruce Grant against Lait, Paramount, Charles R. Rogers and Midtown Theatre Corp. The suit is for $50,000 damages, Grant asserting that he wrote "The Girl Without a Room" in 1929 and sub- mitted it to Lait who was then con- nected with King Features. In 1931 Lait sold the story to Paramount which produced it, acording to Grant, who adds that it is an infringement on his story. Fuller-Rock Action Starts London, Jan. 27. — Leslie Fuller's suit against Joe Rock for £2,050 claimed due as salary started today before Justice Charles. The defense is that Fuller misrep- resented the takings on his B. I. P. pictures as £40,000 to £60,000. Rock says he later discovered the take was only £20,000. Wardour was sub- poenaed, but was allowed to state the actual grosses on paper instead of publicly. Seek Statewide Open Sunday in Delaware (Continued from page 1) the bill should be statewide instead of local option because a number of downstate exhibitors complained that Wilmington would easily secure Sun- day films under referendum while many downstate communities are doubtful. In this event, downstate ex- hibitors argued, the rural population w ould attend first run shows in Wil- mington on Sundays which would ar- rive in lower Delaware houses later. Hint New Phila. Taxes Philadelphia, Jan. 27. — Films here are threatened with new tax levies. Hinging on anticipated revenue from the state that would give Philadel- phia a larger share in returns from gasoline and automobile license taxes, Mayor S. Davis Wilson foresees the possibility of additional local levies before the end of the year. Should new taxes be necessary, the mayor said, levies will be placed on vending machines, conduits used by utility companies and possibly on films. Flu Closes Two Houses Ainsworth, Neb., Jan. 27. — Be- cause of the flu epidemic, local authori- ties have ordered Roy Syfert's New Ainsworth and R. R. Baily's Royal to close for the duration of the emergency. Public schools also are closed. Coast Testimony in N. Y. Suit Ordered MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, January 28, 1937 New Season's Films Trend Toward Drama Criminal Lawyer Radio 50 Roads to Town 20th Century -Fox Wings of Morning 20th Century-Fox History Is Made at Night (Wanger). .U. A. Summer Lightning (Wanger) U. A. Prisoner of Zenda (Selznick) U. A. A Star Is Born (Selznick) U. A. Call It a Day Warner Kid Galahad Warner Her Husband's Secretary Warner Mountain Justice Warner (.Continued from page 1) cleavage. This year the pictures are being divided between dramas and films that follow the "My Man God- frey," "Theodora Goes Wild" and "Li- beled Lady" vogue in the majority of cases. Analyzing production schedules from four angles, films just finished, currently in work, set for shooting and in preparation, especially considering the show window and Class A fea- tures, dramas account for almost three-quarters of the product. Every leading studio is included in the list. In the business of fortune telling, read- ing the public's mind and anticipating its desires in advance, the following tabulation shows how production is pre-interpreting theatre-goer desire. Drama Title Company The Drag Net Burroughs -Tarzan Lost Horizon Columbia 23^4 Hours Leave Grand National Borrowed Time Invincible Captains Courageous M-G-M The Good Earth M-G-M Man of the People M-G-M Parnell M-G-M Madame Waleska M-G-M Night Must Fall M-G-M Espionage M-G-M They Gave Him a Gun M-G-M A Doctor's Diary Paramount The Love Trap Paramount Internes Can't Take Money Paramount The Years Are So Long Paramount John Meade's Woman Paramount Maid of Salem Paramount Souls at Sea Paramount Spawn of the North Paramount Beau Geste Paramount Buccaneer Paramount Angel Paramount I, James Lewis Paramount Bluebeard's Eighth Wife Paramount Gambler's Maxim Paramount Kid from Paradise Paramount The Woman I Love Radio Michael Strogoff Radio Rough, Ready and Handsome Radio Wings of Mercy Radio Gunga Din Radio She Sang for Her Supper Radio A Love Like That Radio Slave Ship 20th Century-Fox Nancy Steele Is Missing. .20th Century-Fox Dead Yesterday 20th Century -Fox Seventh Heaven 20th Century -Fox That I May Live 20th Century-Fox Private Enemy 20th Century-Fox Think Fast, Mr. Moto 20th Century -Fox Midnight Taxi 20th Century-Fox Wee Willie Winkle 20th Century -Fox Drums Along the Mohawk 20th Century -Fox You Only Live Once (Wanger) U. A. Castles in Spain (Wanger) U. A. Wuthering Heights (Wanger) U. A Personal History (Wanger) U. A Stella Dallas (Goldwyn) U. A Hurricane (Goldwyn) U. A I Give You Life (Selznick) U. A Gone With the Wind (Selznick) TJ. A Billy, the Kid (Selznick) U. A The Stones Cry Out Universal Night Key Universal Black Legion Warner Another Dawn Warner San Quentin Warner Marked Woman Warner Slim Warner Story of Emile Zola Warner Stolen Holiday Warner Green Light Warner White Bondage Warner Total 64 Dramatic Romance Title Company When You're in Love (music) Columbia Nightingale Flies Home (music) ... Columbia Devil's Playground Columbia I Promise to Pay Columbia Women of Glamor Columbia Two Shall Meet Grand National Wife vs. Secretary M-G-M Outcast Paramount Quality Street Radio Toast of New York Radio Total 21 Comedy Romance Title Company College Hero Columbia Weather or No Columbia You Can't Take It With You Columbia Night Before Christmas Columbia Last of Mrs. Cheyney M-G-M Dangerous Number M-G-M Man in Her House M-G-M High, Wide and Handsome Paramount Outcasts of Poker Flat Radio Satisfaction Guaranteed Radio Women Are Poison Radio You Can't Beat Love Radio Love Is News 20th Century-Fox Cafe Metropole 20th Century -Fox Wake Up and Live 20th Century -Fox Woman's Touch (Goldwyn) U. A. World's Our Oyster (Selznick) U. A. Girl Overboard Universal She's Dangerous Universal The Go-Getter Warner King and The Chorus Girl Warner Total 21 Musicals Title Company May time M-G-M Broadway Melody of 1937 M-G-M Nobody's Baby (Roach) M-G-M Pick a Star (Roach) M-G-M Swing High, Swing Low Paramount Waikiki Wedding Paramount Mountain Music Paramount Cuckoo College Paramount Double or Nothing Paramount Big Broadcast of 1937 Paramount One More Spring Paramovint Madame Butterfly Paramount Victor Herbert Paramount Show Business Paramount Stepping Toes Radio New Faces of 1937 Radio Radio City Revels Radio On the Avenue 20th Century -Fox Goldwyn Follies (Goldwyn) U. A. Vogues of 1938 (Wanger) U. A. Ready, Willing and Able Warner Singing Marine Warner Golddiggers of 1937 Warner Total 23 Comedy Title Company A Day at the Races M-G-M Saratoga Chips 20th Century-Fox Mrs. Merica Radio Harold Lloyd Picture Paramount Artists and Models Paramount Bag o' Tricks Paramount Marry the Girl Warner Total Historic Adventure Title Company Marco Polo (Goldwyn) U. A. Tom Sawyer (Selznick) U. A. Man from Kimberly Warner Total Substantiating these 139 leading pro ductions scheduled for early year ac tivity is a full complement of second- ary features. Westerns are not ig nored as all the cowboy stars are slated to ride again many times. Nor have the character stories been forgot ten as the Charlie Chans, American Family series, the Perry Masons Oscar Piper, Hildegrade Withers and Jeeves will again appear. With the number of pictures set for production greatly exceeding that of any other year's first quarter, Hollywood won't have much time for any kind of busi- ness this season than that of turning out pictures. U. A. Sets Far East Deal United Artists will distribute in the Orient and Far East a series of six one-reel color shorts titled "Popular Science Featurettes," produced by Jerry Fairbanks for Scientific Films, Inc., of Hollywood. No Profits Boston, Jan. 27. — "Neither your films nor any other major product has made any money tor me during the last couple of years. The percen- tage pictures eat up all I make on the regulars." So stated a New England the- atreman to a salesman. "No. I can't see you next week. I'm leaving for Flor- ida." Allied Urges Delay In Product Buying (Continued from page 1) open in May," the bulletin points out, "and the suggestion that exhibitors postpone buying until after the con- vention certainly is not unreasonable." The bulletin also asks independent exhibitors to contact their Congres- sional representatives to enlist their support for the Neely-Pettengill Bill and the Allied approved copyright legislation. It also asks exhibitors to ascertain the chances for passage by state legislatures of measures to pre- vent producers-distributors from own- ing or operating theatres and to pre- vent compulsory designation of play- dates. The introduction of such measures will be confined for the time being to those states where their chances of being passed are good, ac- cording to the bulletin. Equity Report Will Commend WPA Play (Continued from page 1) vakia and Roumania has succeeded in making drama available to even the poorest classes and in the smaller cities and towns of those countries, Harding said. Extending and making perma- nent the WPA theatre projects in this country could accomplish the same results, he believes. Theatre seasons of from six weeks upwards are the rule in all corners of central Europe, Harding found. During the seasons, well produced and directed plays, with professional casts, are available at admissions ranging from 20 cents to $2.00. American films, Harding said, account for more than half of the screen fare of the people in the coun- tries visited. The Paramount and M-G-M organizations in central Eu- rope impressed him as being particu- larly strong. Harding's visit was made at the invitation of the Kosciusko Founda- tion and with the cooperation of cen- tral European governments who want their theatre activities better under- stood in this country. Playdate Promises Denied by Rodgers (Continued from page 1) five-day bookings instead of four. The letter is being turned over to Milton C. Weisman, attorney for the inde- pendent exhibitor unit. Although similar complaints were sent to Columbia, United Artists, Universal and Paramount no word has been received from any company. Freeman Sees Cut In B Film Output (Continued from page 1) Freeman said. "Pictures of that kind fill a definite need of the smaller theatres and of double featuring. How- ever, so many of them are being made now in proportion to the number - of A pictures being produced that the larger theatres are forced to exist on them from time to time. They can- not do so successfully." Freeman pointed out that major studios were turning out from three to five B pictures for every A picture produced, and expressed the opinion that, from the theatre operator's view- point, there should be not more than one B picture for every A picture, and that even fewer would be prefer- able. The first significant protest against the mounting' proportion of B pictures was registered by Paramount theatre operators meeting with home office and studio officials in product con- ferences held earlier this month in conjunction with the silver jubilee dinner to Adolph Zukor at the studio. Calls for United Action "The studio has not advised us yet what it proposes to do about B prod- uct," Freeman said, "but I think some attention will be paid to the views expressed, not only by our own studio but by other studios, as well. The problem is not created by the policy of any one company. It is the result of similar policies being pursued by all, and it cannot be solved by one company, alone." Freeman vacationed for a time in Phoenix with Harry Nace of Publix Rickards & Nace circuit, and E. V. Richards of the Saenger circuit, and visited with Paramount theatre oper- ators in Salt Lake City, Chicago and other centers in the far west and middle west before returning here. Greta Garbo's 1935 Salary Was $332,500 (Continued from page 1) 733; W. C. Fields, $50,000; Jean Hersholt, $48,712; William K. Hey ward, director, $108,- 083; Jerome D. Kern, song writer, $78,000; Frank Lloyd, director, $156,000; Herbert Marshall, $67,883; Una Merkel, $37,916; Frank Morgan, $70,995; Chester Morris. $56,200; Ramon Navarro, $62,500; Edna Mae Oliver, $58,166; Maureen O'Sullivan, $26,700; May Robson, $33,499; Lewis Stone. $58,083; Gloria Swanson, $53,000; Franchot Tone, $73,124; Spencer Tracy, $36,250; Eliza- beth Allan, $40,041; Robert Benchley, $28,- 250; Charles Butterworth, $56,124; Maurice Chevalier, $53,000; James Durante, $45,437; John Emerson and Anita Loos, $89,750. Samuel Goldwyn, Inc., salaries included: Walter Huston, $16,000, and Edward G. Robinson, $41,666. Eddie Cantor received $150,000 for the 1936 fiscal year from Samuel Goldwyn, Inc., while Samuel Goldwyn, as president, re- ceived $182,000. The same company paid Howard Hawks, $61,055; Miriam Hopkins, $171,416; Jane Murfin, $92,625; Joel McRea, $78,000; Norman Taurog, $80,000. Louis K Sidney of Loew's, stage presentations, $61.- 250; Floyd B. Odium, Atlas Corp., $100,000. Universal to Hold Coast Meet in May (Continued from page 1) will be on hand for the annual sales palavers, including Nate Manheim, foreign head. The company has already picked "Wild West Days," adapted from W. R. Burnett's novel, "Saint John- ston," as one of its four serials for next year. Thursday, January 28, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY No New Closings In St. Louis Area (Continued from page 1) already been raised by local theatres and exchanges, including $7,000 by Station KMOX, through the efforts of Johnny Perkins, master of ceremonies at the Ambassador. Camera Crews Busy on Flood Covering a flood the entire length of the Ohio River has the Movietone News outfit run ragged, according to Truman Talley. Twelve of the regu- lar men are in the field and free lance cameramen are being used. One of these, Robert Butler, Indianapolis, suffered a head injury requiring 12 stitches when his car crashed in an undermined area. Webber Hall and J. Crochett of the Memphis crew drove 52 hours be- tween Little Rock and Louisville to relieve Phil Hardden for duty in In- dianapolis. Jack Barnett, Kansas City staff man, was marooned for 20 hours in the Ohio before being rescued by Coast Guardsmen. Edmund Reek, news editor, and Jack Haney, assignment editor, have had little sleep for a week. Air crews have averaged 10 hours each in the air in bad weather. Universal Newsreel has a camera staff of almost a dozen men stationed at strategic points along the Ohio River flood course, operating under the direction of Charles Ford, editor, and Norman Alley, his assistant, who is covering the Indiana territory by plane and flying the film collected from the cameramen into New York. Alley recently switched his head- quarters from Dayton to Indianapolis. Howard Winner, cameraman, is at Evansville, using a 12-foot rubber boat to get closeup shots of the flood scenes. Ted Schaefer is covering Cin- cinnati ; Max Markman, Jefferson- ville; Sam Savit and Thomas Proffitt, New Albany; Irving Smith, Evans- ville, and other cameramen are sta- tioned at Cairo, Portsmouth and Marietta. Use Houses as Hospitals Theatres accessible to the flood areas are being converted into temporary hospitals and refugee camps, it was learned here yesterday. While most of the theatres in Louisville and Cin- cinnati are not in operation, damages, according to home office circuit rep- resentatives, are said to be slight. Terre Haute Gives Benefit Terre Haute, Jan. 27. — Many local theatres are planning to give relief benefit shows to assist the American Red Cross to care for the sufferers of the Ohio valley flood district. The Rex and Fountain were the first to announce these benefit shows here. Fred Beetson Heads Industry Flood Relief Hollywood, Jan. 27. — Fred W. Beetson today was named to super- vise solicitation of flood relief funds within the industry by D. C. Mac- Waters, chairman of the Los Angeles American Red Cross. M.P.P.D.A. has already subscribed $5,000 to the local fund. A benefit performance, presided over by Charles Butterworth, was held tonight at the Knickerbocker. i Purely Personal ► S BARRET McCORMICK and • Howard Benedict will leave today for Washington where they will meet Joe E. Brown arriving from Hollywood. • J. J. Unger and Milt Kusell are due today from Philadelphia. They have made a tour of Paramount ex- changes after attending the Zukor Ju- bilee birthday party at the studios. • Louis Astor, circuit sales super- visor for Columbia, leaves Saturday for a tour of exchanges in connection with the "Columbia Montague Sweepstakes." • Lou Irwin didn't get in yesterday, after all. He was scheduled to leave the coast by air, but changed to the train the last minute and is now due on Monday. • Harry Moskowitz, head of Loew's construction department, has gone to Pittsburgh and from there will head for Louisville and Evansville. • Mack D. Weinberger, general sales manager of General Pictures, re- turns today from a trip to Philadel- phia and Washington. • John Trent, erstwhile transport plane pilot, who has a role in "A Doctor's Diary," will arrive today by the air route. • Harry M. Warner and S. Charles Einfeld returned from the coast yes- terday. Warner had been gone about two months. • Sol Lesser and Mrs. Lesser are returning to this country on the Be- rengaria. Joe Pollak is on the Wash- ington. • Arthur Menken of Paramount News left via American Airlines last night for Memphis to cover the flood. • Helen Jaffe of the 20th Century- Fox eastern scenario department will be married today to Aaron Klinger. • Harlan and Mrs. Thompson (Ma- rian Spitzer), Boris Morros and T. J. Lesser are at the Waldorf-Astoria. • Matt Taylor yesterday sold his short story, "Loser's End," to Loew's. It will appear shortly in Collier's. • Col. H. A. Cole will leave today for Washington and after a few days there will head for Dallas. • Eddie Duchin yesterday made some scenes at the Biograph studios for Republic's "Hit Parade." • Harry Weiner, Philadelphia Co- lumbia manager, was in town for the day yesterday. • A. H. Schwartz will sail next week on the Statendam for a West Indies cruise. • Louis Phillips, Paramount attor- ney, got back yesterday from New Orleans. • Herman Gluckman is scheduled to return from Hollywood on Feb. 8. Mitchell Klupt is down with the flu. AL STEFFES left yesterday for Minneapolis. He arrived earlier in the day from Boston where he spoke before Independent Exhibitors, inc., of New England. • Cyril Von Baumann, recently re- turned from Ecuador where he flew over Mt. Chimborazo, is editing the film of the trip. When released the short will be known as "Flight Over Chimborazo." • Lamar Trotti, formerly Hays of- fice attache and for some time a scenarist for 20th Century-Fox, left for Hollywood yesterday following a visit here. • James Clarke, who has joined the RKO home office accessory staff, is making a circuit of the company's ex- changes. • Robert Robinson of TWA will fly to the coast Friday for a week's va- cation. • Arthur T. Horman's story, "Bal- lyhoo Artist," has been purchased by Radio. • Jackie Cooper, in from the coast, is at the Waldorf-Astoria. Lynn Farnol back from the coast. British Nat'l Unit Here Is Abandoned British National of America, Ltd., originally formed late in November as an American producing firm chiefly financed by British banking and film interests, has been abandoned, it was learned yesterday. The dropping of the plan has resulted from the de- cision of Lord Ragnor of England, chairman of the board of British Colonial Trust, London, and listed as president of the new company, to with- draw his financial support from the American venture. Major national distribution was said originally to have been planned for the product of the company with a bud- get of more than $1,000,000. Pre- ferred bookings were said to have been assured the company's product through British National Pictures. "God's Country" Big Portland, Jan. 27. — Following heavy exploitation by Managers Sabottka of the Paramount and Stew- art of the Warner exchange. "God's Country and the Woman" opened here to capacity business despite a heavy snowfall and the maritime strike which has been in existence for 11 weeks. Color effects in the picture have been acclaimed by experts here. Set Dissolution Vote Wilmington, Del., Jan. 27. — Stock- holders of the Radio Corp. of Okla- homa, a Delaware corporation, will hold a special meeting tomorrow to consider and act upon final dissolution of the corporation, agents for the com- pany revealed here. Wins Warner Drive Portland, Ore., Jan. 27. — Manager Vete Stewart of Warners is receiving congratulations for his office which captured first place in the Warner Sears sales drive. Giveaways Halted by Philadelphia Police (Continued from page 1) been sent out after his office had re- ceived numerous complaints that the games encouraged children to gamble. Bill Aimed at Bank Night Boston, Jan. 27. — A bill for legis- lation to prohibit the "allotment to seat holders of money or property of value in connection with exhibition of films" has been filed in the House by Charles Hiller. It would make illegal Bank Night, dish and silverware awards and even bags of candy usually given away at Saturday matinees. The bill has not been printed, only the printed sum- mary in the legislative bulletin being available at present. Hiller also seeks legislation "to prohibit the conducting of vaudeville entertainment on the Lord's Day be- fore 7 o'clock in the evening." Would Tax Bank Night Little Rock, Jan. 27. — The State will receive for old age pensions one- fourth of every cash "Bank Night" award given, if a bill passed by the Senate Jan. 22 becomes law. Two Openings Make Century's Total SO (Continued from page 1) Bellerose will be operated only on Fri- days, Saturdays and Sundays. Last Friday, the circuit added the Elm in Brooklyn, a new 1,000-seat house. On Jan. 29, the Freeport, Freeport, L. I., now operating three days a week, will be opened the other four days in the week. Brumberg in Atlanta Atlanta, Jan. 27. — W. W. Brum- berg has been transferred to Florida from South Texas by Warners. Wall Street Paramount Issues Lead Board Gains Net High Low Close Change Columbia 37J4 35*6 374 +14 Columbia, pfd. ... 44 44 44 — 4 Consolidated 5% 54 54 Consolidated, pfd.. 174 174 174 — lA Eastman 1724 171 172^ + % Eastman, pfd 163 163 163 + 14 Gen. T. Equip 334 32J* 334 + Vs Loew's 727/s 71*4 72% +VA Paramount 28*6 27 28% +134 Paramount 1 pfd.. 198 190 198 +8 Paramount 2 pfd.. 25*6 244 25% +14 Pathe Film 9% 94 94 RKO 8% &A Wa + 'A 20th Century-Fox. 37 35*4 36% + A 20th Century, pfd. 454 454 454 — V/i Warner Bros 15J4 154 154 Curb Has Small Gains Net High Low Close Change Grand National . . 4 3% 4 + A Sentry Safety .... 14 1 14 + % Sonotone 2A 24 2% + 4 Technicolor 214 21% 214 + 4 Trans-Lux 4% 44 4% — Vs Little Bond Activity Net High Low Close Change Loew's 3V2s '46. ...1004 1004 1004 — A Paramount B'way 3s '55 _ 744 7454 744 + 4 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 1005^ 10034 1005^ + 4 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 100 99% 100 (Quotations at close of Jan. 27) 8 MOTION PICTURE RADIO DAILY RADIO Thursday, January 28, 1937 4 Radio Personals* T F CLEM MCCARTHY gives evi- 1 dence of some nervousness during his NBC broadcast of the Santa Anita Derby Feb. 22, it will be due to a memory of what happened to him two years ago while engaged at the same chore. At that time Clem took his micro- phone into the paddock for a close-up of the horses. Azucar kicked Mc- Carthy all over the lot, trampled on him, and completely demolished the mike. . . + It's all right for Major Bowes to declare Honor Cities, but not so oh kay for Gracie Allen, who has been burlesquing the major's practice. The other day Gracie received re- quests from the mayors of Akron and Troy not to honor their cities with the burlesques. . . + Jeanette Smits of the Bob Taplinger publicity office resigned yesterday to join Earl Ferris . . . Bob Baral, ex- of Variety, yesterday joined the NBC press staff . . . Smiling Ed McConnell leaves today for a Florida vacation trip and will not be heard on the air this Sunday . . . Carl Hoff takes over the CBS "Hit Parade" series this Saturday. . . + Howard Barnes and Dave Driscoll of Mutual fly to the flood area today to offer their services to stations in the affected area, all of which are short of manpower . . . Also, Bud Rainey, WHN announcer, will leave for Louisville this Saturday on a similar mission . . . Walter O'Keefe "subs" for Johnny Weismuller on the "Speedshow" this Saturday, Weis- muller having been recalled to Holly- wood . . . National Biscuit to Go Over to CBS Net From McCann-Erickson last night came word that the National Biscuit Co. program, currently heard Fridays on the NBC-Blue, would shift to the CBS network beginning March 28 at 8 P. M., E.S.T. The program stars Helen Broderick and Victor Moore. The off-the-record explanation for the shift is that the sponsor desired a Sunday night spot, unavailable on the Red network, and undesired on the Blue. The CBS Sunday opening becomes open when Vick's "Open House" fades. New Borden Program Set The Borden Milk Co. yesterday closed contracts for a new program entitled 'Borden's Special Edition," which will be heard locally over WEAF from 1 :30 to 2 P. M., E.S.T. beginning tomorrow. Featured on the program will be Gabriel Heatter, Dr. Arthur Frank Payne, Fannie Fitzwater, fashion expert of the New York Herald-Tribune, and Janet Howell, of Screen Guide Magazine, all commentators. J. P. Muller & Co. is the agency. Additionally at NBC, Blackett- Sample-Hummert yesterday renewed for 26-weeks the "David Harum" pro- gram heard Mondays through Fridays in the interests of Babbitt Co., Inc. Radio Stations Have Heavy Flood Losses To the almost incalculable physical losses wrought by the midwest flood disaster, add the losses entailed by the cancellation of programs on stations in the flood cities. Due to the confusion still existing, no complete estimate can be made at the moment. However, the following network stations have either complete- ly or, in part, scrapped commercial programs for the duration of the emergency : WHAS and WAVE, Louisville; WKRC, WLW, WSAI, WCKY, Cincinnati; and WSM, Nashville. Additionally, many other stations not in the flood area have kept their channels free in order to broadcast pick-ups from the flood area stations. WBOW Aids Victims Of Ohio River Flood Terre Haute, Jan. 27. — In an ef- fort to aid victims of the Ohio valley flood area WBOW has practically suspended all activities to solicit aid and to rush supplies and money to the territory. The call for help went out over WBOW Sunday afternoon and by early evening the first load of food was on its way to New Albany. Sev- eral other loads were dispatched later in the evening. Calls for relief are directed over WBOW to crews throughout the city. Donors telephone the radio station, which then sends out the calls to radio equipped cars over the city. Nearly $3,000 in cash has already been col- lected for the Red Cross through efforts of WBOW. NBC Aiding Flood Victims NBC has invited the Red Cross to collect funds from visitors to Radio City for the relief of flood victims. Representatives of the Red Cross will be stationed at strategic points throughout Radio City and at the studio doors to solicit contributions. WNEW was the first station locally to solicit funds for the flood sufferers. And in Hollywood Short Shots — CBS has arranged a gigantic tieup with the Los Angeles Examiner whereby the paper has a drive on to install radios in schools, parks and other public places and puts in a CBS plug at the same time. . . . Mary Martin is due for one more Fri- day as vocalist on the Victor Moore- Helen Broderick program. . . . Tom Wallace of the Aubrey-Moore- Wal- lace Agency in Chicago is on the coast for awhile. . . . Eddie Cantor has a guest spot on Jack Oakie's College Feb. 2 and Dr. Rockwell goes in the same show Feb. 19. . . . KFWB Signs John Daggett Hollywood, Jan. 27. — John Dag- gett, veteran radio player, who has been broadcasting for years over local stations as Uncle John, has been signed to an exclusive contract by KFWB. He will handle the Junior Broadcasters' program and also the "Adventures of Dick Tracy." Dutton, an NBC Producer Hollywood, Jan. 27. — NBC has given a producer's contract to Myron Dutton, former free lancer. Dutton has just completed a radio adaptation of J. P. McEvoy's "Potter Family," which will probably be his first for NBC. Schenck's Slant Hollywood, Jan. 27. — Joseph Schenck, chairman of the board of 20th Century - Fox, thinks this about radio and films: "I would say that where a radio broadcast is tied up with a specific picture, as in 'One in a Million' and as we are again doing with 'On the Avenue,' there is a distinct value to the screen and, of course, the appearance of pic- ture personalities on a radio program is of immeasurable value to the latter." Indiana Bill Would Delay Libel Actions Indianapolis, Jan. 27. — A bill in- troduced in the Indiana Senate would require three days' written notice be- fore an aggrieved party can file a libel or a slander suit against a radio or television station. A retraction within 10 days by the station would prohibit recovery, except for actual damage to character, business or oc- cupation. Hollywood Activity Of NBC Jumps 332% NBC's activities in Hollywood for 1936 shows a phenomenal increase of 332 per cent over 1935 as reckoned by hours on the air. A total of 790 program hours were broadcast from the film capital during the past year. New Liberty Program Liberty began sponsorship of a new WABC program last night, featuring Andre Baruch in a program entitled "Tomorrow's News Tonight." The program will be heard Mondays through Fridays at 11 P. M., E.S.T. over WABC only. Applies on New Stations Columbus, O., Jan. 27. — The fol- lowing petitions have been filed with the F. C. C. by the Ohio Broadcast- ing Co., for new stations, daytime op- eration only: Salem, 1,420 kilocycles, 100 kilowatts; Steubenville, 780 kilo- cycles, 250 kilowatts ; Youngstown, 1,350 kilocycles, one kilowatt, and East Liverpool, 1,350 kilocycles, 250 kilo- watts. Hix Ends; "Circus" Starts Hollywood, Jan. 27. — "Strange As It Seems," CBS coast network pro- gram of the Gilmore Oil Co. and fea- turing John Hix, will leave the air Jan. 29 and will be replaced by "Gil- more Circus" on Feb. 15. The circus was formerly a coast feature. The Hix program has been on the air only four weeks. Conn to Do Two for Jolson Hollywood, Jan. 27. — Harry Conn will write the next two Al Jolson air shows. Al Boasberg did the last one. Gil and Moss, the writing team that did the initial programs, have left the staff. Set Hearing Date Oklahoma City, Jan. 27. — The F. C. C. has set Feb. 26 for hearing an application of station KFXR, in the Hightower Building here, to as- sign its license to the Plaza Court Broadcasting Co. Wallace Quits FHA To Take an NBC Job Dwight G. Wallace, yesterday re- signed his executive post in the Hous- ing Division of the PWA to become personnel manager of NBC. Wallace succeeds C W. Fitch, who was re- cently made manager of the program department. Prior to his affiliation with the Housing Division, Wallace was a member of the executive department of the Century of Progress. Demand Air Rights Fee Unless J. Walter Thompson or Lever Bros, deliver $1,500 for the air rights to "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" the story will not be presented on the Lux "Radio Theatre" Feb. 1, as an- nounced. Cora Wilkenning, agent for Clarence Buddington Kelland so claims. Columbia Pictures do not own the commercial air rights to "Mr. Deeds," according to Miss Wilkenning, and therefore should not have negotiated the deal without obtaining a fee for the author. "Coffee Time," New Show The Owens Illinois Glass Co. of Toledo yesterday signed Richard Himber's orchestra and G. G. DeLys and Stuart Allen, vocalists, for a new program entitled "Coffee Time." The series begins Feb. 5, from 8 to 8:30 P. M., E.S.T., and will be heard over Mutual stations WOR, Newark; WGN, Chicago ; and WAAB, Boston. The Don Lee stations and KWK, St. Louis, may also carry the series if time can be cleared. U. S. Advertis- ing Corp. of Toledo is the agency. And in San Francisco Harry LeRoy, formerly with War- ners in Hollywood, has joined KGGC as announcer-producer. . . . Lenox Lohr, NBC president, is due here shortly. ... It is rumored that NBC's expansion program may shift Lou Frost, assistant to NBC's western vice-president, Don Gilman, to Los Angeles. . . . Dave Glickman off to Hollywood to organize a coast news bureau for Broadcasting, radio maga- zine. Pat Kelly, KFRC press chief, will take over Glickman's post as local correspondent for Billboard, while Ed Dunne will handle Broadcasting's local news. . . . And in Chicago Short Shots— During 1936, 1,515,901 pieces of mail were received by WLS, topping the 1935 record of 1,300,012. . .- . The WBBM "Nutty Club" has had the S. R. O. sign out every week. Requests for tickets are such that the studio is booked solid for 12 weeks ahead. . . . Vivian Delia Chiesa cele- brates her second anniversary in radio work by joining the Carnation Con- tented program Feb. 1. Two years ago she won a contest for "unknown singers" on a Chicago radio station. . . . New contracts handed out to radio shows included : Smiling Ed Mc- Connell, Amos 'n' Andy, Kalten- meyer's Kindergarten, the Contented program, "Welcome Valley," "Girl Alone" starring Betty Winkler and "A Tale of Today" starring Joan Blaine. . . . Bess Flyn, WGN scripter will be Hollywood bound in March. Air Version of Reader's Digest San Diego, Jan. 27. — KGB will start a radio version of Reader's Di- gest next Monday. This is a Don Lee station. Radio Acceptance OP R H. Cochrane PRESIDENT Rockefeller Center New Yo r k January 15th, 1937 Motion Picture Daily Rockefeller Center New York City Gentlemen: I read daily and with interest your radio section. I like it. Radio and motion pictures overlap so generally these days that a quick and concise coverage of the highlights in broadcasting takes on an added value in the conduct of straight film enterprises, pro- duction and exhibition alike. Accept my congratulations! Yours, R. H. Cochrane MOTION PICTURE DAILY ROCKEFELLER CENTER NEW YORK Mi NATIONAL SCREEN SERVICE The Leading Motio Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, Intelligent the In In All Branches VOL. 41. NO. 24 NEW YORK, FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 1937 TEN CENTS Bill Aims to BarNewspaper Radio Control Estimate Papers to Own Fourth of Stations By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, Jan. 28. — Legislation to divest newspapers of broadcasting stations was introduced in the House of Representatives today by Congress- man Wearin of Iowa. Pointing out that approximately one-fourth of all the stations licensed are owned, operated or controlled by newspapers, Wearin attacked pub- lisher interests in radio as a means of molding public opinion. Newspaper activities in the broad- casting field, which began on a large scale something over a year ago, have Other developments in radio yes- terday appear on page 14. been the subject of considerable atten- tion in Congressional circles, Senator Wheeler of Montana recently having asked the F.C.C. for data regarding newspaper ownership and for a legal opinion as to whether the commission has authority to deny applications from newspapers for stations, and, if not, whether legislation could be en- acted. Orpheum' s Creditors To Act onRKO Offer Creditors of Orpheum Circuit are scheduled to act today on an RKO offer of $700,000 for uncontested title to all of the going assets of Orpheum at a meeting to be held before Ref- eree Oscar W. Ehrhorn. The meeting is also scheduled to consider motions by an Orpheum pre- ferred stockholders' committee calling for the removal of Orpheum from bankruptcy for reorganization under Section 77-B and for the intervention of the company in the RKO reorgan- ization proceedings. The stockhold- ers' committee, for which Isidor J. {Continued on page 8) Conference Delays Philadelphia Case Philadelphia, Jan. 28. — Because local exhibitors are scheduled to meet with Mayor Wilson Friday morning to discuss the police ban on chance games, Judge William M. Lewis postponed a hearing on an earlier arrest which had been scheduled for today. If exhibitors and Mayor Wilson fail to reach an agreement tomorrow, po- lice will resume their drive against theatres using the games at once. The campaign was begun Tuesday night, but exhibitors were granted a two- day truce to discuss the situation with city officials. The case scheduled for hearing be- fore Judge Lewis today was that of Raymond O'Rourke, manager of the Doris, West Philadelphia, who was arrested last Dec. 7 on a charge of operating a lottery by using a Bingo game. Omaha Bank Nights Get City Approval Omaha, Jan. 28. — City Attorney Seymour Smith has handed down a ruling that he considers Bank Night legal as conducted here on the ground that purchase of a ticket is not re- quired for registration. He qualifies the ruling that if in- timidation is used against non-pur- chasers of tickets or veiled threats are made that tickets are necessary the plan becomes illegal. A recent blast of the Ministerial Ass'n has brought no action, except a warning from Police Commissioner {Continued on page 8) Selznick's Salary Was $194,000 in '35 Washington, Jan. 28. — David O. Selznick received $194,000 during 1935 as an associate producer for M-G-M, it was revealed here yesterday in a new list of salaries reported to Con- gress. M-G-M paid more than $100,- 000 each in the same year to Lionel {Continued on page 12) Depinet Plans Sales Meeting for Frisco Ned E. Depinet, now on the coast with Jules Levy for production con- ferences at the studio, will hold a sales meeting with RKO western branch managers in San Francisco on Jan. 31 to discuss sales and distribu- tion plans. Among those who will attend will be Harry Cohen, western district man- ager, and N. P. Jacobs, Los Angeles; G. William Wolf, San Francisco; J. H. Ashby, Denver ; Ed Lamb, Seattle ; N. Cory, Portland, and H. C. Fuller, Salt Lake City. Free Film Offered For Flood Benefits Distributors yesterday moved to make film available without charge to theatres willing to devote the entire proceeds to accredited flood relief agencies. Film Board secretaries were informed by the M. P. P. D. A. that the film would be supplied on the same policy which was placed in {Continued on page 8) Cups for Pups A dog personality contest, something new in the way of exploitation campaigns, will make its bow at the Ziegfeld tomorrow. Chelle Janis, manager of the Loew house, has ar- ranged to give away four cups. The first will be awarded to the dog with the best personality. The sec- ond for the dog garnering the most points. The third for the cutest canine. The fourth for the animal which can do the best and most tricks. The picture on the screen will be "After the Thin Man." Among the judges will be Co- bina Wright, Vivienne Segal, Robert Brown, Jeanette Mc- Leod, Frank Dole and Mischa Violin. Report Delayed on Alien Actors Bill Washington, Jan. 28. — Efforts of the House Immigration Committee to order a favorable report on the Dick- stein alien actor bill, on which ex- tensive hearings were held during the last session, were today defeated by Representative Kramer of Cali- fornia, who declared that the film industry would desire to be heard before any action was taken. As a result of Kramer's protest against hasty action, the committee agreed to hold hearings on the bill, but probably will not reach it until late next month or early in March. "U" Sets 7 Dramas For Coming Season Ranking well up in Universal's cur- rent production plans are seven dramas, four grouped as dramatic ro- mances, one comedy romance and three musicals. The dramas are "The Road Back," "Wings Over Honolulu," "Delay in the Sun," "Madame Curie," "As Be- fore Better Than Before," "Twenty- Four Hours" and "Live Alone and Like It." The dramatic romances are "We Have Our Moments," "When Love Is Young," "Girl Overboard" and "She's Dangerous." The comedy romance is "As Good as Married" and the musicals, "Top of the Town," "Hippodrome" and "Riviera." 20th-Fox Men Leave On Tuesday for K. C. Approximately 20 home office ex- ecutives of 20th Century- Fox will leave Tuesday for Kansas City to at- tend the two-day mid-season district managers' meeting which gets under {Continued on page 8) British Group For New Move By the Crown Would Limit Authority Of the Commission By BRUCE ALLAN London, Jan. 28. — Approval of the Moyne Committee's suggestion for a Government film commission is contained in a statement just pre- sented by the film group to the Board of Trade. The approval is qualified with the understanding that the commission shall have no right to interfere with individual companies' business and that the commission should include members experienced in the trade and be guided by an advisory body of leading members of the industry. Approval is given the flexible quota suggestion, but the statement says it should never be less than 20 per cent for distributors and IS per cent for exhibitors. A quality test would be applied only to films costing under £1 per foot. Any films not passed for the distributors' quota should still rank for the exhibitors' quota, the statement suggests. Films made in the British Domin- ions should be given British registra- tion only if British films are given equal status in the Dominion con- cerned. Abolition of existing restric- tion on advance booking is opposed and it is urged that block booking be made illegal. Report Skouras Bid For Roxy Operation Reports were current yesterday that George Skouras has made a bid to op- erate the Roxy as soon as the theatre is turned over to 20th Century-Fox under a 20-year lease as provided in the reorganization plan filed by the first mortgage bondholders. Harry C. Arthur and F. & M. have been negotiating to assume the man- agement for the distributor under a long-term management contract. No {Continued on page 8) More Film Measures Up in Massachusetts Boston, Jan. 28. — Film bills are ac- cumulating in the Legislature. The latest is described as a bill "for ap- pointment of a board to supervise and regulate the exhibition of motion pic- tures." It has been introduced by Jacob A. Riis of the Youth Founda- tion, and it has been referred to the {Continued on page 12) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, January 29, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 January 29, 1937 No. 24 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager »gn Published daily except Sunday ilStl and holidays by Quigley Pub- IWiWM lishing Company, Inc., Martin ■yd Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Avenue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copy- righted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc. Address all correspondence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publica- tions. Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, Teatro Al Dia, International Motion Picture Almanac and Fame: The Box Office Check-Up. Hollywood Bureau: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Sereets, Boone Mancall, Manager; Chicago Bureau: 624 South Michigan Avenue, C. B. O'Neill, Man- ager; London Bureau: 4 Golden Square, London W 1, Bruce Allan, Representative; Cable Address "Quigpubco, London"; Berlin Bureau: Stuelerstrasse 2, Berlin W 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative; Paris Bureau: 29, Rue Marsoulan, Pierre Autre, Representative ; Rome Bureau : Viale Gorizia, Vittorio Malpassuti, Representative; Aus- tralian Bureau: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins Street, Melbourne, Cliff Holt, Representative; Mexico City Bureau: Apar- tado 269, James Lockhart, Representative; Budapest Bureau: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest, II, Endre Hevesi, Representative; Tokyo Bureau: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken, H. Tominaga, Representative; Prague Bureau: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1, Harry Knopf, Rep- resentative; Shanghai Bureau: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Building, 142 Museum Road, 7. P. Koehler, Representative ; Rio de Janiero Bureau: Caixa Postal 3358, A. Weissman, Representative; Buenos Aires Bureau: Corrientes 2495, N. Bruski, Representative; Montevideo Bureau: P. O. Box 664, Paul Bodo, Representative; Moscow Bureau: Petrovski Per 8, Beatrice Stern, Representa- tive; Vienna Bureau: Neustiftgasse, 55, Vienna VII, Hans Lorant, Representative; Amsterdam Bureau: Zuider Amstellaan 5, Philip de Schaap, Representative; Helsjng- fors Bureau: Fredriksgatan 19 C, Charlotte Laszlo, Representative; Warsaw Bureau: Sienna 32, R. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Million;' "Plough" For 42 RKO Houses Starting Feb. 11, the RKO circuit in Greater New York will -begin a week's showing of "One in a Million" and "Plough and the Stars." The same show will be featured in 42 houses. Although the booking is dated to open on a Thursday, circuit offi- cials declare the policy will not be permanent, but is in line with plans which have been practiced from time to time. Where special shows are available pictures will be dated for five days or more, it was stated. Meanwhile, Loew will adopt a Thursday policy for the State on Broadway beginning Feb. 4. Officers Reelected Kansas City, Jan. 28.— The I.T.O. of Kansas City reelected all officers today in one of the quietest elections on record. Officers are: Emanuel Rolsky, president; E. S. Young, vice- president; Mrs. Rosa Baier, second vice-president; Ed Hartman, secre- tary, and Charles Potter, treasurer. Insiders' Outlook By RED KANN THERE is no thrill, neither is there any particular satis- faction, for us in paddling our own industry across the knuckles. It, nevertheless, appears neces- sary. Radio, apparently mindful of its obligation to the public and, moreover, recognizing the incalculable goodwill which ren- dition of help in widespread disaster must engender, has so far stepped far and away from films in its endeavors to aid the stricken areas. Here and there, but in woefully scattered fashion, theatre managers are running benefit shows for flood relief. . . . T In an about-to-be four-hour radio show — there it is again — Hollywood players, no doubt, will be drafted in considerable array to further the fund-raising drive. Yet, neither have the major circuits embarked upon tangibilities for the same purpose nor have the major distributors evidenced any generosity to date when they might well. It is one thing to pass around the hat to a theatre audience and pick up the coins set loose by a generous heart. But only one, a paltry one. . . . ▼ It is entirely another, in co- operation with exhibitors, to set aside a percentage of receipts, no matter how small, to alleviate the distress of a public in an area to which this industry will soon again turn for support. Let it be said that way in all bluntness. In the very nature of this busi- ness, with its complete depend- ence on the public, the obligation to the common weal should be appreciated and recognized. So far, from a broad industry point of view, most conclusively it has not by a check made as cur- rently as last night. . . . ▼ ▼ It's all within the quotes, this time from Pete Wood, secretary of the I.T.O. of Ohio : "I, too, got a good laugh out of Paramount's statement, in which they tossed around $30,000,- 000 as a starter for their 1937- 38 production budget. "Indulging in another puff of the pipe, Metro, Warner and 20th Century-Fox could each hardly spend less than this, so we have $120,000,000 accounted for up to this point. This leaves RKO, Col- umbia, Universal and United Artists, as well as all independent production, which, inhaling again, brings forth at least another $80,- 000,000, or a total of $200,000,000. "Now, for the awakening: "Last year the film distributors garnered $12,000,000 from Ohio exhibitors. Ohio is a six per cent territory, so that $200,000,000 just about represents the total gross income from film distribution. "It all means that the boys in Hollywood, who make the pic- tures, will have no need for either black ink, or red ink — the account is in perfect balance. "I don't know why I write you this, but perhaps I am becoming like the Paramount officials who started to toss around the $30,000,- 000 mentioned in your editorial." T T A great deal has been written and even more cussings indulged conversation-wise about those damned New York film critics. But it should be said for them and we're saying it now that, collectively, the circle did a signal service for the business over the coast-to-coast air lanes last Sun- day night. The occasion was the hour's broadcast built around their own winning pictures of 1936. Hollywood effort, at vari- ous points, was described as "dis- tinguished" and full appreciation voiced for the superior efforts of the stratosphered production colony. Millions must have heard the encomiums. They must have registered with many. . . . ▼ T Sidney Skolsky comes along with a published suggestion to Darryl F. Zanuck on ways and means of handling the opening phases of Gypsy Rose Lee's film career. Here goes : "Gypsy Rose Lee is to make a picture for 20th Century-Fox and if they're wise she'll make a serial — and in every episode she takes off another garment." Another thought. Maybe it was the friction engendered by the signing of her new contract that caused the studio blaze last Saturday. . . . T T Iowa has a state senator. His name, L. H. Doran and his town, Boone. The senator ponders a bill which would compel exhibi- tors in that state to refuse ad- mittance of children under 19 at films in which appear actors and actresses who have been divorced. Unfair to the newspapers. . . . Jack Berman Heads ITO Los Angeles, Jan. 28.— The I. T. O. of Southern California has elected Jack Berman, president ; Irving Car- lin, vice-president and executive chair- man ; C. A. Ferry, vice-president and treasurer, and Harry Vinnicof, vice- president. The new board of direc- tors includes H. W. Bruen, Jay Sut- ton, Lou Bard and E. S. Calve. Helen Burgess Married Yuma, Jan. 28. — Helen Burgess, film player, was married here yester- day to Herbert Rutherford, a pianist. Van Beuren to Move The Van Beuren Corp. will move today from 729 7th Ave. to 580 Sth Ave. Academy Nominating Chairmen Are Named Hollywood, Jan. 28. — The Chair- men of the Art Directors, Film Editors and Photographic Sections of the Technicians' Branch of the Acad- emy have been completed with the appointment of nominating committees representing their respective sections. These committees will handle the nom- ination procedures for the various technical awards. Membership of the Cinematographic Awards Committee comprises: Ray June, chairman ; John Arnold, Joseph August, Norbert Brodine, George Crane, Edward Cronjager, Arthur Edeson, George J. Folsey, Jr., Fred Gage, Merritt B. Gerstad, Byron Has- kin, Thomas Ingman, Charles B. Lang, Jr., Virgil Miller, Victor Mil- ner, Ira Morgan, J. M. Nickolaus, L. William O'Connell, George Robinson, Karl Struss, John Swain, Joseph Val- entine, Joseph Walker, Vernon Wal- ker and Ray Wilkinson. The Film Editing Award commit- tee includes : Harold J. McCord, chairman, Martin G. Cohn, Ralph Dietrich, William Holmes, Harvey Johnston, Harold H. McCord, Gene Milford, Conrad Nervig, Murray Seldeen and I. James Wilkinson. Art Direction Award Committee comprises : Bernard Herzbrun, chair- man; Roland Anderson, Duncan Cra- mer, Perry Ferguson, Stephen Goos- son, John Harkrider, Fred Hope, John Hughes, Willy Pogany and A. Tolu- boff. Ascap Is Being Sued By Cafe Owner Unit Hollywood, Jan. 28. — California Federated Institute, Inc., filed a copy- right infringement suit against Ascap in Federal Court here today. The suit, which is brought under the fair practices section of the Sherman Anti- Trust Act, asks that Ascap be re- strained from filing infringement suits against any of the Institute's 400 cafe owner members. It also seeks an in- junction restraining Ascap agents from alleged unfair practices. The complaint charges that Ascap agents entered cafes requesting songs under their copyright then filed in- fringement suits the following day and that members failing to pay the Ascap fees received threats of litigation. Attorney John Van Aalst repre- sented the plaintiff. Smart Girls" Seen By 178,500 at Roxy Approximately 178,500 persons vis- ited the Roxy during the first week of "Three Smart Girls," which today be- gins a second week and will most like- ly be held a third. The gross for the first six days was $53,000 and yes- terday's take was expected to hit $7,- 000. Five shows are being given week days and six on Saturday and Sunday. Borrah Minevitch and his rascals are on the stage. The second week of "Lloyds of Lon- don" wound up with $73,500 at the Music Hall. "Under Cover of the Night" got about $8,500 at the Rialto. No Deal, Says Depinet Los Angeles, Jan. 28. — Ned E. Depinet, questioned here today, dis- claimed knowledge of any deal involv- ing RKO and Metropolitan Play- houses. «TVia»ks , -w. Parade"! ^ Sing"1- ™ , 20tb Century AMUUon'^ 0l^anttnbrokenSm»g Friday, January 29, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 7 MOTION PICTURE DAILY'S HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Ready, Willing and Able" ( Warners) Hollywood, Jan. 28. — With all the situations which have appeared in previous Warner musicals served up again, exhibitors can plot the selling campaign on this from their files and memories. The story is the usual backstage routine. Pressing creditors will not permit the curtain to rise on a show pro- duced by Ross Alexander and Lee Dixon, song writers, until their bills are paid. Addison Richards, for selfish reasons, is particularly opposed to the opening. Ruby Keeler induces Hugh O'Connell, her ardent suitor, to foot the bills, after which she leaves him for Alexander's arms. The curtain rises and the audience again is asked to believe that the massive Bobby Connolly musical number could be produced within the limits of a legitimate theatre although the filming routine required acres of space. Although the plot offers few novelties, the performances by Dixon, Alexander and Miss Keeler, with good comedy support from Louise Fazenda, Allen Jenkins and Carol Hughes bring the picture well up to standard. Winifred Shaw, E. E. Clive, Teddy Hart and Adrian Rosley are also satisfactory in lesser roles. The screenplay by Jerry Wald, Sid Herzig and Warren Duff adds several risque lines which probably were not in the original Richard Macauley magazine story. Direction by Ray Enright is smooth and the production of Hal Wallis well up to the pace set by earlier Warner musicals. Production Code Seal No. 2,751. Running time, 88 minutes. "G." "Nobody's Baby" (M-G-M) Hollywood, Jan. 28. — Stretching a two-reel type of gag, dialogue and situation comedy into a feature length farce is unexpectedly relishable when Patsy Kelly and Lyda Roberti do the stretching as they have done in this film. Although much padding is introduced to gain time, the focal points are full of fun as the comediennes hop blithely in and out of the picture, a fact which creates the illusion of a speedy tempo in production. Preceded by a satire on an amateur radio tryout and a take-off on the "White Parade" nurse recruiting idea with the interspersion of a night club musical episode, Miss Kelly and Miss Roberti become nurses. Rosina Lawrence, a night club dancer, after disappearing for a while turns up at the hospital to have a baby. As she wants to keep the birth of the child a secret from her husband, there ensues a series of hilarious mixups with Robert Armstrong and Lynne Overman, the girls' swains, each thinking that his sweetie is the mother. Everything winds up happily in the night club, however, with Miss Lawrence and Don Alvarado, her husband, reunited, and the two nurses wondering what will happen to them next with a public wedding in prospect. Harold Law, Hal Yates and Pat C. Flick concocted the yarn which gives Miss Kelly and Miss Roberti plenty of opportunity to be legiti- mately funny. It also gives Miss Lawrence the chance to sing nicely and to dance well with Alvarado while Armstrong and Overman add much to the gayety of the occasion. The production specialties intro- duce Jimmy Greer's orchestra, The Rhythm Rascals and the Avalon Boys in music and songs prepared by Marvin Hatley and Walter Bullock. Gus Mein's direction concentrates on getting the most from the farcical situations. Production Code Seal No. 2,719. Running time, 65 minutes. "G." Variety Club Omaha Omaha, Jan. 28. — At Variety- Club's latest draw on its private Bank Night, District Manager Evert R. Cummings of Tri- States protested when D. V. McLucas handed the re- ceptacle to Mrs. Cummings. "Don't," protested Cummings, "she thinks she's going to win." So another was found to make the draw and Cummings won. St. Louis St. Louis, Jan. 28. — Ray G. Col- vin of the Exhibitors Supply Co., is the new chief barker of Variety Club. He was inducted at a recent annual meeting at the Coronado Hotel. Other officers are : Joe Garrison, assistant chief barker ; Harold W. Evens, second assistant chief bark- er; Clarence Hill, treasurer, and Ben B. Reingold, secretary. The annual gathering attracted the entire membership. The next big event will be a stag get-together to be staged some time in March. This will be followed in short order by a testi- monial dinner to Fred Wehrenberg, President of the M. P. T. O, who is celebrating 30 years in the business. The tentative date for the testimonial is March 21 and the scene will be the Gold Room of Hotel Jefferson. Rescind Building Permit London, Jan. 19. — The Bradford City Council has rescinded its decision to sell the Kirkgate Market site, on which it had been planned to erect a 4,000-seat house, and a news theatre, under the control of Arthur Segal, financial associate of Paramount. Odeon Theatres, Ltd., has obtained a license for a 3,000-seat house in Brad- ford despite the opposition of the local Cinematograph Exhibitors' Ass'n. branch. Republic Starts Drive Los Angeles, Jan. 28. — The Repub- lic exchange has started a charge and collections drive in honor of Floyd St. John, Los Angeles and San Fran- cisco franchise owner, who has been in the exchange business for 20 years this month. St. John and Grover Parsons, west- ern sales manager, are both in town completing plans for the drive. Continue Amelia Shows Des Moines, Jan. 28. — Business men of Aurelia, la., who sponsored free pictures during the holiday at the Community Theatre, are continuing the project through the winter, as a trade promotion on Saturday after- noons. The three-story opera house at Carroll, la., owned by Albert Mc- Nabb, was recently sold at sheriff's sale to satisfy a $23,500 mortgage. Flash Previews "Sandjlozv" — Lively western ma- terial, sure to please youngsters or oldsters who like the hard riding stuff. This film will be reviewed in full in a coming issue of Motion Picture Daily. Two Houses Transferred Thornton Kelly has taken over the Lyric, Bound Brook, N. J., and Ed- ward Peskay has turned the Storm King, Cornwall, N. Y., over to Robert C. Kay. Chester Smith Dead Chester J. Smith, former trade paper editor, died suddenly Wednes- day morning at his home. "Chet," as he was known in the trade, had recently been associated with the A. S. P. C. A. He is survived by his widow, Helen Smith, and a daugh- ter Barbara. McCarthy, Showman, Dies Minneapolis, Jan. 28. — J. J. Mc- Carthy, 66, veteran theatre man in this area for 25 years, is dead at Brookings, S. D., of heart disease. He is survived by his three brothers, all theatre operators, and two sons. Funeral arrangements have not been made. U. A. Takes Mexican Film United Artists will release the Mexican-made "Alia en el Rancho Grande" ("Down at the Big Ranch") in all Spanish-speaking countries ex- cept Mexico, according to Walter Gould, division manager for Latin America. Tito Guizar is starred in the film. Chaplin a Contributor Washington, Jan. 28. — Charlie Chaplin was today disclosed as having contributed $500 to the Democratic campaign fund last year in a report made public by the special Senate committee investigating 1936 campaign expenditures. Short Subjects "Fun's Fun" {Educational) Developing many bright and humorous situations, this latest by Jefferson Machamer, with its pretty models, clever lines and good produc- tion, maintains the entertaining stand- ard set by the preceding comedies. Machamer decides to stop painting pretty girls and sends out a call for the homeliest girl in the world. The homely one finally does appear, but she is revealed to be his beautiful fiancee. A party is thrown in this one, too, and the entertainment intro- duces a tasteful selection of dance routines. It is first-rate entertainment. Production Code Seal No. 01,397. Running time, 19 mins. "G." "The Golfers" {Universal) More monkeyshines by that trio of cartoon primates — Meany, Miny and Moe. In this offering they tackle golf with all the comic possibilities that they are capable of introducing. A robot golfing machine concludes the "business" with exciting pursuit. Thereafter the "boys" decide to take up the less arduous game of checkers. Production Code Seal No. 7,772. Running time, 8% mins. "G." "Nice Work" {Vitaphone) An issue of the Colortour Adven- ture series. Its subjects scattered widely, the film covers the Swedish weaving industry, Norwegian fisheries and the Hawaiian method of harvest- ing sugar cane; by burning the fields. Filmed in passable color, it should hold interest. Production Code Seal No. 01,265. Running time, 10 mins. "G." "Fishing Thrills" {Columbia) From such mildly exciting game as trout, this issue of The News World of Sports continues on the bigger species. The taking of sailfish, tar- pon, swordfish and finally whales are also shown with all the action and excitement attendant. Interesting. Production Code Seal No. 01,428. Run- ning time, 10 mins. "G." "Juliet" Given a Test Chicago, Jan. 28. — M-G-M is test- ing out the drawing power of "Romeo and Juliet" with showing in Evanston this week on a raised admission two-a- day plan. Results of this tryout will determine the policy to be used in playing the film when it comes up for regular release. A. H. Blank Returns Des Moines, Jan. 28. — A. H. Blank, head of the Tri-States Theatre Corp., and Mrs. Blank have returned from a six-week trip to California. Ray- mond Blank, who met them in Ari- zona for the California trip, returned to Arizona for the winter. Shift Conn. Managers New Canaan, Conn., Jan. 28. — Max Schumann has succeeded William Ellis as manager of the Playhouse. Charles Lyons has been appointed supervising manager. MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, January 29, 1937 Free Film Offered For Flood Benefits {Continued from page 1) effect during the Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia flood of last year. Under that policy the free film was limited to pictures already released in the territories involved. So far as could be determined yes- terday affiliated circuits had no definite plans for putting on flood benefit per- formances in their theatres. Loew's and Warners, however, reported that district and city managers in the flood states have been authorized to cooper- ate with local authorities and the Red Cross in connection with approved local activities. Red Cross collections in Warner theatre lobbies have been authorized. A midnight benefit performance will be given in the Circle, Indianapolis, tomorrow, with Loew's, local exhibi- tors and film exchanges cooperating. The entire proceeds will be turned over to relief agencies. Loew's houses at Louisville and Evansville are still . closed, although damage except in basements of the buildings is reported to be negligible. Erpi yesterday notified exhibitors in flooded areas that service charges will be suspended until the affected theatres reopen. Memphis Theatres Hit Memphis, Jan. 28. — While flood refugees continue to pour into this city by tens of thousands, theatre business in the surrounding territory is virtu- ally at a standstill. The city itself is still high and dry and likely to remain so even after the Ohio River flood waters are car- ried into this vicinity by the Missis- sippi, but in spite of this and excellent current attractions, business has slumped in all local theatres. Among the towns where all houses have been darkened are Marked Tree, Monette, Miller, Lepanto, Leachville, Parkin, Earle, Clarendon, Cotton Plant and Holly Grove, in Arkansas ; Senth, Mo. ; Ridgely and Ripley, Tenn. ; and Hickman, Ky. Schedules have either been interrupted or stopped entirely in Owensboro, Henderson, Fulton and Princeton, Ky. ; Coving- ton, Obion, Halls, Dyersburg, New- burn and Dyer, Term.; Wynne and Brinkley, Ark. ; Kennett, Mo. ; and Shelby, Miss. Memphis exchanges apparently are suffering heavy losses in damaged or lost prints which are unaccounted for in transit. First run houses here are giving benefit performances for the refugees and flood sufferers in the vicinity. Illinois Towns Flooded St. Louis, Jan. 28. — Breaking levees along the Ohio River last night caused the flooding of Mound City and Mounds, 111., while Harrisburg, 111., is flooded in low sections by back water from the Ohio 25 miles away. Three houses in the town continued to operate, however. The theatres in Mounds and Mound City closed several days ago. Two theatres in Carbondale which closed temporarily to help prevent an epi- demic among refugees have resumed operations. St. Louis is not in the flood zone, but is a concentration point for refu- gees. Under the direction of a special com- mittee headed by C. D. Hill of Colum- bia and Fred Wehrenberg, M.P.T.O. Time 2 Years Old March of Time celebrates its second anniversary with 9,982 theatres numbered among its customers, accord- ing to RKO. The first issue went to 400 theatres Feb. 1, 1935. president, theatres and exchanges in this territory have perfected plans for a special drive to raise funds for re- lief of flood sufferers. Flood Moves Southward Cincinnati, Jan. 28. — As the flood waters receded hereabouts today elec- tric power was restored and citizens began to survey the damage wrought. The peak of the flood has now passed to the southward and was central to- night in the vicinity of Cairo, 111. Memphis became more optimistic as the official forecaster predicted a 48- foot level, considerably below the Army estimates of a few days ago. Fears at present center on the lat- est forecast for more rain. Late today the Red Cross was evacuating citizens at Paducah, Ky., in the path of the rushing waters. Conditions are improving at Louis- ville, but the fear of an epidemic is still present. Memphis is preparing to care for 80,000 refugees. Charles- ton, West Va., is already crowded. Damage hereabouts is estimated at $15,000,000, and Pennsylvania towns figure the cost at $1,000,000. The crisis is believed to be past in West Virginia. Plan Hamilton Benefit Hamilton, O., Jan. 28— The Para- mount, Southio Unit, is giving a mid- night benefit performance Saturday, showing "Hands Across the Table," and possibly some radio acts at a 25- cent admission, with all proceeds to be given the Red Cross. All theatre services donated. Cincy Hopes to Open in 10 Days Cincinnati, Jan. 28. — City officials predict that it will be at least 10 days to two weeks before theatres and stores can be reopened here, and then, possibly, on limited schedules. This, however, is subject to modification, depending on conditions as they de- velop. Hasselo Stages Benefit LeMaes, la., Jan. 28. — Manager Raymond Hasselo of the March staged a benefit show for flood sufferers at which all patrons were admitted with- out charge and then gave a free will offering. Variety Aids Flood Fund Cincinnati. Jan. 28. — The Cincin- nati Variety Club, Tent No. 3. has do- nated $100 to the Red Cross for bene- fit of flood sufferers. Film Men Contribute Arthur M. Loew and Major Ed- ward Bowes each have contributed $500 and Toby Gruen $100 to the Red Cross flood relief fund. Zukor West Tomorrow Adolph Zukor plans to leave for the coast tomorrow after a visit of about 10 days in the east. He pre- sided yesterday at a meeting of the Paramount board of directors at which only routine business was trans- acted, according to company officials. 20th-Fox Men Leave On Tuesday for K. C. (Continued from page 1) way at the Muehlback on Feb. 4. The contingent is due back Feb. 7. John D. Clark, general sales man- ager, will go to Kansas City directly from the coast where he is now con- ferring with Darryl Zanuck and other studio executives on new product for the coming season. Gehring Is Dinner Guest William C. Gehring, leader of the S. R. Kent Drive who was named recently as central division manager for 20th Century-Fox, was guest of honor at a dinner tendered by the sales department last night in the Ter- race Room of the Hotel Astor. Congratulatory wires were received from Kent, who is now in Texas, and John D. Clark, general sales manager, who is on the coast. Home office representatives at the dinner were: W. C. Michel, William Sussman, W. J. Kupper, Felix Jen- kins, Sidney Towell, William Eadie, W. J. Clark, Charles E. McCarthy, Earl Wingart, N. B. Finkler, Martin Moskowitz, Roger Ferri, E. H. Col- lins, C. A. Hill, Ted Shaw, Jack Bloom, Gene McEvoy, Lee Balsly, Arch Reeve, M. Goodman, Nat Brow- er, James Glynn, Al Levy, H. H. Buxbaum, J. J. Lee, Moe Saunders, Irving Maas, Clay Hake, Les Whalen, Otto Bolle, R. B. Simonson, Isadore Lincer, Morris Caplan, Harvey Day, Jack Skirball, Ed Jacobs and Harry Gluck. William Gehring, father of the guest of honor, also was among those present. Report Skouras Bid For Roxy Option (Continued from page 1) action is said to have been taken on this deal, lending strength to the re- ports that Skouras may win out. In any event, the parent operating com- pany for the Roxy will be National Theatres, a 20th Century-Fox sub- sidiary, of which Spyros Skouras is first vice-president. George Skouras now operates the Rivoli in addition to approximately 50 theatres in the Greater New York area. A hearing will be held this after- noon before Federal Judge Francis G. Caffey on the bondholders' reor- ganization plan. A few minor objec- tions to the plan are expected, but no decision by the court is scheduled for a few weeks, it is said. Talk Booking Combine Minneapolis, Jan. 28. — A group of small town exhibitors of Minnesota and Wisconsin are considering the formation of a booking combine to tie up product against undesired competi- tion. They declared that purely pro- motional ventures also are threaten- ing them. Move to Dissolve Pacific Wilmington, Jan. 28. — A resolu- tion calling for the dissolution of Pacific National Theatres, Inc., a Delaware corporation, was adopted at a special meeting of the board of directors in Los Angeles, it has been announced here. The resolution calls for a meeting of the stockholders of the company in Los Angeles on Feb. 15 at 10:30 o'clock to take action on the resolution. Omaha Bank Nights Get City Approval (Continued from page-Y) Richard Jepsen and Fire Commission- er W. H. Dorrance that aisles must be kept clear. Portland Suburbans Have B. N. Portland, Jan. 28. — Bank Nights are still universally used by suburban houses here. In many sections, with money becoming scarcer because of 12 weeks of the maritime strike, ex- hibitors state that Bank Nights here helped in keeping open. With a continuance of cold weather and flu, it is now just a question of how long they can continue. Theatres were closed this last week in Vancouver, Wash., because of flu. Ministers Attack Awards Oklahoma City, Jan. 28. — Bank Deposit Award Night in local theatres was condemned Jan. 25 by the Min- isters' Alliance which passed a reso- lution calling upon law enforcement agencies to end the practice. Orpheum's Creditors To Act on RKO Offer (Continued from page 1) Kresel is attorney, also has moved for rejection of RKO's $700,000 offer. If the creditors accept the offer, it would permit a liquidation of Orpheum in which the preferred stockholders could not participate. The stockholders would be entitled to a participation if Orpheum could be reorganized under Section 77-B, however. Nestor Lao Arrives Nestor Lao, president of the Cuban Exhibitor's Ass'n, arrived from Europe yesterday on the Aquitania. Lao brought 30 reels of film of the fighting in and around Madrid. He also had the last six features pro- duced in Spanish studios before pro- duction was halted by the present war. Wall Street Small Increases on Board High Columbia 37 Consolidated 554 Consolidated, pfd.. 17J6 Eastman Kodak ..17154 Gen. T. Equip.... 3354 Loew's, Inc 73 Paramount 2854 Paramount 1 pfd.. 200J4 Paramount 2 pfd.. 2654 Pathe Film 954 RKO 9 20th Century-Fox. 37 20th Century, pfd. 4554 Warner Eros 1554 Net Low Close Change 36y2 554 1754 169 32 7154 2856 198 2554 3654 556 1774 169 32 7154 2856 19856 2556 -54 + 56 + 56 -356 -156 —m + H + 56 3656 37 + 56 4554 4556 + 56 1554 1554 - 54 Little Curb Movement Net High Low Close Change Grand National ..4 VA 4 Sentry Safety .... 156 156 156 Sonotone 256 256 256 — 56 Technicolor 21% 2156 2156 + 56 Trans-Lux 454 4/4 454 Bonds Change Slightly Net High Low Close Change Paramount B'way 3s '55 _ 7454 7454 7454 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 10054 10054 100% —54 RKO 6s '41 pp... .120?6 120?6 12026 +54 Warner Bros. 6s *39 wd 100 9954 9954 — 54 . (Quotations at close of Jan. 28) 1^ now OF THE CD EAST and RALPH WMKE brins their 500 ^ pounds of rollicking funJH add another tasty dish to Educational'* feast of bigl{s|ir comedy. And they're perfect laugh makers in "PRACTICALLY P€RF€CT" Presented by E.W. HAMMONS larval (f^ctLvv^-^ "THE SPICE OF THE PROGRAM" Distributed in U. S. A. by 20th Century-Fox Film Corporation V for setting off a cinema says Jimmy Starr, ace revie vou on is a new form of dramati) TOWNE and GRAHAM BAKER ll powerful story with brilll :firecracker that explodes in your face," for Los Angeles Hera Id -Express, who adds: LIVE 0I1CE tynamite from the explosive pens of GENE I the megaphone of FRITZ LANG! A tensely WORK BY SYLVIA SIDNEY AND HENRY FONDAl" Watch the big N. Y. Premiere Tomorrow RIVOLI Theatre SVe/eaoeJ dru UNITED ARTISTS SSl/ United for tL GEORGE SCHAEFER DRIVE, JAN. 24th • MAY 1st MOTION PICTURE DAILY 12 JL^wf-m.jL JU JL Friday, January 29, 1937 i Purely Personal ► PERCY PHILLIPSON, president of General Register Corp., arrived late yesterday on the Aquitania from London, two days late. Mrs. Phil- lipson accompanied him this time. Tom Drew, general sales manager of General Register, was on hand, of course, to greet him. • Clinton White, assistant to George W. Weeks, G. B. general sales manager, will return to New York today after a two- week tour of exchanges in the middle west and northwest. He will leave next week for a tour of southern offices. • Edward J. Peskay of Grand Na- tional leaves Dallas today for the coast to join Edward L. Alperson, president, in conferences with the com- pany's producers. • Cora Wilkenning hopes to leave for the coast next week. She's been planning the trip for weeks and hasn't been able to get away. • Harry Shiffman, Edward Schnit- zer, Leo Abrams and Irving Worm- ser will sail today on the Lafayette on an 18-day cruise. • Edward Golden, general sales man- ager of Monogram, is back in town after a trip to Baltimore and Chi- cago. • Jack Goetz of DuArt Laboratories will leave for Hollywood today. He will be gone about four weeks. • Gradwell L. Sears will not return from his southern tour of Warner ex- changes until Monday. • Al Cohn left for Washington last night and on Saturday leaves Chicago for the coast. • Leon Gordon and Benny Thau, M-G-M directors, sail today on the Aquitania. • Albert Warner has returned from Miami and is sporting an envious tan. • Marlene Dietrich is on her way to this country on the Berengaria. • Edward L. and Mrs. Klein sail for London today on the Aquitania. • Archie Mayo has extended his stay and starts for Havana tonight. • Betty Roach of M-G-M is back from a vacation at Miami. Francine Larrimore returned from the coast yesterday. • John Balaban arrives from Chi- cago this morning. • Al Lichtman returned from Miami yesterday afternoon. • Carl Leserman is due back from Boston today. Sam Rinzler will leave tomorrow for Miami. • Edgar Selwyn takes himself west Saturday. Selznick's Salary Was $194,000 in '35 (Continued from page 1) Barrymore, Constance Bennett, Jack Benny, Clarence Brown, Ronald Col- man, Ann Harding, Jean Harlow, the Marx Brothers, Jeannette McDonald, Robert Montgomery, Jack Conway, Tay Garnett, William K. Howard, Lu- cien Hubbard, Robert C. Leonard, Frank Lloyd, Frances Marion, John Meehan, Edgar Selwyn, Hunt Strom- berg, Ernest Vadja and W. S. Van Dyke. Other film salaries of more than §15,000 included: William Wyler, $80,555; Sam Behrman, $52,291; Richard Boleslawski, $69,- 750; Tod Browning, $51,000; Marc Connelly, $56,666; Jackie Cooper, $57,490; J. W. Con- sidine, Jr., $64,000; George Cukor, $71,750; Victor Fleming, $65,416; Jules Furtman, $87,083; Cedric Gibbons, $52,000; Edmund Goulding, $72,000; E. H. Griffith, $64,333; Oscar Hammerstein, $72,541; Helen Hayes, $52,750; George S. Kaufmann, $78,749; Sam Katz, $57,000; Albert Lewis, $65,000; Ted Lewis, $56,464; Herman J. Mankiewicz, $65,000; Joseph Mankiewicz, $50,041; Charles Reisner, $83,925; J. Walter Ruben, $52,833; Norma Shearer, $80,000; Donald Ogden Stewart, $64,500; Henry Stephenson, $52,083; Lawrence Weingarten, $78,000; William Wellman, $69,875. Also, Al Christie, Educational, $43,500; E A. Schiller, $33,150; Joseph R. Vogel, $33,400; Oscar A. Doob, $20,800; Courtland Smith, $22,750; J. S. Connolly, $20,657; Her- bert Bayard Swope, RKO, $35,000; Major L. E. Thompson, $25,000; Nate Blumberg, $25,000; A. E. Reoch, $18,000; I. E. Lambert, $20,000. Other M-G-M salaries included: Gilbert Adrian, $38,666; Elizabeth Allan, $42,041; Vickie Baum, $27,333; Victor Baravalle, $21,125; Monta Bell, $46,375; Robert Bench- ley, $28,250; Herb Nacio Brown, $32,088; Leo Carillo, $30,333; Edward C. Carpenter, $28,333; Lenore Coffee, $30,333; J. J. Cohn, $41,700; Rachel Crothers, $49,175; Jack Cum- mings, $26,000; Howard Dietz, $39,000; Dud- ley Digges, $20,833; Walter Donaldson, $39,- 211; William Daniels, $23,582; Nelson Eddy, $48,958; Stuart Erwin, $36,541; Madge Evans, $43,733; John Farrow, $20,349; Louise Fazenda, $24,375; Seymour Felix, $45,000; Edith Fitzgerald, $36,099; Arthur Freed, $31,166; Oliver H. P. Garrett, $30,230; Leon Gordon, $35,087; Max Gordon, $21,000; M. E. Greenwood, $42,900; Chester Hale, $36,200; Ted Healy, $48,712; Jean Hersholt, $25,783; Dashiel Hammett, $29,500; Monckton Hoffe, $30,000; Robert Hopkins, $45,200; James Howe, $21,257; Horace Jackson, $44,327; Allen Jones, $33,000; Gus Kahn, $35,888; Burt and Ruby, Harry Kalmar, $30,416; B. and Julian W. Kaper, $27,633; Otto Kruger, $31,458; Frank Lawton, $21,708; Evelyn Laye, $36,833; W. P. Lipscomb, $22,000; Fritz Lang, $33,166; Rufus Le Maire, $27,- 500; Carole Lombard, $35,000; Myrna Loy, $34,208; Paul Lukas, $40,750; Samuel Marx, $25,200; E. L. Marin, $24,700; John Lee Mahin, $36,500; Oliver Marsh, $28,678; Wil- liam A. McGuire, $44,083; Aileen McMahon, $23,333; John McGowan, $23,300; James Mc- Guinness, $41,200; Una Merkel, $37,916; Alice Duer Miller, $27,833; Warren New- combe, $32,225; Maureen O'Sullivan, $26,700; Reginald Owen, $21,875; Fred E. Pelton, $40,474; Eleanor Powell, $23,125; Basil Rath- bone, $32,833; May Robson, $33,499; Howard Emmet Rogers, $39,000; Richard Rosson, $23,200; Wells Root, $29,049; Florence Ryer- son, $26,616; Morris Ryskind, $38,312; Rich- ard Schayer, $38,208; Edward Sedgwick, $33,000; George Seitz, $40,833; Sid Silvers, $31,975; Douglas Shearer, $25,000; Paul H. Sloan, $31,500; Ralph Spence, $29,500; Sam- uel and Bella Spewack, $26,875; Herbert Stothart, $38,557; Benny Thau, $31,200; Spencer Tracy, $36,250; Raoul Walsh, $25,- 500; Maurine Watkins, $33,333; Johnny Weissmuller, $24,600; Carey Wilson, $46,- 500; P. J. Wolfson, $29,575; Sam Wood, $27,000; Edgar A. Woolf, $33,040. File Theatre Plans Plans have been filed for a new theatre at 2 University Place by Her- man E. English, president of the 2 University Place Corp. It will be a $40,000 structure. William I. Hohauser is the architect. Goldwyn Signs Jepson Hollywood, Jan. 28.— Samuel Gold- wyn has signed Helen Jepson to an exclusive film contract. She will ap- pear first in "The Goldwyn Follies." 20th-Fox Replies in Infringement Action An answer was filed yesterday by 20th Century - Fox and Movietone Music Corp. in an infringement suit brought against the companies by the Foreign & Domestic Music Corp., Samuel Cummins, Societa Anonima Musicale Bixio and Cesare Andre Bixio. The plaintiffs claim "Midnight in Paris," sung by Nino Martini in "Here's to Romance," was an in- fringement on 'Passa L'Amore" which Bixio composed in June, 1935. The plaintiffs ask $1,000,000 damages. Other defendants are Sam Fox and Harry Fox, doing business as the Sam Fox Publishing Co., Con Conrad, Herb Magidson and Nino Martini. Goess Wins Judgments Two judgments were granted yes- terday to Frederick C. Goess by U. S. District Judge Henry W. Goddard in the suit of Goess, as receiver of the Harriman National Bank and Trust Co. against A. C. Blumenthal. The first judgment amounted to $1,885 and the second to $36,967. The action was based on certain endorsements made by Blumenthal and discounted by the Harriman National Bank before it closed. Blumenthal counterclaimed for the amount of $59,185 claiming that he had been in- duced to buy stock in the Harriman National Bank by fraudulent repre- sentation of Joseph W. Harriman, president. Judge Goddard dismissed this counter claim. Grant-Lait Suit Settled Settlement of the suit brought against Jack Lait by Bruce Grant was effected yesterday before Judge John W. Clancy. Grant asked for $50,000 damages, asserting that he wrote "The Girl Without a Room" in 1929 and submitted it to Lait who was then connected with King Features. In 1931 Lait sold a story bearing that title to Paramount which produced it, according to Grant, who claimed it was an infringement on his story. Reorganization Approved Federal Judge Grover Moskowitz in Brooklyn yesterday approved the re- organization plan for Coney Island Theatre, Inc., which operates a six- story office building and theatre at Stillwell and Surf Aves. The com- pany went into receivership in June, 1936. Mayer Given Judgment A default judgment for $75,893 was filed in N. Y. Supreme Court yes- terday against the Greater M. & S. Circuit, Inc., in favor of Elian Mayer. The suit is based on $64,000 worth of notes given the plaintiff by the de- fendant in April, 1930. The judgment includes that figure plus interest. Dillingham Sale Today All the interest and title for certain plays alleged to be owned by Charles B. Dillingham will be sold this morn- ing in a postponed sale before Referee John E. Joyce. Leslie Fuller Wins Suit London, Jan. 28. — Leslie Fuller today won his salary suit against Joe Rock and was awarded £1,815 after withdrawing his charge of misrepre- sentation. More Film Measures Up in Massachusetts (Continued from page 1) Committee on State Administration. Another censor bill has been filed for action by the Committee on Legal Affairs by Charles Hiller. It is de- scribed as a bill "to prohibit the use of obscene or sacrilegious language and of swearing at theatrical exhibi- tions or entertainments." Present Operators' Bill Albany, Jan. 28. — A bill permitting persons threading projectors to have operators' licenses and authorizing the issuance of operators' licenses to per- sons having practical experience in booths instead of requiring them to serve an apprenticeship, and prevent- ing the revocation of licenses except for cause was introduced in the As- sembly today by Bernard Austin, Brooklyn Democrat. The bill also would prohibit an op- erator from leaving a booth or pro- jection room while the apparatus is in operation. To Oppose Laws in Iowa Des Moines, Jan. 28. — Iowa exhibi- tors and exchange executives met this week in the Variety Club rooms in the Savery Hotel to make plans for op- posing any legislation detrimental to the industry. The present two per cent sales tax expires next June and if this is not continued some other form of taxa- tion may be planned to take its place. Other subjects discussed were: Film rentals, possible Bank Night legisla- tion, censorship and a possibility of a bill to have two operators for each projection machine. Ask 5% Oklahoma Tax Oklahoma City, Jan. 28. — A $15,- 000,000 sales and service tax that would include a five per cent tax on amusement tickets has been submitted to the House Revenue and Taxation Committee. The legislature has begun a scramble for revenues to pay old age pensions and to keep schools going. The sales tax bill provides for a drastic broadening of the base of the present law, which also levies a two per cent tax. The present sales tax on theatre admissions is two per cent. The new bill would more than double this. It would start on transactions of four cents and up. Propose New Maine Tax Bangor, Jan. 28.— A bill to tax all theatre tickets one cent is being framed for the Legislature. Senator George Ashby, Aroostook Republican, estimates that the levy would yield $100,000 a year. Allied is preparing to oppose the measure. Would Provide Day Off Albany, Jan. 28. — Engineers and firemen in film houses in New York state would be granted one day off in each seven, by a bill introduced into the Assembly here today by Michael J. Keenan, Democrat, of New York City. FWC Officials Delayed Los Angeles', Jan. 28. — Executives of Fox West Coast, expected here to- day, have been delayed. Spyros Skouras is due tomorrow, while Wil- liam Powers and Edward Zabel are scheduled to arrive Saturday. rlisis announces tlie premiere public presentation in menca by ff\[exander C^CorJa of ^Dricli C^Pommer s producii ion FIRE OVER ENGLAND WILLIAM K. HOWARD RADIO CITyiMUSIC HALL MARCH; 4tfc 'Fire Over England' is one of the greatest dramas ever to come from a film studio" -says BOXOFFICE MOTION PICTURE DAILY Batten, Barton Move from 4th to First on CBS Time Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn moved from fourth place in 1935 to first in 1936 among the advertising agency time buyers at CBS, replacing Blackett-Sample-Hummert, who dropped from first place in 1935 to second spot last year. N. W. Ayer & Son, second in 1935, went into third last year, while Erwin Wasey, third in 1935, ended in the 15th position among the first 20 agencies using the CBS facilities in 1936. The statistical picture with comparisons of rank, based on time buys, follows, the blanks indicating those agencies which bought no time with the network in 1935 : 1936 1935 1935 1935 Rank Time Buy Rank Time Buy $2,360,292 4 5999,018 1,963,086 1 2,501,395 3 — N". W. Ayer 1,822.945 2 1,822,529 1,562,135 1,256,154 6 893,515 1,192,704 14 417,258 1,095,810 10 729,447 1,080,908 17 297,931 1,047,534 5 946,107 997,181 8 792,531 11 556,989 9 745,845 13— Paris & Peart 566.060 24 159,600 13 498,632 410,673 3 1,046,674 16— T. Stirling Getchell 344,437 26 136,829 341,410 324,596 7 795,718 306,006 $18,806,068 $13,340,018 The 1936 total represents an increase of 41 per cent over 1935 for the above group of agencies. m RADIO On the Air Last Night "Vocal Varieties" "Vocal Varieties," a new series featuring an ensemble of 14 mixed voices that presents popular tunes with an orchestral effect, made its debut on the NBC-Red Network last night at 7.15 P.M., E.S.T. Here is a program as different as it is pleasing. The only support in- strumental is contributed by a piano, string bass and guitar. For the rest, the voices comprise the "orchestra." Two teams of trios, the DeVore Sisters and the "Smoothies," and a male octet mould the songs so cleverly they really sound as if they are or- ;hestral rather than vocal renditions. Included among the numbers heard last night were the title songs of two motion picture successes : "Pennies from Heaven" and "San Francisco." "Vocal Varieties" is one of those rare phenomena programs that gradu- ates from local to network status. It's been a feature on WLW in Cincinnati for a long while, where it attracted the attention of its sponsor. The series is a presentation of the Howe Medicine Company for "Turns," and will be heard bi-weekly, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Banner Dr. Damrosch Given Birthday Luncheon Dr. Walter Damrosch, XBC music counsel, dean of American conduc- tors, was tendered a luncheon yester- day in honor of his 75th birthday. Those who paid Dr. Damrosch trib- ute included David Sarnoff, President of Radio Corp. of America ; John D. Rockefeller, Jr. ; Mrs. Vincent Astor, Dr. John H. Finley, Efrem and Mrs. Zimbalist, Ernest Schelling, Herman and Mrs. Irion, Mme. Olga Samaroff- Stokowski, Mrs. Frederick Steinway and others. Following the addresses, a "million- dollar mixed quartette" comprising Rosa Ponselle, Lily Pons, Lauritz Melchior and Suzanne Fisher sang for the guest of honor. Dr. Damrosch has been with NBC for 10 years. KFEL Raises $2,200 Denver, Jan. 28.— More than $2,200 has been raised for flood relief through a special broadcast over KFEL, the Denver Mutual outlet. The station time was donated by Manager Gene O'Fallon, phone girls worked for nothing, as did messenger boys who collected the money. The affair was worked as an auction. Harry Rosen- thal, a city councilman, selling each donor the good feeling he acquired in boosting the fund. Raise $90,000 Appeals for funds for flood victims, broadcast intermit- tently on the Mutual network, have brought in approxi- mately S90,000 to date, ac- cording to network officials in New York. The monev has been forwarded to WLW, Mutual's Cincinnati affiliate. Celler Bill Seeks Government Station Washington, Jan. 28. — Establish- ment of a Government short wave sta- tion in Washington to provide pro- grams for Latin American countries is sought in a bill now being prepared for introduction in Congress by Rep- resentative Celler of New York, it was learned today. Proposals that each of the Ameri- can republics construct a station from which programs might be broadcast for the other countries, as a means of furthering amicable relations, were made at the Pan-American Confer- ence in Montevideo in 1932. None of the Governments, however, has yet taken any steps to carry the plan into operation. Celler's bill was prepared after F. C. C. Commissioner George Henry Payne made public charges that an unidentified "radio lobby" has fought consistently to keep the Government out of broadcasting and has become so bold as to attempt to secure for commercial use the five frequencies set aside for Inter- American broad- casting a year ago by President Roose- velt. The bill carries an appropriation of $750,000 for construction of the sta- tion, which would feature addresses by Federal officials on matters of interest to Latin America, music by the various service bands and other government-provided programs. Flood Keeps Wilson on Job Cincinnati, Jan. 28. — L. B. Wil- son, president and general manager radio station WCKY, has returned from Florida. Elmer H. Dressman, publicity director, has his luggage packed for a Florida trip, but he's still at WCKY, where he will remain un- til the flood recedes sufficiently to enable him to start south. Kentucky Colonels Respond to Appeal Over 100 donations have already been received by WHN in response to the call of Louis K. Sidney for all Kentucky Colonels to contribute to a fund to send to Gov. Albert B. Chand- ler, for relief in the devastated flood regions of that state. Yesterday Sidney, through WHN, dispatched telegrams to Kentucky, aides-de-camp in Hollywood, which number hundreds of actors, producers, directors, writers and technicians. Wires have also been dispatched to division managers of Loew theatres and letters are being forwarded to colonels in New York. In addition, announcements of contributions are made by WHN at half-hour intervals. Trade publications including Film Daily, Variety, Billboard, Hollywood Reporter and Motion Picture Daily have also joined in the cause. Expose Broadcasts Are Given New Time Boston, Jan. 28. — Effective Satur- day, the weekly broadcasts of the Boston Better Business Bureau will be heard at a new time. The skits will be broadcast over WNAC, Bos- ton and stations of the Yankee Net- work every Saturday from 7 to 7 :15 P. M. On Saturday, the bureau will dramatize the "Moving Picture School Scheme," a short skit emphasizing and pointing out the schemes used by fake agents who through their racketeer methods dupe parents and children into paying fees for coaching, publicity, registration and screen tests which result in the victims finding themselves stranded and no nearer the film goal than before. It explains also how the "sucker list" is usually sup- plied by high school year books listing those interested in dramatics. Friday, January 29, 1937 4 Radio Personals* JOAN BLANE, star of the NBC vJ serial, "Story of Mary Marlin," collapsed in the studio after yester- day's broadcast and will be written out of the script for several broad- casts . . . Bea Lillie dropped a $100 bill into the Red Cross contribution cup at the studios last night . . . Vance Babb, NBC press department man- ager, is back in harness after a week's illness . . . Lennen and Mitchell employes have contributed $700 to the Red Cross flood relief fund . . . + Evelyn Case is substituting for Elinor Sherry on Jack Arthur's WOR program while the latter tours in vaudeville . . . Walter Hampden will do "Cyrano" on "Showboat" Feb. 4 . . . "Rio Rita" will be Jessica Dragonette's contribution in the "Beautj- Box" offering on CBS Feb. 3 . . . Walter Huston will be inter- viewed by Radie Harris on WHN tomorrow . . . WMCA, soliciting funds for the flood sufferers, has al- ready contributed more than $3,000 to the Red Cross . . . + Richard Bonelli is set as the feat- ured guest on the "Sunday Evening Hour" Feb. 7 . . . Lawrence Tibbett, Rosa Ponselle, Gladys Swarthout and Lily Pons will appear in that order in the next four "Metropolitan Audi- tions of the Air" programs . . . Zeke Manners and his gang of hill billies return to WMCA Feb. 2 under the sponsorship of United Remedies, Inc. . . . The WINS baseball team is now lining up a schedule for the coming season . . . + Howard Barlow, CBS symphony conductor, is convalescing after a mastoid operation . . . Rubinoff will have as his guests this Sunday 50 high school editors . . . Tito Guizar is mourning the death of his mother . . . Guy Robertson, Marion Claire, Ella Logan and Meredith Marshall will be the headliners tonight in a special program to be heard on the Mutual network beginning at 10 P. M., E.S.T. Playwrights Awards To Be Made at WOR The presentation of awards in the Bureau of New Plays contest for young playwrights will be made in the studios of WOR on a special pro- gram which will be broadcast coast- to-coast on the Mutual network Feb. 1 at 4:30 P. M., E.S.T. The contest, started in the spring of 1936, was sponsored by seven film companies to discover young playwrighting talent. Theresa Halburn is in charge. Minnie Bows Soon Minnie, the singing mouse, makes her commercial debut on the Alka-Seltzer "Barn Dance" program this Satur- day at 9 P. M., E.S.T., on the NBC-Blue. Ten dollars of her salary will be contributed to the re- lief fund for flood victims. Radio Acceptance THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL Maurice Kann, Editor Motion Picture Daily Rockefeller Center New York City Dear Mr. Kann, A note to express commendation on the radio section as well as the entire edition of Motion Picture Daily. "THE SOUTH'S GREATEST NEWSPAPER" MEMPHIS, TENN. January 8, 1937 Regards, Robert Gray, R.E. The Commercial Appeal Memphis, Tenn. MOTION PICTURE DAILY ROCKEFELLER CENTER NEW YORK THIS IS THE WEEK scores of showmen have been waiting for! This is the week "Lloyds of London" is nationally released! Having proved itself as a $2.00 attraction in Hollywood and New York, "Lloyds" is now . demonstrating its mass appeal by holding over for two to three weeks in every pre-release, popular-price situation (including Radio City Music Hall). Grossing bigger in its hold-over than the opening week of ordinary pictures. Showmen alive to their opportunities are dat- ing in "Lloyds" for a minimum of double their usual playing time! NATIONAL RELEASE WEEK OF THE KEYSTONE OF YOUR FUTURE The Leading Motio Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert. Intelligent the In in All Branches VOL. 41. NO. 25 NEW YORK, SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 1937 TEN CENTS Philadelphia Theatres Get Grace Period Games Test Case Planned In Four-Week Truce Philadelphia, Jan. 29. — Exhibitors here obtained four weeks' grace for Bank Night and other games as the result of a 'meeting today among Mayor Wilson and 60 exhibitors rep- resenting 150 theatres. This extends the original two-day truce which ex- pired tonight. During the grace period, the ex- hibitors and the district attorney will start a test case on the legality of the games, the Mayor declaring it was a matter for the courts to decide. The U.M.P.T.O. will cooperate to clear the situation through the courts as rapidly as possible. A surprise development at the meet- ing was the appearance of Morris Wolf, Warner attorney, who spoke against the games, marking the first time the circuit actually has gone on (.Continued on page 4) Local Flood Benefit Show to Be Feb. 13 The theatrical division of the Amer- ican Red Cross will hold a monster benefit show to obtain funds for the relief of flood sufferers, on Feb. 13, probably at the Music Hall, it was de- cided at a meeting at the Hotel Lin- coln yesterday. The meeting was called by Theatre Authority, Inc., clearing house of theatrical organiza- tions, which has been designated as the official unit of the Red Cross in charge of all theatrical benefits for flood relief. The Authority has waived its usual 15 per cent on bene- fit shows. The benefit show will run from 12 (Continued on page 4) Academy Names 6 for Film Editing Awards Hollywood, Jan. 29. — Nominations for the Film Editing Awards by the Academy nominating committee head- ed by Harold J. McCord are "An- thony Adverse," "Come and Get It," "The Great Ziegfeld," "Lloyds of Lon- don," "A Tale of Two Cities" and "Theodora Goes Wild." Rules governing the awards pro- vide that in cases where there are normally five nominations and two films are tied for fifth place, both productions shall be considered on the final ballot. This accounts for the presence of six nominations on this year's list. Holders of Only $200, 000 in RoxyBondsAgainstFoxOffer Opposition to the plan of reorgani- zation for the Roxy was limited to holders of $200,000 of the $3,595,208 of first mortgage bonds outstanding and a small but voluble representa- tion of stockholders, for whom the plan makes no provision, at the first hearing yesterday before Federal Judge Francis G. Caffey. The court ruled that it would direct that the plan be sent out to security holders at once and on Monday a date would be set for general hearing of the plan. Charles Seligson, attorney for a dissenting committee of bondholders, led the opposition. It was pointed out to the court that average weekly profits of the Roxy have risen to $6,144 from the $3,428 average of last month. The current gross of "Three Smart Girls" was also cited by objec- tors to the plan to deprecate the neces- sity for a 20th Century-Fox franchise, as provided in the plan. The oppo- sition contended that, as the second largest Broadway house, the Roxy (Continued on page 4) Local 306 Voting on Union Deal Today The membership of Local 306 is expected to ratify the pending agree- ment between the Allied Union and 306 at a meeting scheduled for early this morning to vote on the agreement. The membership of Allied voted fav- orably on the deal earlier in the week. It is anticipated that this vote will be the final step by the unions on the way to the conclusion of a final set- tlement of the multiple union situation in New York. Following a favorable vote by 306, it is expected the final agreement between the two will be drawn and signed early next week, and shortly thereafter the 306 agree- ment with the I.T.O.A. will be placed in effect. The union agreement calls primarily for absorption of Allied's membership by Local 306, and the 306-I.T.O.A. deal for a 10-year em- ployment arrangement. Alien Actor Hearing Is Set for Feb. 17 By CLARENCE LINZ Washington, Jan. 29. — Seeking to expedite action on his immigration legislation, Representative Dickstein of New York, and chairman of the House Immigration Committee, today announced that hearings would be held Feb. 17 on his alien actor bill. At a meeting of the committee (Continued on page 4) Columbia to Reply Columbia will make public today its reply to the M.P. T.O.A. 10-point trade practice program setting forth the policy it will follow in connec- tion with cancellation, score charges, local conciliation boards and other proposals. This constitutes the sixth reply to the program and leaves Paramount and War- ners as the only major com- panies still to be heard from. Republic and G. B. may offer statements soon. Production High With 46 in Work Hollywood, Jan. 29. — Studios hit their busiest peak in three months here last week with 46 features and four shorts in production. Ten new pictures went into work and six were finished. Twenty-two films were in preparation, which will go into work within the next two weeks. Cutting rooms had 45 features and 12 shorts. Pictures that started during the week were: "End of Adventure" and "I Met Him in Paris" at Paramount, "Outcasts of Poker Flat" at Radio, "Midnight Taxi" at 20th Century-Fox, "Short Haul," "Wings Over Hono- (Continued from page 2) RKO Pathe Lot for Selznick Internat'l Hollywood, Jan. 29. — A three-year lease on the entire RKO Pathe lot will be taken by Selznick International in accordance with the terms of a con- tract which is now drawn up. Selz- nick, however, has not officially con- firmed the deal. It is understood that other units now located on the lot will be asked to seek new quarters. Weeks Confers Here With Eastern Staff George W. Weeks, G. B. general sales manager, will hold a conference at the home office today with a group of eastern exchange managers and dis- trict managers. The new untitled Raoul Walsh production will be screened. Those attending include : J. Reg Wilson, central district manager ; John (Continued on page 4) Contest Begun Over Orpheum Circuit Sale Kresel Tells Court Bid Will Top RKO Offer The preferred stockholders' com- mittee of Orpheum Circuit will con- test RKO's effort to obtain uncon- tested title to Orpheum's assets by making a competitive bid for the properties next Tuesday, Isidor J. Kresel, attorney for the committee, advised Federal Referee Oscar W. Ehrhorn yesterday. Kresel said that the committee's offer would be "much larger" than that made by RKO, and which Orpheum creditors were sched- uled to take action on yesterday. Ac- tion was postponed in order that the new bid might be considered also. Kresel revealed that Orpheum's assets have been appraised at $2,772,- 000 and said that RKO's offer of $700,000 in cash and a waiver of its own claims against Orpheum was equivalent to an offer of $1,750,000. He said that the more than $1,000,000 difference in value between the RKO offer and the appraisal figure would be taken into consideration by the (Continued on page 4) New Zukor Pact to Go to Stockholders The submission to Paramount stock- holders of a new long term contract continuing Adolph Zukor, chairman of the board, in charge of all production activities of the company and provid- ing for his receiving a share of the company's profits from the film end of the business has been authorized by the Paramount board, the com- pany stated yesterday. Approval of the contract was recommended to the stockholders by the board. At present, indications are that the (Continued on page 4) Para. Studies Three Broadcasting Offers Paramount is entertaining three net- work offers, each coast-to-coast, to stage an hour's broadcast weekly from its own studio stages, declared Boris Morros, general musical director of the studio, yesterday. He added he will make a decision after his return west. Sunday is the day of his de- parture. More on radio — page 3 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Saturday, January 30, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 January 30, 1937 No. 25 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Pub- lishing Company, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Avenue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copy- righted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc. Address all correspondence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publica- tions, Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, Teatro Al Dia, International Motion Picture Almanac and Fame: The Box Office Check-Up. Hollywood Bureau: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Sereets, Boone Mancall, Manager; Chicago Bureau: 624 South Michigan Avenue, C. B. O'Neill, Man- ager; London Bureau: 4 Golden Square, London W 1, Bruce Allan, Representative; Cable Address "Quigpubco, London"; Berlin Bureau: Stuelerstrasse 2, Berlin W 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative; Paris Bureau: 29, Rue Marsoulan, Pierre Autre, Representative; Rome Bureau: Viale Gorizia, Vittorio Malpassuti, Representative; Aus- tralian Bureau: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins Street, Melbourne, Cliff Holt, Representative; Mexico City Bureau: Apar- tado 269, James Lockhart, Representative; Budapest Bureau: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest, II, Endre Hevesi, Representative; Tokyo Bureau: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken, H. Tominaga, Representative; Prague Bureau: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1, Harry Knopf, Rep- resentative; Shanghai Bureau: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Building, 142 Museum Road, / P Koehler, Representative; Rio de Janiero Bureau: Caixa Postal 3358, A. Weissman, Representative; Buenos Aires Bureau: Corrientes 2495, N. Bruski, Representative; Montevideo Bureau: P. O. Box 664, Paul Boio, Representative; Moscow Bureau: Petrovski Per 8, Beatrice Stern, Representa- tive; Vienna Bureau: Neustiftgasse, 55, Vienna VII, Hans Lorant, Representative; Amsterdam Bureau: Zuider Amstellaan 5, Philip de Schaap, Representative; Helsing- fors Bureau: Fredriksgatan 19 C, Charlotte Laszlo, Representative; Warsaw Bureau: Sienna 32, R. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Nat' I Board Annual Meeting on Thursday The National Board of Review will hold its 13th annual conference at the Hotel Pennsylvania from Thurs- day to Saturday of next week, under the general topic, "Looking Back and Forward at the Motion Picture." The 22nd annual luncheon will conclude the conference on Saturday, Feb. 6. Discussions, addresses by numerous authorities, and demonstrations will feature the three-day meeting. Re- ports will be heard from the 4-Star Clubs and the Young Reviewers. Dr. George Kirchwey, chairman of the National Board will preside at the luncheon. MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "The Good Earth" {M-G-M) Hollywood, Jan. 29— Superlative acting by Luise Rainer, Paul Muni and a fine supporting cast and the presentation of the story with dignified sincerity combine to make this one of the screen's great pictures. It is moving entertainment for any kind of an audience. De luxe theatres may offer it with pride, knowing they will do business ; subsequent run operators may be sure it will do their houses honor. For those unfamiliar with the story, this is a saga of suffering — the story of a man who loved the land and a woman whom he had married out of slavery, of their family friends in the wheat-growing area of north China. In poverty Wang (Muni) yearns for sons and lands. Sons come, and then famine strikes. There follows a heartbreaking trek to the south and food. Muni is degraded to bestial toil; the family begs for food. Revolution follows. The wife, Olan (Miss Rainer), finds a bag of jewels during a palace looting. She is saved from death by a whim of fate. To the fearful possessors of secret wealth comes news of rains in the north. Home again, with undreamed-of riches, security enfolds the house of Wang, but Miss Rainer's reward is Muni's introduction of a singing girl, Lotus (Tilly Losch), into the household as his second wife. Muni's fondness for Lotus turns to bitter hatred when he discovers her making advances to his second son, Roland Lui. The curse of sin descends. Clouds of locusts destroy crops. With his first son, Keye Luke, pointing the way to combat the insects, Muni rallies his family and other farmers, and they halt the blight in spectacular sequences which for stir- ring force have rarely been equalled on the screen. Their crops saved, the family and friends gather for thanksgiving rites. Muni's repentance brings his wife's forgiveness before she dies. The picture has everything — a great story, acting that is beyond criti- cism, and fine artistic support for the stars from Walter Connolly, Miss Losch, Charley Grapewin, Jessie Ralph, Harold Huber and the real Chinese in the cast — Keye Luke, Ching Wah Lee, William Law and Mary Wong. In transcribing the Owen and Donald Davis stage play, which was adapted from Pearl Buck's novel, Talbot Jennings, Tess Schlesinger and Claudine West have done a masterful job. In directing, Sidney Franklin elected to let the powerful story tell itself in simple, forceful fashion. Mechanical production effects created by Cedric Gibbons and his assistants, Harry Oliver, Arnold Gillespie and Edwin Wallis, deserve much credit. Karl Freund's photography is artistic and the musical score arranged by Herbert Stothart is tuned to give audiences a perfect under- standing of the motivation and spirit of the story. A credit to M-G-M and a high honor to Albert Lewin, who carried the film to completion following the passing of Irving Thalberg, "The Good Earth" is a picture of which the industry may well be proud. Production Code Seal No. 2,584. Running time, 130 minutes, which permits a five-minute intermission. "G." McCarthy i Purely Personal ► Lengel to Quit Col. William C. Lengel, eastern story editor for Columbia, will not renew his contract when it expires shortly, he declared yesterday. He will devote his time to writing, and will leave early in April for the coast to adapt a new novel, "All That Beauty," to the screen. A successor to Lengel has not been appointed as yet. ADOLPH ZUKOR will delay his departure for the coast another day or two. He was scheulde to leave today but will not get away before to- morrow. He will be accompanied west by Boris Morros. • Doris Nolan left for the coast yes- terday to start work for Universal in "As Good as Married." She was ac- companied by her sister, Gladys Nolan. • Irving Dashkin of the Savoy, Ja- maica, and Sol Strausberg of the In- terborough circuit left for the coast by air yesterday on a vacation trip. • Harold Stein and Herman Rosen- berg entertained with cockails yester- day at the opening of their new Cosmopolitan Studios. ED KUYKENDALL arrives in Washington today from Miami and is expected here at the end of next week. • Glenn MacWilliams, cameraman at the G. B. Shepherd's Bush, Eng- land, arrived on the Lafayette yester- day en route to Hollywood. • Henry Wilcoxon left Hollywood yesterday en route to Egypt to make a picture for a continental producer. He will arrive here Tuesday. • C C. Pettijohn is due back from Washington today. • Lou Irwin is now due from the coast tomorrow. • A. C Blumenthal sailed on the Aquitania yesterday. DalTas Trust Case Is Again Postponed A second extension of one week of the time for filing of defendants' answers to the Government action in- volving first run contracts made by major distributors with Karl Hoblitz- elle theatre interests has been granted by the Federal District Court at Dal- las, it was learned here yesterday. The defendants' answers, which were scheduled to be filed by Monday, con- sequently are now due Feb. 8. The Government action charges that the making of the contracts is in violation of the anti-trust laws. Under the pacts, certain Hoblitzelle Texas theatres agree to maintain a specified minimum admission for designated pictures. The distributors, in turn, agree not to license those pictures for subsequent runs in the same territory except at a specified minimum ad- mission and for single feature show- ing. Delay Dillingham Sale The sale of film, theatrical and tele- vision rights to properties owned wholly or in part by the estate of the late Charles Dillingham was adjourned yesterday by Federal Referee John Joyce until March 12. Irving Trust Co. is trustee for the estate. It was explained that the adjournment was taken to permit the trustee further op- portunity for an investigation of the properties. Production High With 46 in Work (Continued from page 1) lulu" and "The Road Back" at Uni- versal and "Singing Marine," "Kid Galahad" and "Miracle Mountain" at Warners. 20th Century-Fox and Par- amount moved up to hold the lead for the heaviest production with 10 fea- tures each shooting. Columbia had three features in work, three preparing and seven in the cutting rooms. M-G-M had four, one and four ; Paramount, 10, five and seven; Republic, zero, two and three; Radio, four, two and four; Roach, zero, zero and two ; 20th Century-Fox, 10, two and six; Universal, seven, zero and one ; Walter Wanger, zero, zero and one ; Warners, eight, four and eight, and the independents, zero, three and zero. Short subject production was also up. Columbia had one shooting, three preparing and two editing. M-G-M had two, one and five ; Radio, zero, two and two ; Roach, one, one and one; Warners, zero, zero and two. Tom Spry Honored Boston, Jan. 29. — Tom Spry was honored by virtually every important film personality here at a dinner at the Statler Hotel last night, on the occasion of his retirement from the Warner exchange post he has held for many years. A. W. Smith, United Artists general sales manager, acted as master of ceremonies, and Edward Fay, leading Providence exhibitor, spoke as a representative of that field. Ellis R. Smith Dead Battle Creek, Mich., Jan. 29. — Ellis R. Smith, 84, for many years Battle Creek's only theatre manager, is dead here after a long illness. He is survived by his widow and a daughter. Saturday, January 30, 1937 MO I ION PICTURE DAILY RADIO Special Radio Outfits Ready For Flood Use Emergency radio facilities which fig- ured so importantly in rescue and re- lief work in the Ohio Valley are now being shifted to the threatened Mis- sissippi Valley area and complete plans for the flood emergency in the new territory are now being put into oper- ation by the three big chains. — -NBC, CBS and Mutual. The Radiomarine and RCA Com- munications stations at St. Louis and New Orleans are supplementing their manpower and are being equipped with a full stock of specially designed short wave radio battery operated sets in anticipation of full time opera- tion on flood relief and report work. Meanwhile, the network stations in the Mississippi area are also prepar- ing themselves for the emergency. NBC stations WSBM, New Orleans; WJDX, Jackson, Miss. ; WMC, Mem- phis, and KSD and KWK, St. Louis ; CBS stations WWL, New Orleans; WREC, Memphis; KWKH, Shreve- port ; KMOX, St. Louis, and all other network centers in the threatened Mississippi area are being stocked with special equipment. Meanwhile, mobile units from all networks are riding the crest of the flood, keeping abreast of the height of the emergency as it proceeds past Cairo to points further south along the Mississippi. "Musical Camera" Renewed "Musical Camera," sponsored by 1847 Rogers Bros., was renewed yes- terday for 13 weeks, effective immedi- ately. The program features Josef Cherniavsky's orchestra and is broad- cast Sundays at 4:30 P. M., E.S.T. on the NBC-Red. N. W. Ayer & Son, Inc., is the agency. Local "Good Earth" Show WHN will broadcast the local pre- miere of "The Good Earth" direct from the lobby of the Astor Theatre, Tuesday night at 8:30 P. M., E.S.T. Jay C. Flippen, Radie Harris and Jimmy Jemail will handle the assign- ment. Presto in Five Stations The Presto Recording Corp. in- stalled its equipment in the following stations during January: WGN, Chi- cago; WKBN, Youngstown; KSD, St. Louis ; WISN, Milwaukee, and WOKO, Albany. NBC, Red Cross, Film Trade Will Broadcast Show for Flood Relief A radio appeal for flood funds will be staged by NBC in con- junction with the Red Cross and the film industry in a special two-hour broadcast which will be aired Feb. 1 on the Blue net- work, beginning at 10 P. M., E.S.T. and terminating at midnight. NBC is donating the air time to the Red Cross and its artists have offered their services free. The broadcast will be picked-up from Miami, Hollywood, Chi- cago, and New York. Fifty or more stars will be heard. A partial roster follows: Irvin S. Cobb, Carole Lombard, Bing Crosby, Amos 'n' Andy, Marion Talley, Stan Laurel, Bob Burns, Lum 'n' Abner, Walter Winchell, Morton Downey, Wayne King, Ted Lewis, Harry Rich- man, Jane Froman, and Jack Pearl. Will Hays, on behalf of the film industry, will broadcast a special appeal for funds. Cincy Broadcasts, But Receivers Dead Cincinnati, Jan. 29.— Although all local radio stations are in operation here, using emergency current furn- ished by upstate and other cities un- affected by the flood, the majority of the local population is without electric current to operate receiving sets. Only a few of the suburbs have sufficient current for this purpose. The dailies have temporarily dis- continued publication of radio pro- grams. The Crosley Radio Corp., here, will be able to resume operations in full as soon as the flood waters subside, according to Powell Crosley, Jr., after surveying the plants located in the area stricken by a $1,500,000 fire which started Sunday, and which dam- aged one wall of the eight-story studio building, and destroyed the enameling and refrigerator plants. WKRC, local Columbia affiliate, has raised over $30,000 since Saturday noon through appeals for funds to aid flood sufferers, and money still is coming in. Results from other local stations are not available, but it is understood that the responses have been generous. McKee Quits C. W. & C. J. H. McKee, radio director of Cecil, Warwick & Cecil, yesterday re- signed from the agency. McKee was with C. W. & C. for four years. WCKY's Operation Near Normal Again With current supplied by a 100- horsepower Diesel unit operating a 40-kilowatt generator, WCKY is func- tioning on full power despite flood handicaps, Elmer H. Dressman of that Cincinnati station yesterday wired Motion Picture Daily. The power unit was rushed here from Detroit by International Harvester Co. Lighting for the studio is still derived from a six-volt gasoline lighting plant. For the first time since Sunday the operating staff of the station is mod- erately comfortable, having obtained a large kerosene stove for the studio. Transcription turntables are powered by a line strung across the street to an adjacent business house. Tele- phone service has been maintained throughout the emergency period. Net- work and other programs are being broadcast on a schedule approximate- ly normal. WCKY was hardest hit of all the Cincinnati stations. Every ordinary facility was crippled with the excep- tion of the network lines and city telephone service but every obstacle has been surmounted by the engineer- ing and operating staff. Florence, S. C, Asks Station Florence, S. C, Jan. 29. — O. Lee Stone has an application pending be fore F. C. C. for a new station to operate on 1,200 kilocycles. New Shows on the Air KOB in Albuquerque Latest NBC Station KOB, Albuquerque, N. M., is the newest NBC station addition. The station has a power of 10,000 watts and is owned and operated by the Al- buquerque Broadcasting Co. The joining date is indefinite, due to the fact that there are no network lines now up in that general area. A. T. & T. is now installing the lines. It is believed that NBC and the station are sharing the expenses. When the installation is completed, KOB will join the network as an optional Red or Blue station. With this latest acquisition, NBC now has 117 stations. As "Good Earth" Opened Pearl Buck's epic of China, "The Good Earth," opened at the Carthay Circle, Hollywood, last night, and through the facilities of KHJ, key sta- tion of the Don Lee network, the radio audience was let in on the super- floodlighted premiere over the Mutual network. "The Good Earth" was the picture which the late Irving Thal- berg was producing at the time of his death, production having been com- pleted by Albert Lewin. Many beau- tiful tributes were paid Thalberg by the stars and film officials who were introduced last night. Frank Whitbeck, executive of M- G-M, acted as master of ceremonies and handled himself in the sure, cer- tain manner of a radio veteran. Among the stars who were introduced were : Paul Muni, "Wang" in the pic- ture ; Luise Rainer, "Olan" ; Charles Grapewin, Wang's father ; June Lang, Sophie Tucker, Jessie Ralph, who also has a role in the film ; Martha Raye, Deanna Durbin, Sidney Franklin, di rector of "The Good Earth" ; Edward G. Robinson, William Chaney, studio manager of M-G-M ; Herbert Staf ford, musical director of the feature ; Betty Furness, May Robson, Tilly Losch, John Emerson, Anita Loos and Louis B. Mayer, vice-president of M G-M in charge of production. The broadcast marked Mutual's first major film-radio effort since it became a coast-to-coast unit, and it was an impressive one. All the glamor of a Hollywod opening was conveyed over the microphone and, while no actual scenes from the film were de- picted, it is certain that listeners by the thousands must have made mental reservations to view the feature when it plays their neighborhoods. Banner Conrad Thibault Is Sued by Hollander Conrad Thibault, the singer, is named defendant in a suit filed in N. Y. Supreme Court by Harry Hol- lander. The plaintiff charges that on Feb. 4, 1932, he entered into an agree- ment whereby he was to be the sing- er's business manager for a period of three years and in return was to re- ceive 20 per cent of Thibault's earn- ings from all sources such as radio, theatre and concerts. He further charges that he was not paid accord- ing to the contract and that the only way he could find out what is due him is to have the defendant render an accounting of all his earnings which he believes will net him more than $7,000. Thibault denies the allegations and states that the contract in question was twice amended in 1932 and that Hollander was paid in full. He also states that Hollander has a theatrical employment agency which he operated without a license, and, therefore, has no claim against him. On Monday Thibault in N. Y. Supreme Court will ask that the complaint be dismissed on the ground of , insufficient facts. Hecht, MacArthur Win Point Justice John E. McGeehan in N. Y. Supreme Court yesterday granted the motion of Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur to examine before trial Billy Rose, producer of "Jumbo." The plaintiffs are suing Rose and others involved in the production of "Jumbo" for $2,300, charging that they violated an agreement with respect to radio rights on material from "Jumbo." Tracy Sues on Royalities Arthur Tracy filed suit yesterday for $24,300 against the Brunswick Record Corp. He charges that Bruns- wick failed to pay him royalties on SO records which he made for them in 1932 and 1933. The defendant re- plied that they paid the singer ad- vances totaling $3,925 and that since that figure exceeds the royalties on his records, the suit should be dis- missed. Wall Street Most Off on Board Columbia Columbia, pfd. . . . Consolidated Eastman Kodak . . Gen. T. Equip. . . Loew's, Inc Paramount Paramount 1 pfd.. Paramount 2 pfd.. Pathe Film RKO 20th Century -Fox. 20th Century, pfd.. Warner Bros High 37 44J4 554 169 33 7354 2854 198 255/i. 954 9 zm 46Vs 15'A Low Close 3651 36% 4454 4454 5J4 5J4 16754 169 3254 3254 71 7m 27^4 28J4 195 197% 2551 2554 9H 9V» m m 36% 37% 46 4654 14% 15 Net Change + Vs + % + % +13/8 -Ys -m -% -% + Ys + % + Yz -54 Light Curb Movement Net High Low Close Change Grand National ..4 3Vs 3% — Ys Sentry Safety .... 15i 154 154 Sonotone 254 254 254 Technicolor 2134 2\%s 21^4 Trans-Lux 4}4 4% 4Ys + Ys Universal Pict. ..17 17 17 Little Bond Change Net High Low Close Change Keith B. F. 6s '46 9854 98 98 — 54 Loew's 354s '46.... 10054 10054 100% Paramount Pict. 6s '55 100% IOO54 + Ys Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 100 99% 100 + % (Quotations at close of Jan. 29) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Saturday, January 30, 1937 Local Flood Benefit Show to Be Feb. 13 {Continued from page 1) midnight to 3 A. M., with boxes to be under a subscription arrangement and regular admissions scaled from $10 to $1. A radio arrangement has been made whereby the three-hour show will be split into 15-minute periods, with a sponsor for each, at $1,000 for each period. Committees were appointed yester- day as follows : Film — D. F. Moore, Warners ; Harry Charnas, Criterion; Robert Weitman, Paramount; John Wright, Rivoli. Legitimate — Ben Boyer, Leon- ard Sillman, Marcus Heiman. Radio — Phillips Carlin, NBC; Fred A. Will- is, CBS; Robert Fishell, WMCA; Alfred J. McCosker, Mutual. Press — Molly Steinberg, Lou Straus. Ralph Whitehead of the American Federa- tion of Actors, was named to obtain the gratis cooperation of all theatrical unions in the benefit. "U" Newsreel to Ohio Governor Charles E. Ford, editor of Univer- sal Newsreel, yesterday airmailed a print of his latest release to Governor Davey of Ohio for use by him in Washington in connection with a plan for flood relief, details unknown. Joining in the request for a print was Roy Reicheldorfer, Ohio censor head. Holders of Only $200,000 in RoxyBondsAga instFoxOffer All Ohio River Spots Shut Cincinnati, Jan. 29. — Without ex- ception every situation, large and small, along the entire Ohio River front has been closed, either by in- undation of the houses or lack of elec- tric current. Among the more important situa- tions in Ohio are: Middletown, East Liverpool, Martin's Ferry, Gallipolis, Ironton, Zanesville, Steubenville, Bridgeport, Bellaire, Portsmouth, New Philadelphia, Dover, Newark, Batavia, West Union, Marietta, Higginsport, Ripley, Woodsfield, Wellsville, Pom- eroy, Blanchester, and all houses in northern Kentucky, across the river from here. In West Virginia, Wheeling, Hunt- ington, Parkersburg, Point Pleasant, Ravenswood, New Martinsville, Ke- nova and St. Marys are among the closed situations. Many nearby In- diana towns are similarly affected. {Continued from page 1) should be able to select product with- out a franchise. Opponents also contended that new mortgage bonds to be issued under the plan should bear interest of four and four and one-half per cent instead of the there and three and one-half per cent coupon rate now specified. It was also urged that the new bonds should be guaranteed by 20th Century-Fox. Stockholders, objecting to their exclusion, argued that the Class A holders should be permitted to buy into the new company on the same cash basis as 20th Century-Fox. Judge Caffey agreed with proponents that the stockholders had no equity in the Roxy. The court stated the plan was the first concrete proposal to be made during the five years of the the- atre's rehabilitation and added that he felt it should be speeded to a success- ful conclusion. The plan provides for the acquisi- tion by 20th Century-Fox of the new common stock of the reorganized Roxy for $650,000 cash and a 20-year franchise. truckloads of clothing and food have been turned over to the Red Cross. Thirty houses under the direction of Louis Lazar gave special benefit mati- nees Wednesday. Chicago Adelphi Aids Fund Chicago, Jan. 29. — The Adelphi has distributed over 10,000 tickets to Rog- ers Park clubs and churches that are having a ticket sale drive. Those pur- chasing one of these tickets will be admitted, matinee or evening, Feb. 4, 5 or 6. Ludwig Sussman, manager of the Adelphi, has announced that entire proceeds of these "flood relief" tickets will be turned over to the Red Cross to aid in its work in the flood region. Proceeds of a midnight show to be given Feb. 6 at the Commodore will also be given to the Red Cross. Fabian Houses Collect Food Albany, Jan. 29.— The Fabian The- atres yesterday presented special shows with the admission price two cans of food which will be sent to the Red Cross. Schine Houses Help Drive Bellefontaine, O., Jan. 29. — Through the cooperation of the Schine theatres in Ohio and Kentucky several Detroit Theatres Aid Drive Detroit, Jan. 29. — Detroit theatres are helping to raise funds for the Red Cross to aid flood sufferers. Every theatre in the district on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Mon- day is running a trailer asking for con- tributions from patrons, and 500,000 coin envelopes will be distributed by ushers during the four-day drive. It is hoped $75,000 of Detroit's $400,000 quota will be raised in this way. Indiana Benefit Nets $4,000 Indianapolis, Jan. 29. — About $4,- 000 was realized for Red Cross flood relief at a benefit conducted in the Indiana here by exhibitors' exchanges, projectionists and other industry in- terests. Three thousand attended, with contributions ranging from $1 to $50. Variety Club gave $100 from its charity fund. Brighter in St. Louis St. Louis, Jan. 29.— The outlook in this area appeared more favorable today, with several houses in the ter- ritory immediately adjoining the flood area planning to reopen in a few days if they are able to obtain film ship- ments. Federal Actors Aid Benefit Cincinnati, Jan. 29.— The Federal actors and musicians, under direction of Theodore Hahn, Jr., are doing their bit towards raising the morale of flood sufferers by presenting a wide variety of entertainment in various parts of the city. RKO Staffs to Be Paid Cincinnati, Jan. 29. — Employes of all local RKO houses will receive their pay during the time the houses are closed, due to lack of electric current, it was said at the division offices here. Taylor to Baltimore Baltimore, Jan. 29. — Robert Taylor will be brought to Baltimore in the automobile of Gov. Harry W. Nice, to- morrow night, through the courtesy of Louis B. Mayer and William K. Saxton, Loew's city manager, to open the President's ball at the Fifth Regiment Armory and will remain 30 minutes and then go back to fill other engagements in Washington. New Zukor Pact to Go to Stockholders {Continued from page 1) proposed contract will not be sub- mitted to the stockholders until the annual meeting next June. The by- laws of the company require the ap- proval of stockholders for any con- tract involving remuneration on the basis of a percentage of profits. It was reported in Motion Picture Daily of Jan. 19 that the proposed new contract for Zukor would have to be submitted to stockholders, prob- ably at the June meeting. Paramount's statement relates that since Zukor took charge of produc- tion last May 1, "the product has shown great improvement in quality and has received popular approval." Plans for offering approximately $20,000,000 of new three or three and one-half per cent convertible deben- tures in the near future in what would be a final step in Paramount's re- funding program undertaken several months ago, was reported by the N. Y. World-Telegram yesterday. More than $10,000,000 of Paramount's outstanding six per cent obligations have been refunded already at three and four per cent. The report added that the new de- bentures would be convertible into common stock at $40 a share, about 11 points more than the current market for the common, but that the common might be placed on a $2 annual basis in order to encourage conversion of the new debenture. Paramount of- ficials declined to comment on the report. Alien Actor Hearing Is Set for Feb. 17 {Continued from page 1) yesterday, Dickstein sought to have ap- proval given the measure without further consideration, on the ground that extensive hearings were held last session and a favorable report made, but was prevented by Congressman Kramer of California, who maintained that the film industry should be given another chance to discuss the bill. Sidman Joins Columbia Bob Sidman, who has been handling exploitation on "You Only Live Once" for_ United Artists at the Rivoli, has resigned to join Columbia. He will start Monday at Philadelphia. Contest Beguii Over Orpheum Circuit Sale {Continued from page 1) stockholders' committee in formulating its bid. RKO contends that its offer has a value of more than twice the $1,750,- 000 ascribed to it, and points taut that its secured claim against Orpheum, with interest, now amounts to approxi- mately $3,100,000. The claim is based on notes and obligations of Orpheum which were secured by the assets of the company and were declared in de- fault in 1933. Stadium Theatres Corp., a wholly owned RKO subsid- iary, took possession of the Orpheum assets at that time and has been oper- ating them since. The validity of the lien under which the assets were ob- tained by Stadium has since been questioned by Marcus Heiman, trustee in bankruptcy for Orpheum. Exclusive of RKO's claims against Orpheum there are approximately $2,100,000 of other creditors' claims outstanding. Acceptance of RKO's $700,000 cash offer, consequently, would give these creditors about 30 cents on the dollar for their claims. If the offer to be made by the pre- ferred stockholders' committee was to give Orpheum creditors a like amount, the offer would have to involve more than $2,000,000 cash, observers point out, due to the fact that such an offer would have to provide for RKO's claims in addition to the others, un- less, of course, the offer was to be based on the theory that the RKO claims against Orpheum could be in- validated. Philadelphia Houses Get a Grace Period {Continued from page 1) record with that attitude. Mayor Wil- son declared he personally had no objection to the games as long as the public received full value for their admission. However, he said, "We shall take action to prevent racketeers, gamblers, or professional organizers from taking all or part of the proceeds." The mayor indicated also that where a lottery operation is definitely proved, the four-week truce will not hold for theatres involved. Weeks Confers Here With Eastern Staff {Continued from page 1) Scully, northeast district manager; Arthur Greenblatt, eastern district manager ; Clinton White, assistant to Weeks, and the following branch man- agers : Carl Goe, Albany ; Ben Rog- ers, New Haven; Herbert Given, Philadelphia; Joseph Kaliski, Wash- ington; Irving Gumberg, New York, and Irving Landes, Rudolph Bach, Tony Ricci and Charles Penser, sales- men at the New York exchange. Myers for MPTO Meet Washington, Jan. 29. — Abram F. Myers, general counsel of Allied States Ass'n, will speak before the M.P.T.O. of the Virginias at its an- nual convention in Richmond Feb. 11. The Leading Motio Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, Intelligent the in All Branches VOL. 41. NO. 26 NEW YORK, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1937 TEN CENTS Chicago Eyes Shows to End Double Bills Milwaukee Theatres Set Flood Benefits uals Fail to Click and Bank Night End Hurts Chicago, Jan. 31.— Chicago exhibi- tors, both independent and circuit, are considering the use of vaudeville and stage shows to replace double features which have failed to increase business. The inception of the double feature policy last fall and its gradual accept- ance by both circuit and independent theatres until practically every the- atre here offers them, was at the time expected to be a boon to business. For three years Chicago had not played dual bills and their return was looked forward to, especially by B. & K., as being a help. To date reports reveal that after the first few weeks the novelty and popularity— if any— of the twin bills has fallen off. The halting of Bank Night and other games by the Police Dept. cut into grosses about 20 per cent, accord- ing to local exhibitors. To remedy this loss and the failure of duals to draw, exhibitors are trying to find something that will be a box-office stimulant. Whether or not enough suitable talent is available is an important question. Whether the vaudeville that is avail- able would be enough of a drawing (Continued on page 12) Dualing Elimination Is Balked by Harris Pittsburgh, Jan. 31.— The refusal on the part of the Harris interests here to consider dropping dual bills downtown is seen as balking efforts toward the elimination of the prac- tice, as initiated by the operators of the Fulton. It is understood a shortage of prod uct at the Fulton has led to operators of that house asking a ban on duals, but the Harris theatres are said to have plenty of product. Warners de (Continued on page 12) Milwaukee, Jan. 31. — Local thea- tres will participate in city wide bene- fit performances Feb. 6 in an effort to raise $45,000 for flood refugees. Neighborhood houses will hold a morning show for children at 25 cents and a midnight show for adults will be staged in neighborhood and down- town houses at a 50-cent admission. Through the cooperation of theatre employes and exchanges, the entire proceeds will be turned over to the Red Cross. Theatre operators who are assist- ing a committee appointed by the Mayor include Edward J. Weisfeldt, Riverside; Alfred D. Kvool, Warner- Saxe Theatres; Andrew Gutenberg, Grand; Charles Trampe, Variety Club president, and Raymond Tesch, business manager, I.T.P.A. of Wis- consin and upper Michigan. More than 30 Fox houses in Wis- (Continued on page 12) New Taxes Looming, Wisconsin Men Fear Madison, Wis., Jan. 31. — With Gov. Phillip F. La Follette asking the Legislature to levy $17,000,000 in new and reenacted emergency taxes to meet a proposed budget of $62,919, 569 for the coming biennium, new ways of raising money will have to be devised. The League of Wisconsin Munici palities, in a plan to reduce general property taxes more than $20,000,000 (Continued on page 4) Union Deal Set It was indicated authori- tatively late Saturday that the general agreement be- tween the I.T.O.A. and Local 306, which includes the cor- relative agreement for the absorption of the membership of the Allied Union by 306, would be virtually concluded over the weekend, and that the agreement would become effective today or tomorrow. The arrangement would end the long troublesome multiple union situation in New York theatres. Columbia to End Separate Score Charge Certificates to 165 Films in Two Months Hollywood, Jan. 31. — The Holly- wood Branch of the Production Code Administration reviewed and approved 101 features and 64 shorts in the last two-month period which ended a par- ticularly active year for this branch (Continued on page 12) Radio — Pages 8 and 10 South Africa Gains Impress Hutchinson London, Jan. 22. — Trade revival in South Africa has been rapid and the standard of new Australian theatres "amazing," declared Walter J. Hutch- inson, foreign sales manager of 20th Century-Fox, prior to his departure for New York on the Bremen. He is due there Feb. 1. Hutchinson has completed a world tour which covered almost a year in time and every major territory in Europe, the East and the Antipodes. Allied Convention Set for May 12-14 Washington, Jan. 31. — Allied States Ass'n annual convention will be held May 12, 13 and 14 at the Hotel Pfister, Milwaukee, it was stated to- day. P. J. Wood of Columbus is chairman of the convention committee and Ray A. Tesch of Milwaukee in charge of the local arrangements for the meeting. It was also stated here the Allied campaign to prevent producer-dis- tributors from owning or operating theatres through state legislation would be concentrated in the hands of W. A. Steffes, chairman of the Allied special defense committee. Allied will be represented by Abram F. Myers, chairman, at the annual convention of the M.P.T.O. of the Virginias at Richmond, Feb. 11, at (Continued on page 12) Assures Kuykendall Aid on Problems of No Michigan Theatre Bill Presented Yet Detroit, Jan. 31. — A bill aiming to divorce production-distribution and ex- hibition may be introduced in the Michigan Legislature, but it will not be for some time, according to H. M. Richey, general manager of Allied of Michigan. Nothing definite has been done yet, Richey said. It is known that the national organi- zation plans to have bills put before (Continued on page 4) Key City Grosses Off From High Total to $1,674,774 Key city grosses for the week end- ing Jan. 16-17 slipped from the new four-year high which was established during previous period, falling to $1,674,774 for 174 theatres in 29 cities. The previous week's total for 175 houses was $2,262,950. The decrease, amounting to $588,- 176, may be interpreted as a natural letdown from the high established dur- ing the holiday period. The figure, however, is substantially better than the preholiday first run total of $1,- 316,371 grossed during the week end- ing Dec. 25-36. Comparative tabula- tion on page 12. Columbia will eliminate the separate score charge, cooperate in the estab- lishment of local conciliation boards, grant a 10 per cent cancellation on a restricted basis and aid in coping with other trade evils set forth in the M.P.T.O.A. 10-point trade practice program, Abe Montague, general sales- manager, advised Ed Kuykendall, M.P.T.O.A. president, in a letter re- leased here on Saturday. Columbia is the sixth major com- pany to respond to the exhibitor orga- nization's program of trade practice reform. Warners, Paramount and the national independent distributors such as Republic, G. B. and Monogram, re- main as the only companies which have not yet recognized the M.P.T. O.A. proposals, which were formally submitted to distributors more than nine months ago. Montague, in his letter to Kuyken- dall, sets forth that Columbia regards the score charges as "a part of film rental" which, in the case of per- centage contracts, can be eliminated when "satisfactory terms are agreed upon." In flat buy contracts, Columbia in the future will have but one space for the insertion of complete film rental terms, with the separate score charge being discontinued. In offering a 10 per cent cancella- tion, Columbia restricts exercise of the right to "the lowest price allocation group" and to contracts for all of the pictures offered at one time. Requests (Continued on page 4) IT OA Threaten Legal Fight on Split Weeks The I.T.O.A., in a statement issued Saturday, threatened court action, to be commenced on Tuesday, unless dis- tributors agree to contract adjust- ments as a result of the decision of Loew's in New York to run "A" product on a revised split week basis (Continued on page 12) M-G-M Picks Titles For Two in England London, Jan. 22.— "Rags in Heav- en" and "The Wind and the Rain" will be the first two productions of the M-G-M British studio, stated Ben Goetz today. Work will begin within two months. Preparation of material for these (Continued on page 4) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, February I, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 February 1, 1937 No. 26 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Pub- \9M lishing Company, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Col vin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Avenue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copy- righted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc. Address all correspondence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publica- tions, Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, Teatro Al Dia, International Motion Picture Almanac and Fame: The Box Office Check-Up. Hollywood Bureau: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Sereets, Boone Mancall, Manager; Chicago Bureau: 624 South Michigan Avenue, C. B. O'Neill, Man- ager; London Bureau: 4 Golden Square, London W 1, Bruce Allan, Representative; Cable Address "Quigpubco, London"; Berlin Bureau: Stuelerstrasse 2, Berlin W 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative; Paris Bureau: 29, Rue Marsoulan, Pierre Autre, Representative; Rome Bureau: Viale Gorizia, Vittorio Malpassuti, Representative; Aus- tralian Bureau: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins Street, Melbourne, Cliff Holt, Representative; Mexico City Bureau: Apar- tado 269, James Lockhart, Representative; Budapest Bureau: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest, II, Endre Hevesi, Representative; Tokyo Bureau: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken, H. Tominaga, Representative; Prague Bureau: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1, Harry Knopf, Rep- resentative; Shanghai Bureau: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Building, 142 Museum Road, J.P. Koehler, Representative; Rio de Janiero Bureau: Caixa Postal 3358, A. Weissman, Representative; Buenos Aires Bureau: Corrientes 2495, N. Bruski, Representative; Montevideo Bureau: P. O. Box 664, Paul Bodo, Representative; Moscow Bureau: Petrovski Per 8, Beatrice Stern, Representa- tive; Vienna Bureau: Neustiftgasse, 55, Vienna VII, Hans Lorant, Representative; Amsterdam Bureau: Zuider Amstellaan 5, Philip de Schaap, Representative; Helsing- fors Bureau: Fredriksgatan 19 C, Charlotte Laszlo, Representative; Warsaw Bureau: Sienna 32, R. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Legion Approves All Of 19 New Pictures The National Legion of Decency, in its list of new pictures for the current week, has approved, for adults or gen- eral patronage, all of the 19 new pic- tures reviewed. Of the total, 12 were approved for general patronage and seven for adults. The new films and their classification follow : Class A-l, Unobjectionable for Gen- eral Patronage — "Arizona Days," "Breezing Home," "Counterfeit Lady," "Dodge City Trail," "Es Gibt Nur Ein Liebe," "Graefin Maritza," "Join the Marines," "Headin' for the Rio Grande," "Holy Terror," "Man of the People," "Secret Valley," "Woman Wise." Class A-2, Unobjectionable for Adults — "Falling in Love," "Masquer- ade in Vienna," "Nation Aflame," "Radio Bar," "Robber Symphony," "Stolen Holiday," "You Only Live Once." Goes to Thompson J. Walter Thompson Co. has been named advertising agency for Uni- versal, P. D. Cochrane stated on Saturday. MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Clarence" (Paramount) Hollywood, Jan. 31. — There is almost continuous, although for the most part mild amusement and good humor in this latest screen adapta- tion of the well known book and play by Booth Tarkington of the same title. An ex-soldier, who is known only as Clarence, is suddenly and accidentally dumped into the center of a wrangling, back-biting family, and there ensues a series of entertaining incidents as the mild mannered and tranquil young man, in his own peculiar way, brings peace to the fireside, and romance to himself. Roscoe Karns is an excellent Clarence, and his support is also good, consisting of Eugene Pallette and Spring Byington as the husband and wife; Charlotte Wynters, as the tutor and Clarence's great love; Johnny Downs and Eleanore Whitney, as scrapping son and daughter. As the screenplay of Seena Owen and Grant Garrett has it, Clarence succeeds in fixing the plumbing, falling in love in his shy way with Miss Wynters, patching the piano and the marital status of Pallette and his wife, saving Downs from a scheming housemaid and Miss Whitney from an equally scheming suitor, and finally revealing himself as a scientist, and leaving with Miss Wynters to be married, after the house- hold has been restored to peace and normalcy. George Archainbaud has directed to make the most of the amusing situations, and the film is inconspicuous but entertaining fare. Production Code Seal No. 2,953. Running time, 62 minutes. "G." (Additional Reviews on Page 5) Klein Sells 4 U.K. Films to Imperial Edward L. Klein, who sailed for London on the Aquitania Friday, dis- posed of a number of British produc- tions for the American market during his stay here. Included are "When Knights Were Bold," featuring Fay Wray and Jack Buchanan; "Marriage of Corbal," fea- turing Nils Asther, Noah Beery and Hazel Terry ; "Southern Roses," fea- turing Neil Hamilton and George Robey ; and "Public Nuisance No. 1," featuring Frances Day, all produced by Capitol Film Prod, of London. These four were acquired by Imperial Distributing Corp. As previously reported, Klein brought over the "Robber Symphony," produced by Friedrich Feher for Con- cordia Films, Ltd., of London, which was acquired by Fortune Films. The picture is now playing two-a-day at the Venice. Klein is taking back to Europe a number of American independent fea- tures and short subjects for distribu- tion in England and the Continent. Educational Meet Set Wilmington, Del., Jan. 31. — Stock- holders of Educational Pictures, Inc., will vote on a recapitalization plan and a program of corporate simplifica- tion at a meeting here Tuesday morn- ing. The meeting will be held in the offices of Philip Cohen, Wilmington attorney, who was appointed special master by Chancellor Josiah O. Wol- cott several weeks ago. Form International Film Chicago, Jan. 31. — International Film Bureau has been formed here with Wesley Green as president for the purpose of importing and distrib- uting foreign films. Other officers are : First vice-president, Donald Stone; second vice-president, Eugene Staley ; treasurer, W. M. Helms ; secretary, Victor M. Hruska; assistant secre- tary, Geraldine Hurtgen. U. S. Firms Seized In Spanish Cities All of the Spanish property of American film companies has been confiscated by the workers' party, ac- cording to Nestor Lao, president of the Cuban Exhibitors' Ass'n., who ar- rived in New York several days ago, en route to Havana after several weeks in Spain. Lao reported that theatres in Bar- celona, Madrid and Valencia are open and crowded most of the time. He said, however, that only two studios are now operating in Spain. He con- tracted for eight Spanish films, com- pleted prior to the revolution, which Republic will distribute in Cuba and Latin America. Business is improving rapidly in Cuba, Lao reported. Almost 90 per cent of the films shown there are from the United States, Francisco A. Coto, manager of Republic Pictures of Cuba, said. Coto will accompany Lao to Havana late this week. Discontinue Reachi Suit Judge William Bondy in U. S. Dis- trict Court Saturday signed an order settling and discontinuing an action brought in 1935 by Marie Louise Hamrick Reachi against Warners. Miss Reachi charged that Warners in "Gold Diggers of 1935" used the name of the dancing team, Ramon and Ro- sita, in billing the picture. The plain- tiff claimed they had no right to do this. In answer Warners asserted that Antonio De Reachi, the Ramon of the team, engaged the plaintiff and after some time she refused to appear with him and so abandoned her rights. Shubert to Greenman St. Louis, Jan. 31. — Fanchon & Marco has leased the Shubert here to Greenman Theatres, Inc., after the house had been closed for several weeks. Greenman Theatres was formed recently by Harry Greenman, who operates the Dakota and the Yale. i Purely Personal ► HERMAN J. MANKIEWICZ ar- arrived from Hollywood yester- day to attend rehearsals of his play, "The Meal Ticket," which will be produced soon. • George O'Brien arrived yesterday afternoon from Boston with his wife, Marguerite Churchill, to attend the premiere of her new play tomorrow night. He may remain here for the opening of his latest film, "Park Ave- nue Logger." • Melitta Brunner, Viennese dancer and figure skater, will arrive in New York this week on the Paris for some Saranac skating and film tests at Hollywood under the chaperonage of William Morris, Jr. • Gus S. Eyssell, assistant to W. G. Van Schmus, managing director of the Music Hall, returned to New York yesterday on the Siboney from a month's vacation in Mexico and Cuba. • Tullio Carminati will sail tomor- row on the Bremen to star in "Soli- taire," which Herbert Wilcox will produce at Pinewood, London. • Nate J. Blumberg is due back from the coast next Wednesday. He is now in the midwest visiting RKO theatres en route. • Al Pearce and his gang have been signed for a featured spot in "Hit Parade." The F. & M. agency han- dled the deal. • Brian Aherne sails for London shortly and may do a film for Alex- ander Korda while there. • Joe Moskowitz and Irving Hoff- man among yesterday's returning Hollywood visitors. • Robert Fender of the Paramount coast studios is at the Warwick. • Bob Goldstein off to Chicago to- day on a quickie trip. • George O'Brien arrived from Bos- ton yesterday. Hit Free Recordings Additional meetings are planned, it was indicated on Saturday, in an effort on the part of Local 802 of the Ameri- can Federation of Musicians, to cor- rect the abuses they claim have re- sulted from the misuse of recordings. At a meeting Friday, attended by nu- numerous band leaders, the situation with respect to pirated records and transcriptions was discussed. The meeting was held in conjunction with the National Performing Artists' Ass'n. The musicians' union contends that the unrestricted use of record- ings is depriving musicians of employ- ment. Restrictions similar to those enforced by Ascap may be sought. LeRoy Signs Merman Ethel Merman, currently appearing in "Red, Hot and Blue," stage musical, has been signed by Mervyn LeRoy as lead in a forthcoming musical for Warners. Lou Irwin acted for Miss Merman. *cC° Reserves v^- MV ^ w 85". J*-fi$%*,*?m ******* Acs*-.*-**-* latest i TTOT CO' i i ',i 11 1 eni»v »tth« in* rdi- MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, February I, 1937 Columbia to End Separate Score Charge {Continued from page i) for cancellations must be given by the exhibitor in writing within 10 days after notice of availability. The establishment of local concili- ation boards, through which the M.P.T.O.A. hopes that six of the 10 points comprising its program may be approached, is approved by Columbia with the observation that "we feel that a great deal more time must be spent at joint meetings (of exhibitors and distributors) in order to arrange J or the proper conduct of these boards." Hits Overbuying The company asserts that it is "definitely opposed" to overbuying to deprive a competitor of necessary product, but makes it clear that it does not regard maintenance of a double feature policy as overbuying. Referring to non-theatrical competi- tion, the statement says that it "has never been our intention" to license such accounts when they are in direct competition with an established the- atre. The letter also asserts that "it has never been the intention or the practice of this company to 'force' shorts with features" and defines its policy as the licensing of a "reason- able" number of shorts "proportionate to the number of features we supply as against the exhibitor's total feature requirements." Opposes Standard Contract Columbia declares that it has no intention of being "unfair or unreason- able" in the matter of designating preferred playing time, but regards such time as a definite part of film rental to be dealt with in accordance with individual situations, and adds that the company expects to receive its "fair share" of such_ time. The company declares its willingness to develop a shorter form of contract but asserts that it is opposed to a uniform agreement. It sets forth that it re- gards clearance as "a part of the sale" and offers no encouragement for bringing about uniform or maximum clearance and zoning schedules as sought by the M.P.T.O.A. _ Unfair competition between exhibitors is classified in the letter as an exhibitor problem. Montague commends the M.P.T. OA. effort to bring about improved trade relations within the industry and offers to discuss the program further, or new provisions, at any time desig- nated by Kuykendall. M-G-M Picks Titles For Two in England (Continued from page 1) stories is in hand bv Michael Balcon. with the assistance of Harold Boxall production manager; Angus McPhail scenario editor, and S. C. ("Shan") Balcon, associate producer. "A Yank at Oxford" is likelv to be M-G-M's third British. Official confirmation of the contract with Amalgamated Studios is expected after conferences with Paul Soskin, al- though there have been rumors that the vacant Twickenham plant might be used. 3 End Score Charge; 3 Refuse; Local Boards Approved by Six The "box score" to date on distributor action on the M.P.T.O.A.'s 10-point trade practice program, devised in May, 1936, follows. Nov. 9, 1936. — Universal issues the first reply, granting a liber- alized 10 per cent cancellation, eliminating the score charge and indorsing local conciliation boards with offers of cooperation on other points which can be handled by the boards. Nov. 27. — 20th Century-Fox offers a liberalized 10 per cent cancellation, support for conciliation boards and cooperation on matters which can be handled by the boards, but will not abandon the separate score charge. Dec. 8. — United Artists offers to eliminate the separate score charge with the 1937-'38 season and indorses conciliation boards to treat with other problems. Its separate producer organiza- tions prevent it from granting any cancellation, the company states. Jan. 4, 1937. — Loew's offers liberalized 10 per cent cancella- tion, approval of conciliation boards and cooperation on problems to be handled by them. Refuses to eliminate the separate score charge. Jan. 9. — RKO offers a liberalized 10 per cent cancellation, local conciliation board aid and cooperation on problems for the boards. Refuses to eliminate the separate score charge. Feb. 1. — Columbia offers a restricted 10 per cent cancellation, elimination of the separate score charge and approval of local conciliation boards with cooperation on the problems which can be handled by the boards. National distributors still unheard from are Warners, Para- mount, G. B., Republic and Grand National. No Michigan Theatre Bills Presented Yet (Continued from page 1) various state legislatures during the year, but it is part of the organiza- tion's plan to keep secret the states in which the bills will be introduced. It is believed that they will be in- troduced in other states before they are in this one, as it is known that Allied wants them to go to legislatures in states where they will have the best chance of being enacted. With the Butterfield circuit and the United De- troit setup in Michigan important fac- tors, it is believed Allied leaders feel they have a better chance of passing the law in other states, which is ex- pected to delay action here. Out Hollywood Way Hollywood, Jan. 31. — Roy Del Ruth, director, and Adrian, M-G-M wardrobe manager, here to prepare for "Broadway Melody of 1937." . . . Max Reinhart's next for Warners will be "Casino" with Edward G. Robinson and Ruby Keeler. . . . Karen Morley and her husband, Charles Vidor, back from 10 days in Yosemite. . . . Warners sign William Hopper, son of De Wolf Hopper, to a term contract. . . . Billy House gets new long termer from Universal. . . . Same studio has lifted options on Sylvan Simon and Hobart Cava- naugh, and Republic likewise on Carleton Young. . . . Director Wil- liam Wellman the father of a seven- pound boy. Mother and son doing well. Conferences under way on budgets for next two Samuel Goldwyn pic- tures, "Stella Dallas" and "The Hur- ricane." . . . Bette Davis confined home with flu for second time in two weeks. . . . Marlene Dietrich ex- pected not later than Feb. 10 to start work at Paramount in "Angel." . . . Neville Reay a father, the boy's weight 9^2 pounds. George Hirliman has postponed the start of "Gold," with Conrad Nagel, to Feb. 10. . . . Phillip Mac Donald gets term writing contract from M-G-M. . . . Paramount ex- tends contract with Charles Ruggles to long term, and retained Harlan Thompson, producer, on option. . Tohn Trent, Schulberg player, set for personal appearances in 10 key cities. . . . "One Hundred and Twenty Men and a Girl" musical, will be next starring vehicle for Deanna Durbin at Universal. + Casting — Melvin Douglas in "An gel." Paramount. . . . Harry Cording and Robert Adair in "The Prince and the Pauper," John Harlon in "Talent Scout," and Raymond Hat ton in "Public Wedding," all at War ners. . . . William Hopper replaces Dick Purcell in "Public Wedding." Purcell stays in the picture in an other role, also at Warners. . . . Rich- ard Cromwell in "The Road Back," and Robert Spencer in "Wings Over Honolulu" at Universal. . . . George Hassell, Gavin Muir, Lionel Pape and Brandon Hurst in "Wee Willie Winkie," 20th Century-Fox. . . . Anne Nagel, Donald Meek and Maurice Black in "Three Legionaires," Gen eral Pictures. . . . Frances Farmer and Fred MacMurray to share lead- ing honors in Paramount's "Exclu sive." + Directors — Lloyd Bacon to direct "Ever Since Eve," new Bette Davis film. . . . Robert Vignola signed by Emanuel Cohen to direct "End of Adventure." + Writers — Sy Bartlett on "Boots and Saddles" with Earl Snell for Sol Lesser. . . . Harvey Gates, Jerry Horwin and A. A. Kilne signed by Republic. . . . Carleton Morse and Frank Parton on "Old Man's Fam ily" for Paramount. + Title Changes — "Escadrille" to "The Woman I Love," Radio. . . . "With out a Net" to "Circus Girl," Repub lie "Two Shall Meet" to "Accent on Love," Zeidman. . . . "Coast Pa trol" to "Sea Devils," Radio. Perkins Quits Schine Boston, Jan. 31. — David F. Perkins has resigned as exploitation head of the Schine circuit. Perkins was for- merly a district manager for Publix in New England and later became an independent theatre operator. He may accept a publicity position offered to him on the coast. New Taxes Looming, Wisconsin Men Fear (Continued from page 1) a year, has suggested new state levies on individual incomes, inheritances, luxuries, chain stores, and if this does not prove sufficient, a 10 per cent tax on theatre admissions. It estimates this levy would produce $2,500,000 yearly. Two bills sponsored by the State Federation of Labor have been intro- duced by Senator Herman J. Severson and Assemblyman David Sigman. The measures provide for a state labor relations board, guarantee em- ployes the right of collective bargain- ing and legalize collective bargaining by a majority-elected representative. The measure is reported to have the support of Governor La Follette. Limit Connecticut Ads Hartford, Jan. 31. — An outdoor ad- vertising bill has been introduced which bans private signs at a distance of more than 200 feet from the place where the goods are being sold, limits the size of signs erected in the future, their location with respect to grade crossings, public parks, playgrounds, etc., and imposes a license fee on out- door advertising companies and signs. A tax limitation bill is also included in the proposed legislation. The bill would prohibit cities from levying a property tax in excess of 25 mills and graduate the taxing limit down to 20 mills within three years. File Massachusetts Dancing Bill Boston, Jan. 31. — Samuel H. Cohen has field a bill to permit dancing in theatres on the Sabbath. Similar bills have been filed during the last few sessions, but have died, largely be- cause of the fact that industry inter- ests do not care to risk instigating an- other statewide referendum on censor- ship such as was defeated some years ago. Monogram Prepares Four Four features are being prepared for the 1937-38 program of Monogram, according to W. Ray Johnston. Writers and supervisors have been assigned by Scott R. Dunlap, produc- tion head, with the first scheduled to start Feb. 15. The list includes: "Par- adise Isle," "Romance of the Limber- lost," "False Colors" and "The Thir- teenth Man." "Hamlef' Closes The John Gielgud "Hamlet," which opened at the Empire Oct. 8 closed at the St. James Saturday night after 132 performances. Monday, February I, I $37 MOTION PICTURI DAILY Short Subjects "The Tin Can Tourist* (Terryto on-Educational) Amusing and somewhat exaggerated antics aboard a trailer by Al Falfa, a new cartoon comic. Well drawn, in its active manner the film is an enter- taining item. Production Code Seal No. 01,421. Running time, 6 miris. "G." "Vitaphone Pictorial Revue No. 5" ( Vitaphone) A mildly interesting assortment of clips as varied as fishing, cooking, life on a cruise and the maternal habits i cats. They are well presented. Pro- duction Code Seal No. 01,384. Run- ning time, 1 1 mins. "G." "Bed-Time Vaudeville" ( Vitaphone) Junior in this case has to arrange a show. He calls a juvenile agent and together they pick out the acts. The ensuing entertainment is a collection of children's acts which are quite pleasant. Production Code Seal No. 01,148. Running time, 11 mins. "G." "Stranger Than Fiction No. 33" {Universal) An assortment of oddities in keep- ing with the general standard set by this series. Well photographed, and with intelligent comment, it maintains the usual quality and interest. Produc- tion Code Seal No. 01,303. Running time, &y2 mins. "G." "Going Places No. 32" ( Universal) With his comment, Lowell Thomas takes the audience on a scenic tour of Bryce Canyon and to the aviary of a bird fancier where, in the latter, some- thing in the nature of a wonder is re- vealed in the tameness of the birds. Above ordinary interest. Production Code Seal No. 01,168. Running time, Sy2 mins. "G." "House of Magic" (Universal) A cleverly concocted cartoon which records the adventures of Meany, Miny and Moe when they seek shelter in a magic store during a storm. There are plenty of fast moving situa- tions done with spectacular animation. Production Code Seal No. 2,768. Run- ning time, 8 mins. "G." "Fun Begins at Home" (Mentone- Universal) Entertaining doings at the home of Barry and Whitledge, due to their in- ability to pay the rent and the butler, are good for diverting moments. The Charioteers, Virginia Verrill, Mont- gomery and Withy and Mary Kelly do their assorted acts. Later the hosts, on finding uninvited people arriving, discover the butler selling tickets out- side. Production Code Seal No. 01,- 396. Running time, 10 mins. "G." "A Horse's Tale" ( Vitaphone) The characters of the famous comic strip that features Joe and Asbestos are impersonated on the screen in this comedy by Harry Gribbon and (Continued in column 4) Les Demi Vierges "Modern Daughters" (Claude Dolbert) Paris, Jan. 20. — Taken from a 30-year-old novel by Marcel Prevost, a celebrated French author, member of the French Academy, this story has been modernized for screen purposes. The film depicts the life of a superficial set in Paris. A young society woman, Maud, who has an affair with a young man, Julien, of her own set, but who is poor, becomes engaged to a provincial man, Maxime, who is rich. Maxime, very much in love with Maud, refuses to believe the gossip, until Julien himself, jealous and determined to pre- vent the marriage, breaks up the wholesome happiness to which Maud aspires. Julien kills himself and the engagement between Maxime and Maud is broken off ; Maxime's sister, who has always been good, marries the man she loves and lives in the country; Maxime seeks forgetfulness, and Maud, in desperation, leaves for foreign lands with a bank manager. The film concludes with a moral, but has several scenes which are unacceptable and objectionable. It contains dialogue and rather risque scenes which are absolutely devoid of interest and utility. Direction by Pierre Caron is rather good, and the dialogue, with a few exceptions, is interesting. In the cast, two important French stars, Madeleine Renaud (of "La Maternelle"), as Maxime's sister, and Marie Bell as Maud. The other players are fair. Running time, 80 minutes. "A." Autre. Looking 'Em Over "Masquerade in Vienna (George Kraska) This film is merely the Austrian-produced version of the same picture which was produced by M-G-M in 1935 and released as "Escapade," with William Powell and Luise Rainer in the leading roles. Actually then, considered purely from a commercial standpoint, and comparisons being inevitable, it must be said that this film is excellent entertainment, but not more so than was the M-G-M version of the same story. Therefore its exhibition will necessarily be restricted to those theatres which are able to draw upon an audience which under- stands the German in which the picture is couched. For all others it is merely a foreign repetition of a two-year-old American picture. M-G-M's film was based on a German script by Walter Reisch, and the present film's scenario was written by the same Walter Reisch. The picture was produced by Sascha-Tobis in Vienna and directed by Willy Forst, erstwhile German player, now, to judge by this film, a highly proficient director. Most capable in the role which introduced Miss Rainer to American audiences is Paula Wessely, as the young girl who becomes romantically, and eventually happily entangled with a notorious artist, played a trifle too stiffly by Anton Walbrook. Miss Wessely has personality and charm, and uses both characteristics to advantage. The story, of jealousy, romance and a touch of light com- edy, needs no retelling. Previewed without Production Code Seal. Running time, 95 minutes. "G." « Under Falsk Flagg ("Under False Colors") (Scandinavian Talking Pictures) A rather inconsequential comedy, this Swedish film is nonetheless lively entertainment, centering about a misunderstanding in identities and young romance. It should be really pleasing to those who understand the language, but the film has nothing outstanding with which to attract American audiences. An ample number of superimposed titles in Eng- lish make for ready understanding of the story. Most important in the cast is Tutta Rolf, as the daughter of a banker, who meets a young employe of her father's bank, pretends she is a poor girl, falls in love with him, and contrives to get him into all sorts of difficulties, which are for the most part amusing. Eventually, as may be expected, the ruse is uncovered, and the young man succeeds at the same time in saving the bank a considerable loss through his friend's belief that a large borrower is a swindler. Where Swedish audiences are to be found, this should be a good bet. Previewed without Production Code Seal. Running time, 82 minutes. "G." Short Subjects (Continued from column 1) "Hamtree" Harrington. The comedy, centering around a racetrack, is juvenile stuff. The pair are given a horse with instructions to have it destroyed. However, they discover and cure its infirmity. Later it wins a race for them and all ends satisfac- factorily. It is suitable for children. Production Code Seal No. 01,325. Running time, 20 mins. "G." "Old Paris and Berne" (Columbia) _ Interesting glimpses of the two cities, enlightening comments by Tom Terriss. The narrative and scenes are mostly connected with historical events. The photography is fair. Pro- duction Code Seal No. 01,260. Run- ning time, 10 mins. "G." "Castle Towns of France" (Columbia) The camera visits the province of Touraine, better known as the chateau country. There are interesting glimpses of fine, rugged architecture and historical revelation by Tom Ter- riss. Production Code Seal No. 01,270. Running time, 10 mins. "G." "Practically Perfect" (Eductional) Amusing doings by Ed East and Ralph Dumke, "The Sisters of the Skillet." Feeling somewhat unsatis- fied with their insane replies to queries by their audience, they decide to go a step further and actually visit the information seekers. This, of course, leads them into a variety of situations where their scatter-brained antics pro- voke merriment. Production Code Seal No. 01,410. Running time, 19 mins. "G." "The Book Shop" ( Terry toons-Educational) Fairly diverting cartoon doings in which a pup, while dreaming, lands among the varied assortment of char- acters that are found in fairy tales. The excitement of his encounters with the book folk is heightened when he is pursued by a giant. Routine material, it is, nevertheless, pleasant. Produc- tion Code Seal No. 01,435. Running time, 6 mins. "G." "The Pretty Pretender" (Vitaphone) Bernice Claire, a singer in a night spot, has ambitions. She wants to get into a Broadway show. Acquir- ing a French accent, she descends on a booking agent hoping her talents might be appreciated. The agent also has ideas. It is revealed that he is not the real agent, but merely his son, the pere is at Miss Claire's night club waiting to catch her act. Arriving in time, she does her stuff and gets a contract. It is diverting comedy and Miss Claire's singing is always pleasant. Production Code Seal No. 01,246. Running time, 21 mins. "G." Opens Chicago Branch Springfield, O., Jan. 31. — The Gus Sun Booking Exchange, with head- quarters here, has opened a branch at Chicago, in charge of Dwight Pepple, to service the western territory. Branches also are maintained at Co- lumbus, Detroit and Pittsburgh, and more will be established shortly. At last Columbia brings you a real BIG- FEATURE NAME — FRANK BUCK! — in the first of its new-style modern serials! Guaran- tees smash adult as well as juvenile patronage! And featured with Frank Buck will be the sensational SASCHA SIEMEL, Brazilian "tiger man" who kills with a spear, in amazing adventures! This 15-episode serial is the most outstanding box-office set-up of this year ... or any other year ! A COLUMBIA PICTURE No. 2 ft capt. FRANK HAWKS Hero of radio's most popular juvenile pro- J gram! Fastest speed- flyer in the world in the ADVENTURES OF THE MYSTERIOUS PILOT No. 3 THE SECRET OF TREASURE ISLAND To be serialized in the big-circulation Argosy Magazine — the greatest box-office title to come &j to the screen in years! No. 4 GREAT ADVENTURES OF WILD BILL HICKOK Thundering dramas 6f the Old West— Epic thrills in the danger-filled life of America's bravest and famous Indian fighter! r MOTION PICTURE radio DAILY Radio Polls of Newspapers Coincide with Daily List i Radio Personals* MRS. CHARLES O'CONNOR wife of the NBC announcer, gave birth to a daughter Friday . . Parker Fennelly, of "Snow Vil- lage Sketches," opens in George M. Cohan's play "Fulton of Oak Falls" Feb. 10 . . . Nick Lucas will appear as the featured guest artist on Tues- day's CBS Ford Series, "Watch the Fun Go By" . . . Art Shaw will re- place Tommy Dorsey's band at the Meadowbrook Country Club, with a Mutual wire . . . Rouben Mamoulian will make his radio debut as a lyricist Feb 2 on Meredith Wilson's NBC program, with the song "God Un- known" . . . + WOL, Washington, raised $1,534 during the first three nights of the broadcasts from the flood area . . . Hoot Gibson and Polly Moran have been set as Jackie Cooper's guests on "Lessons in Hollywood" during the coming week. Hoot will be heard today; Polly on Wednesday at 8 P. M., E.S.T. . . . Rudy Vallee's pro- gram will come from St. Paul, this Thursday, and the featured guest star will be Paul Lukas of the films . . . + John Gambling, WOR, sailed for Nassau Saturday for a two-week vacation. Joe Bier will conduct Gambling's gym classes for the period. . . . Stella Unger, official of the J. P. Muller ad agency is the author of the new Borden's Milk Co. program "Special Edition." . . . Ann Nadler, WINS artist, will appear on Major Bowes' "Capitol Family" broadcast this Sunday. . . . + Fay Gillis, war correspondent, will be interviewed between scenes of the Lux Radio Theatre program to- night. . . . Albert Payson Terhune makes a return appearance on the "Heins Magazine of the Air" broad- cast Feb. 8. . . . Lewis Charles of WINS is now handling the "Inquiring Microphone" broadcasts for the sta- tion. . . . + Tom Riley of NBC's special events department shifts to the press depart- ment today. — Jeanette Land, secretary to Theodore C. Streibert, vice-presi- dent of WOR, has embarked on a Bermuda cruise. . . . Antoinette Don- nelly, beauty editor of the New York Daily News, will guest on the "Magazine of the Air" Feb. 10. . . . James Mackenzie Reid, WOR remote supervisor, returns today from a vaca- tion trip. . . . Consolidated Radio Art- ists have signed to represent the bands of Jack Benny and Maurice Spitalny, and the Jesse Crawfords, organists. . . . Hans Feher, juvenile lead in the picture "The Robber Symphony," will be the guest star of Clifford Adams on the WINS "Theatre Guide" pro- gram tomorrow at 11 :30 A. M. . . . Harker Joins McGillvra G. W. (Tom) Harker today joins the sales staff of the local office of Joseph Hershey McGillvra, represent- ative for radio stations. Previously, Harker was a sales executive for the General Tire & Rubber Co., and more recently was advertising representative for the New York office of the Curtis Publishing Co. Radio popularity polls conducted by the New York World-Telegram and the New York American trail the similar poll conducted by Motion Picture Daily and Fame with sub- stantially the same results, a compari- son of the two latest surveys revealed over the weekend. Alton Cook conducted the balloting for the World-Telegram with radio editors of daily newspapers through- out the United States. J. E. Doyle cleared for the American, drawing upon the radio editors of Hearst news- papers exclusively for the results. There were, of course, a few notable differences, particularly in the Ameri- can's poll. General comparisons, based on the one-two-three winners, follow : Best Program ■ — Motion Picture Daily: Jack Benny, Fred Allen, Rudy Vallee. World-Telegram : Jack Benny, Fred Allen, Rudy Vallee. American : The break- down for this division differed. Nearest to the best program classi- fication was "Best Variety Pro- grams." The results : Rudy Vallee, Bing Crosby, "Hollywood Hotel." Best Comedian — Motion Picture Daily: Jack Benny, Fred Allen, Bob Burns. World-Telegram: Jack Benny, Fred Allen, Bob Burns. American: Fred Allen, Jack Benny, Bob Burns. Best Comedy Team — Motion Picture Daily: Burns and Allen, Stoop- nagle and Budd, Amos 'n' Andy. World-Telegram : No such division. American: Burns and Allen, Stoop- nagle and Budd, Benny and Living- stone. Dance Band — Motion Picture Daily : Andre Kostelanetz, Guy Lombardo, Fred Waring. World- Telegram : Guy Lombardo, Andre Kostelanetz, Wayne King. Ameri- can: Guy Lombardo, Wayne King, Richard Himber. Feminine Vocalist — Motion Picture Daily: Jessica Dragonette, Lily Pons, Frances Langford. World- Telegram: Kate Smith, Frances Langford, Gertrude Niesen. Ameri- can: Frances Langford, Kay Thompson, Kate Smith. The Am- erican also had a classical singer's division, the winners of which were Lily Pons, Jessica Dragonette and Rosa Ponselle. Male Vocalist — • Motion Picture Daily : Nelson Eddy, Bing Crosby, Frank Parker. World-Telegram: Bing Crosby, Frank Parker, Kenny Baker. This poll also had a listing for classical singers, the winners being Nelson Eddy, Lily Pons and Jessica Dragonette. American: Bing Crosby, Frank Parker, Lanny Ross. In the classical singer group, the winners were Nelson Eddy, Nino Martini and John Charles Thomas. Musical Program — Motion Picture Daily : General Motors, Ford Sym- phony Hour, New York Philhar- monic. World-Telegram: No sepa- rate division. American: Ford Hour, General Motors, New York Philharmonic. Commentators — Motion Picture Daily: Boake Carter, Edwin C. Hill, Lowell Thomas. World-Tele- gram : Boake Carter, Edwin C. Hill, Lowell Thomas. American : Edwin Zanuck's Idea Hollywood, Jan. 31.— Darryl F. Zanuck, vice-president in charge of production of 20th Century-Fox, thinks this about radio and films: "I feel that there is a recip- rocal advantage to be shared between the film industry and the radio, to a certain point. Where the radio helps to ex- ploit a picture through the introduction of that picture and its stars on an air pro- gram, the benefits are mutual. This was demonstrated in the case of the 'Hollywood Hotel' broadcast of 'One in a Mil- lion,' as a result of which we are again cooperating with an air preview of 'On the Avenue.' But for the screen to get as much in return as it gives to radio in such col- laboration, the case must be an exceptional one." C. Hill, Boake Carter, H. V. Kal- tenborn. Announcer — Motion Picture Daily : Don Wilson, Harry Von Zell, Milton Cross. World-Telegram: Don Wilson, Harry Von Zell, Mil- ton Cross. American : Harry Von Zell, Don Wilson, Milton Cross. Dramatic Program: Motion Picture Daily : Lux Radio Theatre, "One Man's Family," "Bambi." World- Telegram : Lux Radio Theatre, "One Man's Family," "March of Time." American : "Bambi," "One Man's Family" and Amos 'n' Andy. Mutual Staff Goes West Fred Weber and the sales staff of Mutual leave for a sales conference in Chicago today. They will return in a week. Cormier on Baseball Deal Philadelphia, Jan. 31. — After taking in the NAB sales managers' meetings in Chicago, Albert A. Cormier, vice-president and general manager of WIP, proceeds to Min- neapolis to dicker with General Mills for rights to air the Phillies and Athletics baseball games this spring. WCAU carried the series for Wheaties last season with WIP doing the play-by-play for Atlantic Refin- ing. No sponsors are set, although the games will undoubtedly go to either Socony or Atlantic Refining. WCAU will do the job again for Wheaties. Air Personal Flood Messages Philadelphia, Jan. 31. — WFIL is relaying personal telephone messages into the flooded area without charge for local listeners. Floodograms are broadcast to the Louisville and Cin- cinnati area through a local short wave station, W3BES, operated by Jerry Matthis. The station has a clear channel to that section. Telephone messages are broadcast by WFIL, picked up by W3BES and sent to the radio stations in that section. Return communications also are being re- ceived by WFIL and forwarded to anxious persons here. Monday, February I, 1937 WBZ, Boston, Seeks 500,000 Watts Power WBZ, Westinghouse Electric Co. station in Boston, and a member sta- tion of the NBC-Blue, has filed an application with the F. C. C. for an increase in power from 50,000 to 500,- 000 watts. The station's plans also include the removal of the transmission station at Millis, Mass., to Provincetown, and the erection of a new directive an- tenna. The new antenna, consisting of three 500-foot steel towers, will cen- ter the full force of the station's pow- er on the New England States and will be so coordinated that the radio waves will spread out over the area in a heart-shaped pattern. This will preclude a waste of energy over the Atlantic. Additionally, a building housing the latest advancements in radio will be erected near the new towers. CBS Adds Homes Program San Francisco, Jan. 31. — CBS's latest, released to nine Pacific sta- tions Mondays through Fridays at 3 P.M., P. S. T., is the hour-long Western Homes program, on which suitable non-competitive sponsors are now being approached for 15-minute participations by salesmen of KSFO and other coast CBS affiliates. Only home or food products will be ac- cepted. Tom Breneman, who resigned as KFRC station manager and pro- ducer of the Feminine Fancies to join KSFO when the CBS switch went through, is producer and M. C. Local advertising men are inclined to see significance in the fact that the new "Western Homes" is slated for almost the identical period as the "Feminine Fancies" which Breneman originated and which Mel Ventner is carrying on for Mutual-Don Lee, and NBC's "Women's Magazine of the Air" which Bennie Walker handles over the NBC-Red. Plans Negro Station New Orleans, Jan. 31.— The Gold Star Radio & Television Corp., Massachusetts company with Charles Henry Davis, Jr., as president, plans to operate a broadcasting station here, using directive antenna, and costing $100,000. The station will be ad- dressed to colored listeners. Five sta- tions are planned, New York, Chi- cago, Philadelphia and Los Angeles. Stations Appeal for Funds Columbus, Jan. 31. — The three lo- cal stations, WBNS, WCOL, WHKC, have devoted the major portion of their time to airing appeals for funds for flood relief purposes. Open New York Office Philadelphia, Jan. 31. — Albright & Ivey, Inc., advertising agency, has opened a New York office in the RCA Bldg. Headquarters of the agency re- main in this city. Would Control Radio Denver, Jan. 31. — A bill introduced in the House of the Colorado Legis- lature would make radio stations pub- lic utilities and subject to the juris- diction of the State Tax Commission. Turn to Page 10 for More Radio News Radio Acceptance khjI Don Lee Broadcasting System AFFILIATED WITH MUTUAL BROADCASTING SYSTEM 7™ ATBIXEL STREET Los Angeles, California Mr. Maurice D. Kann, Editor, January 16, 1937. Motion Picture Daily Rockefeller Center, New York City My dear Mr. Kann: We have followed with genuine interest your editorial treatment of radio broadcasting in the "Motion Picture Daily" and wish to con- gratulate you upon the treatment that you are giving news items of our industry. Our publicity department, under the direction of Mr. Wayne Miller, will be more than glad to cooperate with you with any items of inter- est that originate with us and feel confident that the space that you are devoting to the subject of broadcasting will reward you. With very kind wishes for your continued success, we are, Very cordially yours, DON LEE BROADCASTING SYSTEM ROCKEFELLER CENTER NEW YORK 10 RADIO MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, February I, 1937 Canadians to Balk Mexican Use of Waves Montreal, Jan. 31. — Aiming to push Mexican interlopers on Canadian clear channels "back into Texas," four private Canadian stations have made application to the Canadian Broad- casting Corp. for permission to use 50,000 watt signals. They are CKAC, Montreal; CFRB, Toronto; CKLW, Windsor, and CKY, Winnipeg. The owners of CRCT, Toronto, now leased by the CBC, have also applied for 50,000 watts should the corporation end the lease and return the station to private operation. Goal of the Canadian broadcasters is not so much increased coverage as power to blanket the Mexicans, who have appropriated Canadian wave- lengths and cause serious interference in rural districts, according to Phil Lalonde, manager of CKAC. Present powers are: CKAC, 5,000; CFRB, 10,000; CKLW, 5,000, and CKY, 15,000, enough to cover trading areas if interference were banished. Neighboring super-power stations also cut the signals of CFRB and CKAC, Columbia affiliates. The Mon- treal station has WGN, 50,000, at 720 kilocycles, and WSB, 50,000, at 740, which both spill over into its chan- nel. CFRB has as its neighbor WLW with a half-million watts. Gladstone Murray, new general manager of the CBC, has not yet re- plied to the requests for power jumps. Bill James on KHJ Staff Hollywood, Jan. 31.— Bill James has been added to the sales staff of KHJ. James was formerly with the Associated Cinema Studios. Smith New WGPC Manager Albany, Ga., Jan. 31. — Hammond B. Smith, formerly of WMC, Mem- phis, has been appointed manager of WGPC, Albany. Frank Clarke Joins WMC Memphis, Jan. 31. — Frank Clarke, a member of the Memphis Commer cial- Appeal advertising staff for more than six years, has joined the com mercial staff of WMC. KWSC Increases Power Pullman, Wash., Jan. 31. — An in crease in power to 5,000 watts has been made by KWSC, Washington State College. Construction of the new, unique 224-foot vertical radiator, which replaces old-type antenna, was done by student engineers. Wilson on Mardi Gras New Orleans, Jan. 31. — Jimmy Wilson, WWL announcer, will handle the CBS Mardi Gras broadcast be ginning Feb. 4 and concluding with the arrival of Rex Feb. 9. Columbia may broadcast the 1937 annual Pirogue races at Bayou Bara taria this spring. Inasmuch as camera men have handled the race for the past two or three years, the airways believe it will be a feature. The Pirogue races are a novelty in this section. The Pirogue is a canoe made from a hollow log, propelled by a double blade paddle. Pulliam Takes Over WIRE, Indianapolis Indianapolis, Jan. 31. — Eugene C. Pulliam, head of Central Newspapers, has assumed control of WIRE here. His son, Eugene S. Pulliam, is news editor. Work on the station's new transmitter and directional antenna will be completed within a few days, when WIRE will be on the air with 5,000 watts for daytime transmission and 1,000 watts at night. The F. C. C. recently approved this power increase. Shafer to Handle Programs Lincoln, Neb., Jan. 31. — John Shafer, formerly head announcer with KFAB-KFOR here, has been made assistant program director to Lyle DeMoss. His place will be filled by J. B. Lake, who is the new senior an- nouncer. The move was made because of intention of the studio to originate more local programs. "Fiesta" Program Shifting Hollywood, Jan. 31. — The "Fiesta" program, a CBS sustaining feature which recently transferred from the east, will probably be transferred- back to New York. The high cost of mu- sicians from this end added to the already heavy expense of carrying the show as a sustainer is the reason the Lud Gluskin produced program will return east. Start Children's Program Madison, Wis., Jan. 31. — "Madi- son's Juvenile Stars of Tomorrow," a new 15-minute program has made its appearance on WIBA, sponsored by The Emporium, and will seek the best voices among children of Madi- son and vicinity. It is limited to sing- ers and children from one to 16 years of age. Real Artists Cincinnati, Jan. 31. — Of the 50 men in Frank Simon's Arm- co Band, heard over WLW and NBC-Blue, 22 are members of the Cincinnati Symphony orchestra and 14 formerly were with the late John Philip Sousa. New Station to Open Kansas City, Jan. 31.— The News- Tribune, publisher of Jefferson City's morning and evening paper, went on the air with its new radio station, KWOS, yesterday. The station will operate daytime only and will reach Jefferson City and its trade territory. KHJ Not to Renew Contract Hollywood, Jan. 31. — KHJ will not renew its contract for radio tran- scriptions with the Associated Studios when the pact expires in March, it is understood. The new contract will be signed with World, it is believed. King Joins WELT New Haven, Jan. 31. — Fred King has been named to the engineering staff of WELT to replace Kenneth MacLeod, now with the experimental department of WFRC, Hartford. King was formerly at WATR. Application Denied Bridgeport, Jan. 31. — ■Application for a station on the 1,420-kilocycle band, then switching to the 1,190, re- cently vacated by WATR, the New England Radio Corp., has been denied its request by the F.C.C. Arnold Nygren to Marry Philadelphia, Jan. 31. — Arnold Nygren, WFIL engineer, has an- nounced his engagement to Elaine James of Merchantville, N. J. Ny- gren came here two years ago from NBC in New York. New Orleans' News Broadcast Gaining New Orleans, Jan. 31. — News per- iods over the major broadcasting sta- tions sponsored by local firms are in- creasing in New Orleans. The periods run on a 15-minute schedule through- out the day and night. There are four major stations in the city. It is said that WBNO, after reor- ganizing has been completed, will use its own news service. Asks Station Approval LeMars, la., Jan. 31. — Western Union College has applied to the Fed- eral Communications Commission for permission to construct a station here with 100 watts power at night, 250 watts during the day and unlimited time on a frequency of 1,210 kilo- cycles. Paper Would Build Station Athens, Ga., Jan. 31. — The Athens Times is seeking authority from the F. C. C. to construct a station here, to be operated on 1,210 kilocycles, with 100 watts at night, 250 watts days, unlimited time. Form Station Company Dover, Del., Jan. 31. — Arlington Radio Service, Inc., has been organ- ized here to own and operate a broad- casting station, listing capital of $10,- 000. The incorporators are C. P. Dickson, J. E. Waddell, and Charles R. Fenwick, of Washington, D. C. Higsby Joins WAAW Des Moines, Jan. 31. — ■ Hiram Higsby, entertainer on the Iowa Broadcasting System, has joined the executive commercial staff of WAAW. His place is being filled by Lou Mar- tin, formerly farm program director of KFRU, Columbia, Mo. Benavie Joins Jam Handy Detroit, Jan. 31. — Samuel Benavie, musical director of WJR, Detroit, has joined the Jam Handy film organiza- tion, where he will head the staff of writers and arrangers of music. How- ever, he will continue his post at WJR. Beverly Roberts to Sing Hollywood, Jan. 31.— Beverly Rob- erts, Warner contract player, has started a weekly 15-minute program over KFWB Mondays at 9 P. M. It will consist of a number of popular songs by the actress. To Extend Experiments Hartford Jan. 31. — WTIC, Travel- er's 50,000-watt station has received permission to extend its special ex- perimental authorization and change frequency from 1,060 to 1,040. Barrett to WDRC Staff Hartford, Jan. 31. — Ray Barrett of New York has been added as an- nouncer to the WDRC staff. KOI L at Omaha Will Build Transmitter Omaha, Jan. 31. — A new transmit- ter will be built by KOIL, according to John Henry, general manager of Central States Broadcasting Co., after his return from Washington, where permission was given to in- crease KOIL's daytime power from 2,500 to 5,000 watts. The station stays at 2,500 watts at night. Insurance Firms Take Time Omaha, Jan. 31. — The United Benefit Life and Mutual Benefit Health & Accident, companion insur- ance companies, have spotted a series of 13 five-minute test programs for local broadcasting at 55 stations. The programs consist of a dramatized play- let and will cost a total of $65,000 to broadcast. Agency managers share expense with the home office. N. E. Show Changed Boston, Jan. 31. — "Titans of Science," the name of one-half hour programs sponsored by the University Broadcasting Council during 1936, has been changed to "Men of Destiny," a new half hour program of dramatiza- tions of the lives of great historical figures, such as Van Gogh, Bismark, Tolstoi and Robert E. Lee. The pro- gram goes over the Colonial network. Ramsdell Joins C. of C. Philadelphia, Jan. 31. — Sayre M. Ramsdell, vice-president in charge of advertising and publicity for Philco Radio & Television Corp., was one of the four new members elected to the board of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce at its annual membership meeting. This marks the first en- trance of a radio executive on the chamber's board. Kansas Hears "Strange Facts" Kansas City, Jan. 31. — "Strange Facts," oddities of information about almost everything, is a new program originating at WIBWX, Topeka, and broadcast over the Kansas network, including KCKN, Kansas City, Kan. "KCKN Frivolities," a regular eve- ning feature, has gone on the Kansas network. Radio Scripters to Films Hollywood, Jan. 31. — Two of the four writers who have been scripting the Jack Benny program have been signed by 20th Century-Fox for "Sally, Irene and Mary," which is be- ing produced by Earl Carroll. The two signed are Hugh Wedlock and Howard Snyder who will also continue with the Benny show. Colby Turns Lecturer Houston, Jan. 31. — Frank Colby, veteran announcer of KPRC and sta- tion manager, is giving a series of lec- tures to public school occupations classes on "Broadcasting." WSPD Transfer Approved Toledo. Jan. 31.— The F. C. C. has granted WSPD voluntary assignment of license to Fort Industry Co., oper- ating on 1,340 kilocycles, with one ki- lowatt nights, and five kilowatts, day- time. WSMK Seeks More Power Dayton, Jan. 31.— WSMK has filed a petition with the F. C. C. to boost power from 200 to 250 watts nights and 500 watts for daytime. Monday, February I, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY "Camille" Off To Dizzy Pace In Pittsburgh Philadelphia, Jan. 31. — Three of the first runs gave the unseasonable, rainy weather as their alibi, the other two didn't need an alibi. They were the Penn and the Warner, where busi- ness was little short of sensational. At the Penn, "Camille" had the best gross a Garbo picture has enjoyed here in years, around $25,500. It was moved for an additional week to the Warner, where "After the Thin Man," taking the same route, ran up a new mark of $10,250 on the heels of its phenomenal week at the Penn. Otherwise, takings were consider- ably off. The Alvin had a weak en- try in "The White Hunter" and "Sins of the Children" and the double bill was pulled after six days to $4,700, while the Stanley also took it on the chin with "Mind Your Own Business" and Benny Davis' "Star Dust Revue," doing only $14,000. Even though the Fulton didn't run to unorthodox fig- ures with "Rembrandt," the Charles Laughton picture did better than par at $5,400, which was considered good enough to win it an extra three days beyond the regulation week. Total first run business was $59,850. Average is $44,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 14: "THE WHITE HUNTER" (2ftth-Fox) "SINS OF THE CHILDREN" (G. N.) ALVIN— (2,000), 25c-40c, 6 days. Gross: $4,700. (Average, 7 days, $5,500) "REMBRANDT" (U. A.) FULTON— (1,750), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,400. (Average, $4,500) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) PENN— (3,300), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $25,500. (Average, $11,000) "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS" (Para.) STANLEY— (3,600), 25c-60c, 7 days. Stage: Benny Davis' "Star Dust Revue" with Shea and Raymond, the Manhattanites, Mickey Braatz and others. Gross: $14,000. (Average, $18,500) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) WARNER— (2,000), 25c-50c, 7 days, 2nd week downtown. Gross: $10,250. (Average, $4,500) Wall Street U Outstanding in Board Activity Net Low Close Change 36!4 36'A — % 44K 44^ + 54 5!4 sy4 17 17 — SA High Columbia 3654 Columbia, pfd 44^4 Consolidated Film 5% Consolidated, pfd. 17 General Theatre Equipment 32J4 Loew's, Inc 73}i Paramount 28% Paramount 1 pfd.. 197 Paramount 2 pfd. 25^ Pathe Film RKO Wt 20th Century -Fox. 37% Universal, pfd 105 Warner Bros 15^ Warner Bros., pfd. 67% 32% 32% 73 73^4 27% 28J4 196% 197 2534 25% 37% 37% 102% 105 14% 15 67% 67% + % - % - % +4 + % Curb Off Lightly Net High Low Close Change Grand National... 3% 3% 3% — % Sentry Safety 1 1 1 — % Sonotone 2% 2% 2% Trans Lux 4% 4% 4% — % Fractional Bond Movement Net High Low Close Change Loew's 3%s '46... 100% 100% 100% -f % Paramount Pic- tures 6s '55 100% 100% 100% — % Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 100 993% 99% — % (Quotations at close of Jan. 30.) Allah " $8,000 in Seattle Despite Snows and Storms Seattle, Jan. 31. — "Garden of Allah" was outstanding in a week marked by snowstorms and the cold- est weather in three years. It grossed $8,000 at the Liberty, which was over par by $3,000, and was held over. "Romeo and Juliet" pulled $6,100 at $1.00 top in the Music Box. "Three Smart Girls" was the only other at- traction to get into the profit column. Total first run business was $43,050. Average is $41,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 22 : "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) "LUCKIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD" (Univ.) BLUE MOUSE— (950), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days, 3rd week, extended run from Para- mount. Gross: $2,650. (Average, $4,000) "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) FIFTH AVENUE— (2,500), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $7,200. (Average, $7,000) "GARDEN OF ALLAH" (U. A.) LIBERTY— (1,800), 25c-35c-40c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $5,000) "ROMEO AND JULIET" (M-G-M) MUSIC BOX— (950), 35c-50c-75c-$1.00, 7 days. Gross: $6,100. (Average, $4,000) "ONE IN A MILLION" (20th-Fox) "THE ACCUSING FINGER" (Para.) MUSIC HALL— (2,275), 2Sc-30c-40c, 5 days, 3rd week, extended run from Or- pheum. Gross: $4,550. (Average, $5,000) "SING ME A LOVE SONG" (F. N.) ORPHEUM— (2,450), 25c-30c-40c, 7 days. Stage: Vaudeville headed by Weaver Bros. & Elviry. Gross: $5,600. (Average, $6,000) "HAPPY GO LUCKY" (Republic) PALOMAR— (1,500), 25c-35c, 7 days. Stage: Vaudeville headed by O'Connor Family. Gross: $4,100. (Average, $4,500) "THAT GIRL FROM PARIS" (Radio) "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (3,050), 25c-30c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,850. (Average, $6,000) "Love Song" Pulls ,000 at Portland Portland, Jan. 31. — "Sing Me a Love Song" in its first week at United Artists soared to an even $9,000, over par by $4,000. "Theodora Goes Wild" was moved to the Blue Mouse for a third down- town week, securing $2,500, over the usual take by $800. "After the Thin Man" was held for a good fourth week at the Broadway. Total first run business was $41,900. Average is $24,700. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 16 : "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) "DOWN THE STRETCH" (F. N.) BROADWAY— (1,912), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 4th week. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $5,000) "THEODORA GOES WILD" (Col.) "CAN THIS BE DIXIE?" (20th-Fox) BLUE MOUSE— (1,700), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 3rd downtown week. Gross: $2,500. (Average, $1,700) "ROMEO AND JULIET" (M-G-M) MAYFAIR— (1,700), 55c-85c-$1.10, 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $3,000) "GREAT GUY" (G. N.) "JUNGLE PRINCESS" (Para.) ORPHEUM— (1,700), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,900. (Average, $5,000) "RAINBOW ON THE RIVER" (Radio) "CAREER WOMAN" (20th-Fox) PARAMOUNT— (3,008), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $5,000) "SING ME A LOVE SONG" (W. B.) UNITED ARTISTS— (945), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $5,000) Vachon Heads Operators Portland, Me., Jan. 31. — Wilbur J. Vachon of the Strand has been named president of the local operators union. Morris Eaton was named vice-presi- dent at the annual business meeting; Leslie Way, secretary, and Earle G. Hamm, treasurer. Dec. Tax Revenue Sets New Record By CLARENCE LINZ Washington, Jan. 31. — Setting a new high record, admission tax col- lections in December reached a total of $2,194,585, an increase of more than $500,000 over the November re- ceipts of $1,605,674 and $400,000 over the $1,755,059 reported for December, 1935, it was reported yesterday by the Bureau of Internal Revenue. As a result of the heavy December collections, total receipts from the admission tax for 1936 amounted to $18,457,482, or $2,500,000 over the 1935 collections of $16,406,022, it was disclosed. While theatre attendance through- out the entire country showed a marked improvement in November (the period covered by the December collections), it practically doubled in the Broadway district of New York, the December report for the third dis- trict showing total collections of $781,641 against $394,756 the preced- ing month. Collections from admissions, includ- ing season tickets, more than doubled, jumping from $346,632 to $703,180, while receipts from free or reduced rate admissions were more than halved, dropping from $7,340 to $3,053, it was reported. Other collections included $14,803 on tickets sold by brokers, against $4,896 in November ; $1,468 on tickets sold by proprietors in excess of the established price, against $1,037 ; $988 on permanent use or lease of boxes and seats, against $29, and $58,148 on admissions to roof gardens and cab- arets, against $34,822. "U" Has Serial Sheet The_ Universal publicity and ex- ploitation department has turned out a striking folder on the four new serials shortly to be released by the company. It is advance material for the exhibitor and contains reproduc- tions in color of some of the more ex- citing scenes from the various films. It measures approximately four feet square and has vari-colored panels for each picture. The advertising stresses the fact that the serials have ready made audiences who are familiar with the titles from Sunday comic supple- ments, radio, etc. Seven New Toronto Spots Toronto, Jan. 31. — A survey of building operations in Toronto during 1936 shows that seven theatres were erected during the year with a com- bined seating capacity of 6,000, this being a local record for the past 10 years. All but one of the seven thea- tres were neighborhood houses. Two more theatres are under construction, but they have not yet been opened, these being the Queen Mary and the Bellevue. Thomas Acquires 'Wojan' Harry Thomas, president of Mutual Pictures, has acquired world rights to "Wojan," a Balinese film. "Paris" Best In St. Louis With $16,500 St. Louis, Jan. 31.— "That Girl from Paris" and a snappy show on the stage proved the best draw of the week, dragging $16,500 to the box- office of the Ambassador, a very sat- isfactory showing as it was $7,500 above house average. "Three Smart Girls" and "One in a Million" at the Missouri also were popular with a take of $13,000, which was about $4,000 above average. At the Fox "The Plainsman," supported by selected shorts, had a very good week, grossing $16,300. This was $2,300 above par. "After the Thin Man," in its sec- ond week at Loew's, held up to $11,- 200, $1,200 above average. In the first week it did $23,000. Total first run business of week, $64,500. Average, $49,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 14: "THAT GIRL FROM PARIS" (Radio) AMBASSADOR— (3,018), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Stage: specialty acts. Gross: $16,- 500. (Average, $9,000) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) FOX— (5,038), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $16,300. (Average, $14,000) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) LOEW'S— (3,162), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $11,200. (Average, $10,000) "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) "ONE IN A MILLION" (20th-Fox) MISSOURI-(3,514), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $9,000) "WANTED: JANE TURNER" (Radio) ST. LOUIS— (4,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Stage: Vaudeville. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $7,000) "Possession" Retitled Hollywood, Jan. 31.— "Personal Property" is the final title of M-G-M's "Man in Possession." THEATRE ACCOUNTING by WILLIAM F. MORRIS (C.P.A.) Tells all the facts about your business each week. • Payroll data for Social Security Taxes. • Profit at a glance — Daily or Weekly. • All expenses deducted — In- cluding Rent, Taxes and Depreciation. • Complete record of ad- vance bookings. • Itemized Schedule of All Assets and Equipment with Table of Depreciation Rates. • Does not require a book- keeper to handle it. $3 ENOUGH FOR A FULL YEAR'S BOOKKEEPING QUIGLEY BOOKSHOP ROCKEFELLER CENTER NEW YORK MOTION PICTURE DAILY Key City Grosses Off From High Total to $1,674,774 No. Theatres Gross No. Theatres Gross Week Ending Week Ending Jan. 16-17 Jan. 9-10 Boston 7 $107,600 7 $132,500 Buffalo 5 51,713 5 73,200 Chicago 8 113,100 8 210,400 Cincinnati 8 57,300 8 74,150 Cleveland 5 59,500 5 85,300 Denver 6 31,500 6 50,000 Detroit 7 95,400 7 93,800 Houston 4 29,500 4 37,300 Indianapolis 5 27,000 5 39,900 Kansas City 5 38,500 5 51,100 Lincoln 5 8,950 5 11,350 Los Angeles 10 95,211 10 148,400 Louisville 7 23,000 7 36,500 Milwaukee 6 34,700 5 29,600 Minneapolis 4 40,100 4 30,500 Montreal 5 44,500 5 52,000 New Haven 4 23,200 4 38,900 New York 9 240,200 9 377,200 Oklahoma City 4 12,300 4 15,200 Omaha 4 31,500 4 38,200 Philadelohia 9 86,800 9 127,200 Pittsburgh 5 59,850 5 74,100 Portland 6 41,900 6 36,900 Providence 5 43,700 5 56,800 San Francisco 8 87,600 8 103,300 St. Louis 5 64,500 6 81,250 St. Paul 4 14,500 4 15,900 Seattle 8 39,650 8 41,600 Washington 6 71,500 7 100,400 174 $1,674,774 175 $2,262,950 Key city grosses from September to the week ending Jan. 16-17 : Sept. 4-5 163 1,747,748 Sept. 11-12 173 2,090,144 Sept. 18-19 176 1,806,350 Sept. 25-26 177 1,744,332 Oct. 2-3 177 1,705,308 Oct. 9-10 175 1,625,287 Oct. 16-17 174 1,780,168 Oct. 23-24 175 1,690,044 Oct. 30-31 177 1,625,216 Nov. 6-7 178 1,629,560 Nov. 13-14 180 1,711,209 Nov. 20-21 180 1,654,312 Nov. 27-28 176 1,568,247 Dec. 4-5 176 1,946,078 Dec. 11-12 172 1,613,087 Dec. 18-19 176 1,568,151 Dec. 25-26 173 1,316,371 Jan. 2-3 178 2,037,040 Jan. 9-10 175 2,262,950 Jan. 16-17 174 1,674,774 {Copyright, 1936, Quigley Publications, Inc.) 12 Chicago Eyes Shows to End Double Bills {Continued from page 1) card is also very problematical. If good unit stage shows with known headliners could be obtained for runs that would last several weeks it is thought that business in the de luxe neighborhood theatres would improve. Chicagoans who publicly took every means possible to stop double features after they had been the general policy for 16 months, prior to their ousting in 1932, are still much opposed to the plan. Shows that are too long and keep children out late, poorly balancer! programs that are a result of poor release schedules and dozens of other complaints are heard by independent and circuit men who wish they had never started the plan. The indepen- dents say it was the only way they could meet the competition of the big B. & K. group. Women's organizations are also re- ported to be planning some means of trying to halt the double feature policy. One reason for this is that young people, they claim, are for- saking the theatres to attend night clubs and taverns. Small exhibitors are fighting the dual idea mainly for the reason that it runs film costs too high. Most com- panies are demanding that the small exhibitor buy all the short product at well as the features. This is the fly in the ointment as the exhibitor says he has trouble enough to get two fea- tures into one program. ITOA Threaten Legal Fight on Split Weeks {Continued from page 1) of a five-day "weekend." The state- ment was signed by John Manheimer, executive secretary of the I.T.O.A. Manheimer declared the organiza- tion's quarrel is not with Loew's, but with the distributors. Unless the dis- tributors make adequate revision of their contracts with I.T.O.A. mem- bers, Manheimer said, in accordance with the telegrams of protest which were sent to local major company ex- changes last week, legal action will be begun. The I.T.O.A. counsel, Weis- man, Celler, Quinn, Allen and Spett have been instructed to proceed in the matter unless the distributors indicate a willingness to adjust contracts, the statement concluded. "Theodora" Run Starts Boston, Jan. 31. — The disputed "Theodora Goes Wild" is being played by Herman Rifkin at the Academy in Northampton, beginning today. West- ern Massachusetts Theatres, Inc., held up the original playdate with an in- junction, alleging that the Columbia feature should go to them as a 1935-36 release. The matter was settled out of court last week. Signs Beatrice Lillie Hollywood, Jan. 31. — Emanuel Cohen has signed Beatrice Lillie for three pictures, the first to be "English Derby." It goes into work for Major Prod-Paramount in July. Dual Elimination Is Balked by Harris (Continued from page 1) clared that they have no intention of going to single features at the War- ner. Rules Bank Night Lottery New Orleans, Jan. 31. — Attorney General Greek L. Rice of Mississippi has handed down an opinion that Bank Night is a lottery. The opinion was rendered upon request of Representa- tive John Holloman, Columbus attor- ney, where Bank Night has been in operation. Seek Iowa Bank Night Ban Des Moines, Jan. 31. — A bill to ban Bank Night in Iowa has been in- troduced by Representatives William Treimer and Thomas I. Kephart, Democrats. Suit clubs and other so- called lotteries are included. Allied Convention Set for May 12-14 (Continued from page 1) which Ed Kuykendall, president of the M.P.T.O.A., will also be a speaker. The Virginia organization, of which Morton Thalheimer is presi- dent, is not affiliated with either of the national organizations. To Honor Furst, Pavone New Haven, Jan. 31. — A double testimonial dinner will be held Monday in honor of Nat Furst, promoted from New Haven to Boston exchange man- ager for Warners and John Pavone, moved up from salesman to fill Furst's place in New Haven, at the Taft. Harry Shaw, Poli division manager, will m. c, and Barney Pitkin of RKO heads the committee in charge which also includes Edward Ruff, B. E. Huffman and Samuel Rosen. Monday, February I, 1937 Milwaukee Theatres Set Flood Benefits (Continued from page 1) consin and upper Michigan staged flood benefit shows on the morning of Jan. 30, with the assistance of all Milwaukee exchanges and unions. In other cities exhibitors staged similar shows. Film Shipments Halted St. Louis, Jan. 31. — The Railway Express Agency has placed an em- bargo on all film shipments to a num- ber of towns in Indiana, Illinois, Ar- kansas, Kentucky and Missouri. For other destinations in those states ship- ments were being accepted subject to delay. The collection of relief funds from St. Louis theatres will last one week, to Feb. 6. Fox Midwest houses in 96 cities of Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska are planning benefit shows. National Theatre Supply here has donated $100 to the flood fund. Rigs Own Power Unit Middletown, O., Jan. 31. — The fact that this town of 30,000 population is without electric current is not pre- venting the Paramount, largest of the four local Southio units, from operat- ing on regular schedule. City Manager C. E. Peffely, who also is manager of the Paramount, has set up two gasoline engines and two generators in the lot adjoining the theatre, and is developing sufficient current to operate the projection ma- chines, house, lobby and marquee lights. The town otherwise is in total dark- ness, except for candles and oil lamps, service having been discontinued when the Union Gas and Electric Co., Cin- cinnati, which feeds Middletown, was compelled to shut down. Holds Matinee Benefit Elkton, Md., Jan. 31. — A special matinee benefit performance, the pro- ceeds to be turned over to the Ameri- can Red Cross for flood relief, was held in the Avalon here Friday by Manager James N. Saunders. The benefit was given a plug over the air by WCBM, Baltimore. Turns Over Day's Receipts Dayton, O., Jan. 31. — The Victory, downtown independent first run, turned over its entire Thursday re- ceipts to the Red Cross for benefit of flood sufferers. Certificates to 165 Films in Two Months (Continued from page 1) of the M.P.P.D.A. and presaged heavy activity for the current year. The survey, which showed a general scarc- ity of re-issued films contrary to re- cent months, dates from Nov. 21, 1936, to Jan. 23, 1937. A total of 1,759 features and 1,008 shorts from the major and independ- ent production field have gone through the Hays office numerical code certifi- cate system and emerged with qual- ifying seals since the department started functioning July 15, 1934. Only six features and one short of the total number of pictures approved during the past two months, were re-issues. The Leading Motio Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert. Intelligent the Industry in All Branches VOL. 41. NO. 27 NEW YORK, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1937 TEN CENTS New 20th-Fox Deal in Work For Australia Hutchinson Reveals Move On Return from Trip Hoyts and Union Theatres, compris- ing 125 theatres in Australia, may en- er a 20-year operating agreement starting Jan. 1, 1938, when the current xve-year deal between the two cir- cuits expires. This was learned yes- terday with the return of Walter J. Hutchinson, Twentieth Century-Fox foreign head, from a six-month trip around the world. Hutchinson spent two months in Sydney conferring with Stuart Doyle, head of Union Theatres, and Charles Munroe, in charge of Hoyts for Twen- tieth Century-Fox. In accordance with the current agreement, Hutchin- son gave formal notice for the can- cellation of the present five-year pact and also submitted the new 20-year plan. Before the week is out Hutchinson will submit the 20-year plan to Sid- ney R. Kent, president of Twentieth Century-Fox. A cable is expected from Munroe this weekend on latest developments. "In the event Union Theatres does not accept the new arrangement," Hutchinson said, "we will break away and go on our own." Hoyts has about 100 of the 125 units involved in the pooling setup, which controls 80 per (Continued from page 2) AT&T Probe Fund Continued in Bill By CLARENCE LINZ Washington, Feb. 1.— Carrying a total of $1,604,000 for the F.C.C., of which $350,000 is for the comple- tion of the investigation of the Ameri- can Telephone & Telegraph Co., the independent offices appropriation bill for 1938 was reported today to the House of Representatives by the Ap- propriations Committee. Also included in the bill was $15,000 (Continued on page 4) Zukor Will Attend MPTOA Miami Meet Adolph Zukor will attend the M. P. T. O. A. national convention at Miami, March 16, 17 and 18, as an honor guest together with several Adminis- tration officials, arrangements for whose attendance are now being made (Continued on page 16) Congress Gets New Plea for Probe of FCC Wigglesworth Resumes Attack on Policies By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, Feb. 1. — Introduction in the House of the independent ap- propriations bill today was made the occasion for a new attack on radio monopoly and the F. C. C. by Rep- resentative Wigglesworth of Massa- chusetts, Republican member of the House Appropriations Committee. Wigglesworth renewed his demand for a Congressional investigation, charging that the commission has failed to exercise the regulatory func- tions imposed upon it and had ap- proved transfers and purchases of sta- tions that were difficult to justify, frequently at prices far in excess of the value of the property. The act, he said, was designed to eliminate possibilities of monopoly and of un- restrained trafficking in licenses. "Under the policies pursued by the commission," he asserted, "virtual monopoly is at hand." The congressman asserted that the (Continued on page 16) Para. Fee Appeals Lost in High Court Washington, Feb. 1. — Refusing to review the actions of the New York courts in rejecting the applications of Archibald Palmer, Louis Boehm and Samuel Zirn for allowances totaling $100,000 in connection with the reor- ganization of Paramount, the U. S. Supreme Court today struck a blow at multiplicity of security owners' committees which has marked a num- ber of reorganizations under the Fed- eral law. The petitions for review covered $15,000 sought by Palmer, $10,000 by (Continued on page 4) Mickey Writes Disneyville, Calif. Editor Motion Picture Daily Dear Sir: ". . . our first Silly Sym- phony for RKO will be "The Old Mill.'" Kindest regards from your friend, MICKEY MOUSE RKO, Midwest End Talks on K. C. Pool RKO's proposed pool with Fox Midwest in Kansas City is off and negotiations have been completed whereby RKO will combine opera- tions with Paramount in that city. As a result, RKO's setup in Kansas City has changed. The Orpheum will be reopened this week as a continued run house with the Mainstreet, the other RKO house, to play "A" prod- (Continued on page 4) Tender Mexico City Luncheon to Quigley By JAMES LOCKHART Mexico City, Feb. 1. — Martin Quigley was tendered a luncheon here today at the Hotel Reforma attended by a number of film executives and newspaper men. Among those at the luncheon were : Arthur Pratchett, Paramount ; Luis Lesanna, Radio ; Gustav Mohme, 20th Century-Fox ; Jacob Epstein, Univer- sal ; Gordon Dunlap and Frederick Sordo, United Artists ; Carlos Niebla, M-G-M ; Felipe Mier, independent dis- tributor ; Enrique Zienert of the Film Board of Trade, Watterson R. Roth- acker and Walter Howie. MPPDA Votes Out Drunkenness Scenes Hollywood, Feb. 1. — A decision to curtail scenes depicting drinking and drunkenness was reached here at a secret meeting of the M.P.P.D.A. The production code authority has been instructed to eliminate as far as possible all such action from scripts (Continued on page 10) What Pictures Are Doing Pictures and grosses make the film business go 'round. Per- formances in key cities are reported by wire today from these points : Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Lincoln, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Mon- treal, New Haven, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Provi- dence, St. Louis, San Francisco, Spokane and Washington. See pages 10, 11, 12 and 13. Aylesworth to Quit RKO for Newspaper Job Will Join Scripps-Howard About March 1 San Diego, Feb. 1. — M. H. Ayles- worth will resign as chairman of the board of RKO to become a member of the general management of the Scripps-Howard newspapers on or about March 1, it was stated here to- day at the annual business meeting of the newspaper organization. Aylesworth's withdrawal from RKO was not unexpected within the film industry and, in fact, it had been a matter of report and conjecture for several months past. After serving as RKO president for several years, Aylesworth continued with the corn- Radio's slant on the Ayles- worth move on page 14. Ad- ditional developments yes- terday in radio on page 16. pany as chairman of the board follow- ing the entrance of new financial in- terests into RKO and the subsequent appointment of Leo Spitz, Chicago attorney, as president. As board chair- man he served in an advisory capacity to the new financial mentors, Atlas Corp., and Lehman Bros., while they were developing a plan of reorganiza- tion for the company. With the com- pleted plan having been filed with the U. S. District Court in New York (Continued on page 4) Coast Firms Named In FTC Complaints Washington, Feb. 1. — Charging misrepresentation in the leasing and renting of advertising pictures which they produce, the Federal Trade Com- mission today issued formal complaints citing Royal Revues, Inc., West Coast Discount Corp., Ltd., and their officers, L. H. and W. C. Hyde, trading as Royal Film Studios, for alleged vio- (Continued on page 4) Bank Night Appeal Is Lost in Kansas Kansas City, Feb. 1. — The Su- preme Court of Kansas on Jan. 30 denied the appeal of the Fox Kansas Theatre Corp. and Affiliated Enter- prises, Inc., for a rehearing on its Bank Night decision. In December (Continued on page 2) MOTION PICTURE DAILY 2 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 February 2, 1937 No. 27 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager ssa Published daily except Sunday il^Mni and holidays by Quigley Pub- ijjHMj lishing Company, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, ^^^^^ vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Avenue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copy- righted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc. Address all correspondence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publica- tions, Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, Teatro Al Dia, International Motion Picture Almanac and Fame: The Box Office Check-Up. Hollywood Bureau: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Sereets, Boone Mancall, Manager; Chicago Bureau: 624 South Michigan Avenue, C. B. O'Neill, Man- ager; London Bureau: 4 Golden Square, London W 1, Bruce Allan, Representative; Cable Address "Quigpubco, London"; Berlin Bureau: Stuelerstrasse 2, Berlin W 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative; Paris Bureau: 29, Rue Marsoulan, Pierre Autre, Representative; Rome Bureau: Viale Gorizia, Vittorio Malpassuti, Representative; Aus- tralian Bureau: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins Street, Melbourne, Cliff Holt, Representative; Mexico City Bureau: Apar- tado 269, James Lockhart, Representative; Budapest Bureau: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest, II, Endre Hevesi, Representative; Tokyo Bureau: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken, H. Tominaga, Representative; Prague Bureau: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1, Harry Knopf, Rep- resentative; Shanghai Bureau: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Building, 142 Museum Road, J. P. Koehler, Representative; Rio de Janiero Bureau: Caixa Postal 3358, A. Weissman, Representative; Buenos Aires Bureau: Corrientes 2495, N. Bruski, Representative; Montevideo Bureau: P. O. Box 664, Paul Bodo, Representative; Moscow Bureau: Petrovski Per 8, Beatrice Stem, Representa- tive; Vienna Bureau: Neustiftgasse, 55, Vienna VII, Hans Lorant, Representative; Amsterdam Bureau: Zuider Amstellaan 5, Philip de Schaap, Representative; Helsing- fors Bureau: Fredriksgatan 19 C, Charlotte Laszlo, Representative; Warsaw Bureau: Sienna 32, R. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Wallace Smith Dies Hollywood, Feb. 1. — Wallace Smith, 48, screen writer and novelist, is dead here as a result of a heart at- tack. Smith did the screenplay for "The Gay Desperado" and "Two Arabian Knights." Montague, Spingold West Hollywood, Feb. 1. — Abe Mon- ague and Nate Spingold arrived here Monday for Columbia conferences. MITCHELL MAY, Jr. CO., INC. • INSURANCE Specialists To The Motion Picture Industry 75 Maiden Lane, N. Y. City 510 W. 6th St., Los Anieies, Cal. New 20th-Fox Deal in Work For Australia {Continued from page 1) cent of the buying power in the six most important key centers of Aus- tralia. Hutchinson said he acted as media- tor to effect a deal for the good of the whole situation, traveling 40,000 miles to present a plan which, it is hoped, will be approved. The combined cir- cuit is known as Greater Union The- atres, Inc. While abroad, Hutchinson also com- pleted a deal whereby Twentieth Cen- tury-Fox purchased an interest in the Amalgamated Circuit of 50 theatres in New Zealand. Eric Rutledge has been placed in charge and was the only change made with the company's en- trance into the situation. Of the 12 days he spent in London, the Twentieth Century-Fox foreign head was down with a cold for seven days. Returning with Hutchinson was F. L. Harley, managing director for the company in Great Britain. He will remain for three or four weeks. Lauds "Red Robe" "England is witnessing an era of prosperity not seen in the past IS years," he said. The company's busi- ness in England is "substantially bet- ter," he added without quoting fig- ures. Before he left England, Harley saw a rough print of "Under the Red Robe," second of five Robert T. Kane pictures being produced on a large scale by Twentieth Century-Fox abroad. He said it is greater than "Wings of the Morning." Kane, he said, has started on his third, the title of which he could not recall when met at the pier, and has set "Cyrano de Bergerac" as the fourth picture. Hutchinson, Harley and Les Whelan will be among the home office con- tingent leaving today for Kansas City to attend the two-day district mana- gers meeting Thursday and Friday at the Muelhbach, Kansas City. Bank Night Appeal Is Lost in Kansas (Continued from page 1) the court held that Bank Night con- stituted a lottery. The quo warranto case was brought by Attorney General Clarence V. Beck against Fox theatres in Kansas in con- nection with specific use of the pro- motion by the Fox house at Fort Scott. After the decision, all Fox houses were ordered to discontinue prizes. "We'll try to arrange for the houses in Kansas to have their last Bank Night this week," said Harry A. McClure, district manager for Fox Midwest. Attorney General Beck is instruct- ing county attorneys to stop Bank Night. Customs Man to Selznick Hollywood, Feb. 1. — The writing staff of Selznick International has been augmented by the addition of Alfred A. Cohn, formerly U. S. Col- lector of Customs at the Port of Los Angeles. Gambee and Balsdon Seriously Injured Los Angeles, Feb. 1. — Sumner Gambee, vice-president, and George Balsdon, booker for National Thea- tres, are still in a serious condition at St. Joseph's Hospital, Stockton, from injuries sustained in an auto smash- up last Thursday. Balsdon has been in a coma for four days and is said to have only an even chance to survive. His wife, father and mother are en route from New York, having left there by train Sunday. Gambee suffered infernal injuries, including several fractured ribs and a punctured lung. Nick Turner, who was driving Gambee and Balsdon from San Joa- quin to San Francisco, has a fractured neck and other injuries. Turner and Gambee are recovering slowly. The accident is said to have occurred when a driver in another car tried to pass a bus in a driving rain. Spyros Skouras, William T. Powers, Edward Zabel and Irving Barry were not in Turner's automo- bile. They are scheduled to leave for New York the end of the week, but may delay their departure until Gam- bee and Balsdon show signs of im- provement. Academy Credits Out For 111 Productions Hollywood, Feb. 1. — The seventh quarterly issue of the Academy Tech- nical Credits Bulletin containing credits on 111 productions completed between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, 1936, has been distributed to studio executives, tech- nical department heads and members of the Academy branch. Individual credits were given on 421 technicians representing art direc- tion, camera, film editing, special pho- tographic effects and sound recording divisions. Of the 111 films completed during the quarterly period 12 were produced by Columbia, one by Cosmopolitan, four by Larry Darmour, one by Doug- las MacLean, one by Major, eight by M-G-M, nine by Paramount, 17 by Republic, 13 by Radio, two by Sam- uel Goldwyn, two by B. P. Schulberg, one by Selznick International, 19 by 20th Century-Fox, seven by Univer- sal, one by Walter Wanger and 13 by Warners. The listings represent the produc- tion peak of the year. Ninety-two fea- tures were listed during the first quar- ter, 81 for the second quarter and 109 for the third. Literary Lights at Opening of "Earth" A notable audience of literary per- sonalities is promised by M-G-M at the opening of the film version of "The Good Earth" at the Astor to- night on a two-a-day basis. The literary list includes Edna Ferber, Fannie Hurst, Katherine Brush, Marc Connolly, Christopher Morley, Heywood Broun, George Kaufman, Gilbert Seldes, Dr. Cyrus Peake, professor of Chinese literature at Columbia University, and many others. M-G-M reports the film, which opened at the Carthay Circle in Los Angeles last Friday, is doing the best business at the house in two years, on the basis of advance sale and the first three days' business. Tuesday, February 2, 1937 Court Orders Notice Of Hearing on Roxy Federal Judge Francis G. Caffey yesterday directed that copies of the Roxy reorganization plan be sent out to security holders and creditors with notice that the court has neither ap- proved nor disapproved the plan. In a lengthy opinion which passed upon 10 legal points in connection with the reorganization, Judge Caf- fey declared that the court believed it would be "premature and unjust": to attempt to pass upon the merits of the plan in advance of the credi- tors' hearing on March 5. Formal objections to the plan will be heard at that time. Pointing out that the Roxy has been in process of rehabilitation for the past five years and that the plan now before the court is the first con- crete proposal for reorganization to be received, Judge Caffey declared that he believed "the time has now ar- rived for definitely taking up the mat- ter with those interested and afford- ing them an opportunity for a hearing on the plan" without further delay. The court declined to express an opinion on the solvency of the Roxy pending the creditors' hearing, and re- fused to appoint a stockholders' pro- tective committee as requested at a hearing last Friday. The opinion held that the additional expense of a stock- holders' committee was unwarranted. Stockholders and general creditors will be entitled to participate in the reor- ganization only if the Roxy is found to be solvent. Denies Suit Against Roxy A petition for leave to sue Howard S. Cullman as receiver of the Roxy for $25,000 for injuries alleged to have been suffered as a result of a fall down a flight of stairs in the theatre was denied Mary V. Talbot, a patron, by Federal Judge Francis G. Caffey yesterday. She charged that the in- juries which she said she received were due to the theatre's negligence in handling crowds. Seeks End of Patent Suit A motion to dismiss the complaint of Virgil C. Crits seeking an injunc- tion and accounting for alleged piracy of a patented device for optically re- cording and reproducing sound, was filed in U. S. District Court here yes- terday by Albert Radtke, Leonard Day, Herman J. Martin, Radtke Pat- ents Corp., United Research Corp. and Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., all of whom were named as defendants. The motion is returnable Feb. 5 and \ declares that the plaintiff fails to state a cause of action. The sound device was developed by Radtke, whom the plaintiff asserts was in the employ of the American Development and Op- erating Co., at the time, and that the patent rights belonged to the com- pany as a result. Critz acquired the company two years later. Sues Columbia on Adaptation Los Angeles, Feb. 1. — David Chagi, University of Southern California drama student, field a $25,000 suit against Columbia Studios in Superior Court here today. In a brief filed by At- torney Harris E. Hanson, the plain- tive claims that he submitted an adap- tation of "Crime and Punishment" to the studio which was returned after two months as inadequate. Later, Col- umbia used parts of the adaptation, Chagi alleges. Paramount's MAID OF SALEM IS AS POWERFUL A PICTURE AS I'VE EVER FILMED. // Director of "Cavalcade' | "Mutiny On the Bounty' tour! i WW NOW you'd better read the rave reviews, screen the picture, make early bookings for the film the critics acclaim one of the finest of the year and a box-office sensation. Frank Lloyd's "MAID OF SALEM", starring Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray MOTION PICTURE DAILY MOTION PICTURE DAILYS HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "On the Avenue" (20th Century-Fox) Hollywood, Feb. 1. — A good story, with a musical background, name value and careful production combine to make this desirable entertain- ment. Novel angles are injected into a backstage story which has roman- tic interest and good comedy relief. The musical contributions are by Irving Berlin. There are three ex- cellent numbers — "This Year's Kisses," "You're Laughing at Me," "I've Got My Love to Keep Warm." The plot has unusual continuity for a musical film. The specialty episodes are intelligently spaced and keep the show moving in lively fashion, thereby combining the musical revue idea with dramatic romance. Dick Powell and Alice Faye present a revue satirizing the public and private life of the richest girl in the world, Madeleine Carroll ; her pom- pous father, George Barbier, and her snooty sweetheart, Alan Mowbray. Infuriated, Miss Carroll vows vengeance on Powell, but falls in love with him instead. Powell is contrite and promises to soften the sting of the revue, but Miss Faye, jealous, makes it more comic and bitter. Buying the show from Walter Catlett, the producer, Miss Carroll contrives to rearrange it to make Powell look silly. The repentant Miss Faye discloses her double cross to Miss Carroll and Powell just in time to permit the latter to drag Miss Carroll from a loveless marriage to Mowbray. The Ritz brothers dash about in mad fashion during the course of the story. Gene Markey and William Conselman constructed the screenplay to give Powell and Miss Faye splendid opportunities to vocalize in the Berlin numbers and to allow the Ritz Brothers, Cora Witherspoon, Billy Gilbert and Sig Rumann to check in ridiculously funny specialties. Powell's, Miss Faye's and Miss Carroll's straight performances add considerably to their stature, and Barbier, Mowbray, Catlett, Douglas, Fowley, Stepin Fetchit, E. E. Clive, Douglas Wood and John Sheehan provide worthy support. Roy Del Ruth's direction is consistently smart. It should prove a treat for any kind of an audience. Production Code Seal No. 2,958. Running time, 85 minutes. "G." 4 Aylesworthto Quit RKO for Newspaper Job {Continued from page 1) last November, his retirement from the company began to be anticipated. It is expected that the post he is vacating will not be filled until the RKO reorganizers complete the selec- tion of a new board of directors for the company which, after approval by the Federal court, would begin to function immediately after confirma- tion of the RKO reorganization plan. Completion of the new board may require another month or six weeks. In his new post Aylesworth will be associated with Robert P. Scripps, Roy W. Howard, William W. Hawk- ins, George B. Parker, William G. Chandler, John H. Sorrells and Paul Patterson, all of the Scripps-Howard general management. "RKO now is ready to emerge from receivership," Aylesworth, who arrived here from New York on Sat- urday, said. "The company has an intelligent and fair plan for its re- organization under capable manage- ment and with excellent financial back- ing, and it is in a position to function without my services. "I want to thank my friends in the film and theatre industry for the fine cooperation and assistance they have given me during these years of my activity in this great industry. I am proud of their friendship and of my association with them. The motion picture industry is one of the great basic industries in public service and I found the leaders intelligent, friendly and with a real conception of public service," he said. An O. D. Young Man Aylesworth is reported to have been "discovered" by Owen D. Young, who induced him to leave the far western utility field to organize and head NBC in 1926. He continued as president of the broadcasting company until last year, when he was succeeded by Lenox R. Lohr. In 1932, he was elected to the dual post of president of RKO. He is credited with having interested Floyd B. Odium of Atlas Corp. in the reorganization of RKO, which re- sulted in that company and Lehman Bros, acquiring one-half of RCA's holdings in RKO and an option on the remaining half. He remained as chairman of RKO following the elec- tion of Spitz to the presidency about a year ago. He recently resigned as vice-chairman of NBC, an advisory post he retained after the appointment of Lohr as head of the company. Aylesworth was also chairman of the board of the principal RKO sub- sidiaries. Rep. Race Tightens Republic's sales drive has become a nip and tuck race as the contest enters its third week. During the second week, leaders in three of the four divi- sions were replaced, San Francisco alone holding its position as pace-set- ter in the west. The eastern division is headed by Cleveland, southern divi- sion by New Orleans and central divi- sion by Chicago. By divisions, the order of the race is : Eastern, south- ern, central and western. Coast Firms Named In FTC Complaints (.Continued from page 1) lation of the Federal Trade Commis- sion Act. The respondents, it is charged by the commission, produce pictures which salesmen solicit exhibitors to show, and the salesmen also solicit business men to purchase the right to advertise their names and the nature of their business on the screen when the film is run. The commission alleges that the respondents falsely represent, in many cases, that the pictures will be equal in quality and length to the sample shown by the salesmen, that no other advertiser in the same line of business will be permitted to advertise in con- nection with the showing of such films, that the picture an advertising matter will be exhibited daily or week- ly, that the advertiser can cancel his contract after two months, and that the price paid the respondents covers the entire cost to the advertiser, when in fact the films are not shown in ac- cordance with the contract, the con- tract cannot be canceled, and the ad- vertiser is compelled to pay the ex- hibitor in addition to the respondents. West Coast Discount Corp., it is alleged, was set up to purchase prom- issory notes given by advertisers, as a defense against attempts to enforce the contracts, but the commission charges it is not an innocent pur- chaser of such notes. Para. Fee Appeals Lost in High Court {Continued from page 1) Boehm and $75,000 and expenses of $1,207 by Zirn. Palmer, for whom Boehm was at- torney, represented 3,220 shares of common stock, $50,000 of bonds of Allied Owners Corp., a creditor, and a committe of first mortgage bond- holders of Allied Owners Corp. In seeking his allowance, he maintained that he had secured a reduction in the rate of interest charged Paramount, effecting a saving of $117,184, and an amendment of the plan broadening the board of directors. Zirn sought an allowance of $75,000 for legal services and $1,207 for ex- penses incurred while attorney for certain bondholders. Compensation was denied on the ground, in the case of Palmer and Boehm, that a stockholders' committee was already in existence and Allied Owners Corp. represented its inter- est as a creditor. The court also re- jected as inconsequential the charges in the reorganization plan for which Palmer claimed credit. Similar cir- cumstances formed the basis for the rejection of Zirn's claim. Get Louis-Pastor Film Syndicate Exchanges, Inc., has ac- quired the distribution rights to the Pastor-Louis fight for the entire state of New York. Tuesday, February 2, 1937 AT&T Probe Fund Continued in Bill (Continued from page 1) for the Federal Trade Commission's trade practice work. The Federal Housing Administration is allocated $9,500,000, but the committee made no provision for the continuation of mod- ernization loans, authority for which is about to expire. Release today of testimony taken during hearings on the bill disclosed that storage cabinets for motion pic- tures are now being manufactured for the national archives, and officials of the organization, preparing to select the films which are to be permanently retained have surveyed 14,000,000 feet of film as well as some 4,000,000 still films outside the district. Authority to make positives from negatives and to continue to repro- duce them when a film begins to de- teriorate was asked by R. D. W. Con- nor, archivist. At the same time he pointed out the archives should have authority to make pictures of events of historical importance, such as the parade last year, expected to be the last, of the Grand Army of the Re- public during its annual convention in Washington. "Newsreels Incomplete" Asked by Representative Woodrum of Virginia, chairman of the sub- committe in charge of the bill, whether newsreels could not be used for that purpose, Mr. Connor ex- plained that such pictures, while valu- able, do not tell the complete story. "If events have great news value newsreels are generally made," he ad- mitted, "but there are a good many interesting and important events of historical interest that do not have such news value as to interest the commercial concerns. Moreover, a great many of the events which are taken on newsreels have no possible historical value, or anything more than a transient interest, but in-be- tween such pictures you will often find a scene of important historical value. "What we would like to do, if such newsreels are accepted, would be to edit them by cutting out such pictures as are of historic importance, prop- erly titling and scoring them, and pre- serving only those portions in our files, but the comptroller general says we cannot do so." RKO, Midwest End Talks on K. C. Pool (Continued from page 1) uct single feature. The Newman, Paramount unit, will book double features. Max Fellerman, assistant to John O'Connor, film buyer for RKO, left yesterday for Kansas City where he will join Nate Blumberg, who has delayed his return east until the end of the week. Switch House Policies Seattle, Feb. 1. — Hamrick- Ever- green's Orpheum and Music Hall have switched price and show policies. The present policy of two "A" films at 40 cents top at the Orpheum has been installed in the Music Hall. The Music Hall's policy of five acts of vaudeville and two "B" pictures at 35 cents top has been transferred to the Orpheum. Tuesday, February 2, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Local Benefit Show Shifted to Feb. 11 The monster benefit show for the raising of funds for flood relief, orig- inally scheduled for Feb. 13, was shifted yesterday to Feb. 11, at a meeting of the theatrical division of the Red Cross drive, under the direc- tion of the Theatre Authority, at the Hotel Lincoln. The change in date of the show was made necessary because the Music Hall, where it is planned to hold the performance, will not be available on Feb. 13. A definite de- cision on the use of the Music Hall will be reached at a meeting today with executives of the theatre. The show will run from 12 midnight to 3 A. M. Practically every stage and screen star in New York at the time will contribute his services to the show, it was indicated yesterday. Included among them will be Beatrice Lillie, Noel Coward, Gertrude Lawrence and many others. Approximately $3,500 has been raised up to yesterday in the "Ken- tucky colonel" drive being conducted by Louis K. Sidney and Station WHN for flood relief funds. The drive's quota is $50,0000. Initial contribu- tions included $2,500 from Loew's, Inc., $250 from David Bernstein, $100 from Darryl Zanuck, and $50 each from Eddie Cantor and Dr. A. H. Gianni ni. Theatre Damage Slight Louisville, Feb. 1. — Theatres here were only slightly damaged, in com- parison with the widespread damage to the city generally. Water is in the basements of the Strand, Rialto and Loew's State. The Brown was most severely hit, with three feet of water in the auditorium, and the stage has been ruined. The Kentucky also is about half flooded. Practically all houses have suffered water damage in basements. At present the Uptown is being used as a flood relief station. All of the neighborhood houses in the West End section are flooded. It is still ex- tremely difficult to ascertain the extent of the damage, due to impassable streets. Spokane Houses Rally Spokane, Wash., Feb. 1. — Local theatres rallied to the Red Cross call for flood sufferers. H. D. McBride gave 25 per cent of the gross receipts at the Granada for five days. Ever- green theatres planned to donate a theatre and film for special late show- ing this week, all receipts to go to flood fund. Half of the local $20,000 quota has been reached. Circuit Total $4,000 Springfield, O., Feb. 1. — A total of more than $4,000 has been turned over to Red Cross chapters for flood relief funds by Chakeres Theatres, Inc., of which Phil Chakeres is the head. Lincoln Aids Victims Lincoln, Neb., Feb. 1. — Local amusement men are deep in coopera- tion with the Red Cross raising funds for the flood sufferers. The Varsity, through city manager Milton Over- man of the Westland circuit, put on four one-hour shows Saturday morn- ing with a cent minimum admission. Stuart, member of the Lincoln Thea- ters Corp., showed "Lloyds of Lon- i Purely Personal ► ADOLPH ZUKOR, Boris Mor- ros and Chris Dunphy, the lat- ter recovering from an attack of flu, are now en route to the coast, having left here Sunday on schedule. • Bernard Kranze's mother and sister will return today from a three- month California vacation. While in Beverly Hills, the visitors stopped at Ricardo Cortez' home. They also spent some time at Palm Springs. • Nat Perrin, former western star and author of "Glory for All," which is about to be produced on the Broad- way stage, arrived from the coast yes- terday to attend rehearsals. • Cheryl Crawford of the Group Theatres is back from a trip to Hol- lywood. • Lou Weinberg is scheduled to ar- rive from Hollywood the end of the week. • Fredric March has left for the coast. GRADWELL L. SEARS has again delayed his return from a southern tour of Warner exchanges. • Gloria Swanson is en route to Hollywood to launch a new contract with M-G-M. Her first will be "Mazie Kenyon." Harry Rapf will produce. Douglas Fairbanks and Robert E. Sherwood, who leave today for the studios, will complete the "Adventures of Marco Polo" script aboard the train. • Henry Wilcoxon, who recently finished "Souls at Sea" for Para- mount, will arrive in town this morn- ing and will sail soon for Cairo. • Milt Kusell and Ray Henderson flew to Boston yesterday via American Airlines. • Guy Robertson flew to Chicago yesterday. Jean Arthur is en route to New York for a vacation. don" as a special showing and let patron conscience be the guide on ad- mission. R. H. Pauley, of the Turn- pike Casino, held a flood relief dance on Tuesday. Employes in all cases donated their time. Donate Game Prize Eldora, I a., Feb. 1. — Leo F. Wol- cott, president of the Allied Theatres of Iowa and Nebraska, and manager of the New Grand here, donated $100 of the theatre's $300 Bank Night prize to the flood relief fund after a con- ference with the mayor. U. S. Cameramen on Scene Cincinnati, Feb. 1. — U. S. De- partment of Agriculture cameramen are here from Washington to film flood scenes for exhibition throughout the country in connection with ad- vocacy of a flood control programs. The men are in charge of Eugene Tucker, chief cinematographer, and are working in conjunction with Maj. F. W. Gano, of the local corps of U. S. Army Engineers, and W. C. Devereaux, U. S. meteorologist. Hartford Cooperating Hartford, Conn., Feb. 1. — Hartford theatres are cooperating in a gala flood benefit with short subject films and 16 acts of vaudeville at the State Feb. 5. Walter O'Keefe of Camel Caravan, formerly of Hartford, will appear on the program with acts from the Cameo and State. Cleveland Exchanges Not Hit Cleveland, Feb. 1. — The flood situation in Ohio did not affect the Cleveland exchanges at all. Bridge- port was the only town in the flood district served out of Cleveland, and the one theatre of Bridgeport, the Family, that was closed has reopened. Cleveland Contributes Cleveland, Feb. 1. — The Variety Club and Variety Post No. 313 turned over $750 to the Red Cross for flood relief. The Cleveland M. P. Exhibitors' Ass'n turned over $500 to the Red Cross. This amount, however, does not cover the local individual contribu- tions-. Associated Theatres circuit con- tributed $750 taken with the enthusi- astic consent of patrons, from Bank Night and Movie Sweepstakes win- nings. The M. B. Horwitz circuit, also with the public's approval, gave $50 from each Bank Night winning. Dick Deutsch of the Dick Deutsch Printing Company, sent 150,000 pack- ages of cough drops to the Red Cross for distribution in the stricken areas. The Kaplan circuit announced dona- tion of half of the receipts at certain of their theatres on specified days. Warners donated the entire third floor of the Warner Bldg. to the Red Cross and the American Legion, to sort clothing. Warners' Uptown and Variety were headquarters for cloth- ing collections in their respective neighborhoods. Plan Coast Benefits Hollywood, Feb. 1. — Harold Lloyd is chairman of a committee to contact screen names for a benefit perfor- mance for the flood sufferers. The performance is scheduled for Wednes- day. Members of the committee in- clude Louis B. Mayer, Jack L. War- ner, Carl Laemmle, Sr., Clark Gable and Dick Powell. The Song Writers Ass'n also plans a benefit for the same purpose with Sigmund Romberg, Jerome Kern, Irv- ing Berlin and others serving on the committee. May Reopen on Friday Cincinnati, Feb. 1. — The local first run houses are expected to reopen Fri- day. "Closed to conserve light and power during the flood emergency. Give to the Red Cross," appears on the front of every RKO theatre mar- quee, while the wings carry the mes- sage : "Give to the Red Cross. Help the suffering." The Emery, a Shard unit in subur- ban Reading, is the only house oper- ating in the Cincinnati area. Holds Benefit Matinee Athens, Ala., Feb. 1.— The Ritz contributed the proceeds of a special matinee to the flood sufferers. No admission was charged but a free will offering was taken to Manager Wal- ter E. Harman. Many K. C. Benefits Kansas City, Feb. 1. — Many thea- tres in the area and in Kansas City are holding benefit performances to raise flood relief funds. The Main- street previewed "God's Country and the Woman," supplied free for the performance by Warners. Exchanges are supplying the films, employes the labor, and so on. Offer Bank Night Share England, • Ark., Feb. 1. — J. F. Norman, owner and manager of the Best, reports a special contribution by patrons on Bank Night for the relief of flood sufferers. He said that until conditions are normal the request would be: renewed each Bank Night. ITO Sets Flood Relief Day Los Angeles, Feb. 1. — The board of directors of the I. T. O. today en- dorsed and recommended February 11 as flood relief day at which time all independent exhibitors in this terri- tory will be urged to contribute 25 per cent of the day's gross to the Red Cross for flood relief. Organization members signified their cooperation with the plan. Simultaneously Fred Siegel of Oceanside, California, was made hon- orary member of the board of direc- tors. Carroll Pact Extended Hollywood, Feb. 1. — Earl Carroll today was given an extension of one year on his contract with 20th Cen- tury-Fox. He will henceforth be on his own as a producer for the com- pany. During the past year he has shared production duties with Harold Wilson. Scott Starts Honeymoon Omaha, Feb. 1.— A belated auto honeymoon trip to Mexico City has been started by Manager Joe E. Scott of 20th-Fox here and his bride, the former Nynee Lefholtz, radio and stage singer. They were married just before Christmas. Wall Street Paramount Best Board Gain Net High Low Close Change 3634 36 36M- + 4 54 sy4 54 174 17 17 32% 32% 32% + 4 7V/s 72% 74% +14 285/6 27J4 284 198 19934 +234 25^ 25*4 - 4 9% 954+54 Columbia Consolidated Consolidated, pfd. Gen. T. Equip Loew's, Inc Paramount Paramount 1 pfd. Paramount 2 pfd. Pathe Film RKO 20th Century-Fox 20th Century, pfd Warner Bros. .. 19954 26 954 8% 3754 464 155% 3654 374 + 4 464- 464 + % 15 1554 + 54 Curb Rises Slightly Net High Low Close Change Grand National ..4 3% 354 — % Sentry Safety .... 14 1 14+4 Sonotone 24 24 24 +4 Technicolor 214 2154 21% — 54 Trans -Lux 4% 44 44 Little Bond Activity Net High Low Close Change Keith B. F. 6s '46 984 98 98 Loew's 34s '46... 1004 100 100 —4 Paramount B'way 3s '55 75 744 75 +4 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 1004 100% IOO54 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 100 9954 994 + 4 (Quotations at close of Feb. 1) Listen to 'Em Yelling! It's New York Telling the World That WARNER BROS. HAVE HIT TH G-MEN PACE AGAIN WIT YOU'LL BE A WHOLE LOT WISER ... One Minute from Now! — That's all the time it takes to read this speedy summation of the hats- off, superlatives-on, wal- loping world premiere! "A melodrama among melodramas! Brave and unde niably exciting! It cannot help but hold you!" — N. Y. Americar "A biting, scathing, courageous and exciting expose melodrama! Put 'Black Legion' down a absorbing entertainment!" — N. Y. World-Telegrari J ii In 'Black Legion', Hollywood grows up. A picture both powerful and intelligent!" — Literary Diges 'Black Legion' reveals Warner Bros, at their level best A stirring, courageous, needful motion picture stackec DID YOU HEAR WALTER WINCHELL: (Sunday night over NBC) "By all means go see this T-N-Tainment" J I E R: M M Y F I D L (Tuesday night over NBC) "One of the most gripping photoplays ever produced — to be classed with 'I Am a Fugi- tive'. For a thrilling evening, for your 'must see' list"! DID YOU SEE MARK HELtlNGER: And, to coin a phrase (Notionolly Syndicated Columnist) "If I had my way, every man, wo man and child would see it!" The editorial in the N.Y. Herald Tribune — first time in paper's history a movie crashed the editorial page! . . . And those unprecedented coast raves, reprinted in last week's 4-page ad? BUSINESS COLOSSAL — But how could you expect anything else? with HUMPHREY BOGART DICK FORAN • ERIN O'BRIEN-MOORE • ANN SHERIDAN Robert Barrat • Helen Flint • Joseph Sawyer • Addison Richard • Eddie Acuff • Directed by ARCHIE MAYO nd packed with dynamite from stem to stern. If you re wise, you will see it — it is excellent motion pic- ire fare not to be missed!" — N. Y. Morning Telegraph if. remendously impressive! Shocking, challenging and rimly realistic, it pulls no punches! The entire produc- on is one that will not easily be forgotten! See it!" — N. Y. Eve. Journql ynamic drama! All those concerned with its produc- on are now destined to be important flicker folks, lumphrey Bogart surpasses any and all of his earlier creen efforts. Breath-taking movie fare!" — N. Y. Post "Vastly absorbing, vastly important photoplay that should be missed by no one! Outstanding and memorable! Smashing drama that will haunt you with its stark emotional power for a long time!" —N. Y. Herald-Tribune "Sensational, rousing and stirring! Humphrey Bogart gives a performance even more stirring than that memorable one he contributed to 'Petrified Forest'. Packs a mighty punch!" — N. Y. Sunday Mirror "As up-to-the-minute as today's newspaper; as power- ful as dynamite!" — N. Y. Sunday News (IT RIGHT DOWN AND ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTION! How long has it been since Ve had the pleasure of tlaying a picture that Irew notices like these? When you think of the answer you're thinking of the reason BLACK LEGION Means More to You Than Any Show on the Market Today! 10 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, February 2, 1937 "Smart Girls" $28,600 Lead For the Loop Chicago, Feb. 1. — "Three Smart Girls" with the help of another smart young lady, Jane Withers in person, topped Loop business and grossed a big $28,600 at the Palace, which was $9,400 above average. The picture was held another week. "One in a Million" at the Gar rick, following a week at the Chicago, did well and got $7,900. The State-Lake, with "Counterfeit Lady" and a big stage show, grossed a fine $16,600 and "God's Country and the Woman" at the Roosevelt was another money- maker with a gross of $14,700. Thirty thousand delegates to the national canners' convention helped swell night business. Rain and sleet kept many away over the weekend, but business came back strong when the weather cleared up. "Great Guy" at the Chicago was under average despite the fact that a sellout to the American Can Co. on the last evening of the week helped the gross mightily. This is the third year the Chicago theatre has been taken over by this company and a special show staged for visiting dele- gates. City health regulations halting the- atres from allowing patrons to stand in the lobbies hurt when an overflow occurred, as customers refused to wait outside. The Palace was especially hard hit. Total first run business was $140,- 800. Average is $118,000. Week Ending Jan. 26: "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS — (1,700) , 35c-55c-75c, 7 days, 4th week. Gross: $12,000. (Aver- age, $15,000) Week Ending Jan. 28: "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) PALACE— (2,509), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Jane Withers in person and revue. Gross: $28,600. (Average, $19,000) "GREAT GUY" (G.N.) CHICAGO— (4,000), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Milt Britton and Band. Gross: $30,000. (Average, $32,000) "SMART BLONDE" (W.B.) ORIENTAL— (3.490), 35c-55c, 7 days. Stage: "Monte Carlo" Revue. Gross: $15,000. (Average, $15,000) "GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN" (W.B.) ROOSEVELT— (1,591), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $14,700. (Average, $11,000) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) APOLLO— (1,400), 35c-55c-65c, 7 days, 4th Loop week. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $6,500) "ONE IN A MILLION" (20th-Fox) GARRICK — (900), 35c-55c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $7,900. (Average, $6,500) Week Ending Jan. 29: "COUNTERFEIT LADY" (Col.) STATE-LAKE — (2,776), 20c-35c-40c, 7 days. Stage: "Texas Follies." Gross: $16,- 600. (Average, $13,000) RKO Heads in Frisco San Francisco, Feb. 1. — Ned Depinet and Jules Levy of RKO came here from Hollywood on Satur- day, and are expected to go to Port- land and Seattle from here, returning to the RKO studio late in the week. Stage Shows Gaining Spokane, Feb. 1. — Stage shows had a comeback last month with five play- ing film houses, the greatest number in year. Improved business has en- couraged the booking of three others this month. "Lloyds of London " Hits $13,500, Cleveland High Cleveland, Feb. 1. — "Lloyds of London" stepped way out front last week, doing the biggest business of the week at Warners' Hippodrome. It grossed $13,500 or $3,500 over aver- age. "One in a Million," at the Allen, playing a second week downtown im- mediately following a big week at Warners' Hippodrome, was the pub- lic's second choice. It went $1,000 over par to $6,000. "The Great Guy" made a splendid showing at the RKO Palace where Ben Marsden's "Riviera Follies" was the stage show. The take was $17,000, up by $2,000. Total first run business was $57,000. Average for this city is $51,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 29: "ONE IN A MILLION" (ZOth-Fox) ALLEN— (3,300), 30c-35c-42c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,000) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) LOEWS STATE— (3,400), 30c-35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $15,000. (Average, $15,000) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) LOEWS STILLM AN— (1,900), 30c-35c-42c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $6,000) "GREAT GUY" (G.N.) RKO PALACE— (3,100), 30c-42c-60c, 7 days. Stage: Ben Marsden's "Riviera Follies." Gross: $17,000. (Average, $15,000) "LLOYDS OF LONDON" (20th-Fox) WARNERS' HIPPODROME— (3,800), 30c- 35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $13,500. (Average, $10,000) 64 Plea to Halt Union Agreement Is Denied Justice Lyndon in N. Y. Supreme Court yesterday denied the plea of the Harris circuit of 12 houses for an injunction restraining the I.T.O.A. from concluding its agreement with Local 306, and restraining the Allied Union from proceeding with the pro- posed merger with 306 by which the latter is to absorb the membership of the Allied Union. A temporary injunction was granted on Saturday, but denied at a hearing yesterday. It was indicated late yesterday that only a few minor details stand in the way of the conclusion of the final agreement which will clarify the union situation in New York theatres, through a 10-year contract between Local 306 and the I.T.O.A. It is anticipated that the deal will be closed within a day or two. Sleet Hits Weekend Grosses in Kansas Kansas City, Feb. 1. — Exhibitors sustained another sock in the box of- fice over the weekend when a day and a night's rain over Western Missouri, Greater Kansas City, and the north- ern half of Kansas turned to sleet and ice, and roads and streets became al- most impassable. The weather has been cold, the underfooting treacher- ous, since early in the month, and both have had a bad effect on grosses. MPPDA Votes Out Drunkenness Scenes (Continued from page 1) before production has advanced to the screening stage. A letter has been sent by Joseph Breen to all major producers apprais- ing them of the new censoring system and informing them that the code authority has been authorized to elim- inate scenes which, in its judgment, come under the aforementioned cate- gory. Ohio Play date Suit Postponed SO Days Cincinnati, Feb.l. — Another 30-day extension has been granted in the RKO suit against the state of Ohio to test the anti-preferred playdate bill in the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The request for the delay was made by Paxton & Seasongood, attorneys for the plaintiffs. "Legion" at $7,800 Indianapolis High Indianapolis, Feb. 1. — "Black Le- gion" was the best grosser of the week with a take of $7,800 at the Lyric. This was $800 over normal. A vaude- ville bill helped. In its second week at the Apollo "One in a Million" held up to a par $4,500. Retail business of virtually every sort downtown was off all week and the first runs showed sharp drops be- ginning Monday. Public gloom over the flood that drowned Indiana's southern boundary apparently was largely responsible. Indications are that the number of families here with relatives and close friends in the dis- aster area is enormous. Donations to the Red Cross from Indianapolis alone probably will exceed $200,000, an im- pressive total for this city. Total first run business was $22,500. Average is $21,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 29 : "ONE IN A MILLION" (20th-Fox) APOLLO— (1,100), 25c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $4,500) "MAN OF AFFAIRS" (G.B.) "THE WOMAN ALONE" (G.B.) CIRCLE— (2,800), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,200. (Average, $4,000) "BELOVED ENEMY" (M-G-M) "THE MAN WHO LIVED TWICE" (Col.) LOEWS — (2,800) , 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $6,000) "BLACK LEGION" (W.B.) LYRIC— (2,000), 25c -40c, 7 days. Stage: "Laugh Week" vaudeville. Gross: $7,800. (Average, $7,000) Film Firms Reading Bureau Award Plays The story departments of seven major companies are reading the plays for which awards were announced late last week by the Bureau of New Plays, for possible adaptation to the screen, Theresa Helburn, director of the bureau, said yesterday. It is un- likely, Miss Helburn said, that more than one or two of the plays will be suitable for the screen, but in the event that several companies desire to use any one, lots will be drawn to determine which company is to get the play. The bureau was organized last year under, the auspices of M-G-M, RKO, Paramount, 20th Century-Fox, Universal, Columbia and Warners. The award ceremonies were broadcast yesterday by WOR at 4:30 P. M. Among the speakers was J. Robert Rubin, vice-president of M-G-M. Million" Up At $12,100, Kansas City Kansas City, Feb. 1. — Through winter weather "One in a Million" skated into the Mainstreet box-office with $12,100 and the best showing of the week for first runs. This was $4,100 over average, and the picture was moved to the Newman. Bad underfooting, the cold and Les- lie Howard in "Hamlet" two nights at the Auditorium held other first runs down. "Three Smart Girls," which played its first week earlier in the month at the Mainstreet, took $5,400, $1,400 over average, at the Uptown in a second stanza. "Sing Me a Love Song" pulled the Newman $300 over the $7,000 marker, while "The Holy Terror" left the Tower sitting on the $7,000 line. In spite of a big campaign, "Beloved Enemy" and "Woman in Distress" left the fans cold, and the Midland wangled only $8,500, $3,000 shy of par. Total first run business was $40,300. Average is $37,500. Estimated takings : Week Ending Jan. 28: "ONE IN A MILLION" (ZOth-Fox) MAINSTREET— (3,100), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $12,100. (Average, $8,000) "BELOVED ENEMY" (U.A.) "WOMAN IN DISTRESS" (Col.) MIDLAND — (4,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,500. (Average, $11,500) "SING ME A LOVE SONG" (F.N.) NEWMAN — (1,900), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,300. (Average, $7,000) "THE HOLY TERROR" (20th-Fox) TOWER— (2,200), 25c-35c, 7 days. Stage: Chandu; Foran Sisters & Tom; Rex Weber; Edison & Louise, and "The Two Step- Sons." Gross: $7,000. (Average, $7,000) "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) UPTOWN— (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $5,400. (Average, $4,000) "Romeo" at $4,000 2 Days in Spokane Spokane, Wash., Feb. 1. — Record snowfall lowered attendance last week, but special bills at increased prices held receipts well above par. A two- day showing of "Romeo and Juliet" took $4,000 at the Fox. "After the Thin Man" did a strong $5,200 at the State, $400 over par, and was held for a second week. "Mad Holiday" with Major Bowes' all- girl unit on the stage pulled $2,400 at the Orpheum in three days, $200 over par. Total first run business was $18,400. Average is $13,400. Estimated takings : Week Ending Jan. 21: "ROMEO AND JULIET" (M-G-M) FOX— (2,300), increased prices, 58c-87c- $1.15, 2 days. Gross: $4,000. "RAINBOW ON THE RIVER" (Radio) "CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA" (ZOth-Fox) FOX— (2,300), 25c-40c, 5 days. Gross: $3,800. (Average, $3,800) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) STATE— (1,000), 30c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,200. (Average, $4,800) "MAD HOLIDAY" (M-G-M) ORPHEUM — (1,200), 25c-40c, increased prices, 3 days. Gross: $2,400. (Average, $2 200) ' "VALIANT IS THE WORD FOR CARRIE" (Para.) "YELLOW CARGO" (G.N.) ORPHEUM — (1,200), 20c-30c, 3 days. Gross: $1,000. (Average, $1,000) i Tuesday, February 2, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY "Camille" 2nd Week Frisco Top, $13,800 ' San" Francisco, Feb. 1. — "Ca- mille," in its second week on a dual with "Let's Make a Million" at the vWarfield," led the first runs in a dull week with a take of $13,800. This topped normal by a scant $800. " ' "After the Thin Man," on a dual with "Hats Off," at the St. Francis for a third downtown week, was the only other attraction to pass par. The $6,800 take was $800 up. The weather was warmer, but rain continued. There was no stage com- petition. Total first run business was $75,300. Average is $85,000. Estimated takings : Week Ending Jan. 26: "MYSTERIOUS CROSSING" (Univ.) "CONFLICT" (Univ.) EMBASSY — (1,400), 15c-30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,200. (Average, $4,500) "GREAT GUY" (W.B.) "MARCH OF TIME" (Radio) GOLDEN GATE— (2,850), 15c-30c-35c-40c- 55c, 7 days. Stage: vaudeville. Gross: $13,500. (Average, $16,000) "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) "FIND THE WITNESS" (Col.) ORPHEUM— (2,440), 15c-30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $6,800. (Average, $9,500) Week Ending Jan. 27: "BLACK LEGION" (W.B.) "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS" (Para.) FOX — (5,000), 15c-30c-35c-40c-55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $14,200. (Average, $16,000) "GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN" (W.B.) "CRACK-UP" (2 '-■ '}? ■' , Dismiss Damage Suit Chestertown, Ma, Feb. I. — The damage suit of George . W. Baldwin of Chestertown against the Center- ville Opera House of Centerville for injuries alleged to have been received when he slipped into a manhole in front of the theatre was taken from a jury and dismissed in the Caroline County Court here. Try 'Em First Madison, Conn., Feb. 1.— The lobby of the Bonoff ad- vertises, not pictures, but chairs. Eight chairs, furnished as samples by various con- cerns, are being submitted to patrons for their trial and expression of choice. The floor of the theatre will be inclined and a contract for seating awarded for both this and a new 638-seat theatre in Saybrook, on which construc- tion will begin in the spring. Million" on Dual Best in New Haven New Haven, Feb. 1. — "One in a Million," with "Crack-up," topped the town's business with a $10,800 gross, up from the usual by $3,800. The bill held at the College. The Roger Sherman, with "God's Country and the Woman" and "Sing Me a Love Song," ranked second, taking $7,000, up by $2,300. "The Gay Desperado" and "Make Way for a Lady" were $600 to the good at the College, grossing $3,400. The Para- mount, with "Mind Your Own Busi- ness" and "Bulldog Drummond Es- capes," dipped $400 under the $4,900 par. The weekend held up in spite of rain and icy pavements, and the weather was otherwise favorable. Total first run business was $25,700. Average is $19,400. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 29: "THE GAY DESPERADO" (U.A.) "MAKE WAY FOR A LADY" (Radio) COLLEGE— (1,499), 25c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $3,400. (Average, $2,800) "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS" (Para.) "BULLDOG DRUMMOND ESCAPES" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (2,348), 35c-S0c, 7 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $4,900) "ONE IN A MILLION" (ZOth-Fox) "CRACK-UP" (20th-Fox) POLI— (3,040), 35c-50c, 7 davs. Gross: $10,800. (Average, $7,000) "GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN" (W.B.) "SING ME A LOVE SONG" (W.B.) ROGER SHERMAN— (2,200), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $4,700) Asher Heads Epilogues Boston, Feb. 1. — Harry Asher, former head of the American Film Exchange which went out of business last fall, is now national head of Epiloques, Inc. He has established headquarters on Piedmont St. Show New Speed Camera Boston, Feb. 1. — A new speed camera has been demonstrated here by its inventor, Prof. H. E. Edgerton of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It has an exposure as brief as one- 100,000th of a second, he says. Pickford Signs Talent ' Hollywood, Feb. 1. — Mary Pick- ford will start a stock company con- sisting of from three to six players on her return from Europe where she is expected to marry Buddy Rogers in March. . , She is expected to return to active production, but is not ready to an- nounce her. plans. Barry Fitzgerald of the Abbey . Players is the first man signed. "Million" at $31,000Smash In Washington Washington, Feb. 1. — "One in a Million" plus a personal appearance of Johnny Weismuller and Lupe Velez shot Loew's Capitol gross to $31,000, over average by $10,100. Surprise of the week was "One Way Passage" at the Metropolitan, where the $6,500 gross exceeded aver- age by $2,200. Loew's Columbia, playing a return engagement of "Ca- mille," did $5,800 to exceed par by $2,200. "More Than a Secretary" at the Earle, plus a stage show, took $19,100, over the average by $700. RKO Keith's, with "The Plough and the Stars" slipped to $7,500, under par by $3,100. Rain cut the size of the inaugural crowds expected, but the downpours of that and other days did drive a few visitors to theatres. Total first run business was $84,100. Average is $73,700. Estimated takings, exclusive of tax, for the week ending Jan. 21 : "MORE THAN A SECRETARY" (Col.) EARLE— (2,218), 25c-77c, 7 days. Stage: Benny Davis, Vera, Shirley Ross, Paul Regan, Miss Bratz, Robert Baxter, Shea & Raymond. Gross: $19,100. (Average: $18,- 400) "ONE IN A MILLION" (20th-Fox) LOEW'S CAPITOL— (3,434), 25c-66c, 7 days. Stage: Johnny Weissmuller & Lupe Velez, Borrah Minnevitch & Harmonica Rascals, Frank Gaby, Elida Ballet. Gross: $31,000. (Average: $20,900) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) LOEW'S COLUMBIA— (1,264), 25c-40c, 7 days (return engagement). Gross: $5,800. (Average, first run: $3,600) "ONE WAY PASSAGE" (W. B.) METROPOLITAN — (1,591), 25c-40c, 7 days (reissue). Gross: $6,500. (Average, first run: $4,300) "THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS" (RKO) RKO KEITH'S— (1,836), 25c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $10,600) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) LOEW'S PALACE— (2,370), 35c-55c, 8 days (return engagement). Gross: $14,200. (Average, first run: $15,900) Would Increase Levy Kansas City, Feb. 1. — Senator Skovgard has introduced a bill in the Kansas Senate which would increase the net income tax on corporations from two to three per cent with no exemptions, and would reduce the ex- emptions on persons to $500. May Discuss Prices Omaha, Feb. 1. — District Manager E. R. Cummings of Tri- States thea- tres has expressed a willingness to confer with William Youngclaus, who recently took over the 600-seat Island at Grand Island, Neb., on the price situation there. Youngclaus has the 490-seat Empress at Grand Island, while Tri-States has the 1,177-seat Capitol and the 1,000-seat Majestic. Dickinson Making Tour ' Arthur Dickinson of the M.P^PiD. A. is visiting the principal exchange cities throughout the country for the purpose of inspecting the facilities for handling the new 2,000-foot reels. Ex- change operations in connection with the reels will be studied also with a view to developing standard methods ■for maximum efficiency. Dickinson is expected back here about the middle of February. 12 MOTION PICTURE DAI LY Tuesday, February 2, 193- "Camille" Is Best in Phila. With $23,000 Philadelphia, Feb. 1. — "Camille" at the Boyd did a strong $23,000, hold- ing the town's top and developing into a steady second week's draw. The average there is $14,000. For the second straight week, ad- verse weather conditions took a toll although on the whole, business was favorable. Returning to its stage show policy, the Fox got $17,000, up by $3,000, with "That Girl from Paris." For its second and final week, "Great Guy" grossed $3,100, a strong figure, at the Arcadia. Total first run business was $86,300. Average is $80,400. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 21 : "WINGS OF THE MORNING" (20th-Fox) ALDINE— (1,300), 40c-55c-65c, 6 davs. Gross: $5,000. (Average, 7 days, $8,160) "GREAT GUY" (Grand National) ARCADIA— (600), 25c-40c-50c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $3,100. (Average, $2,400) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) BOYD— (2,400), 40c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $23,000. (Average, $14,000) "CRACK UP" (20th-Fox) EARLE— (2,000), 25c-40c-5Sc, 7 days. Stage: Helen Denizon, Midgie and Raye, Stewart and Martin, "Lazy" Bill Higgins, American Rockets. Gross: $14,000. (Average, $14,000) "THAT GIRL FROM PARIS" (RKO) FOX— (3,000), 40c-55c-65c, 7 days. Stage: James Melton, Three Samuels and Harriet Hayes, Captain Willie Mauss. Gross: $17,000. (Average, $14,000) "BELOVLD ENEMY" (U.A.) KARLTON— (1,000), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days, 2nd run. Gross: $2,900. (Average, $4,000) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) KEITH'S— (2,000), 30c-40c-50c, 7 days, 2nd run. Gross: $3,300. (Average, $4,000) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) STANLEY— (3,700), 40c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $14,000) "SMART BLONDE" (Warners) STANTON— (1,700), 30c-40c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $7,000) "Love Song," Show Smash Denver Hit Denver, .Feb. 1. — 'Below zero weather failed to halt "Sing Me a Love Song" and a Major Bowes unit at the Denver. The take of $12,000 was over par by $4,500, and there were holdouts all week in spite of the frigid winds. "Camille" and "Mad Holiday" went to $8,000 at the Orpheum and "Great Guy" and "Case of the Black Cat" made an excellent showing with $4,000 at the Paramount, but business was light elsewhere. Total first run business was $32,500. Average is $26,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 21 : "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (F. N.) ALADDIN— (1,500), 25c-40c-50c, 7 days, following a week at the Denver. Gross: $2,500. (Average, $3,000) "GARDEN OF ALLAH" (U. A.) BROADWAY— (1,500), 25c-40c, 7 days, following a week each at the Denver and Aladdin. Gross: $2,000. (Average, $2,000) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) DENHAM— (1,500), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $4,500) "SING ME A LOVE SONG" (F. N.) DENVER— (2,500), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Stage: Major Bowes unit. Gross: $12,000. 'Average, $7,500) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) "MAD HOLIDAY" (M-G-M) ORPHEUM— (2,600), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $6,000) "GREAT GUY" (G.N.) "CASE OF THE BLACK CAT" (F. N.) PARAMOUNT— (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average. $3,500) Great Guy," Sullivan Top Detroit Draw Detroit, Feb. 1. — "Great Guy," with Ed Sullivan's "Dawn Patrol" show, turned in the best showing of the week at the Fox, the take going to $25,500, over normal by $5,500. "God's Country and the Woman," helped by Little Jack Little on the stage, also turned in a profitable gross, $23,400, at the Michigan. This was $3,400 up. "After the Thin Man" was good with $11,600 at the United Artists. Excessive rain hurt business. Total first run business was $80,000. Average is $70,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 21 : "MAN WHO LIVED TWICE" (Col.) "PENNIES FROM HEAVEN" (Col.) ADAMS— (1,770), 10c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,200. (Average, $5,000) "GREAT GUY" (G. N.) FOX— (5,100), 15c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Ed Sullivan "Dawn Patrol" revue, Al Bernie, Joan Britton, Gloria Gilbert, 12 Ben Yost Singers. Gross: $25,500. (Average, $20,000) "GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN" (W. B.) MICHIGAN— (4,100), 15c -75c, 7 days. Stage: Little Jack Little and band, Housten & Harden, Novak & Faye, Don Cummings. Gross: $23,400. (Average, $20,000) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) "SMARTEST GIRL IN TOWN" (Radio) STATE — (3,000), 10c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,800. (Average, $5,000) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS— (2,070), 15c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $11,600. (Average, $10,000) "BELOVED ENEMY" (U. A.) MADISON— (2,000), 15c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $8,500. (Average, $10,000) "Great Guy," Dual Tops Providence Providence, Feb. 1. — "Great Guy" at the RKO Albee was the best bet of the week,, taking $8,200, $1,200 over par, on a dual with "The Flying Hostess." "Sing Me a Love Song" and "Polo Joe" garnered $7,800 for the Majestic, up by $800 and Fay's was $100 to the good with "Laughing at Trouble" and five acts of vaude- ville. The take was $7,100. Pro hockey and boxing matches continue to provide the major com- petition with the weather continuing fair and warm. Total first run business was $41,600. Average is $39,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 21 : "SING ME A LOVE SONG" (W.B.) "POLO JOE" (W.B.) MAJESTIC — (2,400), 15c-40c, 7 days. Cross: $7,800. (Average, $7,000) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) STRAND— (2,300), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $6,500) "GREAT GUY" (G.N.) "THE FLYING HOSTESS" (Univ.) RKO ALBEE— (2,300), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,200. (Average, $7,000) "LAUGHING AT TROUBLE" (Univ.) FAY'S— (1,600), 15c-40c, 7 days. On stage: Five acts of vaudeville. Gross: $7,100. (Average, $7,000) "THE GARDEN OF ALLAH" (U.A.) "COUNTERFEIT LADY" (Col.) LOEWS STATE— (3,400), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $12,000) Plans Richmond House Richmond, Feb. 1. — Elmer H. Bri- ent has approved plans for a new house on Rappahannock St. to be called the Ginter Park. It will cost $80,000 and will seat 1,000. Money's Worth Camden, O., Feb. 1.— The record for an entertainment bargain in this territory goes to the Camden, which recent- ly played a double feature program and several acts of vaudeville in addition to Bank Night, at 15 cents ad- mission. Bad Weather Hurts Grosses at Lincoln Lincoln, Neb., Feb. 1. — Bad weather and weak bookings slapped grosses, the Orpheum came out on top with a strange seven days which saw a vaudeville-film combination, a roadshow, and a return showing for the sixth time of an old Will Rogers print — all in a single seven days. High prices asked for two days of "Romeo and Juliet" coupled with the good weekend of vaudeville with "Woman Wise" drew $3,100, up by $1,350. "Polo Joe" crumpled in three days and was replaced by "Sing Me a Love Song" barely edging the Lincoln in with $200 profit on the $2,400 take. "Rainbow on the River" was without the pot of gold at either end, a slim $2,700, $h00 low. Total first run business was $10,000. Average is $9,000. Estimated takings : Week Ending Jan. 27: "CALIFORNIA MAIL" (W.B.) "ANNAPOLIS FAREWELL" (Para.) "UNDER COVER OF NIGHT" (M-G-M) "13 HOURS BY AIR" (Para.) LIBERTY— (1,200), lOc-loc, 7 days. Gross: $800. (Average, $850) Week Ending Jan. 28: "POLO JOE" (W.B.) "SING ME A LOVE SONG" (F.N.) LINCOLN— (1,600), 10c-20c-25c, 7 days, split week. Gross: $2,400. (Average, $2,200) "WOMAN WISE" (20th-Fox) "ROMEO AND JULIET" (M-G-M) "DR. BULL" (ZOth-Fox) ORPHEUM— (1,350), 10c-15c-20c-25c, 7 days. Stage: Paul Cholet's "Kit Kat Club Revue," 3 days. Price range for "Romeo and Juliet," 55c-$1.10. Gross: $3,100. (Aver- age, $1,750) "DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND" (Col.) VARSITY— (1,100), 10c-20c-25c, 7 days. Gross: $1,000. (Average, $1,100) Week Ending Jan. 29: "RAINBOW ON THE RIVER" (Radio) STUART— (2,000), 10c-25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $2,700. (Average, $3,100) Cantor's First Retitled "Ali Baba Goes to Town" will be the title of Eddie Cantor's first under his contract with 20th Century-Fox. The picture tentatively had been titled "His Arabian Nights." Laurence Schwab is associate producer. Set Next Cooper Film Hollywood, Feb. 1. — "Kiss in the Sun," original by Leo McCarey and Frank R. Adams, has been purchased by Samuel Goldwyn as the next star- ring vehicle for Gary Cooper, who will be co-starred with Merle Oberon. Frederick Lonsdale has been signed to do the screenplay. Change Opening Day Boston, Feb. 1. — The Metropolitan M. & P. de luxe house which has been opening for years on Friday, has shifted its opening day to Thursday. This action of Manager Henry Tay- lor puts the Metropolitan in line with Loew's and RKO first runs in the city. "Diggers" at $17,500 Best In St. Louis St. Louis, Feb. 1. — "Gold Diggers of 1937" and a stage show at the Ambassador proved the best draw of the week with a take of $17,500, about $3,500 above the new average for that house. Loew's, with "The Garden of Al- lah" and "Gay Desperado," grossed a nice $16,250, the second best take of the week, and $2,250 above what that house should do under the new line of first run business here. The new policy at the Missouri Theatre has proven very profitable for that house and its business has in- creased from week to week. The week just closed with "The Flams man" and "That Girl from Paris" as the screen attraction this house grossed $13,250, or $2,250 above normal. "Charlie Chan at the Opera," a second run at the St. Louis with vaudeville, took $7,750. The only first run attraction to dip below par was "The Plough and the Stars" and "Woman Wise" at the Fox. Total first run business was $63,750. Average is $59,000. Estimated tak- ings for the week ending Jan. 21 : "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (F.N.) AMBASSADOR — (3,018), 25c-4Cc-S5c, 7 days. Stage: specialty acts. Gross: $17,- 5U0. (Average, $14,000) "PLOUGH AND THE STARS" (Radio) "WOMAN WISE" (ZOth-Fox) FOX— (5,038), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $13,000) "GARDEN OF ALLAH" (U.A.) "GAY DESPERADO" (U.A.) LOEW'S— (3,162), 25c-35c-55o, 7 days. Gross: $16,250. (Average, $14,000) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) "THAT GIRL FROM PARIS" (Radio) MISSOURI— (3,514), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $13,250. (Average, $11,000) "CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA" (ZOth-Fox) ST. LOUIS — (4,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Stage: Vaudeville. Gross: $7,750. (Aver- age, $7,000) "Smart Girls" Gets Big Okla. Money Oklahoma City, Feb. 1. — "Three Smart Girls" garnered top money here in a generally dull week. The $6,000 take was over par by $1,000 at the Criterion. "The Man Who Lived Again" and "Girl of the Ozarks" at the Liberty took $2,100 in four days. Normal for a week is $2,500. Elsewhere business was off. Total first run business was $14,000. Average is $13,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 30: "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) CRITERION— (1,700), 10c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,000) "BELOVED ENEMY" (U.A.) MIDWEST— (1,500), 10c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $2,800. (Average, $4,000) "REMBRANDT" (U.A.) CAPITOL — (1,200), 10c-25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $2,000. (Average, $2,000) "THE MAN WHO LIVED AGAIN" (G.B.) "GIRL OF THE OZARKS" (Para.) LIBERTY— (1.500), 10c-25c-35c, 4 days. Gross: $2,100. (Average, for week, $2,500) "STRAIGHT FROM THE SHOULDER" (Para.) "MAKE WAY FOR A LADY" (Radio) LIBERTY— (1,500), 10c-25c-35c, 4 days. Gross: $1,100. (Average, for week, $2,500) Tuesday, February 2, 1937 MOTION PICTURJt DAILY "Thin Man" Is High Draw in Twin Cities Minneapolis, Feb. 1. — "Three Smart Girls" and "After the Thin Man" were top pictures in the Twin Cities for the week, with total grosses, hurt by sub-zero weather, slightly "above average. "Three Smart Girls" drew $1,300 more than the average $2,000 at the World as it went into its fourth week in Minneapolis. The latter picture was $2,500 better than an average $5,500 at the St. Paul Paramount and ended a second week in Minneapolis with $2,000 more than normal at the Century where par is $5,000. ''Camille" passed an average $10,000 at the Minnesota by $1,000 and a twin bill of "Smart Blonde" and "The Plot Thickens" went over a normal $1,500 at the Towers to $1,800, the only dual bill to better par in the Twin Cities. Total first run business in Minne- apolis was $28,800. Average is $28,- 500. Total first run business in St. Paul was $15,600. Average is $14,- 500. Estimated grosses : Minneapolis: Week Ending Jan. 21: "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) MINNESOTA— (4,000), 25c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $10,000) "COME AND GET IT" (U.A.) ORPHEUM — (2,900), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $6,000) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) CENTURY— (1,600), 25c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $5,000) "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) WORLD— (400), 25c-35c, 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $3,300. (Average, $2,000) Week Ending Jan. 20: "HERE COMES CARTER" (F.N.) "WANTED: JANE TURNER" (RKO) STATE— (2,400), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $5,500) St. Paul: Week Ending Jan. 21: "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (MGM) PARAMOUNT— (2,300), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $5,500) "HERE COMES CARTER" (F.N.) "WANTED: JANE TURNER" (RKO) RIVIERA— (1,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $2,000. (Average, $3,500) Week Ending Jan. 20: "PENNIES FROM HEAVEN" (Col.) ORPHEUM — (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,800. (Average, $4,000) Week Ending Jan. 22: "SMART BLONDE" (W.B.) "THE PLOT THICKENS" (RKO) TOWER— (1,000), 25c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $1,800. (Average, $1,500) Spanagel Joins L. & S. Cincinnati, Feb. 1. — G. E. Spana- gel, Columbia salesman, has been named assistant general manager of L. & S. Theatres, Inc., and will work under Maurice White, general mana- ger, with headquarters here. Ted Lehmiere, manager of the local Forest, has been transferred to the Riverdale, Dayton. M. Abrams, as- sistant, is the new manager of the Forest. Move Seattle Managers Seattle, Feb. 1.— William Cooley las been named manager of Jensen- Von Herberg's Venetian, replacing Arthur Hile, resigned. Cooley has been succeeded at the Ballard Roxy 3y Robert Shearer. "Millions" $19,000 Smash in Buffalo Buffalo, Feb. 1, — "One in a Mil- lion" was a box-office bellwether here in a week of mild sloppy weather. Sonja Henie's ice skating brought $19,000 to the Buffalo to beat par by $7,000. At the Great Lakes, "The Plains- man" was a strong runner up, more than doubling a $7,300 average with a take of $15,000. It was held. Duals at the Century and the Lafay- ette held to average, "Wanted: Jane Turner" and "King of Hockey" get- ting $6,000 at the former and "Flying Hostess" and "Country Gentleman" the same at the Lafayette. Total first run business was $52,200. Average is $38,400. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 23 : "ONE IN A MILLION" (ZOth-Fox) BUFFALO— (3,000), 30c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $19,000. (Average, $12,000) "SING ME A LOVE SONG" (W.B.) "THE CASE OF THE BLACK CAT" (W.B.) HIPPODROME— (2,500), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,200. (Average, $7,300) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) GREAT LAKES — (3,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $15,000. (Average, $7,300) "WANTED: JANE TURNER" (Radio) "KING OF HOCKEY" (W.B.) CENTURY— (3,000). 25c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,800) "FLYING HOSTESS" (Univ.) "THE COUNTRY GENTLEMAN" (Republic) LAFAYETTE— (3,300), 25c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $6,000) "Plainsman" Tops Montreal, $12,000 Montreal, Feb. 1. — "The Plains- man" was out front among Montreal first runs, getting $12,000 at the Capi- tol, $2,500 over average. "Jungle Princess" at Loew's, with Leon Errol and his troupe on the stage, did $13,- 000, also up $2,500. "The Man Who Could Work Mir- acles," topping a British dual, ac- counted for $6,000 at His Majesty's, up $1,000. The second week of "Lloyds of London" brought $9,000 to the Palace while "The Garden of Al- lah" and a second feature grossed $5,- 500 for the second week at the Prin- cess. Total first run business was $45,- 500. Average is $43,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 23 : "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) CAPITOL— (2,547). 25c-35c-40c-50c-60c, 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $9,500) "THE MAN WHO COULD WORK MIRACLES" (British) "LAND WITHOUT MUSIC" (British) HIS MAJESTY'S— (1,700), 25c -35c -40c -50c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,000) "JUNGLE PRINCESS" (Para.) LOEW'S — (3,115), 25c-34c-40c-50c-60c, 7 days. Stage: Leon Errol and Hollywood Follies of 1937. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $10,500) "LLOYDS OF LONDON" (20th Cent.-Fox) PALACE— (2,600), 25c-35c-40c-50c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $9,000. Second week. (Aver- age, $11,000) "GARDEN OF ALLAH" (U.A.) "THE PLOT THICKENS" (Radio) PRINCESS— (2,272), 25c-30c-35c-50c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $5,500. Second week. (Aver- age, $7,000) Opening Foreign House Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 1. — Louis Anger has leased St. Stephens hall in the west end and will operate it ex- clusively as a foreign language film house. The majority of the films be- ing booked are Hungarian with a few Polish and Italian. "Camille" Dual Big Hit in Milwaukee Milwaukee, Feb. 1. — "Camille" and "Mr. Cinderella," dualling at Fox's Wisconsin, took high money, $10,000, just $2,000 above average. Second money went to "Three Smart Girls" and "God's Country and the Woman" at the Warner with an $8,800 take for nine days. This was $3,800 to the good. Other business was below par due to competition from the six-day bike race at the Auditorium, which at- tracted an estimated 20,000 people. Total first run business was $29,100. Average is $24,500. Estimated takings : Week Ending Jan. 26: "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (F.N.) "WANTED, JANE TURNER" (Radio) STRAND— (1,400), 25c-35c-50c, 5 days. Gross: $800. (Average, $1,500) Week Ending Jan. 28: "NORTH OF NOME" (Col.) RIVERSIDE— (2,300), 20c-25c-30c, 7 days. Stage: "Yacht Club Revue." Gross: $4,500. (Average, $5,000) "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) "GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN" (W.B.) WARNER— (2,400), 25c-35c-50c, 9 days. Gross: $8,800. (Average, $5,000) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) "MR. CINDERELLA" (M-G-M) WISCONSIN— (3,200), 25c-35c-S0c, 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $8,000) "LET'S MAKE A MILLION" (Para.) "A DOCTOR'S DIARY" (Para.) PALACE— (2,400), 25c-35c-50c, 8 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $5,000) "Allah" Leader in Fair Houston Week Houston, Feb. 1. — "The Garden of Allah," although not received with en- thusiasm by the critics, led the picture parade this week, taking $7,300 at Loew's State, $300 over par. "Hideaway Girl" at the Metro- politan combined with Jan Garber and his stage unit to get $14,500 against an average of $7,000, but the picture was credited with less than average draw. "That Girl from Paris" at the Majes- tice fell under the line by $100, taking $6,900 for the week. The weather was warm but wet. To date Houston has had but two days of sunshine _ during the past month. Paul Whiteman's one night stand at the Rice Terrace, Milt Britton and company at a night club were the prin- cipal competition. Total first run business was $32,- 900. Average is $26,000. "THE END OF THE TRAIL" (Col.) KIRBY— (1,450), 15c-35c, 3 days. Gross: $2,100. (Average, 7 days, $5,000) "HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD" (Para.) KIRBY— (1,450), 15c-35c, 1 day. Bank Night. Gross: $1,300. (Average, 7 days, $5,000) "A WOMAN REBELS" (Radio) KIRBY— (1.450), 15c-35c, 3 days. Gross: $2,000. (Average, 7 days, $5,000) "THE GARDEN OF ALLAH" (U.A.) LOEW'S STATE— (2,750), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $7,300. (Average, $7,000) "THAT GIRL FROM PARIS" (RKO) MAJESTIC— (2,250), 2Sc-50c, 7 days. Gross: $6,900. (Average, $7,000) "HIDEAWAY GIRL" (Jan Garber on the Stage) METROPOLITAN — (a,600), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $14,500. (Average, $7,000) Approve English House London, Feb. 1. — The Bradford City Council has agreed to lease a site in the center of the city for a 2,000-seat house controlled by Asso- ciated British Pictures. Recently the Council refused a plan for the sale of Kirkgate Market to interests which planned a theatre. "Million" Is Boston Smash With $40,000 Boston, Feb. 1. — Grosses rolled along again this week to high levels, "One in a Million" leading with a $40,000 gross at the Metropolitan, with Fred Waring and his Pennsyl- vanians on the stage, doing $18,000 above average. Lack of snow and moderate temper- atures continue to help boost the fig- ures. "Three Smart Girls" drew $18,- 000 at the RKO Memorial. Average for the house is $12,000. "Pennies from Heaven" dualed with "More Than a Secretary" grossed $8,000 above the level at the Loew's Orpheum with takings of $20,000. The same program at the Loew's State drew $18,000 for seven days, $7,000 over par. "Luckiest Girl in the World" at the RKO Boston did $26,000 along with Vogues & Vanities on the stage featuring Sally Rand and Benny Fields. Total first run business was $136,- 900. Average is $90,500. Estimated takings for week ending Jan. 21 : "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) "EASY TO TAKE" (Para.) FENWAY— (1,392), 30c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average. $4,500) "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) RKO MEMORIAL— (2,907), 25c-50c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $18,000. (Average, $12,000) "PENNIES FROM HEAVEN" (Col.) "MORE THAN A SECRETARY" (Col.) LOEW'S ORPHEUM— (2,970), 35c-45c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $20,000. (Average, $12,000) "PENNIES FROM HEAVEN" (Col.) "MORE THAN A SECRETARY" (Col.) LOEW'S STATE— (3,037), 35c-45c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $18,000. (Average, $11,000) "ONE IN A MILLION" (20th-Fox) METROPOLITAN— (4,332), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Fred Waring & Orchestra. Gross: $40,000. (Average, $22,000) "PLAINSMAN" (Para.) "EASY TO TAKE" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (1,793), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $8,900. (Average, $7,000) "LUCKIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD" (Univ.) RKO BOSTON— (3,246), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Vogues & Vanities with Sally Rand and Benny Fields. Gross: $26,000. (Aver- age, $22,000) Plan Des Moines Dance Des Moines, Feb. 1. — The Variety Club will hold a charity ball in the ballroom of the Savery Hotel on Feb. 13. Interstate in Changes Canton, O., Feb. 1. — Manage- ment changes made effective by George A. Delis, district manager for Interstate Theatres, include : Keith Chambers, from the Palace here to the State, East Liverpool ; R. H. Shaffer, from the New Garden, Portsmouth, to Chambers' place here ; C. A. Metro, placed in Shaffer's post. Gebber Staff Complete Hollywood, Feb. 1. — Executives of Hollywood Studios, Inc., have been appointed by President Maurice Geb- ber. Besides Gebber, the executives are : Vice-President, Lloyd H. Clif- ton; studio attorney, Oscar L. Horn; secretary-treasurer, Louis Felix ; di- rector of public relations, Ray Klein- burger ; studio manager, John F. Mee- han ; publicity, Dick Hunt ; casting director, Harry Jolson; musical ad- viser, Joseph Diskay. 12 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, February 2, 1937 "Camille" Is Best in Phila. With $23,000 Philadelphia, Feb. 1. — "Camille" at the Boyd did a strong $23,000, hold- ing the town's top and developing into a steady second week's draw. The average there is $14,000. For the second straight week, ad- verse weather conditions took a toll although on the whole, business was favorable. Returning to its stage show policy, the Fox got $17,000, up by $3,000, with "That Girl from Paris." For its second and final week, "Great Guy" grossed $3,100, a strong figure, at the Arcadia. Total first run business was $86,300. Average is $80,400. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 21 : "WINGS OF THE MORNING" (ZOth-Fox) ALDINE— (1,300), 40c-55c-65c, 6 davs. Gross: $5,000. (Average, 7 days, $8,160) "GREAT GUY" (Grand National) ARCADIA— (600), 25c-40c-50c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $3,100. (Average, $2,400) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) BOYD— (2,400), 40c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $23,000. (Average, $14,000) "CRACK UP" (20th-Fox) EARLE— (2,000), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Stage: Helen Denizon, Midgie and Raye, Stewart and Martin, "Lazy" Bill Higgins, American Rockets. Gross: $14,000. (Average, $14,000) "THAT GIRL FROM PARIS" (RKO) FOX— (3,000), 40c-55c-65c, 7 days. Stage: James Melton, Three Samuels and Harriet Hayes, Captain Willie Mauss. Gross: $17,000. (Average, $14,000) "BELOVLD ENEMY" (U.A.) KARLTON— (1,000), 2Sc-35c-40c, 7 days, 2nd run. Gross: $2,900. (Average, $4,000) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) KEITH'S— (2,000), 30c-40c-50c, 7 days, 2nd run. Gross: $3,300. (Average, $4,000) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) STANLEY— (3,700), 40c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $14,000) "SMART BLONDE" (Warners) STANTON— (1,700), 30c-40c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $7,000) "Love Song," Show Smash Denver Hit Denver, , Feb. 1. — 'Below zero weather failed to halt "Sing M'e a Love Song" and a Major Bowes unit at the Denver. The take of $12,000 was over par by $4,500, and there were holdouts all week in spite of the frigid winds. "Camille" and "Mad Holiday" went to $8,000 at the Orpheum and "Great Guy" and "Case of the Black Cat" made an excellent showing with $4,000 at the Paramount, but business was light elsewhere. Total first run business was $32,500. Average is $26,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 21 : "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (F. N.) ALADDIN — (1,500), 25c-40c-50c, 7 days, following a week at the Denver. Gross: $2,500. (Average, $3,000) "GARDEN OF ALLAH" (U. A.) BROADWAY— (1,500), 25c-40c, 7 days, following a week each at the Denver and Aladdin. Gross: $2,000. (Average, $2,000) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) DENHAM— (1,500), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $4,500) "SING ME A LOVE SONG" (F. N.) DENVER— (2,500), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Stage: Major Bowes unit. Gross: $12,000. 'Average, $7,500) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) "MAD HOLIDAY" (M-G-M) ORPHEUM— (2,600), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $6,000) "GREAT GUY" (G.N.) "CASE OF THE BLACK CAT" (F. N.) PARAMOUNT— (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average. $3,500) Great Guy," Sullivan Top Detroit Draw Detroit, Feb. 1. — -"Great Guy," with Ed Sullivan's "Dawn Patrol" show, turned in the best showing of the week at the Fox, the take going to $25,500, over normal by $5,500. "God's Country and the Woman," helped by Little Jack Little on the stage, also turned in a profitable gross, $23,400, at the Michigan. This was $3,400 up. "After the Thin Man" was good with $11,600 at the United Artists. Excessive rain hurt business. Total first run business was $80,000. Average is $70,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 21 : "MAN WHO LIVED TWICE" (Col.) "PENNIES FROM HEAVEN" (Col.) ADAMS— (1,770), 10c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,200. (Average, $5,000) "GREAT GUY" (G. N.) FOX— (5,100), 15c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Ed Sullivan "Dawn Patrol" revue, Al Bernie, Joan Britton, Gloria Gilbert, 12 Ben Yost Singers. Gross: $25,500. (Average, $20,000) "GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN" (W. B.) MICHIGAN— (4,100), 15c -75c, 7 days. Stage: Little Jack Little and band, Housten & Harden, Novak & Faye, Don Cummings. Gross: $23,400. (Average, $20,000) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) "SMARTEST GIRL IN TOWN" (Radio) STATE— (3,000), 10c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,800. (Average, $5,000) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS— (2,070), 15c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $11,600. (Average, $10,000) "BELOVED ENEMY" (U. A.) MADISON— (2,000), 15c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $8,500. (Average, $10,000) "Great Guy," Dual Tops Providence Providence, Feb. 1. — "Great Guy" at the RKO Albee was the best bet of the week,, taking $8,200, $1,200 oyer par, on a dual with "The Flying Hostess." "Sing Me a Love Song" and "Polo Joe" garnered $7,800 for the Majestic, up by $800 and Fay's was $100 to the good with "Laughing at Trouble" and five acts of vaude- ville. The take was $7,100. Pro hockey and boxing matches continue to provide the major com- petition with the weather continuing fair and warm. Total first run business was $41,600. Average is $39,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 21 : "SING ME A LOVE SONG" (W.B.) "POLO JOE" (W.B.) MAJESTIC — (2,400), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,800. (Average, $7,000) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) STRAND— (2,300), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $6,500) "GREAT GUY" (G.N.) "THE FLYING HOSTESS" (Univ.) RKO ALBEE— (2,300), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,200. (Average, $7,000) "LAUGHING AT TROUBLE" (Univ.) FAY'S— (1,600), 15c-40c, 7 days. On stage: Five acts of vaudeville. Gross: $7,100. (Average, $7,000) "THE GARDEN OF ALLAH" (U.A.) "COUNTERFEIT LADY" (Col.) LOEWS STATE— (3,400), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $12,000) Plans Richmond House Richmond, Feb. 1. — Elmer H. Bri- ent has approved plans for a new house on Rappahannock St. to be called the Ginter Park. It will cost $80,000 and will seat 1,000. Money's Worth Camden, O., Feb. 1.— The record for an entertainment bargain in this territory goes to the Camden, which recent- ly played a double feature program and several acts of vaudeville in addition to Bank Night, at 15 cents ad- mission. Bad Weather Hurts Grosses at Lincoln Lincoln, Neb., Feb. 1. — Bad weather and weak bookings slapped grosses, the Orpheum came out on top with a strange seven days which saw a vaudeville-film combination, a roadshow, and a return showing for the sixth time of an old Will Rogers print — all in a single seven days. High prices asked for two days of "Romeo and Juliet" coupled with the good weekend of vaudeville with "Woman Wise" drew $3,100, up by $1,350. "Polo Joe" crumpled in three days and was replaced by "Sing Me a Love Song" barely edging the Lincoln in with $200 profit on the $2,400 take. "Rainbow on the River" was without the pot of gold at either end, a slim $2,700, $-iOO low. Total first run business was $10,000. Average is $9,000. Estimated takings : Week Ending Jan. 27: "CALIFORNIA MAIL" (W.B.) "ANNAPOLIS FAREWELL" (Para.) "UNDER COVER OF NIGHT" (M-G-M) "13 HOURS BY AIR" (Para.) LIBERTY— (1,200), lOc-lic, 7 days. Gross: $800. (Average, $850) Week Ending Jan. 28: "POLO JOE" (W.B.) "SING ME A LOVE SONG" (F.N.) LINCOLN — (1,600), 10c-20c-25c, 7 days, split week. Gross: $2,400. (Average, $2,200) "WOMAN WISE" (20th-Fox) "ROMEO AND JULIET" (M-G-M) "DR. BULL" (20th-Fox) ORPHEUM— (1,350), 10c-15c-20c-25c, 7 days. Stage: Paul Cholet's "Kit Kat Club Revue," 3 days. Price range for "Romeo and Juliet," 55c-$1.10. Gross: $3,100. (Aver- age, $1,750) "DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND" (Col.) VARSITY— (1,100), 10c-20c-25c, 7 days. Gross: $1,000. (Average, $1,100) Week Ending Jan. 29: "RAINBOW ON THE RIVER" (Radio) STUART— (2,000), 10c-25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $2,700. (Average, $3,100) Cantor's First Retitled "Ali Baba Goes to Town" will be the title of Eddie Cantor's first under his contract with 20th Century-Fox. The picture tentatively had been titled "His Arabian Nights." Laurence Schwab is associate producer. Set Next Cooper Film Hollywood, Feb. 1. — "Kiss in the Sun," original by Leo McCarey and Frank R. Adams, has been purchased by Samuel Goldwyn as the next star- ring vehicle for Gary Cooper, who will be co-starred with Merle Oberon. Frederick Lonsdale has been signed to do the screenplay. Change Opening Day Boston, Feb. 1. — The Metropolitan M. & P. de luxe house which has been opening for years on Friday, has shifted its opening day to Thursday. This action of Manager Henry Tay- lor puts the Metropolitan in line with Loew's and RKO first runs in the city. Diggers" at $17,500 Best In St. Louis St. Louis, Feb. 1. — "Gold Diggers of 1937" and a stage show at the Ambassador proved the best draw of the week with a take of $17,500, about $3,500 above the new average for that house. Loew's, with "The Garden of Al- lah" and "Gay Desperado," grossed a nice $16,250, the second best take of the week, and $2,250 above what that house should do under the new line of first run business here. The new policy at the Missouri Theatre has proven very profitable for that house and its business has in- creased from week to week. The week just closed with "The Phins- man" and "That Girl from Paris" as the screen attraction this house grossed $13,250, or $2,250 above normal. "Charlie Chan at the Opera," a second run at the St. Louis with vaudeville, took $7,750. The only first run attraction to dip below par was "The Plough and the Stars" and "Woman Wise" at the Fox. Total first run business was $63,750. Average is $59,000. Estimated tak- ings for the week ending Jan. 21 : "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (F.N.) AMBASSADOR— (3,018), 25c-4Cc-55c, 7 days. Stage: specialty acts. Gross: $17,- 500. (Average, $14,000) "PLOUGH AND THE STARS" (Radio) "WOMAN WISE" (20th-Fox) FOX— (5,038), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $13,000) "GARDEN OF ALLAH" (U.A.) "GAY DESPERADO" (U.A.) LOEW'S— (3,162), 25c-35c-55o, 7 days. Gross: $16,250. (Average, $14,000) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) "THAT GIRL FROM PARIS" (Radio) MISSOURI— (3,514), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $13,250. (Average, $11,000) "CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA" (20th-Fox) ST. LOUIS — (4,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Stage: Vaudeville. Gross: $7,750. (Aver- age, $7,000) "Smart Girls" Gets Big Okla. Money Oklahoma City, Feb. 1. — "Three Smart Girls" garnered top money here in a generally dull week. The $6,000 take was over par by $1,000 at the Criterion. "The Man Who Lived Again" and "Girl of the Ozarks" at the Liberty took $2,100 in four days. Normal for a week is $2,500. Elsewhere business was off. Total first run business was $14,000. Average is $13,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 30 : "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) CRITERION— (1,700), 10c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,000) "BELOVED ENEMY" (U.A.) MIDWEST— (1,500), 10c-35c-55c, 7 Gross: $2,800. (Average, $4,000) "REMBRANDT" (U.A.) CAPITOL — (1,200), 10c-25c-40c, 7 Gross: $2,000. (Average, $2,000) "THE MAN WHO LIVED AGAIN" (G.B.) "GIRL OF THE OZARKS" (Para.) LIBERTY— (1.500), 10c-25c-35c, 4 days. Gross: $2,100. (Average, for week, $2,500) "STRAIGHT FROM THE SHOULDER" (Para.) "MAKE WAY FOR A LADY" (Radio) LIBERTY— (1,500), 10c-25c-35c, 4 days. Gross: $1,100. (Average, for week, $2,500) days. days. Tuesday, February 2, 1937 MOTION PICTURJt DAILY 13 "Thin Man" Is High Draw in Twin Cities Minneapolis, Feb. 1. — "Three Smart Girls" and "After the Thin Man" were top pictures in the Twin Cities for the week, with total grosses, hurt by sub-zero weather, slightly >above average. "Three Smart Girls" drew $1,300 . more than the average $2,000 at the World as it went into its fourth week in Minneapolis. The latter picture was $2,500 better than an average $5,500 at the St. Paul Paramount and ended a second week in Minneapolis with $2,000 more than normal at the Century where par is $5,000. "Camille" passed an average $10,000 at the Minnesota by $1,000 and a twin bill of "Smart Blonde" and "The Plot Thickens" went over a normal $1,500 at the Towers to $1,800, the only dual bill to better par in the Twin Cities. Total first run business in Minne- apolis was $28,800. Average is $28,- 500. Total first run business in St. Paul was $15,600. Average is $14,- 500. Estimated grosses : Minneapolis: Week Ending Jan. 21: "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) MINNESOTA— (4,000), 25c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $10,000) "COME AND GET IT" (U.A.) ORPHEUM — (2,900), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $6,000) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) CENTURY— (1,600), 25c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $5,000) "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) WORLD— (400), 2Sc-35c, 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $3,300. (Average, $2,000) Week Ending Jan. 20: "HERE COMES CARTER" (F.N.) "WANTED: JANE TURNER" (RICO) STATE — (2,400) , 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $5,500) St. Paul: Week Ending Jan. 21: "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (MGM) PARAMOUNT — (2,300) , 2Sc-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $5,500) "HERE COMES CARTER" (F.N.) "WANTED: JANE TURNER" (RKO) RIVIERA— (1,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $2,000. (Average, $3,500) Week Ending Jan. 20: "PENNIES FROM HEAVEN" (Col.) ORPHEUM — (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,800. (Average, $4,000) Week Ending Jan. 22: "SMART BLONDE" (W.B.) "THE PLOT THICKENS" (RKO) TOWER— (1,000), 25c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $1,800. (Average, $1,500) Spanagel Joins L. & S. Cincinnati, Feb. 1. — G. E. Spana- gel, Columbia salesman, has been named assistant general manager of L. & S. Theatres, Inc., and will work under Maurice White, general mana- ger, with headquarters here. Ted Lehmiere, manager of the local Forest, has been transferred to the Riverdale, Dayton. M. Abrams, as- sistant, is the new manager of the Forest. Move Seattle Managers Seattle, Feb. 1.— William Cooley has been named manager of Jensen- Von Herberg's Venetian, replacing Arthur Hile, resigned. Cooley has been succeeded at the Ballard Roxy by Robert Shearer. Millions" $19,000 Smash in Buffalo Buffalo, Feb. 1. — "One in a Mil- lion" was a box-office bellwether here in a week of mild sloppy weather. Sonja Henie's ice skating brought $19,000 to the Buffalo to beat par by $7,000. At the Great Lakes, "The Plains- man" was a strong runner up, more than doubling a $7,300 average with a take of $15,000. It was held. Duals at the Century and the Lafay- ette held to average, "Wanted : Jane Turner" and "King of Hockey" get- ting $6,000 at the former and "Flying Hostess" and "Country Gentleman" the same at the Lafayette. Total first run business was $52,200. Average is $38,400. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 23 : "ONE IN A MILLION" (ZOth-Fox) BUFFALO— (3,000), 30c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $19,000. (Average, $12,000) "SING ME A LOVE SONG" (W.B.) "THE CASE OF THE BLACK CAT" (W.B.) HIPPODROME— (2,500), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,200. (Average, $7,300) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) GREAT LAKES— (3,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $15,000. (Average, $7,300) "WANTED: JANE TURNER" (Radio) "KING OF HOCKEY" (W.B.) CENTURY— (3,000). 25c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,800) "FLYING HOSTESS" (Univ.) "THE COUNTRY GENTLEMAN" (Republic) LAFAYETTE— (3,300), 25c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $6,000) "Plainsman" Tops Montreal, $12,000 Montreal, Feb. 1. — "The Plains- man" was out front among Montreal first runs, getting $12,000 at the Capi- tol, $2,500 over average. "Jungle Princess" at Loew's, with Leon Errol and his troupe on the stage, did $13,- 000, also up $2,500. "The Man Who Could Work Mir- acles," topping a British dual, ac- counted for $6,000 at His Majesty's, up $1,000. The second week of "Lloyds of London" brought $9,000 to the Palace while "The Garden of Al- lah" and a second feature grossed $5,- 500 for the second week at the Prin- cess. Total first run business was $45,- 500. Average is $43,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 23 : "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) CAPITOL— (2,547). 25c-35c-40c-5Oc-6Oc, 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $9,500) "THE MAN WHO COULD WORK MIRACLES" (British) "LAND WITHOUT MUSIC" (British) HIS MAJESTY'S— (1,700), 25c-35c-40c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,000) "JUNGLE PRINCESS" (Para.) LOEW'S — (3,115), 25c-34c-40c-50c-60c, 7 days. Stage: Leon Errol and Hollywood Follies of 1937. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $10,500) "LLOYDS OF LONDON" (20th Cent.-Fox) PALACE— (2,600), 25c-35c-4Oc-50c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $9,000. Second week. (Aver- age, $11,000) "GARDEN OF ALLAH" (U.A.) "THE PLOT THICKENS" (Radio) PRINCESS — (2,272) , 25c-30c-35c-50c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $5,500. Second week. (Aver- age, $7,000) Opening Foreign House Bridgeport, Conn., Feb. 1. — Louis Anger has leased St. Stephens hall in the west end and will operate it ex- clusively as a foreign language film house. The majority of the films be- ing booked are Hungarian with a few Polish and Italian. "Camille" Dual Big Hit in Milwaukee Milwaukee, Feb. 1. — "Camille" and "Mr. Cinderella," dualling at Fox's Wisconsin, took high money, $10,000, just $2,000 above average. Second money went to "Three Smart Girls" and "God's Country and the Woman" at the Warner with an $8,800 take for nine days. This was $3,800 to the good. Other business was below par due to competition from the six-day bike race at the Auditorium, which at- tracted an estimated 20,000 people. Total first run business was $29,100. Average is $24,500. Estimated takings : Week Ending Jan. 26: "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (F.N.) "WANTED, JANE TURNER" (Radio) STRAND— (1,400), 25c-35c-50c, 5 days. Gross: $800. (Average, $1,500) Week Ending Jan. 28: "NORTH OF NOME" (Col.) RIVERSIDE— (2,300), 20c-25c-30c, 7 days. Stage: "Yacht Club Revue." Gross: $4,500. (Average, $5,000) "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) "GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN" (W.B.) WARNER— (2,400), 25c-35c-50c, 9 days. Gross: $8,800. (Average, $5,000) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) "MR. CINDERELLA" (M-G-M) WISCONSIN— (3,200), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $8,000) "LET'S MAKE A MILLION" (Para.) "A DOCTOR'S DIARY" (Para.) PALACE— (2,400), 25c-35c-50c, 8 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $5,000) "Allah" Leader in Fair Houston Week Houston, Feb. 1. — "The Garden of Allah," although not received with en- thusiasm by the critics, led the picture parade this week, taking $7,300 at Loew's State, $300 over par. "Hideaway Girl" at the Metro- politan combined with Jan Garber and his stage unit to get $14,500 against an average of $7,000, but the picture was credited with less than average draw. "That Girl from Paris" at the Majes- tice fell under the line by $100, taking $6,900 for the week. The weather was warm but wet. To date Houston has had but two days of sunshine during the past month. Paul Whiteman's one night stand at the Rice Terrace, Milt Britton and company at a night club were the prin- cipal competition. Total first run business was $32,- 900. Average is $26,000. "THE END OF THE TRAIL" (Col.) KIRBY— (1,450), 15c-35c, 3 days. Gross: $2,100. (Average, 7 days, $5,000) "HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD" (Para.) KIRBY— (1,450), 15c-35c, 1 day. Bank Night. Gross: $1,300. (Average, 7 days, $5,000) "A WOMAN REBELS" (Radio) KIRBY— (1.450), 15c-35c, 3 days. Gross: $2,000. (Average, 7 days, $5,000) "THE GARDEN OF ALLAH" (U.A.) LOEW'S STATE— (2,750), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $7,300. (Average, $7,000) "THAT GIRL FROM PARIS" (RKO) MAJESTIC — (2,250), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $6,900. (Average, $7,000) "HIDEAWAY GIRL" (Jan Garber on the Stage) METROPOLITAN — (a,600), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $14,500. (Average, $7,000) Approve English House London, Feb. 1. — The Bradford City Council has agreed to lease a site in the center of the city for a 2,000-seat house controlled by Asso- ciated British Pictures. Recently the Council refused a plan for the sale of Kirkgate Market to interests which planned a theatre. "Million" Is Boston Smash With $40,000 Boston, Feb. 1. — Grosses rolled along again this week to high levels, "One in a Million" leading with a $40,000 gross at the Metropolitan, with Fred Waring and his Pennsyl- vanians on the stage, doing $18,000 above average. Lack of snow and moderate temper- atures continue to help boost the fig- ures. "Three Smart Girls" drew $18,- 000 at the RKO Memorial. Average for the house is $12,000. "Pennies from Heaven" dualed with "More Than a Secretary" grossed $8,000 above the level at the Loew's Orpheum with takings of $20,000. The same program at the Loew's State drew $18,000 for seven days, $7,000 over par. "Luckiest Girl in the World" at the RKO Boston did $26,000 along with Vogues & Vanities on the stage featuring Sally Rand and Benny Fields. Total first run business was 900. Average is $90,500. Estimated takings for week ending Jan. 21: "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) "EASY TO TAKE" (Para.) FENWAY— (1,392), 30c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average. $4,500) "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) RKO MEMORIAL— (2,907), 25c-50c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $1S,C0J. (Average, $12,000) "PENNIES FROM HEAVEN" (Col.) "MORE THAN A SECRETARY" (Col.) LOEW'S ORPHEUM— (2,970), 35c-45c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $20,000. (Average, $12,000) "PENNIES FROM HEAVEN" (Col.) "MORE THAN A SECRETARY" (Col.) LOEW'S STATE— (3,037), 35c-45c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $18,000. (Average, $11,000) "ONE IN A MILLION" (ZOth-Fox) METROPOLITAN— (4,332), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Fred Waring & Orchestra. Gross: $40,000. (Average, $22,000) "PLAINSMAN" (Para.) "EASY TO TAKE" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (1,793), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $8,900. (Average, $7,000) "LUCKIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD" (Univ.) RKO BOSTON — (3,246), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Vogues & Vanities with Sally Rand and Benny Fields. Gross: $26,000. (Aver- age, $22,000) Plan Des Moines Dance Des Moines, Feb. 1. — The Variety Club will hold a charity ball in the ballroom of the Savery Hotel on Feb. 13. Interstate in Changes Canton, O., Feb. 1. — Manage- ment changes made effective by George A. Delis, district manager for Interstate Theatres, include : Keith Chambers, from the Palace here to the State, East Liverpool ; R. H. Shaffer, from the New Garden, Portsmouth, to Chambers' place here ; C. A. Metro, placed in Shaffer's post. Gebber Staff Complete Hollywood, Feb. 1. — Executives of Hollywood Studios, Inc., have been appointed by President Maurice Geb- ber. Besides Gebber, the executives are : Vice-President, Lloyd H. Clif- ton ; studio attorney, Oscar L. Horn ; secretary-treasurer, Louis Felix ; di- rector of public relations, Ray Klein- burger ; studio manager, John F. Mee- han ; publicity, Dick Hunt ; casting director, Harry Jolson; musical ad- viser, Joseph Diskay. MOTION PICTURE 14 RADIO I/Y Tuesday, February 2, 1937 New Shows On the Air Aylesworth Move Seen Start Of 'Push 9 by Scripps-Howard For Charity Until a bigger and better parade of talent comes along, last night's spec- tacular program devised to raise funds for the American Red Cross for the purpose of flood relief must be set down as the most lavish air show ever sent out into the ether. Not in all the 10 years of network history has any single program boasted such "names" as did this one. As a matter of fact, if the program proved a bit boring at any time it was because of an overdose of talent rather than from a dearth of it. Preceding the battery of high- powered Hollywood talent was Will Hays who painted a vivid word-pic- ture of the horrors of the flood and who asked his listeners to contribute unstintingly to the fund. Edwin C. Hill and Admiral Cary Grayson also appealed for contributions. The program emanated from four different points — New York, Miami, London and Hollywood, beginning at 10 P. M. yesterday and concluding at 1 A. M. today. The artists who con- tributed their services included the bands of H. Leopold Spitalny, Ted Lewis, Russ Morgan, Wayne King and Frank Black ; Jane Froman, Bob Burns, Jack Pearl, Harry Richman, Sheila Barrett, Morton Downey, Jack Dempsey, Ben Lyon, Bebe Daniels, Irvin S. Cobb, Carole Lombard, Bing Crosby, John McCormack and many others wThose names, unfortunately, must be omitted because of space re- quirements. All artists contributed their services gratis. XBC contributed the air time. Banner KEHE Using Picture Names on the Coast Hollywood, Feb. 1. — KEHE of the Hearst chain now has picture names on its programs. The players will make guest appearances on the regular film news programs given by Warren Stokes. He introduced Marsha May Jones, child actress, and Smiley Burnette on Sunday. Today he interviewed Su- zanne Kearen, who is currently ap- pearing with Joe E. Brown in "When's Your Birthday?" and Wednesday he interviews Tex Ritter. A representative of the Hays of- fice is scheduled for an early broad- cast. 'Frisco Short Shots Back-on-the-airs include Police Chief Bill Quinn, starting a new series of crime dramas for KPO, and Chester Rowell, editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, who resumes his series of world events comments for KGO. He's Tired New Haven, Feb. 1. — Char- lie Wright will replace Mack Parker as "The Early Bird" for February on WELL Mack has decided that a year and a half of grey dawn early- birding deserves a vacation. Observers in the radio field are of the opinion that the acquisition of Merlin H. Aylesworth by Scripps- Howard presages the beginning of an extensive radio "push" by that news- paper chain. The following reasons are cited to substantiate the claims : After a long period of open hostility toward radio, Scripps-Howard, late in 1935, organized the Continental Radio Corp. with Karl Bickel, former head of the U.P. news service, as president. Immediately after the corporation was formed Scripps- Howard purchased WCPO, a 100 watt station in Cincinnati. Gradually other stations were bought and the Scripps-Howard sta- tion list also includes WNBR, 500 watts, and WMC. 1000 watts, both in Memphis ; and WNOX, 1000 watts, Knoxville. Additionally, Continental Radio has filed applications with the F. C. C. for stations in Toledo, Columbus, Washington and Denver and, while no official word has been received from Washington, it is believed that the applications will be granted. Thus, with the chain rapidly ex- panding, Scripps-Howard, it is held, could use the services of an organizer and radio veteran such as Ayles worth who helped organize NBC when the network was formed in 1926 and under whose guidance the web became the largest and most powerful broad- casting system in the world. Transcriptions for Syrup New Orleans, Feb. 1. — Fitzgerald Advertising Agency, Inc., is represent- ing the Alabama-Georgia Syrup Co. of Montgomery, which is preparing an RCA-Victor transcription cam- paign through the NBC transcription service in New York. The series will include 26 quarter-hour periods fea- turing the Inkspots and titled "Melody Meeting." The campaign is starting Monday. WHN in Magazine Deal WHN yesterday completed two magazine tieups with the New York Woman and with Current History. In return for time on the air, each maga- zine will devote a page to the station. Lois Miller, managing editor of the New York W oman, and M. E. Tracy, editor of Current History, will con- duct the programs for their respective publications. The schedules will begin in two weeks. She Named Cantor Parks Johnson and Wally Butterworth recently asked a woman who was being inter- viewed on their NBC "Vox Pop" program to name the most famous father of five girls and she nominated Ed-, die Cantor. Apparently, she never heard of Papa Dionne. More WOR "Spot" Deals New "spot" business at WOR in- cludes a recorded series of talks on gardening for the Ferry' Morse Seed Co., beginning March 8 from 8:25 to 8:30 A. M., E. S. T. The tran- scriptions will be aired Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. N. W. Ayer & Son, Inc., the agency. "Flowing Melodies," electrically transcribed for the Wm. A. Sheaffer Pen Co., begins March 2, and will be heard Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sat- urdays, from 5:05 to 5:10 P. M., E. S. T. Beginning March 9 the pro- gram will be broadcast 8 :25 to 8 :30 P. M., E. S. T. Baggaley, Horton & Hoyt, Inc., Chicago, the agency. Additionally, "True Detective Mys- teries," for MacFadden Publications, renews beginning March 9 over WOR and WLW. Ruthrauff and Ryan, Inc., the agency. Richard Marvin to New York Chicago, Feb. 1. — Richard Marvin has left for New York to direct the Nash Speedshow for the next three weeks. His place as radio director for the J. Walter Thompson Agency will be occupied by Buckingham Gunn, who will handle the Northerners and the Bowman Dairy programs until Marvin returns. "Hit Parade" Extends The Lucky Strike "Hit Parade" program on CBS adds an extra quar- ter-hour time to its weekly period be- ginning Feb. 13. The program there- after will be heard from 10' to 10 :45 P. M., E. S. T. Lord & Thomas is the agency. Film Players for Crosby Bing Crosby brings three film players to his support Thursday night on the Kraft "Music Hall" series. They are Basil Rathbone, William Frawley and Marion Clare. Warners Dickering On Waring Musical Fred Waring and his troupe of Pennsylvanians spent the entire day yesterday undergoing screen tests at the Warner studios in Brooklyn. The tests will be continued today. While it is not believed that the picture contract has been signed as yet, it is expected that the Pennsyl- vanians will be on the Warner lot in Hollywood sometime in March to film a college story for the studio. It is known that one of the vehicles dis- cussed for the Pennsylvanians at a recent conference involving Waring, Jack Warner, Sam Bischoff and Hal Wallis, was "Brother Rat," current collegiate success now appearing on Broadway, and owned by Warners, i Waring's personal appearance itin- erary will bring him to the coast in mid-March. Beginning Feb. 3 the Pennsylvanians will appear at the New York Paramount for two weeks with dates set for Cleveland, Detroit, Chi- cago and St. Louis, followed by a non-stop trek to Hollywood. A 20th Century-Fox deal for Waring fell through this past summer because of a conflicting radio schedule. It was reported then that 20th Cen- More developments in the radio field on page 16 tury-Fox had bid $185,000 for the troupe. Those now being screen tested in- clude Fred and Tom Waring, Priscilla and Rosemary Lane, Johnnie Davis, Poly McClintock, Gene Conklin, the McFarland twins, Scotty Bates, the "Three Fellows," and "Fern," all of whom are widely known to air au- diences. Gibbons' Broadcast On Flood Protested Cincinnati, Feb. 1. — Indignant over Floyd Gibbons' inaccurate and garbled description of local flood conditions which he broadcast from here, top executives of the Chamber of Com- merce and Retail Merchants' Bureau, backed by city officials and the Ameri- can Red Cross, have wired protests to S. Bayard Colgate, president Col- gate-Palmolive-Peet, sponsors, de- manding a radio retraction. The Gib- bons program was "Your True Ad- ventures," broadcast on Thursdays at 10 P. M. over a CBS network. The broadcast, fed to the Columbia web through WKRC, local CBS affil- iate, originated in the downtown studios of WLW, an NBC outlet, located on a 55-foot elevation a block and a half from the nearest flood waters. Gibbons, who refused to submit his script to local authorities before going on the air, because he "would not permit censorship," said that the studios wrere in the path of the flood, and that "the building might be en- gulfed at any minute." With sound (.Continued on page 16) Program Title Omaha, Feb. 1. — Kenneth Golden, local tenor, who re- cently opened his own mor- tuary, calls his daily program at 1:15 P. M. over KOIL the "Golden Hour." So Cows Like to Dance Lancaster, Pa., Feb. 1. — Poultrymen discovered some years back that they got more eggs by putting electric lights in their hen houses. Now Park Miller is ready to show his fellow dairymen that keeping a radio in the cowbarn will make for contented cows. Miller installed a radio for his 31 cows a year ago. His ex- periment disclosed that cows like to hear dance orchestras. They seem to prefer snappy tunes to the dreamy waltz numbers; symphonies and bits from the classics are not so effective; murder thrillers, mystery plays, comedians and speeches never should be tuned in. Tuned in to the right program, his cows show immediate inter- est. And even the hired men went about their chores with more vim and vigor when a snappy tune was on the air. I ; I WIP PENNSYLVANIA BROADCASTING COMPANY PHILADELPHIA OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT BENEDICT GIMBEL.JR. January 20, 1937. Mr. Maurice Kann, Motion Picture Daily, Rockefeller Center, New York City Dear Mr. Kann: Since the first day on wh ch it appeared 1 have been most interested in your new radio page in "Motion Picture Daily." 1 would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on the fine job that you are doing with it. S" Sincerely, MOTION PICTURE DAILY ROC KEFELLER CENTER NEW YORK 16 RADIO MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, February 2, 1937 i Radio Personals* DON CLASSMAN, free lance writer, yesterday joined the NBC press department. . . . No suc- cessor as yet has been named to H. V. McKee's position at Cecil, Warwick & Cecil. . . . Fred Waring has offered to broadcast a half-hour program for the Boy Scouts of America, without charge, during National Scout Week. . . . Frank Healy's new secretary at NBC is Virginia Blackly. ... Li Ta Ming, Chinese actress, debuts on WGN's "Melody from the Sky" pro- gram next Sunday. . . . Douglas Allan, of the WINS staff, has received a request for an auto- graphed copy of his book "Building Careers" from Premier Mussolini. . . . WMBG is cutting transcriptions of all important addresses for re-broad- cast purposes so as to make the pro- grams available to those who were unable to hear the original broadcasts. . . . Horace Heidt's "Brigadiers" will devote their full half-hour session Feb 8 to songs from motion pictures. . . . Herschell Williams, formerly of the radio department at J. Walter Thomp- son, is now at Benton & Bowles in a similar capacity. . . . Ralph Gins- burgh celebrates his fifth year on the air over WGN this week. . . . General Electric Co. will use five 15-minute studio shows weekly over WBT, Charlotte, beginning Feb. 16 and run- ning 15 weeks. . . . Chicago's Row Reporting Skeleton crews are operating local stations with many staff members down in the flood zone handling spe- cial broadcasts. . . . Tom Fizdale is in Excelsior Springs. He left his can- did camera home this trip. . . . Re- ports that Minnie the singing mouse was "infanticipating" are denied by NBC. Even the report that the off- spring might form a choir to augment the NBC star is denied. . . . Joy Miller, 5 year old youngster from Davenport leaves local airwaves soon for try with Fred Allen in New York. . . . "Sing, Neighbor, Sing," was a new program yesterday over WLS, Monday through Friday at 6:15 A.M. It stars Chic Martin, Eloise Rowan, Nancy Lou and others. . . . Laura Satterwhite and Lester Lee Griffith both with NBC, have not set the wed- ding date yet. Loses on Whiteman Tour Omaha, Feb. 1. — Paul Whiteman's five-night swing of Tom Archer ball- rooms in Sioux Falls, Des Moines, St. Joseph and concluding in Omaha left Archer holding with a deficit of $2,000. Bemoaning his loss — the expense of hiring Whiteman's band at $7,500 for the five nights — Archer said this was the first time a "big name" band had flopped for him. Whiteman, minus Ramona, hit Omaha on Bank Night, which might explain some of the loss here, but the take at all the other spots also failed to meet expenses for any one night, Archer said. And Whiteman didn't get in on Bank Night the other four towns. Seek Toscanini for NBC -Victor Program Samuel Chotzinoff, music critic of the New York Post, is on his way to Italy to confer with Arturo Tos canini about returning to America to conduct a series of concerts for NBC, it was learned yesterday. While no comment was forthcoming, it is be- lieved that Chotzinoff, a personal friend of the conductor, sailed as the representative of David Sarnoff, pres- ident of RCA. The conference will take place in Milan. Toscanini recently declined Sarnoff's invitation to return to America, but strong hope is being entertained that the conductor will listen to Chotzin- off's plea. If Toscanini returns here it is be- lieved that he will make a transconti- nental tour under the auspices of RCA Victor, in addition to a weekly broad- cast. General Motors most likely will be the air sponsor. Two Extended Deals Coast-Made by NBC Recent NBC west coast program activities embrace contracts for the Gilmore Oil Co., and Sussman, Worm- ser & Co., fruit packers. Beginning Feb. 15 and continuing for 52 weeks, the Gilmore Oil Co. will sponsor the "Gilmore Circus" over five Pacific Red stations. The stations are KPO, KFI, KGW, KOMO, and KHQ. The series, placed through the Raymond R. Morgan agency, Hollywood, will be aired Mondays from 6 :30 to 7 P. M., P.S.T. Signed for 104 weeks through Bots- ford, Constantine & Gardner, "S. & W. Junior News," for Sussman, Wormser & Co. will be broadcast twice weekly, Mondays and Fridays from 5:45 to 6 P. M., P.S.T., begin- ning Feb. 15, over the following Red-network stations: KPO, KFI KGW, KOMO, KHQ, KFBK, KMJ, and KWG. Gibbons' Broadcast On Flood Protested (Continued from page 14) effects he created the impression of torrents rushing by, presented screams of marooned women, and described the rescue of babies from flooded homes just prior to collapse. He told of an entire block of buildings crumbl- ing in a certain location, when, in reality, but a single house was af- fected. City Manager Clarence A. Dykstra was granted time over the CBS net- work by Paul White, special events director, New York, and he broadcast a definite denial. Mayor Russell Wilson also broad- cast a contradiction over WCPO, Cincinnati Post station. "Mr. Deeds" Goes On Motion Picture Daily on Jan. 28 reported that Cora C. Wilkening, lit- erary agent for Clarence Budington Kelland, author of "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," would restrain J. Walter Thompson and Lever Bros., agents and sponsors for the Lux "Radio The- atre," from broadcasting the Kelland story, which was aired last night, un- less a $1,500 fee was paid the author. It became known yesterday that the Thompson company had effected a compromise by paying $500 for the broadcast rights. Zutcor Will Attend MPTOA Miami Meet (Continued from page 1) in Washington, it was stated at M. P. T. O. A. headquarters here yesterday. The exhibitor organization's invita- tion to attend the convention was de- livered to Zukor at the Paramount studio on the occasion of the silver jubilee dinner in his honor on Jan. 8. His acceptance has been received. In addition, several "prominent Holly- wood stars" are expected to attend the Miami convention, the M. P. T. O. A. states. Preliminary plans for the meeting have been completed, with Mitchell Wolfson of Wometco Theatres, Miami, heading the convention ar- rangements committees and Jack Frost of the S. A. Lynch Theatres in Miami, chairman of the reception committee. The convention arrangements now contemplate in addition to three days of conferences and business sessions, a golf tournament immediately follow- ing and additional days to be set aside for fishing, bathing and the races. A water carnival will augment the annual banquet, which will be "speech-less." Display booth reservations for the con- vention are available now at M. P. T. O. A. headquarters here. "Camille" $65,000 First Capitol Week "Camille" garnered approximately $65,000 in its first week at the Capitol and is said to be holding up in its second stanza. There is a possibility the picture will be held a third week. The Roxy continues to do outstand- ing business on "Three Smart Girls," which after tallying $60,000 on the first week, took in $31,500 for the three days of the current week. Yes- terda3^'s business was better than $6,000. The film is definitely booked for a third week and may go a fourth. "Plough and the Stars" at the Music Hall was good for $35,000 Saturday and Sunday and will probably get $75,000 on the week. "On the Avenue" will open Thursday. The Rivoli, after finishing a second week with "Men Are Not Gods" at $16,500, got $13,800 for Saturday and Sunday on "You Only Live Once." The current attraction is expected to end the first seven days with $30,000. "Black Legion" tallied about $15,000 in its second and final week at the Strand. The fourth week of "Great Guy" at the Criterion ended with slightly over $8,000. A decision will be reached today on holding the Cagney film a sixth stanza. Anna N eagle Named For Victoria Role London, Feb. 1.— Anna Neagle has been selected to play the role of Queen Victoria in the Herbert Wilcox pro- duction, "Victoria the Great," which will be directed by Wilcox personally, and which will be ready for release June 21. The date follows the expiration of the Lord Chamberlain's ban on per- formances depicting Queen Victoria. The scheduled stage appearance of Miss Neagle in New York has been postponed to enable her to appear in the film. Tests are under way for a player to take the part of the prince consort. H. B. Warner will play Lord Melbourne. Congress Gets New Plea for Probe of FCC (Continued from page 1) three networks control all 40 clear channels and have 90 per cent of the broadcasting power. No independent station, he said, has more than 1,000 watts at night, but 163 network sta- tions have power of 50,000 watts. He also charged commission offi- cials with giving erroneous and in- complete information to the committee during its consideration of the bill. Wigglesworth renewed his recom- mendation that fees be charged for broadcasting licenses, declaring the industry makes huge sums of money from the use of Federal privileges. Indiana Bill Seeks State Censor Board Indianapolis, Feb. 1. — State cen- sorship is provided in one of four bills affecting the industry introduced in the Indiana General Assembly just before it recessed until Feb. 8 be- cause of flood conditions. The bill would authorize censoring of all films except newsreels, and fix fees. Penalties would range from $25 to $300 fines for first offense and $300 to $500 for subsequent violations. Introduced in the Senate was a bill providing for licensing of film theatres by the state fire marshall. Annual license fees of $15 for Class A and $10 for Class B houses was included. A new bill in the house would pro- vide for licensing of circuses, tent shows, carnivals and radio acts, daily fees to be $100, $50, and $25 respec- tively. Half the fee would go to the county welfare fund and half to the state emergency relief fund. Representative Harry Muller, op- erator of the State, Anderson, Ind., who earlier in the session introduced a bill calling for the banning of Bank Night, has introduced another in the House which would prohibit desig- nated play dates in contracts. Birmingham Censor Aid Out Birmingham, Feb. 1. — Mrs. Har- riett Adams, Birmingham's assistant amusement inspector, and storm cen- ter of a recent City Commission move- ment to create a new amusement in- spector, was legislated out of office Wednesday by the commissioners and her duties turned over to the Police Dept. Police Chief Hollums announced that for the present he would give his personal supervision to the amuse- ment situation and that later, if it seemed necessary, he might organize a committee of women to aid him. Signs Alabama Sunday Bill Birmingham, Feb. 1. — A bill by Representative John D. Chichester legalizing Sunday films in all Jeffer- son County municipalities is included in a batch of 17 signed by Governor Graves Saturday. Tarrant is the only town in Jeffer- son County barring Sunday shows at present, and a movement is under way there to have the City Council repeal the prohibitive ordinance. Leeds had its first Sunday shows last Sunday. The Leading Motio Picture industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, Intelligent the I in All Branches VOL. 4L NO. 28 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1937 TEN CENTS Levine Quits Presidency of Republic Prod. Half Interest Is Sold to An Unnamed Buyer Hollywood, Feb. 2. — Nat Levine to- day resigned as president of Republic Productions, stating at the same time that he has disposed of his half in- terest in the company for a substan- tial sum. He would not divulge the name of the buyer. Levine's resignation comes as the result of differences of opinion with Herbert J. Yates on questions of fu- ture company policy. The move was made, Levine said, under "friendliest conditions." Yates today assured Motion Pic- ture Daily that he had not pur- chased the Levine interest in the company, but here again the identity of the actual buyer could not be learned. When questioned as to whether the sale has been entirely completed, Yates stated, "Almost completed." Yates promised an official state- ment within two days, indicating that final aspects of the negotiations have not been concluded. He said that the executive personnel at Republic will remain practically unchanged, but was silent concerning a successor to Levine. The suit of Guarantee Liquidating Corp. against Republic, which is due for a hearing this week, is believed (.Continued on page 12) Attorney Objects to Proposed Roxy Plan Objections to the Roxy reorganiza- tion plan filed in behalf of the first mortgage bondholders have been pre- sented to Judge Francis G. Caffey in U. S. District Court by Daniel W. Blumenthal, attorney. Blumenthal represents the Adler Committee for holders of defaulted securities of S. W. Straus & Co. Blumenthal objects to control of the reorganized company by 20th Cen- tury-Fox on the theory that pictures (Continued on page 12) "Earth" Opening Is Heard in Shanghai Claimed to have been the first effort of its kind, the radio hookup for last night's opening of "The Good Earth" at the Astor was broadcast through (Continued on page 12) Radio — Pages 10 and 12 Moyne Plans Sure to Fail, Declares KRS Distributors Oppose New Suggested Quota By BRUCE ALLAN London, Feb. 2. — The recommenda- tions of the Moyne committee "by the very nature of the complexity of the film industry cannot but fail to achieve the main purpose for which the Films Act was devised, that British films should be produced and shown in Great Britain," it was stated to- day in the letter from the Kinemato- graph Renters' Society (distributors) to the Board of Trade, embodying the organization's views on the recent re- port of the Lord Moyne committee suggesting changes in the Films Act, which expires in 1938. The K. R. S. statement included no comment on the broad principles sug- gested that the Government should safeguard British control of the in- dustry here, should encourage financ- ing and maintain the quota principle for 10 years. The statement ex- pressed the belief that shorts should be excluded from quota restrictions. The K. R. S. opposed the suggested new opening quota figures of 20 per (Continued on page 61 Distributors Deny Philippine Charges Manila, P. I., Feb. 2. — Warner Brothers-First National, United Ar- tists' Corp. and Fox Films Export Co., Inc., three American distributors, named as co-defendants in a suit for 180,000 pesos, brought in the Court of First Instance here by the Arco Amusement Co., Inc., have filed a demurrer denying unlawful practices in restraint of trade in the withhold- ing of films and the granting of pref- erential distribution to Inocentes de la (Continued on page 6) GLOBE-WIDE SOUND THEATRES AT 55,563 Dominance Washington, Feb. 2. — Seven- ty per cent of screen time in all foreign markets went to American product during 1936 and in a majority of overseas territories the percentage was above 80 per cent, stated N. D. Golden, chief of the M. P. Section of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com- merce, today in making public his annual survey of world theatres. A five-year comparison of theatres throughout the world, by nations and by major geo- graphical divisions, appears on pages 8 and 9 today. Orpheum Accepts RKO $700,000 Bid An Orpheum Circuit creditors' meet- ing yesterday voted to accept RKO's offer of $700,000 cash and subordina- tion of its own claims for clear title to the Orpheum assets which are now in the possession of Stadium Theatres Corp., a wholly owned RKO subsid- iary, through which the parent com- pany's bid is made. In so doing, the meeting rejected an offer of $2,000,000 cash for the same assets, which was presented yes- terday to Federal Referee Oscar W. Ehrhorn and the Orpheum creditors for the first time by a committee of preferred stockholders of Orpheum. The assets in question recently were appraised at $2,772,714. Referee Ehrhorn took the creditors' (Continued on page 3) Central Plot Twist Marks Mild Play Out for Films By PLAYBOY John Golden, the producer, entered a completely unimportant item in the theatrical ledger last night at John Golden, the theatre. His initial ven- ture this dubious season, it is regret- table a more cheery critique is not possible. "And Now Goodbye," this one was based on the novel by James Hilton, he of "Lost Horizon" and "Goodbye, Mr. Chips." The adaptation by Philip Howard finished itself off in three acts when two longer ones would have turned the trick insofar as time en- tered into the matter. The first act (Continued on page 9) 3,866 Gain Over 1936, Says Government Bureau — 95,379 in World Washington, Feb. 2.— Of the 95,- 379 motion picture theatres declared by the Motion Picture Section of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com- merce to have been in operation throughout the world on Jan. 1, 1937, there were 55,563 wired for sound as compared with 51,697 on Jan. 1, 1936. This represents an increase of 3,866 for last year, according to the annual statistical survey made by N. D. Golden, chief of the section, and made public today. At the dawn of the year, Golden de- clared world picture theatres were totaled at 95,379 comparing with 87,- 229 a year earlier, or an increase of 8,150. What the 39,816 silent theatres are running on their screens or whether or not they are even open are not covered in the analysis. It is pointed out, however, of the total in- crease as between 1935 and 1936, Rus- sian theatres account for 4,299. "In Soviet Russia," Golden explained, "all clubs, workers' organizations and meeting halls are included as thea- tres, where films are exhibited. There are approximately 2,285 commercial theatres in operation in Soviet Russia." "The greatest gain in theatre open- ings occurred in the European mar- ket," Golden pointed out. "On Jan. 1, 1936, there were a total of 60,150 (Continued on page 8) Educational Shift Delayed to Feb. 8 Wilmington, Feb. 2. — A special meeting of stockholders of Education- al Pictures, which was scheduled to be held here today to vote on the company's plans for corporate simpli- fication and recapitalization, was ad- journed to Feb. 8 without any action being taken. The adjournment was (Continued on page 6) Expect Warner Plan Before End of Month With negotiations "progressing rap- idly" with Hayden, Stone & Co., Warners are expected to file its recap- italization plan with SEC the end of the month, it was stated yesterday. Under the plan, 900,000 shares of new common would be issued at $12.50 a share, one for each four now held (Continued on page 3) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, February 3, 1937 MOTION PICTURI DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. February 3, 1937 No. 28 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager "ublisbed daily escept Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany. Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown. vice-president and Insiders' Outlook Ttrvkpfeller Center. New York. Telephone Circle' 7B£0e0fe11 CaMe address ■■Quip.ubco. H- York " All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Company. Inc. Address all correspond- ence «o the New York Office. Other Quigley pubh- atfons°: MOTION PICTURE HH™BinEH TnrjTiiri TEATBO AL DIA, LNTLK.NA- llO^A MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. wni T YWOOD ■ Postal Union Life Building, HY^fTnd Yucca Sts. ; Boone MancaU Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave.; C. B. O Neill. AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan 5; Philip de Schaap, Representative. BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 3d; Joachim K. Rutenberg. Representative BUDAPEST: 3 Kaplir-u, Budapest II , Endre Hevesi. Representative. D„,ct1 BUENOS AIRES: Corrientes 249a; N. Bruski, HFiSINKlt'Fr'edriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszlo. Representative. „ . „„„ LONDON: 4 Golden Square, W. 1: Bruce Allan. Cable address, Quigpubco. Lon- 191 Representative. con. „ ... _ MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings Collins St.; Cliff Holt, Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart, Representative. _ „ „ MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stem. Rep- resentative, r, - MONTEVIDEO: P. 0. Bos 664; Paul Bodo, Rep- resentative. T, PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre. Repre- sentative. _ _ , PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2. Prague 1; Harry Knopf. Representative. . RIO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 33o8; A. Weiss- man. Representative. . ROME: Yiale Gorizia; Yittorio Malpassuti. Rep- resentative. „ „. SHANGHAI: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Build- ing, 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler. Repre- ^enative „ TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka. Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken; H. Tominaaa, Representative. VIENNA: Neustiftgasse, 55, Vienna VII; Hans Lorant. Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Sillei, Representative. Entered as second class matter, January 4, 1926, at the Post Office at New York City, N. Y., un- der Act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year §6 in the Americas, and foreign S12. Single copies: 10 cents. Sp ry Is Named U. A. N. E. District Head Thomas B. Spry, former Boston manager for Warners, has joined United Artists as New England dis- trict manager. He will have the Boston and Xew Haven territories under his supervision. Haskell Masters, Canadian district manager, had been handling the New- England exchanges until recently. Charles Stern, eastern district man ager, has been pinch hitting for Mast- ers. He returned yesterday from New Haven after a short trip. Spry is well known in the New England field. Last week he was given a dinner by his many friends. A number of home office executives attended. "Romeo" to Capitol Soon "Romeo and Juliet" may follow7 "Camille" into the Capitol on Feb. 19. The picture was tentatively dated yes terday after four others were sched uled. Previously dated were "May time" and "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney." The latter was withdrawn because of a series of illnesses wThich held up retakes. Para. Pep Club to Dance Paramount's Pep Club will hold its annual dinner and dance at the Astor next Tuesday night. By RED KANN COURAGE as broad as the Pacific which practically washes its studios went into M-G-M's production of "The Good Earth." The picture, as you must know, opened at the Astor Theatre last night to the fanfare usual for this sort of plush hat premiere. Yet very far removed from the high-hatted and ermined audience which sat comfortably in its seats, if not comfortably on its well-being, was the stark, bitter and tragic drama which for two hours and a half the screen told. . . . T It will be interesting to watch the career of this picture. The late Irving Thalberg worked hard and long over it. He sent camera crews to China in keeping with the meticulous care which marked all of his major enter- prises. Many writers were on the script. Five hundred acres, more or less, of the California coun- tryside were furrowed for the cameras to catch, accurately and authentically, Chinese wheat and rice fields under cultivation. In mood and in tempo and so far as these Occidental eyes, at least, could tell, this notable picture is true and faithful to the Pearl Buck story. To its dramatic texture, this applies as well. . . . ▼ A story of an oppressed and a far-removed race, "The Good Earth" is thoughtful and inter- mittently dramatic and touching. In its present length, it is also severely overlong. It is overlong to a degree where this saga of an earth, sometimes brutal and some- times kind, to some of its most abiding disciples spends its force in footage. There would appear to be no substantial reason to recount the story of Wang and Olan, the fields they plow, the famines and revolutions they face, the wrealth literally forced upon them and its attendant complica- tions. Paul Muni, as Wang, here carves for himself a more deeply etched niche in his already rich acting career. But it is Luise Rainer, as Olan, the plodding wife who, like the tower of strength which she is, dominates Wang, the picture and all of the production investiture which Metro has poured into this un- usual and inexplicable picture. ▼ We say inexplicable because whatever known precedents may be around to govern and to point the way for the picture business, in this case, fall by their own weight. "The Good Earth" is no light and inconsequential effort. It may not have been aimed in the direction of a social docu- ment, but certainly it emerges so in measures sweeping and broad. Moreover, it tells the life story of a Chinese man and woman. It might be and, indeed, it is the story of man and woman the world over. The question is : Will audiences feel as deeply as they might over the hardships of two people whose pigment is yel- low and whose problems seem and are continents apart from the troubles which bedevil this one. Nobody can foretell. Not you. Not Metro. Certainly not we. . . . T ▼ From this point on today, we embark on something which may term us irreligious. If there should be a rap heading our way for that which follows, our solar plexus is primed for the concus- sion. Altoona in Blair County, Pennsylvania is a six-day town. Flood relief quota for Blair was fixed recently at $16,000. By Sunday, $8,000 had been raised. Followed a plan to run a film, de- scribed by the Altoona Tribune as one of "unquestionable merit and dignity" on the forbidden day. The evening performance was to start at nine o'clock, de- liberately to avoid conflict with any church service. The income from that performance was to be coupled with the receipts of an afternoon show and turned over to the Red Cross, minus deduc- tions of any nature. The estimate was the two shows would raise $1,000 T But there is a ministry in Al- toona, as there likewise is else- where. Collectively, it petitioned District Attorney Chester B. Wray who, standing on the law as properly he might be expected to, ruled : "No one has authority to grant permission for Sunday movies in this city. The law pro- hibits such shows regardless of the sponsors or the worthiness of the cause." Thus, the benefit was not held. Let it be said for the Altoona ministry that it saw sufficiently behind its limited horizon to recognize that the Ohio and its tributaries had over- flowed its banks and that a state of emergency and dire need pre- vailed in the valley regions. Let it also be said that these men of God opposed a humanitarian act on the ground that here was a thinly veiled attempt to use the charity as a springboard seeking to foist regular Sunday shows upon a populace not now per- mitted to have them. . . . ▼ "The nation-wide attack that is ebing made upon the Sabbath by the moving picture interests and their sustained propaganda for a wide open Sunday gave this Sun- day showing of moving pictures a far more sinister meaning than it would have had had not the moving picture interests shown the extent to which they will go to force Sunday moving pictures upon the country," the Altoona Ministerium subsequently in- formed its constituents. The men of the cloth, it appears, were much more concerned about the implication that a dangerous prec- edent might be set than the urgency of the need for flood re- lief. A poor justification. . . . T The Tribune in Altoona, in a page one editorial, had the steel in its backbone sufficient to at- tack. For this contemporary we fire our approving salvos. It went further. "Those who con- scientiously objected to this bene- fit and felt compelled to stop it, now, in all conscience should come forward, rolling up their sleeves, and assume the responsibility for meeting Blair County's quota quickly." To which adds Peter Lee, motion picture editor of this aggressive newspaper : "We of the Tribune, feel very ashamed of the action the ministers have taken. How they could have read into the announcement of the show a sinister move to secure Sunday movies for Altoona is be- yond our comprehension. The narrowness and pettiness which they expressed in this crisis is en- tirely out of line with the kind- ness and charitableness we like to associate with the ministry but frequently know to be a fal- lacy. . . ." Strong Now a Producer Hollywood, Feb. 2. — Harry Sher- man, rearranging his executive setup today elevated Eugene Strong to pro- ducership on "The Barrier" starting April 15. Harry Knight, former supervisor, takes over producer duties on two forthcoming "Hopalong Cas- sidy" films formerly scheduled for Strong. Sherman is releasing through Para- mount. Plan "Grainger Month" March 28 will usher in "J. R. Grainger Month" during which an advertising, publicity and exploitation drive will be conducted by, the Univer- sal sales staff. "Top of the Town" will be the first release for the play- date push. Producers to Meet Hollywood, Feb. 2. — Will H. Hays has called the annual meeting of the Producers' Ass'n for Thursday. An informal conference was held Monday night, but no business was transacted because of lack of a quorum. Penn. MPTO to Dance Pittsburgh, Feb. 2. — In line with their drive for new members, the M.P.T.O. of Western Pennsylvania will stage a supper dance in the Chat- terbox of the William Penn Hotel here next Tuesday night. Frank 1 anoplos is chairman of the affair. Wednesday, February 3, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Orpheum Accepts RKO $700,000 Bid (Continued from page 1) recommendation under advisement and reserved decision, as well, on motions by the preferred stockholders' com- mittee to direct Marcus Heiman, Or- pheum trustee in bankruptcy, to file a petition for reorganization of Or- -pheum under Section 77-B as a sub- sidiary of RKO's ; to have Orpheum intervene in the RKO reorganization proceedings, and to file objections to the RKO reorganization plan on the grounds that it discriminates against Orpheum while favoring other RKO subsidiaries. RKO, through Stadium, has total claims of $3,450,695 against Orpheum, or approximately 60 per cent of the total outstanding. The company's bid for the Orpheum assets would, in ef- fect, cancel these claims in addition to providing $700,000 cash, which would be available as a dividend to the holders of the remaining claims against Orpheum, which amount to $2,128,- 357. Of the latter claims, Phillip Snyder of Buffalo, trustee for the Omaha Orpheum bondholders, repre- sents $1,110,000, or more than 50 per cent of the claims exclusive of RKO's. Snyder's claims were voted in favor of acceptance of the RKO offer and against the preferred stock- holders' offer yesterday, while neither RKO nor Stadium voted on either offer. Filed by Jersey Company The Orpheum preferred stockhold- ers' bid, presented by Isidor J. Kresel, attorney for the committee, was made through Hudson County Warehouses, Inc., by John Sherman, treasurer. Kresel identified the bid- der merely as "a New Jersey com- pany with as much capital as Stadium has." The preferred stockholders' committee consists of Martin Beck, Harry Boms, Asher Levy, Julian Liv- ingston and Alex Young, Jr., and claims to represent 16,210 shares of the 62,551 preferred shares of Or- pheum. Under RKO's offer for the Orpheum assets, creditors would re- ceive about 30 cents on the dollar for their claims and, consequently, there ' would be nothing available for stock- holders. The Orpheum assets in question in- clude such properties as Champaign (111.) Orpheum, Chicago Orpheum, Des Moines Consolidated Theatres, St. Paul Theatres Co., Junior Orpheum, Los Angeles ; Junior Orpheum, San Francisco, Kansas City Junior Or- pheum, Orpheum Circuit Booking Corp., RKO Western Vaudeville and other companies. Objections Advanced In opposing the stockholders' offer, D. M. Black, attorney for the Or- pheum bankruptcy trustee, asserted that its acceptance would mean that creditors, aside from Stadium, would receive about $680,000 gross, as com- pared with the $700,000 gross offered by Stadium. "In other words," Black said, "the creditors are offered $2,000,000 pro- viding the trustee can raise $3,608,000 to pay off Stadium's lien on the Or- pheum assets." He stated that the Orpheum trustee is not in a position to deliver the as- sets to the preferred stockholders "free of the Stadium lien," as required by their offer, which made acceptance of the offer impossible, he said. Black i Purely Personal ► ALBERT LEWIN of Paramount, Fidele Koenig, Paramount Studio engineer, and Swana Wanda, film player, arrive today on the Paris. • Matthew Boulton, who has the role of a detective in G. B.'s "The Woman Alone," will leave tomorrow for the coast. He has been appearing recently on the stage here in "Night Must Fall." • Joe E. Brown, who was due yester- day from the coast, did not make the trip east. He was grounded at Al- buquerque and decided to return to Hollywood without completing the trip. • Hal Horne and Al Gottlieb will leave for the coast this afternoon. Horne has been delayed here mak- ing tests for "Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1938." • Danielle Darrieux, French actress signed by J. Cheever Cowdin for Uni- versal, will arrive on the Paris today en route to the coast. • Harry A. Ross was discharged from Mt. Vernon Hospital today after a serious sickness and plans to leave for Florida on Friday. • E. B. Hatrick, who has just re- turned from a month's vacation in Miami, will leave for the coast the end of the week. • Eddie Churchill of Donahue & Coe returns tomorrow from Florida where he has been visiting Nicholas M. Schenck. • George Sussman, brother of Bill, and also with 20th Century-Fox, has a new member in the family, a boy, since last week. e A. H. Schwartz, who sails Friday on the Statendarn, intends to get in a little fishing on his West Indies cruise. • Nat B. Finkler of 20th Century- Fox is celebrating his silver anni- versary with the company. • Marlene Dietrich is due on the Berengaria today. Lou Holtz is an- other. • Leopold Friedman returned last night from Miami and a two-week rest. • George Schaefer plans to leave to- morrow for a short vacation in Flor- ida. • Howard Benedict is expected to leave for the coast Friday. • Albert Howson, Warner executive, celebrates a birthday today. • Clarence Budington Kelland is in Texas vacationing. CARL LESERMAN returned yes- terday from New Haven where he attended the dinner given to Nat Furst and John Pavone at the Taft Hotel. Furst, former New Haven manager for Warners, is now Boston head, and Pavone was promoted from salesman to manager of the New Haven exchange. • Luise Rainer will arrive this morning on the Century and will at- tend the first matinee showing of "The Good Earth" at the Astor this afternoon. • Gene Picker has delayed his de- parture for Havana until Marvin Schenck returns from Miami next week. • Eric Hatch's novel, "Road Show," has been purchased by Hal Roach as a co-starring vehicle for Patsy Kelly and Lyda Roberti. • John Balaban and Archie Mayo arrived in Havana yesterday on the Transylvania. Harry Balaban met them at the pier. • Oscar Serlin and Julius Steger are here from Hollywood. Howard S. Benedict now plans to fly west Friday. • Joe Hornstein leaves today by car for a tour of the South and Cuba. It's business, and not pleasure, this time. • Harry Moskowitz, head of Loew's construction department, is back from Pittsburgh and a trip to the South. • Lucinda Reichenbach has cut her winter in South America short and is back in New York. • Kay Kamen will leave Hollywood on Feb. 15 for New York. Al Altman of Loew's had a tooth pulled yesterday. Stephen Pallos is in town and will sail for London next week. Miss Rebecca leaves for the coast today. Rita Kaufman in from Hollywood. • . . . Paris Rod and Mrs. La Rocque (Vilma Banky) spent a few days in Paris coming from Hungary and Austria, on their way to London. William Wyler, who was born in Mulhouse, Alsace, and who speaks French as well as any Frenchman, was introduced to the French jour- nalists at a reception organized by the French branch of United Artists. He has gone to Switzerland for the winter sports. Ruth Chatterton, now traveling in Europe, was here for a few days. also opposed the other motions pre- sented by Kresel, declaring that Or- pheum did not have the legal stand- ing on which any of the proposed moves could be made. J. C. Randall, attorney for Snyder, who also opposed the Kresel motions, pointed out that the admission of Or- pheum to reorganization under Section 77-B would bring about the reintro- duction of numerous claims by land- lords and others which are not prov- able in bankruptcy, with the result that the claims against Orpheum then would be increased to about $6,500,- 000. Consequently, the preferred stock- holders still would have little or no chance for a participation, he said. RKO's reorganization plan makes no provision for Orpheum creditors or stockholders. Texas Case May Not Be Tried Until Fall Dallas, Feb. 2. — Preliminary legal skirmishing between Interstate Circuit and the Government over charges of restraint of trade in connection with first run film contracts may continue all summer. John Moroney, counsel for Inter- state, reports that supplementary peti- tions will be filed in Federal Court, both by the defendants and the Gov- ernment, before the case actually comes to trial before Judge William Hawley Atwell. He predicts it may be autumn before the case is definitely set. The Government alleges admission and double feature restrictions amount to conspiracy and restraint of trade. The whole question was thrashed out in state courts of Texas with Inter- state winning the verdict. That suit was in the legal hopper for two years before final judgment. Peekskill Case Settled Six actions brought by Fox Film Corp., Universal, Radio, RKO Pathe Distributing Corp., Christie Film Corp. and Screen Gems, Inc., against Peekskill Theatre, Inc., were settled in Federal Court yesterday. The actions arose from the defendant's use of the various plaintiffs' films without prop- er license. The actions were settled by filing of stipulations by attorneys. Philipp Music Suit Ended The action brought by Adolph Philipp against Jerome H. Remick, Re- mick Music Corp., Gene Buck, as president of Ascap ; CBS, NBC and Rudy Vallee was settled in U. S. Dis- trict Court yesterday. The plaintiff claimed the defendants used the song, "Alma," and asked for a declaratory judgment determining the right of the parties to the song and for an injunc- tion and damages. The defendants' answer set forth that on Feb. 9, 1910, Toseph Webber, Jean Briquet and George V. Hobart, co-composers of the song, sold their rights to Remick. Expect Warner Plan Before End of Month (Continued from page 1) by stockholders. A new $5 preferred would replace the $3.85 cumulative no par preferred on a share for share basis. At the directors' meeting last week when Harry M. Warner returned from the coast, a preliminary discus- sion was held on the plan. Another board session will be held later in the month. N. O. Saenger Robbed New Orleans, Feb. 2. — Bandits who had been seated in the balcony in the proximity of the Saenger office late last night held up an armored car mes- senger who had called for the night's receipts, and after taking $1,875 from him, ran down the theatre stairs and escaped in a stolen automobile. The bandits are believed to be the ones who held up the Liberty here several nights ago. The loss is covered by insurance. Verhalen Quits as Editor Hollywood, Feb. 2. — Charles Ver- halen, for five years editor of Cinema- tographer, today resigned his post to devote his entire time to the publica- tion of his Home Movies and Photo- graphic Dealer. Just Opened to a Another towering M-G^M KoaHshnw starts on Metro. Cinldwyn MaygT^esounds through the amusement world. Again your patrons realize that they are getting the best in films because you bring them M-G'M Stars and Attractions. "THE GOOD EARTH" is now playing Twice Daily at $2 admission at the Astor Theatre, N. Y. and the Carthay Circle Theatre, Los Angeles. All Seats Reserved. PAUL MUNI LUISE RAINER Walter Connolly • Tilly Losch • Charley Grapewin Jessie Ralph • Based on the Novel by Pearl. S. Buck. Adapted for the Stage by Owen Davis and Donald Davis • Directed by Sidney Franklin • An M-G-M Picture MOTION PICTURJt DAILY Overseas Previews "Avec le Sourire" "Keep Smiling" (Films Marquis) Paris, Jan. 23. — This is the first picture Maurice Chevalier has made in France since the coming of the talking pictures. The story was written by the well known French author, Louis Ver- neuil, especially for Chevalier, and the film was directed by Maurice Tourneur, known in Hollywood in the silent days. It is a typical Chevalier film, telling of the adventures of a young Frenchman, Victor, arriving in Paris without a cent, and who becomes, through his unfailing good humor and ready smile, manager of the Paris Opera House, after having climbed all the steps of the social ladder. The honest man who first helped Victor goes down the same steps which Victor ascends, apparently because the latter did not stop at a little dishonesty. The conclusion of the film would seem to indicate that un- scrupulousness wins while perfect honesty leads to misery. Otherwise the film is charming, with amusing lines, excellent dialogue and fast action. The part of Victor is one of the best that Chevalier has ever played, with several songs by the star. Running time, 90 minutes. "A." Autre Looking 9Em Over "SandfLow" (Universal) Good, lively western material, cut more or less to pattern, but for once not specifically concerned with the inevitable cattle rustling, this should prove highly satisfactory material for the youngsters or the oldsters who still like their westerns, in the weekend or dual spot. The ever-popular Buck Jones has the lead, with Leta Chevret of attractive, but incidental romantic interest. The romance, as a matter of fact, is rather more subordinated than in the usual run of westerns. In support are Robert Terry, Bob Kritman and other western standbys. In this case, against a background of effectively rugged mountain scenery, Jones fights against odds to prove his brother, Terry, innocent of a murder of which he is suspected. At the same time, he has to avoid posses on his brother's trail, and Kritman, who, learning Terry's iden- tity, seeks to take him in for the reward which is on his head. In ex- pected fashion, the affair straightens itself, with Terry and Miss Chevret completing the romance and the film. Production Code Seal No. 2,894. Running time, 59 minutes. "G." 6 Moyne Plans Sure to Fail, Declares KRS (Continued from page 1) cent and 15 per cent in favor of ex- hibitors, declaring that even the pres- ent obligation on foreign distributors is "so heavy as to be practically im- possible of effective performance and has resulted in the present deplorable position of the obligation being met by poor pictures which antagonize the public against British films." The statement suggests that foreign distributors should be allowed to pro- duce five or six pictures annually in- stead of 15 to 18 with cost and other safeguards set to ensure creditable pic- tures. It was stressed that the quan- tity of quota pictures demanded makes quality impossible. The statement em- phatically opposed the variable quota and the quality clause. The statement said, "They suggest a relationship be- tween quality and quantity, but any re- sponsible person in the British indus- try will acknowledge that that is im- possible of attainment." On Cancelling Licenses On suggestions that films not pass- ing for the distributor quota should be eligible for the exhibitor quota, the statement said, "It is illogical to rec- ommend that exhibitors should be free to show a film so bad as not to pass for the distributor quota." The K. R. S. described as harsh in the ex- treme the proposal that distributor li- censes shall be cancellable after one conviction for quota default. On pro- posals for statutory declarations for distributors that films have not been blind booked and suggested increase of penalties, it was said, "It might con- ceivably set one section of the indus- try against another, promoting fric- tion, misunderstanding and ill will, and is not in keeping with the purpose for which the Moyne committee was constituted." The organization opposed the can- cellation of restrictions on advance booking. The proposal to make illegal block booking is "from a practical point of view unworkable and is re- garded as a distinct violation of free- dom of action between buyer and sell- er," the statement said. Against a Film Commission The K. R. S. emphatically opposed the formation of a film commission by the Government, saying the suggestion originated in the committee and did not come from any industry member. The idea that such a commission would establish industry harmony was called an illusion. "The creation of a com- mittee composed of individuals with- out relation to the industry can only bring a grave risk to the millions of capital invested," the statement said. One effect of the powers suggested "can only lead to the drying up of resources necessary to the encourage- ment of the industry. No producers or financiers can plan in advance on expenditure if after spending the sums necessary to make worthwhile prod- uct, the same may be rejected by four or five men outside of the industry." The statement declared that the task of viewing all films for the quality test is impossible to perform, and that no one is capable of assessing enter- tainment values. The statement con- cludes with the assertion that quality and not quantity should be the basis of any legislation. "It would appear that insufficient regard was paid to the expert evi- dence given on behalf of the K. R. S. in framing the recommendations in the report," it was said. KRS Hits CEA Statement London, Feb. 2. — The K. R. S., in a letter from Frank Hill, secretary, to W. A. Fuller, secretary of the C. E. A., today accused the exhibitor body of a "breach of good faith in publish- ing the report as to the K. R. S. atti- tude which at that time had not been determined" on the Moyne report. The letter expresses the K. R. S. council's "surprise and disapprobation of the C. E. A. committee making statements contrary to the facts and before the respective councils had their committees' reports of the dis- cussion." The letter alleges that after the K. R. S.-C. E. A. joint meeting had disagreed on the Government con- trol board issue, Fuller issued state- ments to the press on the K. R. S. attitude and the C. E. A. announced its own policy before the K. R. S. council had had its delegates' report. British Considering Reciprocity Action London, Feb. 2. — The British Gov- ernment is "bearing in mind" the sug- gestion, which came first from Isidore Ostrer recently, that it take steps to enforce "a greater measure" of recip- rocity on the part of American inter- ests in view of the large revenues re- ceived by American companies from England, it was indicated in the House of Commons tonight. The statement came in the course of replies by Dr. Edward Leslie Bur- gin, Parliamentary secretary of the Board of Trade, to a series of ques- tions asked by Gordon Hall-Caine, M.P. The members urged that legis- lation be hastened along the lines of the Moyne report on the ground that the film industry is in a serious posi- tion and the Government may be too late. F. P. Canada Adds House Toronto, Feb. 2. — Famous Players Canadian Corp. has added another unit to its cross-Canada circuit, the Royal at Woodstock; Ont. Wednesday, February 3, 1937 Educational Shift Delayed to Feb. 8 (Continued from page 1) sought to provide additional time for the arrival of proxies from England. The meeting will be held in the of- fices of Special Master Philip Cohen here, who was appointed by Chancel- lor J. O. Wolcott to conduct the meet- ing and report to the latter thereafter. E. W. Hammons, Educational presi- dent ; Norman C. Nicholson, secretary, and Aaron Finger, Wilmington coun- sel for the company, were here to- day. The proposed recapitalization plan asks authorization for Educational Pictures to issue 150,000 shares of new no par common stock and 150,- 000 shares of new $100 par, eight per cent preferred stock. Preferred stock- holders are offered five shares of new common for each share of old pre- ferred, consisting of 3 2/10 shares of common for a share of preferred and 1 8/10 shares of common for accrued dividends on each share of preferred. Common stockholders are offered for each share of old common, plus $10, a warrant to buy one share of new common. Educational's plan of corporate sim- plification calls for the dissolution of six subsidiaries. There would then be remaining, in addition to the par- ent company, Educational Films Corp. of America, Educational Prod., Inc., and Educational Studios, Inc. Hammons has denied reports that the recapitalization plan is being un- dertaken to finance the production of either 16 mm. subjects or to enter fea- ture production. Distributors Deny Philippine Charges (Continued from page 1) Rama, Inc., one of a group of other defendant corporations and individuals. Although the alleged acts and re- straints complained of antedated the transfer of the Philippines from the United States Government to Insular administration, the legal and juridical procedure of the United States' courts continues to function. The complaint charges in part "that the conspirators endeavored to intimi- date, coerce and compel the plaintiff owner of said Cine Arco, in the Municipality of Bacolod, Occidental Negros, to close said theatre *** by threatening to spend, use and possibly lose, considerable sums of money, if necessary, to conduct said competing business (the Cine Iris) in a malicious and unfair manner." RKO Dates "Great Guy" RKO has dated "Great Guy" in its Brooklyn houses for the week of March 5. The New York date will be either Feb. 12 or Feb. 19, depend- ing on whether the Fox or Paramount in Brooklyn holds it a second week. The picture is now finishing a fifth week at the Criterion on Broadway and is also at the Paramount, New- ark. Ad Reel Bookings Good Detroit, Feb. 2. — -Exchanges are getting from 200 to 300 bookings on each commercial subject released, it was indicated here. Most of them are one-reelers, for the most part produced for automobile companies. LLOYD'S SMASHES ON! "Lloyds of London" continues to win new fame as a sensational money attraction with every new opening. Look! Held for 2nd week after topping every 20th hit, including "One in a Million," at the New, in BALTIMORE and the Lincoln, MIAMI ! Running ahead of "One in a Million," with 2nd day nearly doubling opening, at the Palace, DALLAS! Equalled "One in a Million's" smash New Year's run at the Metropolitan, HOUSTON ! Building to record -crashing week, after one of the season's big- gest openings, at the Wisconsin, MILWAUKEE! Out-grossing "One in a Million" at the Fox, ST. LOUIS! Getting the only business in town at the Buffalo, BUFFALO! Despite flood menace, did the season's 2nd biggest week at the Saenger, NEW ORLEANS! And topping or equalling 20th's greatest hits at the Capitol, SALT LAKE CITY. . . the Palace, ROCHESTER . . . Keith's, SYRACUSE! 20th makes them that way ! I MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, February 3, 1937 Gov't Reports Wired Houses Total 55,563 (Continued from page 1) theatres in Europe having 27,956 theatres wired for sound as against 66,876 theatres having 29,207 wired on Jan. 1, 1937. The greater portion of this increase, as already men- tioned, is credited to Russia, but it cannot be overlooked that of this 6,826 theatre increase in Europe, ex- cluding Russia, that other countries in that region account for 2,527, either new or reopened theatres." In Latin America during 1936 a total of 248 new or reopened theatres were accounted for, bringing the total number in that market to 5,292, of which 4,068 were wired for sound, an increase of 730 over Jan. 1, 1937. The Far East showed a slight increase of 59 theatres opened and a large in- crease of 675 wired during 1936. There are at present approximately 5,244 theatres of which 4,387 are wired for sound in operation. Markets com- prising Africa and the Near East showed little increase in the number of new theatres opened, but did report an increase of 130 wired for sound during 1936. There are now 676 theatres in this region of which 610 are wired for sound film, according to Golden. Theatre openings in Canada in- creased from 905 on Jan. 1, 1936, to 1,033 on Jan. 1, 1937, with an even larger increase in theatres wired dur- ing 1936. Every theatre in Canada was reported wired for sound, where- as a year ago only 833 were. Widen Movie-Goer Field With the current issue, Loew's Movie-Goer is now being distributed by Loew theatres in Greater New York, Baltimore, Washington, New Haven and Bridgeport. Next month copies will be circulated in the cir- cuit's houses in Springfield, Hartford, Worcester and Waterbury. FROM STUDIO TO SCREEN THE VERY SAME DAY... Easy— When you use THE ONLY NATION-WIDE AIR EXPRESS More producers and exhibitors than you think beat the town through super- speed Air Express. Hard not to, when 1 . Nation-wide Air Express makes day and night deliveries direct to 216 key cities in the United States, to Honolulu,Manila, and 32 Latin - American countries. 2. Connects at hundreds of junc- tion points with fast Railway Express trains. 3. Picks up and delivers, door-to- door, promptly, without extra charge, in all cities and princi- pal towns. One organization. One respon- sibility. One waybill. For service or information, phone any Railway Express office. MR EXPRESS DIVISION Railway Express Agency Theatres Throughout the World Grand Total Grand Total Grand Total Grand Total GrandTotal Territory 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 Europe 66,876 60,150 39,547 29,693 30,623 United States 16,258tt 15,378f 10,143* 19,000 19,042 Latin-America 5,292 5,044 5,002 5,270 5,546 Far East 5,244 5,185 4,718 4,639 4,922 Canada 1,033 905 823 1,100 1,100 Africa, Near East.... 676 637 689 645 691 Totals 95,379 87,299 60,918 60,347 61,924 *Based upon Bureau of Census survey, December, 1934. tBased on trade estimates. ttFilm Board of Trade estimates of theatres open. Europe Theatres Theatres Theatres Theatres Theatres Country 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 Russia 34,990f 29,691t 9,987* 2,000 3,200 Germany 5,273 4,782 5,100 5,100 5,071 England 4,950 5,070 4,897 4,672 4,950 Italy 4,800 4,221 3,794 2,500 2,500 France 4,100 4,000 4,000 3,900 3,300 Spain 3,500 3,450 3,252 2,600 2,600 Czechoslovakia 1,833 1,833 1,955 2,024 1,900 Sweden 1,641 1,581 843 1,100 1,100 Belgium 800 790 750 650 750 Austria 765 779 850 850 850 Poland 693 498 728 759 900 Hungary 410 400 380 633 505 Denmark 352 344 340 350 300 Rumania 353 301 380 350 400 Switzerland 334 340 320 310 325 Yugoslavia 318 336 319 338 300 Netherlands 305 305 308 255 253 Norway 240 225 241 220 235 Finland 220 242 232 220 220 Portugal 210 210 250 250 400 Irish Free State 190 181 Greece 153 142 122 100 100 Turkey 121 110 100 80 80 Latvia 98 86 107 107 80 Bulgaria 94 94 128 145 145 Lithuania 64 63 60 80 77 Esthonia 58 62 94 93 82 Albania 14 14 10 10 ! Totals 66,876 60,150 39,547 29,693 30,623 *lncludes all halls, converted churches and other local places of exhibition. tThis figure includes urban, rural theatres, both those equipped with stationary and portable projectors where motion pictures are shown. Latin- A merica Theatres Theatres Theatres Theatres Theatres Country 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 Argentina 1,425 1,493 1,604 1,634 1,608 Brazil 1,370 1,351 1,200 1,125 1,600 Mexico 835 701 701 701 701 Cuba 350 300 225 400 400 Colombia 210 200 170 385 220 Pfr,u 200 HI 110 100 100 Chile 180 171 243 215 212 Uruguay 128 137 137 127 125 Venezuela m ^8 134 134 125 Porto Rico 100 100 127 112 112 Panama . ... 47 44 * 38 33 33 iiritisn West Indies ... ... 42 42 42 Costa Rica 37 3 5 29 27 21 Guatemala 31 52 28 28 28 Ecuador 34 31 29 22 23 Salvador 29 30 36 47 47 Honduras 29 29 14 18 26 Nicaragua 25 24 22 21 21 Bolivia 19 24 23 25 17 Dominican Republic 23 21 36 20 25 Trinidad 19 17 French West Indies 15 15 Jamaica 15 14 '14 ' \\ '[[ Paraguay 6 11 9 9 9 Bermudas 8 9 9 9 23 Haiti g 7 7 j a British Guiana 23 5 5 5 5 Neth. West Indies 65444 Bahamas 5 4 4 4 5 Barbadoes 3 3 British Honduras 1 2 2 2 2 Totals 5,292 5,044 5,002 5,270 5 546 The Far East Theatres Theatres Theatres Theatres Theatres Country 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 Japan 1,616 1,634 1,600 1 699 1 485 Australia 1,420 1,334 1,050 1,050 l'aOO India 670 675 675 685 685 New Zealand 410 435 366 335 397 China 300 300 276 238 200 Philippines 211 313 273 300 300 Neth. India 198 248 192 180 180 Siam 123 77 68 68 68 British Malaya 122 57 58 45 40 Straits Settlements ... ... 48 French Indo-Chino 100 40 40 46 46 Chosen 45 43 43 Ceylon 18' 18 18 18 16 Fiji Islands ) „ Society Islands f 11 11 11 11 11 Totals 5,244 5,185 4,718 4,639 4,922 (Africa and Near East on next page) 20th-Fox Executives Leave for K, C. Meet More than 20 home office executives of 20th Century-Fox left yesterday for Kansas City to attend the two- day midwinter district managers meet- ing which will get under way at the Muelhbach Hotel tomorrow. John D. Clark, general sales manager, is due to arrive in Kansas City today from the coast where he has been confer- ring with Darryl Zanuck on the com- pany's new production program. J. P. O'Loughlin, Canadian district manager, will be introduced to the men. Clark will preside. Among those leaving last night were William J. Kupper, William Sussman, William C. Gehring, Charles E. McCarthy, Felix Jenkins, Lee Balsly, Walter J. Hutchinson, Irving Maas, Leslie Whalen, William J. Clark, Martin Moskowitz, Harry H. Busbaum, Joseph J. Lee, Thomas J. Bailey, Clarence A. Hill, Edward C. Collins, Theodore Shaw, Nat B. Fink- ler, Jack Bloom, Harvey Day and Roger Ferri. Theatre Bills Get Bay State Hearing Boston, Feb. 2. — Seven bills af- fecting theatres were given hearings today before the legal department of the Committee on Hearings. A bill to permit Sunday dancing in theatres was favored by Joseph Bren- nan, representing the M.P.T.O., and opposed by Frank Lydon, Joe Levin- son, William McLaughlin and Arthur K. Howard. Jimmy O'Brien, head of the stagehands' union, and George Gibbs, head of the musicians' union, opposed a bill to prohibit Sunday vaudeville before 7 P. M. A bill designed to stop prizes and giveaways was opposed by premium company attorney and George Ryan, Bank Night lawyer. Other measures up were a Sunday measure, a bill to control admission of minors to theatres, another to pro- hibit obscene or sacrilegious language in theatres, and a bill to prohibit shows on Sundays, Memorial Day, Armistice Day and Christmas. Wall Street Eastman, Loeufs Best on Board Net Low Close Change High Columbia 37 Consolidated 554 Consolidated, pfd.. 17 Eastman Kodak ..17454 Gen. T. Equip. ... 32J4 Loew's, Inc 77 Paramount 2854 Paramount 1 pfd.. 199 Paramount 2 pfd.. 2554 Pathe Film 954 RKO 8J4 20th Century-Fox. 37% Warner Bros 1554 36^4 36J4 554 554 17 17 170 174J4 +454 3254 3254 - 54 74% 7654 +254 28 28% 196 197 -254 2554 2554 + 54 9tt m - m 3654 m 37 - 54 - 54 1554 1554 Slight Curb Movement Net High Low Close Change Grand National ... Z% 354 354 Sonotone 2% 254 2% +54 Technicolor 2154 2154 2154 — 54 Trans-Lux 454 454 454 + 54 Bonds Gain Net High Low Close Change Keith B. F. 6s '46 99 99 99 +1 Loew's 354s '46... 10054 10054 10054 + 54 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 10054 10054 IOO54 RKO 6s '41 pp.... 12054 11954 12054 — 54 Warner Bros. 6s '39- wd 100 99% 100 +54 (Quotations at close of Feb. 2) Wednesday, February 3, 1937 Balto., Indianapolis Ad Rates Cause Row Major and independent theatre oper- ators in Baltimore and Indianapolis are protesting attempts by the Balti- more morning and evening Sun and the Indianapolis Times to increase film advertising rates. As a result, all national advertising has been withdrawn from the two Baltimore papers with other advertis- ing reduced to directory lineage. On two days' notice last week, the Balti- more mediums demanded an increase from $1 to $1.10 a line on the com- bined rate, which theatres resented by pulling all big copy. Combined circulation is 284,000 daily. The Indianapolis Times, which heretofore has charged 17 cents a line, said to be the highest rate in the town, is now asking 18 cents. The- atremen, as a result, are paring ad- vertising copy until the situation is straightened out. Illinois Houses Closed St. Louis, Feb. 2. — Several theatres in Illinois and Missouri, bordering towns inundated in the last few days, have been forced to close to prevent sickness from spreading among refu- gees. This includes three houses in Harrisburg and one at East Prairie, the former town in Illinois and the latter in Missouri. Preliminary returns from St. Louis theatres for the Red Cross have ex- ceeded $10,000, with indications that $50,000 will be taken in from this city alone before the drive is closed. Central Plot Twist Marks Mild Play Out for Films Donate Matinee Receipts Federalsburg, Md., Feb. 2. — Re- ceipts from one matinee performance at the Federal Theatre here were donated to the Maryland Chapter of the American Red Cross for flood re- lief work by Roger Christopher. Gives Benefit Show Montgomery, Ala., Feb. 2. — The Paramount presented a benefit show for the relief of sufferers in the flood areas, the entire proceeds being turned over to the Red Cross. (.Continued from page 1) does a bit of character planting and paltry little in progressing the action of the play. Actually, the vehicle be- gins to have its say in the second when Philip Merivale, as the pastor of Browdley, petitions Marguerite Churchill, the daughter of one of his parishioners, to return home. He finds the only suggestion of scandal is her love for the muse of music. There is rekindled within him the suppressed and thwarted musical am- bitions of his own youth and there follows in this union of thought a mutual attraction which ends in the usual manner. Determined to forget his trust, as also wife and family, Merivale decides on Vienna In a train wreck the next morning, Miss Churchill is burned to death Merivale, frantic in his search to save her, rescues five lives and is hailed as a hero for his efforts. Back at Browdley, with only memories of the London night and its hereafters left, quite naturally, he falls into his old routine. Thus, the play ends. The relationship between minister and woman, of course, rules this out for Hollywood. Presumably, the min- ister might become almost anything else, yet, if this were done, the slender plot ingredients in "And Now Good- bye" would and could offer nothing varying in a pattern pursued time in and time out on the coast for all these many years. As a play, this is mild and placid. It falls into the vast in-between, which is to say, considerably removed from the hit parade and yet not quite bringing up the rear. Merivale gives a nicely restrained performance, but has nothing vital into which to sink his teeth, or his words. Miss Church- ill is pleasant to see and hear. Saunders Quits Ross Claude Saunders, vice-president and general manager of Ross Federal Ser- vice since the inception of the com- pany about six years ago, has resigned. He intends to announce his future plans shortly. Harry A. Ross, president, yesterday was discharged from Mt. Vernon Hos- pital after a serious illness. He plans to leave Friday for Miami. "Phantom Ship" to RKO "Phantom Ship," latest Guarantee Pictures release, has been taken by the RKO metropolitan circuit and will open Feb. 16 with 11 day and date showings. Book Sonja Heine Again Pittsburgh, Feb. 2. — An $8,000 gross on her recent personal appear ance here and close to $20,000 for two weeks of "One In A Million" at the Alvin has led the Harris Amuse ment Co. to book Sonja Henie back into the Duquesne Garden for two nights next week. She will perform here Monday and Tuesdav on her way to the coast to make "Thin Ice' for 20th Century-Fox. McCarthy to Make Shorts Harry Dube, manager of Clem Mc- Carthy, radio and newsreel sports commentator, yesterday closed a con tract with Sam Sax, production chief of Vitaphone, for a series of sports shorts featuring McCarthy. Produc tion will start as soon as McCarth returns from California. Africa and Near East Theatres Theatres Theatres Country 1936 1935 1934 South Africa 300 300 350 Algeria 130 130 130 Egypt 102 90 89 Iran 30 30 30 Palestine 29 27 22 Tunisia 27 30 Syria 24 24 26 West Africa 12 12 12 East Africa 11 13 19 Iraq 7 4 4 Madagascar 4 4 4 Totals 676 637 689 Theatres 1933 291 ISO 89 30 25 '20 12 17 4 4 645 Theatres 1932 350 150 87 33 19 '26 12 9 4 4 691 "Dreaming Lips" London, Feb. 2. — Max Schach's new version of this German film, produced for Trafalgar and to be released by United Artists, is prac- tically a transcript of the original which made Elisa- beth Bergner famous. The ac- tress repeats almost every gesture of the memorable and moving first performance. Romney Brent as the hus- band and Raymond Massey as the lover are good in support, but it is actually a one-role film. It should be good for class audiences, and has strong woman appeal. The film was previewed this morn- ing and opened at the Lon- don Pavilion tonight, with Queen Mary in attendance. Running time, 90 minutes. ALLAN Klein, Solomon Set World Selling Plan Edward L. Klein of London and Louis A. Solomon of New York have established a worldwide sales organi- zation for the marketing of indepen- dent features and shorts. From his office in London, Klein will manage sales in the United King- dom and the empire and, in addition, will supervise operations of an office opened in Paris to serve the Continent. Solomon will handle sales for North, South and Central America and the Far East from New York and will also import for this market a number of foreign films. Klein is due in London tomorrow on the Aquitania with a number of pictures already ac- quired for the British and Continental markets. Solomon, well known as an inde- pendent distributor, has opened new offices in the RKO Bldg. Oates to Technicolor London, Jan. 24. — Frank R. Oates is in technical charge of the plant of British Technicolor, Ltd., now in operation at the f250,000 laboratory at Harmondsworth, near Staines, in the Denham-Iver area. A capacity of 24,000,000 feet of color positive a year is claimed. Movietone Will Film Coronation in Color London, Feb. 2. — Movietone News has secured exclusive Technicolor rights to the coronation procession and will shoot about 20,000 feet with this process and an equal amount with black and white. Color experts and commentators for all countries will be imported. The Technicolor deal has been hang- ing fire since last fall. It was dis- cussed here by Truman Talley and S. R. Kent prior to their trip to Lon- don and the proposition was made to British authorities by them abroad at that time. ANNOUNCING . . . A NEW, IMPORTANT LABORATORY, WITH MODERN DEBRIE APPARATUS. DESIGNED TO MEET EVERY 16MM. AND 35MM. REQUIREMENT PRECISION PRACTICE FOR PERFECT RESULTS IN EVERY LABORATORY £ The creation of this fine labora- tory heralds a significant develop- ment in the 16mm. and 35mm. field. Equipped with world-famous Andre OPERATION Debrie apparatus and staffed by ex- perts of many years experience, PRECISION inaugurates a new era in laboratory practice. Sensitometric Control of developing and print- ing. Debrie Automatic De- veloping Machines with PRECISION control of temperature and circu- lation insure uniform, perfect handling in de- veloping, washing and fixing baths. Complete Air - condi- tioned Laboratory, cutting and editing rooms, insure spotless results. Moviolas are available for sound and silent films in 16mm. and 35mm. PRECISION FILM LABORATORIES understand the modern needs of the 16mm. field. We recognize the phe- nomenal growth and development of this new motion picture medium and are dedicated to its furtherance. Our equipment, our experience, our staff is at your service. The same care- ful attention is given to every order, large or small. Why not pay us a /isit and let us show you what a mod- ern motion picture laboratory is and what it can do for you. WE'RE OPEN NOW! PRECISION FILM LABORATORIES, INC. 21 WEST 46TH STREET NEW YORK CITY BRyant 9-8396 MOTION PICTURE DAILY RADIO Television to Require Huge Sums-Gilman San Francisco, Feb. 2. — "When it gets under way, television will require the largest investment any single in- dustry has ever known," said Don Gilman, NBC vice-president in charge of west coast operations, addressing the Commonwealth Club here. Gilman spoke extemporaneously in the absence of Major Lenox R. Lohr, NBC president, who was scheduled to attend the luncheon as guest of honor. The radio official was delayed by storms which held up the train on which he was traveling to this city from Denver. One of the largest audiences the club has had gathered in the Palace Hotel in anticipation of Lohr's speech. "Television is not just around the corner — it has rounded the corner," Gilman declared. "However, owing to the tremendous difficulties of offer- ing it to the public in its present stage, NBC will not attempt to do so for some time." Gilman vigorously denied that man- ufacturers of radio sets have opposed the introduction of commercial tele- vision. "I have yet to meet a manu- facturer who would not gladly accept an opportunity to sell a brand new product at any time," he said. Coordination the Problem The lag between experimental and commercial operation of television Gilman ascribed to the fact that, unlike radio, in television both receiving and transmitting sets must be coordinated. "Every single improvement in a tele- vision transmitter means rebuilding it, he said, adding: "Changes will follow one another rapidly during the next year or so, and every change means an entirely new receiving set if the image is to be picked up at all." Excessive cost of television trans- mission was cited by the NBC vice- president as another major obstacle to be overcome before the new en- tertainment formula can be effectively worked out. The coaxial cable, which he de- scribed as the only means by which television images can be carried by wires, costs some $15,000 per mile, Gilman said, adding that even in such short broadcasts as from New York to Philadelphia, construction of mid- way_ amplifiers was essential. Gilman prophesied regular tele- vision broadcasts between New York and Washington "within a year or so;" adding that later such broadcasts might be extended to Chicago, but would not operate at a greater range for some time to come." Labor Leader Sues Seattle's Stations Seattle, Feb. 2.— KOL (Colum- bia) and KOMO-KJR fNBC) are defendants in a suit by Dave Beck, northwest labor leader, asking $550,- 000 damages as a result of talks given over those stations some months ago during the Post-Intelligencer strike. The Seattle Broadcasting Co., own- (Continued on pane 12) More radio on page 12 Big Talent Lineup To Dedicate KFWB Hollywood, Feb. 2. — With Dick Powell, Warren William and Al Jol- son alternating as masters of cere- monies, Warners will present one of the greatest array of screen personal- ities to appear on a single radio pro- gram when KFWB Studios are dedicated here Feb. 15. The air dedication will last from 6 to 10 P.M. over the Southern California network and negotiations are now on for the entire coast, with the possibility of a national tieup. Walter Winchell, George Jessel and Eddie Cantor in a skit with Ben Bemie will come in by remote control from the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, to time with a playlet entitled "The Irish in the U. S." by Pat O'Brien, Alan Jenkins and Frank Mc- Hugh; a radio version of "Little Caesar" by Edward G. Robinson, a dramatic piece by Bette Davis with Leslie Howard or Warren William, and an air dramatization of "The Chain Gang" by Paul Muni. Other names appearing will be: Joan Blon- dell, Ruby Keeler, Eleanor Powell, Sid Silvers, Lila Lee, Jean Madden, Errol Flynn, Olivia De Haviland, Rosalind Marquis, Patricia Ellis, Sybil Jason and Eddie Peabody. Jack Warner will extend the dedication greeting, introducing Mayor Shaw. A novel feature of the broadcast will be Harry Warner's greeting on film projected on screen in the new KFWB Studio Theatre simultaneously with his speech over the air. The parade feature of KFWB talent will include Hall Wall is, Mervyn LeRoy, Sid Grauman, Harry Maislish, Connie Boswell, vocalist, and Leo Forbstein's Vitaphone Orchestra, James Melton and Beverly Roberts, with Leon Leonardi at the piano. Colonels to Receive Flood Chain Letters Chain letters will be sent out to all Kentucky colonels starting today by Louis K. Sidney for contributions for flood relief. The movement was started by WHN of which Sidney is in charge and Loew district managers through- out the country will cooperate. Each colonel receiving a letter will be asked to send it to another colonel. Sidney will act as treasurer. Si Fabian has set aside Friday night for a huge benefit at the Fox, Brook- lyn, under the sponsorship of Warn- ers, Paramount and Fabian circuits, Michaels Bros, and WMCA also will take part in raising funds for the Red Cross. Waring to Aid Boy Scouts Fred Waring's band will be heard on the air Monday, Feb. 8, from 6 to 6:30 P. M., E.S.T., in a special program in behalf of the Boy Scouts of America. Waring is donating the services of his band without charge. McLaglen to Enact "Sea Devils" Victor McLaglen will offer re-en- actments of scenes from his forth- coming picture "Sea Devils" on "Hol- lywood Hotel" Feb. 12. Renews on Jack Benny General Foods Corp., sponsors of the Jello program starring Jack Benny, renews the program for 44 weeks beginning Feb. 28. Young & Rubicam is the agency. Music Ban May Aid Foreign Recordings Chicago, Feb. 2. — The ban on music recordings by members put into effect this week by James C. Petrillo, head of the Chicago musicians' union, may boom European recording companies, it was indicated here. Radio stations which use recordings in early morning and late night musical programs will be faced with one of two alternatives by Petrillo's action. They can hire more musicians and dramatic talent and replace their recorded shows with "live" talent, which is the union's hope, or they can use foreign recordings. The music czar grew irate when reports of the proposed importation of canned music reached his ears. Petrillo said : "If they dare to go that far, we'll take the matter to the President himself. Such talk is nonsense. The European bands cannot compete with American organi- zations in quality of music." The World Broadcasting Co., Co- lumbia-Brunswick Recording Co. and the RCA Victor Record Co., were major units hit by the ban. At WJJD and WIND it was pointed out that they were not hit directly by the ban. WHK Silent on Union Charge of Censoring The American Civil Liberties Union yesterday stated that no reply had been received from WHK Cleveland, in response to a wire sent Monday charging the station with "repeated censorship" of broadcasts by officials of the Automobile Workers' Union, and the "unwarranted" termination of the broadcast contract with the union. The wire was addressed to H. K. Carpenter, director of WHK. The station is owned by the Radio Air Service Corp., in affiliation with the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, and is a mem- ber station of the CBS network. The protest was prompted by let- ters received from listeners in the Cleveland area, according to the Civil Liberties Union, which charged specifi- cally in its wire to the station that speeches prepared for broadcast bv Steve Jenson, secretary of Local 45. United Automobile Workers, were re- peatedly censored, and that Lewis Spi- sak, president of the local, was abrupt- ly cut off the air while he was read- ing verbatim from a script that had already been censored and approved by the station. The Civil Liberties Union has re- ciuested that the F. C. C. investigate the charges. N. O. Judgment Voided New Orleans, Feb. 2. — The judg- ment of $21,250 obtained by the Hello World Broadcasting Co., former oper- ators of KWKH, against the present operators, International Broadcasting Co., was set aside here today by the state Supreme Court. In its dismissal the court declared the lower court jury obviously had erred in its apolication of both law and evidence. The suit involved an alleged violation of the contract of sale of the station. H. V. McKee to Retain Post H. V. McKee, radio director at Cecil, Warwick and Cecil, will remain with the agency for at least another four weeks, he stated yesterday. While he has received several attractive of- fers from other agencies, his plans are still indefinite, he said. Wednesday, February 3, 1937 i Radio Personals* BERNICE CLAIRE and Patti Pickens yesterday signed contracts with new managers. Rockwell- O'Keefe represent Miss Claire, while Harry Bestry will guide Miss Pickens . . . "My Maryland" will be offered by Jessica Dragonette on the "Beauty Box" program Feb. 10 . . . Charles LeMaire, featured on the fading "La Salle Fashion Show" program will remain on the air in an NBC sus- taining show . . . Ronnie Ames, Fred Waring's press representative, flies to Miami tomorrow . . . Ruth Etting has been secured for "Showboat" Feb. 11. + Bob Brenner, formerly of WHN, joins the announcing staff at WARD . . . Swor & Lubin, who received their air opportunity on the WPA "Pro- fessional Parade" program, will guest star on the RCA "Magic Key" pro- gram this Sunday. Others in the cast include Walter Damrosch, Fray & Braggiotti and Kirstin Thorborg . . . Al Donohue is now appearing in Bos- ton, and is broadcasting over a Mutual wire . . . The Kirkman Soap program starring Jack and Loretta Clemens locally only over WABC, may go network shortly . . . Jack Landt, of the Landt Trio, will wed Ethel Foy in June . . . Jack Berch has recuperated from an attack of grip . . . Hal Kemp's band will play four college proms in the next month . . . + CBS Artists Bureau has signed "The Debonaire," radio trio, and Hol- lace Shaw, to its management . . . Laurence Stallings will be the subject of Floyd Gibbon's interview on the Nash-Lafayette "Speedshow" Satur- day . . . Bobby Dolan's band and Donald Dickson have been signed as permanent members of the Sealtest "Saturday Night Party" . . . Burgess Meredith will appear as the featured guest on Rudy Vallee's program Feb. 11 . . . Gina Cigna who makes her American debut with the Metropolitan Opera this Saturday, will appear as guest soloist with the General Motors Symphony Orchestra the following evening, Feb. 7 . . . Mutual is reviving one of radio's earliest successes, "Red Lacquer & Jade," this Sunday at 10 :30 P. M., E.S.T. . . . Charles Dornborg- er's orchestra will furnish the music on Phil Baker's two broadcasts from Miami, Feb. 14 and 21 . . . All Mutual Officers Reelected by Board Chicago, Feb. 2. — All officers of the Mutual Broadcasting System were reelected at a meeting of the board at the Palmer House here today. Those re-elected are W. F. MacFar- lane, president ; Alfred J. McCosker, chairman of the board ; B. M. Antrim, treasurer; Theodore Streibert, vice president, and Fred Weber, general manager. Additionally, a general sales meeting of the Mutual staff is now in session here. Sales plans for the coming year will be announced after tomorrow's meeting. Raymond, Sten in "Graustark" Gene Raymond and Anna Sten will star in a radio version of "Graustark" in the Lux "Radio Theatre" offering next Monday. Radio Acceptance XATIOXAL Bll©A©eAOTIlTO COMFAOT, IXCe Mr. Maurice Kann, Editor Motion Picture Daily Rockefeller Plaza New York City Dear Mr. Kann: I want to compliment your organization on the up-to-the-minute news you are compiling in the "Motion Pictrue Daily." Recog- nition of the two fields of entertainment as proceeding from a common basic interest is timely and good. I wish you every success. With kind personal regards, I am A RADIO CORPORATION OP AMBRICA 8BRVICB 111 SCTTBR 8TK1HHT SAN 1PKAH"CI@C€> January 14, 1937 Very truly yours, Don E. Gilman ROCKEFELLER CENTER NEW YORK 12 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Radio Lev Labor Leader Sues Seattle's Stations (Continued from page 10) ers of KOL, together with Hearst Publications, Inc., are defendants in one complaint that asks $300,000, or $25,000 each for 12 talks broadcast under Hearst auspices over KOL be- tween Aug. 19 and Sept. 4, 1936. The other complaint, against Hearst Pub- lications and Fisher's Blend Station, Inc., owners of KOMO and KJR, asks $250,000 for 10 talks between Aug. 17 and 20, 1936. The complaints state that the talks "held up to public scorn" Beck's repu- tation "for honesty and integrity" and thus jeopardized his position as an in- ternational official in the Teamsters' Union. Fight Sale of KTHS Hot Springs, Ark., Feb. 2. — Chancellor Frank Dodge, sitting as a special judge, opened the hearing on an original suit filed by members of the Chamber of Commerce here to prevent the sale of KTHS to Col. T. H. Barton of El Dorado. The local station was sold several months ago. The Chamber of Commerce adopted resolution repudiating the contract and made their officers party plaintiffs. Philadelphia Helps Louisville Philadelphia, Feb. 2. — In response to an urgent request from WHAS, Louisville, Donald Withycomb, WFIL general manager, dispatched a mobile unit carrying short wave transmitters to the stricken station. Carrying 300 pounds of radio equipment, Frank V. Becker and George Brazee comprised the unit who worked throughout the night with WHAS engineers setting up a short wave contact between the WHAS studios and transmitter to replace telephone lines which were in danger. Celebrate Block Anniversary WNEW's "Make Believe Ball- room's" 12 sponsors will stand by to- morrow for Martin Block's celebration of the second anniversary of the two and a half hour daily program. The anniversary will be celebrated by a party at the studio tendered to the press and leading bandleaders whose recordings are featured on the "Ball- room." Sponsors of the "Make Believe Ballroom" include Kreuger Brewing Co., 20 Grand cigarettes, Roxy Clothes, Tappins Jewelry, Alkine Laboratories, Bond Street Tobacco, Kopper's Coke, Canadian Fur Trap- pers, Schottenfeld's Carpets, Journal of Living, and the Lander Co. WCAU Broadens Out Philadelphia, Feb. 2. — In an ef- fort to service rural listeners while the city sleeps, WCAU now opens its broadcasting day at an earlier hour. The new schedule has the sta- tion operation starting at 6:45 A.M. to 1 A.M. For the past two years, it started the day at 7:15 A.M. Pro- grams providing farm news and rural-spun philosophy and songs are being aired for the new early morning listeners. "Earth" Opening Is Heard in Shanghai (Continued from page 1) WHN to WXLB at Shanghai by short wave. WHN handled the local proceedings with Henry E. Gellerman, American representative of the China Press which operates WXLB talking direct- ly for transmission to Shanghai through the WHN "mikes" in the the- atre lobby. Gellerman spoke both in Chinese and in English. Jay C. Flippen, Louis K. Sidney and Radie Harris interviewed theat- rical, social and film luminaries in the lobby of the theatre while the usual crowds eyed the proceedings with gusto. The entire facade of the the- atre was illuminated by floodlights. The show started at 9 P. M., and ended at 11 :25. Among those present were: Barney Balaban, Stephen Pallos, Fanny Hurst, W. Ward Marsh, Robert Nathan, Marcia> Davenport, Marc Connelly, Katharine Brush, Dr. Cyrus Peake, Christopher Morley, Joseph Calleia, Ernest Toller, Philip Jaffe, Saul Rogers, Leon Netter, Clifton Webb, Morris Gest, Harry Hirsch- field, Dave Chatkin, Al Lichtman, William F. Rodgers, William Mel- niker and a host of other home office executives. "Ma Perkins" Twice Daily "Ma Perkins," broadcast Mondays through Fridays at 3:15 P. M., E.S.T. on the NBC-Blue, will be heard each morning over the Blue network at 10:15 A. M., E.S.T. in addition to the afternoon broadcast, effective Mon- day. It will be one of the few day- time programs to be broadcast twice a day. Stations which will carry the serial in the morning are: WLS, Chicago; WJZ, New York; WBZ, Boston; WBZA, Springfield; WBAL, Balti- more; WSYR, Syracuse; WHAM, Rochester and KDKA, Pittsburgh. The serial is sponsored by Procter and Gamble in the interest of Oxydol. Blackman & Co. is the agency. Crosley Aids on Policies Cincinnati, Feb. 2. — Group insur- ance, including life, sickness and acci- dent protection, by which practically all employes of the Crosley Radio Corp. are covered, will be maintained in force for 60 days at the company's expense for those employes who have been deprived of work by the flood, it was revealed by Powel Crosley, Jr., president. Broadcasting Flood Bulletins Des Moines, Feb. 2.— Dale Mor- gan, announcer, and Marvin Myer, radio engineer for KSO and KRNT, are in Sikeston, Mo., where they are awaiting the crest of the flood, inter- viewing refugees and broadcasting the interviews by battery-operated remote amplifiers at frequent periods. WHO Promotes Bondurant Des Moines, Feb. 2.— Hale Bondu- rant, assistant sales manager of WHO since 1932, has been promoted to sales manager. He will have supervision of national and local advertising. ine Quits sidency of Republic Prod. (Continued from page 1) to have had some bearing on the fric- tion which developed between the company's executives. Levine will remain at Republic for the next two months in order to com- plete productions which have already been started, after which he will leave for a vacation of four months. "Hit Parade" is among the films scheduled for completion by the executive. In a farewell statement today Le- vine expressed his appreciation of the opportunity afforded him to work with those who have been his associates at Republic. Impending changes in the executive personnel of Republic were predicted exclusively by Motion Picture Daily several weeks ago. Attorney Objects to Proposed Roxy Plan (Continued from page 1) of other companies might make more money. He also contends that holders of the new bonds should not be lim- ited to fixed interest rates in view of the prospect for increased profits dur- ing the World Fair. A hearing on the plan is to be held by the court March 5. Arrested on Game Charge Windsor Locks, Conn., Feb. 2. — After stopping Bank Night at the Rialto, state troopers were instru- mental in having manager David Magliora and his assistant, Joseph Tria, summoned to Town Court for violation of the lottery law. The test case is scheduled for early hearing. The public has expressed indignation at the arrest, desiring the continuance of Bank Night. B. N. to High Court in Louisiana New Orleans, Feb. 2. — With Bank Night declared a lottery by two lower courts, the Supreme Court of the state now has the question under consideration, with a decision expected shortly. Conn. Town Bans Bingo West Hartford, Conn., Feb. 2 — Bingo is now banned here, as well as in Bridgeport. It continues in New Britain under sanction of the prose- cutor. Savannah Taxes $3,390 Savannah Ga., Feb. 2.— Amuse- ment taxes paid by film enterprises of this city for the month of January totaled $3,390. Of this sum, White Theatres paid $2,965.53. For the first 11 days of the month a 10 per cent gross revenue tax was levied. For that period White Thea- tres paid $1,642.80. Effective Jan. 12 the tax was reduced to two per cent with a minimum charge of one cent on each ticket. N. O. to Get Stage Show New Orleans, Feb. 2. — Stage shows are to be tried by Miles Pratt at the St. Charles starting Friday. Wednesday, February 3, 1937 W anger Will Test 5 From Group Theatre Five performer members of the New York Group Theatre left by train last night for, the coast, where they will be given screen tests by Wal- ter Wanger, with contracts to follow if they are acceptable, it was learned yesterday. The five are Morris Car- novsky, Luther Adler, Ruth Nelson, Phoebe Brand and Roman Bohnen. The five, if acceptable, will work in Hollywood for only three months, it was indicated, returning here for the summer play season. It was said it is possible that Wanger may assist the Group Theatre in raising the $100,000 needed for the group to carry on. A definite tieup between the Group and Wanger was described as possible, as well. Cheryl Crawford, a director of the theatre unit, will return tomorrow from the coast, where she arranged the trip for the five players. The Group's managing director, Harold Clurman, now in Hollywood, is under a three- month contract as assistant to Wanger, with an additional three-month option. The players would fall under the three-way player arrangement exist- ing among Wanger, David O. Selznick and Samuel Goldwyn. Brandt Picks Aides For Dinner to Zukor William Brandt, chairman of the committee, has invited 14 prominent local exhibitors to serve with him in handling details for the dinner to be tendered Adolph Zukor on March 27 at the Waldorf in celebration of Zukor's silver jubilee. Many national political and social figures in addition to an array of stars will be on the dais. The theatre men who will lend their support will include W. G. Van Schmus, Howard S. Cullman, Charles C. Moskowitz, George P. Skouras, Nate J. Blumberg, A. H. Schwartz, Samuel Rinzler, Laurence Bolognino, Simon Fabian, Walter Reade, Leo Brecher, Harry Shiffman, Joseph Bernhard and Louis F. Blumenthal. Skouras Will Visit Balsdon at Hospital Los Angeles, Feb. 2. — Spyros Skouras plans to visit George Balsdon National Theatres booker, at St. Jo- seph's Hospital, Stockton, within the next day or so before leaving for New York. Balsdon is in a serious condition as ■ a result of an auto accident last week. His family is due from the east tomor- row. William T. Powers, Edward Zabel, Milton Hossfeld and Irving Barry are expected to accompany Skouras to New York. Hawkins to Columbia As Scenario Editor William W. Hawkins, Jr., eastern scenario editor for Samuel Goldwyn, has resigned effective Feb. 13 to join Columbia in a similar post. He has been with Goldwyn for a year. Mrs. Beatrice Kaufman will assume the edi- torial title. Hawkins succeeds William C. Len- gel. Joe Bigelow of Variety on Monday joins the editorial ranks of Goldwyn. He will head for Hollywood on Fri- day to confer with Goldwyn. The Leading Motio Picture industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert. Intelligent the Industry In All Branches VOL. 41. NO. 29 NEW YORK, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1937 TEN CENTS Europe Leads World Gain in Sound Houses Increase of 1,251 in '36 Makes Total 29,207 Washington, Feb. 3. — Europe again made the greatest gains in the number of sound theatres throughout the world in 1936, according to a further breakdown of world theatre figures compiled by Nathan D. Golden, chief of the M. P. Section of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. Sound houses in 28 European nations totaled 29,207, an increase of 1,251 over 1935, with its 27,956, this source A five-year comparison of sound theatres throughout the world appears on pages 3 and 10 today. reveals. Germany led with 5,271 sound spots in 1936, as compared with 4,780 in 1935, or an increase of 491. The United States was second in point of gain with an advance of 880, Golden's figures showing that the domestic market had 16,258 theatres wired at the beginning of 1937 as against 15,378 at the outset of 1936 {Continued on page 3) Review Board Opens Meeting Here Today The National Board of Review will open its 13th annual conference to- day at the Hotel Pennsylvania. Oc- cupying three days, the meeting will conclude with the 22nd annual confer- ence luncheon on Saturday. "Looking Backward and Forward at the Motion Picture" is the theme of the confer- ence. The session today will open with at- tendance at a showing of "The Eternal {Continued on page 3) Dembow to Detroit To Open New Branch Sam Dembow, Jr., leaves for De- troit today to open another in the rapidly-growing link of National Screen and National Screen Acces- sories brandies which ultimately will total 25. The Detroit office opens Friday after which Dembow will go to Minneapolis. Dallas is operating, Kansas City opens the end of February while St. Louis and New Orleans are in line. Attacks Film, Air Measures In the House Hits Cost of Creation of New Agencies By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, Feb. 3.— Warning that no reduction in Governmental ex- penditures can be attained unless the members of Congress cease to press for the creation of new agencies for special purposes, Representative Dirk- sen of Illinois today attacked film and radio legislation pending in the House. Dirksen directed his remarks par- ticularly to the Culkin bill to set up a film commission of five or seven members at $9,000 a year each, to supervise and censor pictures entering interstate commerce, and the Celler bill for a Government broadcasting station. "I got quite a kick out of reading (Continued on page 3) Cincy Waters Fall; Theatres Still Dark Cincinnati, Feb. 3. — With the Ohio river registering 68 feet from its 80- foot crest, but still 13 feet above flood level, and receding rapidly, Cincinnati gradually is returning to a semblance of normalcy. One of the city's partially rehabili- (Continued on page 4) Committees Named For Flood Benefit Committees were appointed yester- day for the elaborate benefit show for flood relief funds to be held at the Music Hall Feb. 11. The show will run from midnight to 2 A. M., with a lengthy list of stage and screen stars already having volunteered their (Continued on page 4) Booked Solid Indianapolis, Feb. 3. — Jack Finkelstein approached Jack Friedman, operator of the Avalon, asking: "What are you going to do about Social Security?" "Listen, I'm booked solid now with Bank Night, Dish Night and double features. No room for Social Secur- ity," was the reply. ITOA Plans to Seek Injunction on Loew The I.T.O.A. will seek an injunc- tion against Loew's and all exchanges serving the Loew circuit houses in New York, in an effort to prevent the continuance of the new split week policy adopted recently by the circuit, Harry Brandt, president, told mem- bers at a meeting at the Astor yes- terday. The new Loew policy, the subject of strenuous objection by the I.T.O.A., calls for the playing of "A" product during a five-day weekend, as against the four-day weekend previously in effect. No mention was made by Brandt of the pending union agreement among the Allied Union, the I.T.O.A. and Local 306, which is understood to be practically ready for signatures. It is expected the agreement will be signed in a day or two, and become effective next Monday. It was indi- cated in one source that the agree- ment might be signed today. Expect $50,000 for "Three Smart Girls" "Three Smart Girls" is expected to wind up a second week at the Roxy tonight with approximately $50,000. The first week's business was close to $60,000. The Paramount finished its third week of "The Plainsman" with $28,000. Ray Noble and his (Continued on page 3) Yesterday's Radio — Pp. 8-9 Lesser Sets Maxwell Deal; Two Boats Bring Film Folk Sol Lesser has a signed deal with John Maxwell whereby B.I. P. will release three Richard Arlen outdoor features in England this season, the producer stated yesterday on his ar- rival on the Bcrcngaria after a month's trip to Vienna, Paris, London and St. Moritz. While in Vienna he consummated negotiations with Oscar Straus, 60- year-old composer, to write music for two pictures, one of which will be Bobby Breen's next. Straus will ar- rive Feb. 17 on the Champlain. Les- ser denied he will import Dr. Franz Hochstrater's peasant choir from Aus- tria, stating that Ben Goetz recently signed the singers. Lesser plans to leave for Hollywood on Monday. Returning on the same boat were Marlene Dietrich, who brought her (Continued on page 10) Expect Start Of New Boards In Two Weeks Philadelphia May Have First Conciliators The first of the local conciliation boards to be set up under the M.P. T.O.A. 10-point trade practice pro- gram with distributor cooperation may be organized within the next two weeks, with present indications point- ing to Philadelphia as the first ex- change territory to complete the es- tablishment of a local board, it was learned here yesterday. Exhibitors in Seattle, St. Louis and Charlotte, as well as in Philadelphia, are understood to be prepared to join with branch managers for their terri- tories in setting up local boards in the near future. Exhibitors in each of the four cities already have expressed their willingness to cooperate in the formation of a board, and in all but St. Louis, exhibitors' grievance com- mittees are in existence and are readily adaptable for conciliation board work. Philadelphia, however, is farthest along with its plans, according to re- port, and for this reason is expected to establish the first of the boards. Moreover, the Philadelphia territory is regarded as an ideal test situation in which to determine the usefulness (Continued on page 10) Chase Bank Sells More of 20th-Fox Washington, Feb. 3. — Further sale under escrow agreements of 429 shares of 20th Century-Fox common and 858 shares of $1.50 cumulative preferred stock by the Chase National Bank in December was reported today by the Securities and Exchange Commission. At the close of the month, the bank still held 352,347 shares of common and 704,694 shares of preferred. A November report filed by Sidney (Continued on page 3) Rockf Toeplitz to Produce for Dixey London, Jan. 26. — It was revealed at a private dinner of directors and supporters of the Dixey plan at the Mayfair Hotel that Ludovico Toep- litz will make films for distribution by the Independent Exhibitors' Dis- tribution Co., Ltd., using British casts (Continued on page 10) Last Night's Play — P. 10 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, February 4, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 February 4, 1937 No. 29 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany. Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at Rockefeller Center. New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publicating Company, Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- cations: .MOTION PICTURE HERALD, BETTER THEATRES, TEATRO AL DIA, INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD ; Postal Union Life Building. Vine and Yucca Sts. ; Boone Mancall. Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave.. C. B. O'Neill, Manager. WASHINGTON: Albee Building; Bertram F. Linz, Representative. AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan 5; Philip de Schaep, Representative. BERLIN : Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg. Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest II; Endre Hevesi. Representative. - BUENOS AIRES: Corrientes 2495; N. Bruski, Representative. , , „ , HELSINKI: Fredriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszlo, Representative. „ LONDON: 4 Golden Square, W. 1; Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address, Quigpubco. Lon- MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins St. ; Cliff Holt, Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart, Representative. MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern, Rep- resentative. MONTEVIDEO: P. O. Box 664; Paul Bodo, Rep- resentative. PARIS : 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre, Repre- PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1; Harry Knopf. Representative. RIO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 3358; A. Weiss- man, Representative. ROME: Viale Gorizia; Vittorio Malpassuti, Rep- resentative. SHANGHAI: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Build- ing. 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler, Repre- sentative. TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken; H. Tominaca, Representative. VIENNA: Neustiftgasse, 55, Vienna VII; Hans Lorant, Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Finish 111 Features During Three Months Hollywood, Feb. 3. — A total of 111 productions were completed during the three-month period from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 1936, by 16 producers, accord- ing to the latest Academy Technical Credits Bulletin, just issued. The total represents the year's production peak, 109 having been finished in the third quarter, 81 in the second and 92 in the first. Individual credits for 421 technicians are included in the bulletin. The pro- duction breakdown is as follows : Columbia, 12 ; Cosmopolitan, 1 ; Larry Darmour, 4 ; Douglas MacLean, 1 ; Major, 1; M-G-M, 8; Paramount, 9; Republic, 17 ; Radio, 13 ; Samuel Gold- wyn, 2; B. P. Schulberg, 2; Selznick International, 1 ; 20th Century-Fox, 19; Universal, 7; Walter Wanger, 1; Warners, 13. Warners Buy Buildings Interstate Theatre Corp., a subsid- iary of Warners, has purchased the two tenement buildings adjoining the home office on West 44th St. No extension of the home office structure nor building of any kind is contemplated for the time being, ac- cording to Samuel Carlisle, comptrol- ler and assistant treasurer of War- ners. i Purely Personal ► BARNEY BALABAN and Harry Eddington, Greta Garbo's agent, pow-wowed together at the Tavern during lunch hour yesterday. George O'Brien was there with Charles Casanave and Joe Moskowitz had Bob Goldstein for company. Sam Cocalis, Bill Scully, Charles Moses, Joe Hornstein, Henry Brown, Nat Cohn and Mitchell Klupt occupied the Monday Knighters round table. John Monk and Fred Finkelhofe, authors, and Gar Kanin, producer of "Brother Rat," talked about plays. The Fox Movietone crowd included Truman Talley, Lew Lehr, Rus- sell Muth, Ed Thorgersen, Lowell Thomas and others. A. W. Smith, Jr., Harry D. Buckley and George W. Trendle celebrating the signing of United Detroit Theatres for U. A. product. Dan Frankel and A. P. Waxman chatted together, while Sam Krellberg and I. Perse made an- other twosome. Spotted at other tables were Harry Thomas, Budd Rogers, Al Friedlander, J. K. Chap- man, Hal Hode, Charles Curran, Rodney Bush, Stanley True, Ben Blumberg, Emil Jensen, Arthur Gottlieb, Robert Benjamin and Jack Hoffberg. • George Harvey has joined United Artists to handle special advertising and publicity in connection with the George J. Schaefer sales drive. • Robert Schless, general manager for Warners in Europe, will leave Saturday on the Paris. He has been in this country for a month. • Stephen Pallos will return to Miami today to resume his vacation where he left off earlier in the week. He will be back next Tuesday. • Myke Lewis, western division sales head for Paramount, will leave by plane today for Hollywood. • William Shapiro, who is associ- ated with Sol Lesser, plans to return to the coast Feb. 15. • Ben Knoble will reopen the U. S. in the Bronx tomorrow under the name of Decatour. • Milt Kusei.l is due back today from Buffalo. BRUCE GALLUP, former director of publicity and advertising for United Artists and Columbia, has been signed by Fenn Kimball, president of General Pictures, to handle the company's first effort, "Three Legion- aires." Edward Pes k ay, general sales man- ager for Grand National, is in Holly- wood conferring with Edward L. Al- person, president. James Winn, west- ern division manager, is now in Los Angeles. • Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., will ar- rive in New York Feb. 17 on the Aquitania en route to the coast to appear in "The Prisoner of Zenda" for David O. Selznick. • Dan D. Halpin, assistant chairman of the board of Dictograph Products Co., Inc., in charge of sales and ad- vertising, has been elected a vice- president. • Sam J. Shumer formerly with 20th Century-Fox, has been named eastern story editor, succeeding Sidney Bid- dell, who is now assistant to E. L. Alperson at the studios. • Howard A. Zeimer, head of the theatre department of S. Appel & Co., theatrical costumers, has just returned from an inspection trip through the south. • Glen MacWilliams, G. B. camera- man, has hired a staff of local photog- raphers to shoot background material for "Non Stop New York." • Stepin Fetchit, who recently fin- ished work in "On the Avenue," is in town getting ready to start a four- week personal appearance tour. • Beulah Livingstone of the Uni- versal publicity department has re- turned from an exploitation trip that took her to Philadelphia, Washington and Baltimore. • George O'Brien, Radio player, left by plane for the coast yesterday on a call from the studio. • George W. Weeks, G. B. general sales manager, is holding a series of Pettijohn Lines 'em Up An incident in connection with the visit of film personalities to Washington last weekend in connection with the President's birthday celebrations came to light here yesterday. On Saturday, Mrs. Roosevelt entertained at luncheon in the White House for the group, which included Jean Harlow, Robert Taylor, Mitzie Green, Marsha Hunt, Maria Gambarelli and Frederick Jagel, the latter two of the Metropolitan Opera Co., and C. C. Pettijohn of the M.P.P.D.A. Following the luncheon, the visitors were escorted on a tour of the White House by Mrs. Roosevelt and, while making their way from the third to the second floor of the Executive Mansion, it was discovered that Taylor and Pettijohn were missing from the party. Marvin Mclntyre, the President's secretary, retraced his steps to search for them. He encountered the two surrounded by an ad- miring group of colored maids of the White House staff, all of whom apparently had been rounded up by Pettijohn who was busy introducing them individually to Taylor, who, in turn, was being kept busy supplying autographs. "I think," Mrs. Roosevelt remarked when apprised of the situa- tion later, "that it was a verv thouehful thing for you two to do." "Only the expected thing." Mclntyre observed. "Pettijohn has never yet overlooked the colored vote." conferences at Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Kansas City and St. Louis. • Herman G. Weinberg, director of publicity for the 55th St. Playhouse, has been named American editor of Film Art. • Helen Clarkson, tour director for the late Mme. Schumann-Heink, has joined the staff of Jam Handy in De- troit. • Katherine Brown of the New York Selznick International office will leave for the coast today to confer with David O. Selznick. • A. Edward Sutherland, director of "Champagne Waltz," has left for Hollywood following a brief New York vacation. • Max Nossek, European director, arrived yesterday on the Berengaria, en route to Hollywood. • W. Ward Marsh of the Cleveland Plain Dealer is planning to stay in town for another week. • Henry Wilcoxon, Tullio Carmi- nati and Brian Aherne are aboard the eastbound Bremen. Fritz Lang plans to remain in town for another week or so before return- ing to Hollywood. • Sam Spring returns today from a Washington business trip. • Joe Gallagher of Shlyen Publica- tions is seriously ill at his home. George Balsdon Gains Los Angeles, Feb. 3. — After be- ing in a coma for five days, George Balsdon, booker for National Thea- tres, is responding to a few questions at St. Joseph's Hospital, Stockton. His condition as a result of injuries sustained in an auto crash last Thurs- day is still regarded as serious with signs of recovery reported to be good. Sumner Gambee, vice-president of the circuit, also is in the same hospital with internal injuries. He is expected to be discharged in 10 days. Spyros Skouras, William T. Pow- ers, Edward Zabel, Milton Hossfeld and Irving Barry, who accompanied George Balsdon and Sumner Gambee to the coast; are scheduled to re- turn Monday. McCarthy Improves Hollywood, Feb. 3. — Hospital bulletins report J. J. McCarthy as be- ing slightly improved. Miss Peterson at Ampa Dorothy Peterson, who was the nurse in "The Country Doctor," will be one of the guests at the Ampa luncheon tomorrow at the Edison. Gordon White will be unable to at- tend as Mrs. White is recovering from a serious illness. Cukor Honored in Rome Rome, Feb. 3. — George Cukor was honored here yesterday at a reception. The American director was enthusi- astically greeted by much of fashion- able Rome and press critics. Thursday, February 4, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 3 Sound Theatres Throughout World Grand Total Grand Total Grand Total Grand Total Grand Total Territory 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 Europe 29,207 27,956 23,460 20,934 17,822 United States 16,258 15,378* 10,143 15,000 14,000 Far East 4,384 3,712 3,362 2,539 2,147 Latin-America 4,068 3,338 2,783 2,208 1,830 Canada 1,033 833 710 710 777 Africa, Near East.... 610 480 411 432 » 379 . Total 55,560 51,697 40,869 41,823 36,955 *Based upon trade estimates. Sound Theatres in Europe Country 1936 193S 1934 1933 1932 Germany 5,271 4,780 4,489 4,000 3,700 England 4,950 4,712 4,608 4,414 4,228 France 3,900 3,300 2,900 2,550 1,450 Italy 2,800 2,724 2,095 1,079 1,000 Russia 2,285t 3,000t 1,800* 2,000 3,000 Sweden 1,641 1,581 843 750 750 Spain 1,600 1,550 1,333 1.500 500 Czechoslovakia 1,343 1,343 1,025 818 640 Belgium 740 725 650 400 250 Austria 692 706 650 570 435 Poland 657 467 428 353 110 Hungary 385 362 315 267 198 Denmark 352 312 325 303 200 Switzerland 328 330 310 302 200 Rumania 350 298 300 350 165 Netherlands' 297 291 252 240 233 Yugoslavia 263 246 174 184 100 Norwav 240 205 204 175 107 Finland 210 214 120 120 111 Irish Free State 190 160 Portugal 180 170 168 107 88 Greece 140 112 107 100 70 Latvia 98 86 107 87 56 Bulgaria 89 89 88 109 109 Turkey 93 85 60 52 37 Esthonia 55 54 58 44 59 Lithuania 44 43 44 53 46 Albania 14 11 7 7 Total 29,207 3,712 3,362 2,539 2,147 ""Includes all halls, converted churches and other local places of exhibition, tlncludes urban, rural theatres, both those equipped with stationary and portable projectors where motion pictures are shown. Sound Theatres in Far East Europe Leads World Gain in Sound Houses (Continued from page 1) and these are the Film Board of Trade figures, incidentally. Third in the rating was Latin America, with 3,338 theatres sound equipped in 1935. The 1936 aggregate was 4,068, a gain of 730. The Far East was fourth in gain, but third in total. There, Golden re- ported 3,712 sound houses in 1935 and 4,384 in 1937, the increase being 672. Canada ran fifth with 833 for 1935 and 1,033 for 1936, a gain of exactly 200. Africa and the Near East brought up the rear with an increase of 130. Those territories had 480 in 1935 and 610 in 1936. Review Board Opens Meeting Here Today (Continued from page 1) Mask" at the Belmont this morning and an address by Dr. A. A. Brill. Pearl S. Buck, author of "The Good Earth," will speak at the afternoon session at the Pennsylvania on "What Censorship Meant and Means." Other afternoon speakers include Albert Howson of Warners, on "The Com- ing of Sound" ; Truman Talley of Fox Movietone News, on "The Growth of the Newsreel," and others. Wilton A. Barrett, secretary of the National Board, will preside. At this evening's session, which will be held in the auditorium of the School of Education of New York University, the subject will be "The Old and the New in Motion Pictures." Two films, "Queen Elizabeth," of 1912, and "Maid of Salem," produced this year, will be shown, and Terry Ramsaye, editor of Motion Picture Herald, will speak on "The Drama of Adolph Zukor." Another address will be made by Prof. Allardyce Nicoll of the Drama Dep't of Yale. Frederick M. Thrasher of N. Y. U. will preside. Expect $50,000 for "Three Smart Girls" (Continued from page 1) orchestra comprised the stage attrac- tion. "Champagne Waltz" is now current there with Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians taking the stage spotlight. "Criminal Lawyer" garnered about $6,800 at the Rialto. "Robber Sym- phony," now in its second week at the Venice, will move to the Belmont on Monday. China Gets Reviews Chinese newspapers have cabled the United States for a complete set of press reviews on "The Good Earth," following the opening at the Astor here, according to M-G-M. The re- views were sent yesterday. Columbians Get Aaronson Irving Aaronson and His Com- manders will furnish music for the Columbian Club ball at the Waldorf Astoria Feb. 13. Screen and radio personalities will be included in the entertainment program. Country 1936 Australia • 1,420 Japan 1,237 New Zealand 610 India 600 China 183 Neth. India 172 Philippines 148 British Malaya 96 Straits Settlements Fr. Indo-China 50 Chosen 29 Siam 22 Ceylon 14 Fiji Islands 3 Society Islands 3 1935 1934 1933 1932 1,334 999 999 1,050 827 877 450 216 435 366 324 306 500 506 340 220 178 157 120 90 192 172 131 104 121 127 105 105 57 50 36 28 48 18 18 is 12 24 24 10 12 12 6 10 9 7 6 3 3 3 Z 3 3 3 2 Attacks Film, Air Measures In the House (Continued from page 1) that bill and as what would constitute an acceptable picture and what pic- tures would be banned," he said, re- ferring to the Culkin measure. "One of the many restrictions cited in his bill was any picture in which there was a prolonged expression of pas- sionate love. When you take the clerks, stenographers, censors and art- ists that would be necessary to ad- minister it, the salary of the five mem- bers of the commission would be noth- ing, because later you would have a huge number to administer it and they would be asking for $1,000,000 or $2,000,000 to carry out this censor- ship." Chase Bank Sells More of 20th-Fox (Continued from page 1) R. Kent showed acquisition by his Berkshire Finance Company of 6,355 shares of 20th Century-Fox common in exchange for 5,048 shares of the $1.50 preferred. Reports on Warner Brothers stock showed the sale in December of 500 shares of common by Joseph Bern- hard, New York, who at the end of the month held 500 shares of common and 8,000 six per cent optional con- vertible debentures ; the disposition, by gift, of 700 shares of common by Samuel Carlisle, New York, who held 1,500 shares at the end of the month ; disposition, by gift, of 32,500 deben- tures by H. M. Warner, who at the close of the month held 1,436,500 de- bentures, 62,860 shares of common and 10,618 shares of $3.85 cumulative preferred, with another 4,786 shares of the latter held by his holding com- pany ; and the disposition, by gift, of 65,000 debentures by Jack L. Warner, who at the end of the month held 1,652,000 debentures, 88,060 shares of common and 10,618 shares of pre- ferred, with another 5,786 shares of the last in the hands of his holding company. Disposition, by gift, of 100 shares of Loew's common was reported by David Bernstein, New York, whose holdings at the close of the year were 1,790 shares, and acquisition of 15,000 shares of Grand National common was reported by Edward L. Alperson, New York, bringing his holdings to 35,946 shares. Back reports on Columbia Pictures filed by Harry Cohn showed the ac- quisition in August, 1936, of 37 shares of common ; sales of 6,000 common voting trust certificates in April, 700 in June and 1,400 in July, and acqui- sition of 1,723 in August ; and the sale in April of 6,000 purchase warrants and acquisition in August of 585 in an adjustment for dilution. Trendle Takes V.A. List George W. Trendle, head of United Detroit Theatres, yesterday signed for United Artists complete lineup. This is one of the important deals lined up in connection with the George J. Schaefer sales drive. Trendle plans to return to Detroit today. Total Sound Theatres in Latin- America Country 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 Brazil 1,170 906 800 525 330 Argentina 1,000 1,000 600 542 580 402 220 350 265 265 300 225 150 131 123 Peru 18C 122 85 77 40 Chile 159 150 148 160 85 150 120 120 60 30 124 122 118 no 110 Venezuela 111 85 75 44 24 100 100 93 87 87 47 44 36 25 25 36 35 26 26 9 34 31 27 22 20 29 29 14 18 10 27 24 24 11 7 25 17 16 12 9 25 23 IS 14 12 Dominican Republic 23 21 13 14 15 19 19 20 19 8 19 17 23 2 2 "2 ' i 15 15 14 ' 14 "is "3 8 9 9 9 13 6 5 5 6 4 6 5 5 3 2 6 5 2 2 5 4 4 4 3 "i ' i 1 1 n 11 11 4,068 3,338 2,783 2.208 1,830 (Africa and Near East on page 10) * MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, February 4, 1937 Gov, Davey Studies Ohio Flood Taxation Columbus, Feb. 3. — Retracting his previous pronouncement of "No more taxes," Governor Davey is having his special flood taxation committee pre- pare a list of additional sources of rev- enue to provide for the estimated $20,- 000,000 required for flood emergency relief. It is understood that an additional one-cent tax on liquid fuel, or the tem- porary broadening of the sales tax are being advocated to produce the necessary funds. Although no information has been disclosed on how the additional sales tax would operate, it is estimated that $15,000,000 or upwards could be raised by including a tax on services, or oth- erwise changing the tax base of that law. There is no likelihood of a state in- come tax, as this would not produce an appreciable yield until April, 1938, it is pointed out. Reserve Thibault Ruling Justice Joseph M. Callahan in N. Y. Supreme Court reserved decision yes- terday on a motion of Conrad Thi- bault, singer, to dismiss an accounting suit brought against him by Harry Hollander, who charges Thibault with having failed to pay him in full for services rendered as the singer's busi- ness manager. Hollander charges that in Feb., 1932, he entered into a three- year contract with Thibault who agreed to pay him 20 per cent of his gross earnings from every source. He as- serts he was not paid in full and that Thibault further violated the contract by accepting jobs from persons other than those signed by Hollander. In his answer to the suit Thibault said that the 1932 agreement was twice amended and that Hollander was paid in full for services rendered. The plaintiff seeks an accounting. Dawson-Pathe Suit Up Today A suit for damages brought by George C. Dawson against Pathe News, Inc., its president, Courtland Smith; M. H. Aylesworth and RCA is scheduled to come up today be- fore Federal Judge John W. Clancy. Dawson claims that on Jan. 11, 1934, he entered into a contract with Pathe to sell all their newsreel sound tracks for radio broadcasting and act as their agent in selling these to broad- casting stations for which he v/as to receive 33J/3 percent of the rentals. He also undertook to procure 26 pro- grams a year. Pathe, he claims, was unable to make delivery and as a result his good will and reputation in the radio market was damaged. Dawson further claims that Smith and Aylesworth interfered with the performance of the contract by Pathe. Seeks F. & M. Theatre St. Louis, Feb. 3. — Oscar Dane, local theatre man, is negotiating with Fanchon & Marco to sublet the closed Orpheum. The present F. & M'. lease has three years to run. Dane plans an all-Negro show. Flash Preview "Les Mysteres de Paris" — A shock- er type of melodrama adapted from the novel of Eugene Sue, this tells an early _ 19th Century story of Paris. This film will be reviewed in full in a coming issue of Motion Picture Daily. Committees Named For Flood Benefit (.Continued from page 1) services. Seats will be priced from $1 to $10, and the show time will be divided into four half-hour periods, each to be sponsored in a radio broad- cast of the show at $10,000 for each half-hour. The program will go out over the networks of Mutual, NBC, both Blue and Red, and CBS. W. G. Van Schmus, managing director of the Music Hall, yesterday sub- scribed for $1,000 in tickets ; George Lotito, $500; Leonard Sillman, $200; Richard Rodgers, $100; Eli Sugarman, $25. Honorary chairmen are Van Schmus and Schubert; Chairman is Sillman; advisory chairmen are Gus Eysell, Alan Corelli and Sugarman ; treasurer is Arthur Clary ; business manager is Ben Boyer. The committees follow : Production — Leon Leonidoff, Sill- man, Marc Connolly, Billy Rose, Howard Dietz, George Kaufman. Legitimate — Schubert, Arthur Schwartz, Marcus Heiman, Eddie Dowling, Sam Scribner. Unions — James Bannon, stagehands ; Jack Ros- enberg, musicians ; Ralph Whitehead, A.F.A.; Paul Dulzell, Equity. Radio — Philips Carlin, William Paley, John Royal, Fred A. Willis, Richard Fish- ell, Donald Flamm. Music — Rodgers, Erno Rappe. Screen — Ralph Lund, RKO ; Charles Moskowitz, Loew's ; Barney Balaban, Paramount ; Harry Warner, Warners. Publicity — Nat Dorfman, Mollie Steinberg, Lou Straus, Hazel Flynn. Players who have offered their ser- vices include : Beatrice Lillie, Noel Coward, Katharine Cornell. Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Tamara, Helen Chandler, Blanche Yurka, Helen Hayes, George O'Brien, Fred Waring, Bob Hope, John Halliday, Bert Lahr, Reginald Gardner, Mitzie Mayfair, Borrah Minevitch and many others. A total of $4,000 was turned over to the Red Cross yesterday by Louis K. Sidney, head of the drive to collect flood relief funds from Kentucky colonels. Sidney is sending a letter to all Loew employes in all parts of the country, today, asking them to contribute to the Red Cross. Film Flood Drive Passes $30,000 Hollywood, Feb. 3. — Collections within the industry for flood relief have passed the $30,000 mark, it was revealed today by Fred W. Beetson, chairman of the drive. Beetson stated that indications point to the collection of more 'than $50,000. The previous high mark for a sim- ilar drive was established in 1927 when $35,000 was raised by the in- dustry for the relief of the Mississippi flood sufferers. St. Louis Making Quota St. Louis, Feb. 3. — Initial returns in the drive for flood relief funds being- conducted by approximately 400 the- atres in this territory indicate that the original goal of more than $50,000 will be reached. The campaign will, end Feb. 7, and is under the sponsorship of the M.P.T.O. of St. Louis, Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois. Theatres in a number of towns in Illinois and Missouri are receiving film shipments subject to the delays occasioned by the necessity of trans- porting them by boat to the nearest dry point from which trucks can carry them to their destinations. Danish "Legion" Copenhagen, Denmark, Feb. 3. — Plans to establish a coun- terpart of the American Le- gion of Decency in Denmark are being set with a view to restricting the importation of allegedly indecent pictures. An examining board has been named by the Dept. of Jus- tice and methods of Govern- ment control are being dis- cussed. At the same time, steps will be taken to increase the popularity of domestic pro- duct, at the moment at a low ebb. Cincy Waters Fall; Theatres Still Dark (Continued from page 1) tated power plants is being cut in. Homes, however, still are limited to one light and operation of the radio. Business houses remain closed, ex- cept for essentials. Street car serv- ice, although curtailed, is being re- stored on some lines, and elevators are beginning to operate in a few office buildings. Present indications are that it will be a few days before the normal electric and water supply are restored. Nearly 2,000 WPA and city workers are clearing debris from streets in the flooded areas. Traffic and parking in the downtown sectors are restricted. Many of the hundreds of citizens who made an exodus to upstate com- munities to enjoy meals, light, ablu- tions and other privileges, gradually are returning. Although theatres may open later in the week, this depends on the rapidity w,ith which light, pow- er and water are fully restored. Houses in nearby unaffected situa- tions have in some instances been com- pelled to switch bookings due to in- ability to secure prints of pictures. Louisville Houses Closed Louisville, Feb. 3. — Louisville has been without picture shows for a week or more as a result of the flood. Downtown virtually all theatres are flooded. 1 Where the river didn't get over the curbings, it leaked in through basements. Damage to rugs, seating, etc., is heavy. Loew's had several feet of water and much damage to a large organ, seats, floor coverings, etc. The Mary Anderson, Rialto, Kentucky, Ohio and others suffered heavily. Some houses for a time were used for refugees, but when basements were flooded and heating plants put out they were abandoned. Virtually every suburban other than in the Highlands and Crescent Hill has been under water, from Fourth St. west to river in an area about 40 blocks. Only in higher sections of the city to the east and south, in the foothills, is there light, power, heat or trans- portation. The flood area has been totally evacuated. It will be weeks before it can be cleaned up, inspected and residents permitted to return. Only limited power is available, com- ing in from Central Kentucky over emergency lines. Transportation is at a standstill, with no street cars, buses, and only one railroad and two high- ways open into the higher section. The only way into lower Louisville or the business district is over a foot | pontoon bridge. Minneapolis Paper Conducts Film Poll Minneapolis, Feb. 3. — Merle Pot- ter, screen editor of the Minneapolis Journal, is conducting a poll among 2,000 American newspaper film edi- tors and critics to determine the best picture, best actor and best actress of 1936. Opportunity is offered for a first, second and third choice vote in each division. A point system will be used in determining results. The advisory committee, assisting Potter, is headed by Mrs. Thomas G. Winter of the community service of the M. P. P. D. A., and includes: Ray Lyman Wilbur, chairman of the M. P. Research Council ; Martin Quigley, editor-in-chief and publisher of MotiO'N Picture Daily ; Terry Ramsaye, editor of Motion Picture Herald ; Mildred Lewis Russel, pre- view chairman of the D. A. R. ; Mrs. David A. Burk, chairman of the west coast committee of the General Feder- ation of Women's Clubs ; Mrs. Leo B. Hedges, chairman of the California Congress of Parents and Teachers ; Mrs. Florine Wolfstein, chairman of the Los Angeles section of the Na- tional Council of Jewish Women ; Mrs. Palmer Cook, co-chairman of the Wo- men's University Club of Los Angeles ; Mrs. M. F. Thompson, chairman of the Southern California Council of Federated Church Women ; Mrs. Odessa Davis, general film chairman of the California Federation of Busi- ness and Professional Women's Clubs, and Mrs. Mildred Amundsen, report chairman of the American Legion Auxiliary. Missouri Censor Bill Kansas City, Feb. 3. — A bill pro- viding for a three-member censor board has been placed before the Missouri legislature. The board per- sonnel, under the bill, will receive a salary of $4,000 a year and review all pictures at five dollars a reel. David A. Hess, St. Louis representa- tive, sponsored the measure. Wall Street Loew's Hits New Board High Net High Low Close Change 37 37 37 + 54 45 45 45 +1& 554 554 554 - 54 1754 17 17 .17554 17454 17454 I6O54 160^4 16054 3354 325-6 32% Columbia Columbia, pfd. . . . Consolidated Consolidated, pfd.. Eastman Kodak . Eastman, pfd Gen. T. Equip Loew's, Inc Paramount Paramount 1 pfd.. Paramount 2 pfd. . Pathe Film RKO 20th Century-Fox. 20th Century, pfd.. Warner Bros 7854 77/8 28 2754 19554 194 25% 954 854 37 46 1554 25 954 854 3634 4554 1554 2754 194 25 9% 854 37 4554 1554 -54 -254 - 54 +154 —3 - 54 + 54 Curb Declines Slightly Net High Low Close Change Grand National ... 354 354 354 — 54 Sentry Safety 1 1 1 — 54 Sonotone 254 254 254 — 54 Technicolor 2154 21 21 — 54 Trans -Lux 4% 454 454, Bonds Off Fractionally Net High Low Close Change Keith B. F. 6s '46 99 99 99 Loew's 354s '46... 10054 100 100 — y2 Paramount B'way 3s '55 7454 7454 7454 — 54 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 10054 10054 10054 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 99% 99% 99% — 54 (Quotations at close of Feb. 3) FIRST OF THE 4 BIG FEBRUARY FILMS FROM WARNER BROS Kay's Greatest R o m a n c e — K a y's Most Lavish Production KAY FRANCIS in STOLEN HOLIDAY CLAUDE RAINS . IAN HUNTER . ALISON SKIPWORTH and ALEXANDER D'ARCY • Directed by MICHAEL CURTIZ A First National Picture Mel frf/i —KAY FRANCIS in 'STOLEN HOLIDAY' with IAN HUNTER Mel. 13t/i — The GREAT O'MALLEY' with PAT O'BRIEN, HUMPHREY BOGART Mel 2CtA — ERROL FLYNN and ANITA LOUISE in 'GREEN LIGHT' Mel. 27 tA — PEN ROD and SAM' with BILLY MAUCH (Little *Anthony Adverse') Thursday, February 4, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Twin Cities' High "Romeo" And "Diggers" Minneapolis, Feb. 3. — "Romeo and Juliet" playing a two-day roadshow at the St. Paul Orpheum was the big draw of the week. This film and "The Gold Diggers of 1937" which held forth the first five days, grossed $7,- 000, over par by $3,000. No other house managed to beat the usual gross in a week marked by very low temperatures, snow and com- petition from the St. Paul Winter Sports Carnival. Total first run business in Minne- apolis was $20,500. Average is $29,- 500. Total first run business in St. Paul was $17,100. Average is $14,500. Estimated takings : Minneapolis : Week Ending Jan. 28: "BELOVED ENEMY" (U. A.) MINNESOTA— (4,000), 2Sc-55c, 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $10,000) "CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE" (W. B.) ORPHEUM — (2,900), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $6,000) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) CENTURY — (1,600), 25c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $5,000) "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) WORLD— (400), 25c-40c, 7 days, 4th week. Gross: $1,500. (Average, $2,000) Week Ending Jan. 27: "KING OF HOCKEY" (W. B.) "CAREER WOMAN" (20th-Fox) STATE— (2,400), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $2,500. (Average, $5,000) St. Paul: Week Ending Jan. 28: "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) PARAMOUNT— (2,300), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $5,500). " "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (F. N.) "ROMEO AND JULIET" (M-G-M) (Two Days) ORPHEUM— (2,000), 25c-40c, (55c-$l-10 for Romeo"). Gross: $7,000. (Average, $4,- 000) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) RIVIERA— (1,000), 25c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $3,200. (Average, $3,500) Week Ending Jan. 30: "DANIEL BOONE" (Radio) "THE CASE OF THE BLACK CAT" (F. N.) TO'WER— (1,000), 25c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $1,400. (Average, $1,500) To Press Tax Collection New Orleans, Feb. 3. — The Com- mission Council intends to watch more closely the collection of the city amusement tax, it was indicated by action taken at a special meeting. A motion introduced by Finance Com- missioner Cave directed the city at- torney to file suit "to collect any and all amusement taxes that may be due the city now or which in the future may become due to the city of New Orleans." Plan Hartford House Hartford, Feb. 3. — This city will have its first new theatre since the advent of talking films when the 800- seat Webster Cinema is erected in Barry Square by Maurice Shulman and associates, who operate the Rivoli here. Construction will start shortly. "Camille" on Dual Heaviest Coast Grosser Refuse Richmond Appeal Richmond, Feb. 3. — The Board of Zoning Appeals has refused to grant an appeal filed by the Rappahannock Theatre Co. for permission to build a new theatre on the west side of Rap- pahannock St., between Bellevue and Nottoway. Los Angeles, Feb. 3. — "Camille," with "Off to the Races," was the big grosser of the week. It topped nor- mal at Loew's State by $4,566 on a gross of $18,566 and was over the line by $1,775 on a gross of $14,275 at the Chinese. "The Good Earth" took $21,500 in its first six days at the Carthay at $1.50 top. This was $4,500 above par. Busi- ness was dull elsewhere. Total first run business was $84,- 941. Average is $89,950. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 3 : "THE GOOD EARTH" (M-G-M) CARTHAY CIRCLE— (1,518), 50c-$1.50, 6 days. Gross: $21,500. (Average, $17,000) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) "OFF TO THE RACES" (20th-Fox) CHINESE— (2,500), 30c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $14,275. (Average, $12,500) "MAN OF AFFAIRS" (G. B.) 4 STAR— (900), 30c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $3,100. (Average, $3,250) "AMPHYTRYON" (Globe Films) GRAND INTERNAT'L— (750), 3Sc-40c, 7 days. Gross: $2,500. (Average, $1,200) "CONDEMNED ROW" (Radio) "THEY WANTED TO MARRY" (Radio) HILLSTREET— (2,700), 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $8,000) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) "OFF TO THE RACES" (20th-Fox) LOEW'S STATE— (2,500), 30c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $18,566. (Average, $14,000) "CONDEMNED ROW" (Radio) "THEY WANTED TO MARRY" (Radio) PANTAGES— (3,000), 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $6,900. (Average, $8,000) "BELOVED ENEMY" (U. A.) "WOMAN IN DISTRESS" (Col.) WARNER BROS. (HOLLYWOOD) — (3,- 000), 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $11,700. (Av- erage, $14,000) "BELOVED ENEMY" (U. A.) "WOMAN IN DISTRESS" (Col.) WARNER BROS. (DOWNTOWN)— (3,- 400). 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $9,900. (Av- erage, $12,000) Union Profit £437,225 London, Jan. 24. — An auditor's re- port issued to shareholders by Union Cinemas, Ltd., estimates the profits of the company in the current year at £437,225. This is £30,000 more than the figure given at the annual meet- ing, at which the amalgamation plan with National Provincial Cinemas and Oxford and Berkshire Cinemas was approved. Hagen Takes Studio London, Feb. 2. — Julius Hagen re- vealed today the formation of a pri- vate company which is taking over the freehold on the Twickenham Studio, enabling him to begin production again with his former personnel. Emit Jannings in Rome Rome. Feb. 3. — Emil Jannings has arrived here to produce "Before Sun- set," a German film for Tobis. The screenplay has been adapted from Ger- hart Hauptmann's play. Jannings was received by Mussolini. Heads Westland Circuit Denver, Feb. 3. — Howard Federer has been named general manager of Westland Theatres, following the resignation of T. B. Noble, who will operate a house in Oklahoma City. No Interviews Omaha, Feb. 3.— The Union Pacific has ruled that travel- ing celebrities are not to be disturbed for newsmen when traveling through Omaha if they have retired for the night. First application of the rule came when reporters met a train at 2 A.M. and found that a "Do Not Dis- turb" sign on Sylvia Sidney's drawing room door meant just that. .99 "Great Guy Boston's Win With $20,000 Boston, Feb. 3. — "Great Guy" drew $20,000, $8,000 over average, at the RKO Memorial. The weather con- tinued fair with spring temperatures helping grosses. "Pennies from Heaven," with "More Than a Secretary," in its sec- ond week, continued to score with a take at Loew's Orpheum of $17,000. This was above the line by $5,000. The same program, also in its second week, drew $15,000 at Loew's State, over par by $4,800. "Maid of Salem" with Fred War- ing and orchestra on the stage drew $23,000 at the Metropolitan. Aver- age is $22,000. Total first run business was $111,- 600. Average is $88,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 28: "GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN" (W. B.) "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS" (Para.) FENWAY— (1,392), 30c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $5,800. (Average, $4,500) "GREAT GUY" G. N. RKO MEMORIAL— (2.907), 25c-50c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $20,000. (Average, $12,000) "PENNIES FROM HEAVEN" (Col.) "MORE THAN A SECRETARY" (Col.) LOEW'S ORPHEUM— (2,970), 25c-45c-65c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $17,000. (Aver- age, $12,000) "PENNIES FROM HEAVEN" (Col.) "MORE THAN A SECRETARY" (Col.) LOEW'S STATE— (3,537), 35c-45c-65c. 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $15,800. (Average, $11,000) "MAID OF SALEM" (Para.) METROPOLITAN— (4,332), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Fred Waring and orchestra. Gross: $23,000. (Average. $22,000) "GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN" (W. B.) "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (1,793), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $7,000) "THE PLOT THICKENS" (Radio) RKO BOSTON — (3.246), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: "Folies de Moulin Rouge" with Al Trahan. Gross: $22,000. (Average, $20,000) Lubell to Cincinnati Pittsburgh, Feb. 3. — Sam Lubell, Main Line salesman for the Columbia exchange here, has been promoted to city salesman in the Cincinnati office. He's being replaced by George Tice, who moves up from the office man- agership, while Harry Roney, assistant booker, becomes office manager. Bob Kimmelman, for the last five years with the booking department of the Harris Amusement Co., has resigned to take Roney's vacated post with Columbia. Stowaway" Is Washington's Top in Slump Washington, Feb. 3. — "Stowaway" on the screen and Harry Blackstone, magician, on the stage at Loew's Capi- tol, furnished the one bright spot of the week. The take was $21,500, above average by $600. A return engagement of "College Holiday" at Loew's Columbia, slipped $200 over the first run average for a take of $3,800. "Man of Affairs" at the Earle was good for only $17,000, dropping $800 under par. At RKO-Keith's, "Three Smart Girls" took $10,000, or $600 under the average. "Champagne Waltz," premiere 'n' everything, could attract only $15,000 to Loew's Palace. Shifting its policy of revivals, the Rialto presented another first run, "As You Like It," for a take of $2,700. No average is available. Total first run business, exclusive of the Rialto, was $72,100. Average is $73,700. Estimated takings, exclusive of tax : Week Ending Jan. 28: "MAN OF AFFAIRS" (G.B.) EARLE— (2,218), 25c-77c, 7 days. Stage: Ken Murray & Oswald, Dixieland Jazz Band, Marilyn Stuart, Dick & Edith Bar- stow, DeLong Sisters. Gross: $17,600. (Average, $18,400) "STOWAWAY" (ZOth-Fox) LOEW'S CAPITOL— (3,434), 25c-66c, 7 days. Stage: Harry Blackstone & Co. Gross: $21,500. (Average, $20,900) "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) LOEW'S COLUMBIA— (1,243), 25c-40c, 7 days (return engagement). Gross: $3,800. (Average, first run, $3,600) "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS" (Para.) METROPOLITAN — (1,591), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,200. (Average, $4,300) "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) RKO-KEITH'S— (1,838), 25c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $10,600) Week Ending Jan. 29: "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ" (Para.) LOEW'S PALACE— (2,370), 35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $15,000. (Average, $15,900) Week Ending Jan. 29: "AS YOU LIKE IT" (ZOth-Fox) RIALTO— (1,100), 25c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $2,700. Want Exits on Screens Harrisburg, Feb. 3. — A new meas- ure prepared for introduction in the Legislature makes it mandatory for film theatres to show on the screen at frequent intervals a diagram of the theatre with the exits plainly marked. The bill is sponsored jointly by Rep- resentatives Ralph C. Donohoe and Joseph M. O'Brien. Another measure prepared by Rep- resentative John L. Powers requires that firemen take motion pictures of all second and third fire alarm blazes to be used in instruction of new firemen. Close Monogram Deal Los Angeles, Feb. 3. — Olmstead Stubbins, Inc., have acquired a fran- chise for distribution of Monogram pictures in this territory. The deal, made by W. Ray Johnston, includes all of California, Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii, and parts of New Mexico and Oregon. Howard Stubbins was formerly manager of the old Mono- gram office. RADIO MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, February 4, 1937 Mutual's Net Two Millions In First Year Chicago, Feb. 3 — In its first year of operation the Mutual Broadcast- ing System had a gross billing slightly under §2,000,000, asserted President W. E. MacFarlane in his opening ad- dress at the convention of members and affiliated stations which opened today at the Palmer House. The gathering was declared to be the first of its kind for a general dis- cussion of policies by member units of a broadcasting chain. In discussing the aims of the. or- ganization MacFarlane said: "Mutual was organized with the purpose of presenting better programs and al- lowing stations to maintain their in- dependence and of creating a network of stations which would serve the country's listening audience and still allow stations to fulfill their obliga- tions to their local communities." He described the first year's net as "quite a record." "With our expansion to a coast- to-coast network by the addition of western stations and the Don Lee Broadcasting System in California, MBS is now operating on an equal basis with the other two major broad- casting systems," he said. "Evolution, Not Promotion" T. C. Streibert declared that MBS was "built out of a process of evolu- tion and not promotion." "The cooperative effort of all is needed to build further and to com- plete the service rendered by our chain of stations," he continued. There was a general sales discussion in which all station representatives attending participated. Willett Brown of Los Angeles pre- sented a package of checks and money orders totaling $12,000 which had been collected during the past week on the coast as a result of air appeals oyer the Don Lee stations for flood relief These were forwarded to WLW, Cin- cinnati, in the name of Don Lee and Mutual for the Red Cross. Among those present were: Mac- Farlane ; first vice-president, T. C Streibert ; treasurer and executive sec retary E. M. Antrim; general man- ager Fred Weber, Dave Chrisman, Jack Overall, A. N. Hult and George Harvey of the Mutual sales staff, Ed Wood, Jr., of WGN, John Shepard, Colonial Network and WAAB, Bos ton; Don Withycomb, WFIL, Phil adelphia; Don Davis and John Schilling, WHB, Kansas City ; Luther Hill and Craig Lawrence, Iowa Net- work and KSO, Des Moines; Gene O'Fallon and Frank Bishop, KFEL, Denver; Brown of the Don Lee Sys- tem; Eugene Carr, WGAR, Cleve- land; Frank Ryan and E. S. Rogers CKLW, Windsor, Ont. ; John M Henry, Buryl Lottridge and Joe Sea- crest, KFAB, Lincoln, Neb., and KOIL, Omaha; Clarence Cosby, KWK, St. Louis, and Robert Schmid, MBS, New York. Radio 's Censorship Relaxed To Aid Social Disease Curb Radio's rigid standards of censor- ship have been let down to aid in the campaign now being waged against the spread of social diseases. The air campaign was begun last night over WCAU, Philadelphia, when Dr. Sig- mund M. Greenbaum, chairman of the Committee on Social Diseases of the Philadelphia Medical Society, spoke. Nine other broadcasts are scheduled over this station. The local campaign started last Monday when Dr. William Snow made an address over WOR. Re- corded speeches on the subject have been prepared by the Regional Con- ference on Social Hygiene and WOV has signified its intention of using the transcriptions. The networks and the other local stations are consider- ing the advisibility of permitting the talks to be broadcast. Small hope s entertained for the network social hygiene addresses, however. NBC Makes New Deals One renewal and two new programs were effected at NBC yesterday. "The Adventures of Dari Dan," heard over all basic Red network sta- tions except KSTP, St. Paul, were renewed for 52 weeks, beginning March 8. The series is sponsored by Bowey's, Inc., and placed through the Russell C. Comer agency, of Chicago. C. F. Mueller & Co., beginning Feb. 22, will sponsor a script dramatic se- ries Mondays through Fridays, from 10:45 to 11 P. M., E.S.T. over a split Blue network comprising WJZ, New York; WBZ, Boston; WBZA, Springfield; WFIL, Philadelphia; WSYR, Syracuse ; WHAM ; Roches- ter, and KDKA, Pittsburgh. The contract is for 13 weeks, and was placed through Kenyon & Eckhardt, New York. Beginning March 7, Wright & Co. will sponsor a series in behalf of a soil conditioner and plant aid over WJZ. John Zollinger in garden talks, and the Alexander Brothers, piano duo, will be featured. The program, 10:05 to 11:15 A. M., E.S.T., was A Wrinkle Philadelphia, Feb. 3. — A ra- dio advertisement plugging a newspaper advertisement is the latest wrinkle in mer- chandising at WIP. At odds in handling the account ac- cepted from the Philip Klein Agency for The Gay Products Corp., spot announcements on the station advise listeners to turn to such-and-such page in the Philadelphia Bulletin for the sales message. The spon- sor's product deals with fem- inine hygiene. placed through H. B. Le Quatte, Inc., New York. The contract is for 13 weeks. WBNS Has Portable Unit Columbus, Feb. 3. — WBNS has in- stalled portable broadcasting equip- ment in a trailer to tour the flood areas between Portsmouth and Pom- eroy, to air relief and rehabilitation activities. The station, known as WAIA, is operating on a frequency of 2,830 kilocycles, with a 200-watt trans- mitter. A short wave and a regular receiving set are carried. A gasoline- driven engine supplies the power. The short wave broadcasts are picked up and rebroadcast by WBNS here. James Blower and Harold Nafzger, engineer, are in charge of the unit. England Wants Benny Apparently news of the popularity of Jack Benny has reached English ears, for at the specific request of the Brit- ish Broadcasting Co. Benny's troupe will offer a slightly cock-eyed version of the "Barretts of Wimpole St." next Monday, Feb. 8, from 4:45 to 5 P. M., E.S.T. The program will be shortwaved to England and re-broad- cast by the BBC. It will be heard in America on the NBC Blue network. 4 Radio Personal ► Radio Revue Opens In Phila. Tomorrow A radio revue booked by the NBC Artists Bureau begins an engagement at the Earle, Philadelphia, Feb. 12. The unit consists of Niela Goodelle, the Three X Sisters, Honeyboy and Sassafras, Alene Harris, and an NBC announcer as "em cee." Opening Feb. 12, the unit will play the Earle on Friday and Saturday, then journey to Warners' Stanley, Camden, for the Sunday appearance, then back to the Earle to complete the week's run. KRSC Goes on Full Time Seattle, Feb. 3. — KRSC, "record" station located in the Washington Athletic Club Bldg., this week cele- brates its 10th anniversary in Seattle by going on a full-time schedule, with new antenna and new transmitter lo- cated on the shores of Lake Union. Daily programs will be broadcast from 6 A.M. until midnight, on a power of 250 watts. Robert Priebe is station manager, Ted Bell studio program director and Romig C. Fuller commercial manager. Special dedicatory programs were furnished to KRSC on its opening day by KOL, Columbia station; KIRO, Seattle ; KVI, Columbia station in Tacoma ; KPQ, Wenatchee, and KMO, Tacoma. WCKY Nearly Normal Cincinnati, Feb. 3. — After work- ing day and night for a full week, without ordinary heating, lighting and power facilities, WCKY is back to a nearly normal basis. The station continues to operate on its full power, supplied by Diesel en- gine equipment. Electric service and steam heat have been restored in the" studio building. The staff is still on rations as regards water, but looking back on last week's privations the members consider they are now "liv- ing in luxury." Flood news now occupies only a small portion of the WCKY program schedule and does not interfere with any regularly scheduled commercials. Schallert Option Taken Up Hollywood, Feb. 3. — NBC today exercised the option on the contract of Elsa Schallert for an additional year. TAMARA, now appearing on Broadway in "Tide Rising," will guest on the WOR program conducted by A. M. Sullivan this Sunday at noon . . . Olson and Johnson have been added to this Saturday's "Speedshow" program . . . The Shell Show's guest roster for Saturday night's broadcast includes Mitzi Green, Ezio Pinza, Hildegarde Halliday and the Cavaliers Quartet ... A new piano team, Clif- ford Herzer and Jascha Aayde, will be heard weekly on WQXR beginning tomorrow ... + WMCA to Air Benefit WMCA and the associated Inter- City stations will broadcast tomorrow night's Red Cross benefit show at the Fox, Brooklyn. The program begins at midnight and performers will in- clude Jimmy Durante, Bob Hope, Pat Rooney and others. The management of the theatre is contributing the house and its facilities . . . Lorenz Hart of the songwriting team of Rogers and Hart will guest on Bide Dudley's "Theatre of the Air" tomorrow . . . To date, WMCA has raised more than, $46,000 for the Red Cross . . . The Canovas, heard on the "Rippling Rhythm" sessions, begin a week's en- gagement at the Cleveland Food Show tomorrow . . . + Sir Cedric Hardwicke will be the guest of Radie Harris on the WHN "Radio-Movie Club" tomorrow night . . . Emily Post will guest on the "Magazine of the Air" Friday, Feb. 12 . . . Margaret Wilson, WINS so- prano, has returned to New York from Alexandria, La., where she vis- ited her mother . . . Consolidated Radio Artists state they've booked more than a million dollars' worth of band business since the company was organized less than a year ago . . . + As a result of his heroic efforts dur- ing the Pittsburgh flood when man- aging a theatre there last year, Ed Siegal was interviewed over WMCA yesterday on the flood highlights. Theatre Broadcasts Singing Seattle, Feb. 3. — The Paramount has just made a tieup with KIRO on a weekly "community sing" broad- cast. Every Sunday afternoon at 3:15, Manager Bill Hamrick's audience be- comes vocally-inclined for a 15-minute period. Gene Baker of the radio sta- tion staff leads the singing. "Tubby" Quillian, station manager, provides several spot announcements daily for the theatre in exchange for the broadcast, and the theatre adver- tises the KIRO "remote" on its screen and in the newspapers. Mari Brattain Resigns Seattle, Feb. 3. — Mari Brattain, for the last five years head of the continuity department of KOL, has resigned, effective on Feb. 10. Her successor has not yet been named by Archie Taft, station manager. Miss Brattain will join Beaumont & Hohman, advertising agency. On a Program Hunt John Loveta, of Benton & Bowles radio department, leaves the home office this week for a survey tour of programs apearing on local stations throughout the country. Thursday, February 4, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Celler Offers Bill for Gov't Radio Station By CLARENCE LINZ Washington, Feb. 3. — Legislation appropriating $750,000 for the con- struction of a Government broadcast- ing station by the Navy Dep't and $100,000 a year for operating and maintenance todav was introduced in Congress by Representative Celler of New York. The station would be of such power as to enable it to transmit programs to all parts of the world. Programs would be provided by the U. S. De- partment of Education and the privi- lege of using the station could be ex- tended to privately owned radio com- panies without charge provided that the privilege be exercised without profit to the company and includes no advertising. Declaring that the station will not "in the slightest militate against pri- vate initiative'' and will not lead to Government monopoly, Celler stated that persons and organizations which have sought to fight the establishment of the station must cease their op- position "else they will get their fin- gers burned." The proposed station would be known as the Pan-American Radio Station. It would operate on short wave and its programs would be clearly aimed for rebroadcasting in Latin America. NBC-Soubier Suit May Kill "Nighter" Hollywood, Feb. 3 . — Campana Corp., sponsoring "First Nighter" over NBC, may cancel its $9,000 a week program as a result of a suit filed in Superior Court by NBC today against Clifford Soubier, featured actor. In the suit, NBC asks judicial determina- tion of contract with Soubier, exe- cuted Dec. 12, 1934, and providing for payment of 10 per cent of Soubier's $200 weekly salary which is claimed for acting as Soubier's agent. The actor advised NBC several weeks ago that he was terminating his contract. Sponsors are now withholding $8,912 due NBC each week for "First Nighter" and threaten to cancel the series which has until August to run, it is alleged. NBC stands to lose $115,856 if the sponsor carries out the cancellation threat, Attorney Fred- erick Leuschner alleged. WBOW-NBC Now Tied Terre Haute, Feb. 3.-WBOW joined NBC Monday, it is announced by William W. Behrman, manager. WBOW was formerly affiliated with the ABC network. Advertisers to Hear Weiss Hollywood, Feb. 3. — Lewis Allen Weiss, general manager of the Don Lee system, will be chief speaker at the Feb. 18 meeting of the San Fran- cisco Advertising Club. WLW Raises $80,000 For Flood Sufferers Cincinnati, Feb. 3. — WLW, local NBC-Mutual outlet, has raised ap- proximately $80,000 to date for the Red Cross through • broadcasting ap- peals for aid, contributions coming from as far as Walla Walla, Wash., according to William S. Hedges, gen- eral manager. All-night flood relief programs arc being broadcast and daytime programs have been elimi- nated where important flood news is to be broadcast. The station's goal is $100,000. WSAI, sister station of the Crosley setup, also is broadcasting flood bulle- tins, and will continue until the crisis is past. Farrier Joins NBC Clarence W. Farrier arrived in New York yesterday and officially joined NBC where he has been assigned to non-technical research in television. Farrier is now attached to the office of O. B. Hanson, NBC chief engi- neer, where he is prefacing his work in television with several months of study of the mechanics of sound broadcasting. Later, he will assemble and summarize the results of television experiments as they pertain to pro- grams, engineering, and sales. Farrier comes to NBC from the Tennessee Valley Authority. Prior to this he was identified with the Century of Progress Exposition, where he was assistant to Lenox R. Lohr, then pres- ident of the exposition. Another Talent Swingover Philadelphia, Feb. 3. — The low Soap Co., sponsoring an hour period each morning at KYW for Magic Washing Powder, has added live talent. The set-up remains with Leroy Miller handling the talks and electrical transcriptions for the first three quarters of an hour and the "Meister- singer" concluding with violin and vocal interludes. Briggs and Varley are handling the account and recom- mended the additional talent after John A. Curtis, account executive, had auditioned several prospects. Fidler to P. and G. Hollywood, Feb. 3. — By mutual consent, Jimmy Fidler terminates his contract with Luden's, Inc., March 2 and begins a new series for Procter & Gamble March 9, over the same network and time as at present, NBC- Red, 10:30 to 10:45 P. M., E.S.T. H. W. Kastor of Chicago, is the agency. The William Morris office represented Fidler. Amateur Broadcasters Aid New Orleans, Feb. 3. — The F. C. C. has asked all amateur radio stations to stay off all frequencies over 400 kilocycles except when engaged in flood relief work, C Alfred Thomas, operator of W5PFO, says. Buys Kosciusko Station New Orleans, Feb. 3. — P. K. Ewing, executive of WDSU, has pur- chased the station at Kosciusko, Miss. His son, P. K. Jr., will have charge. Drop FTC Complaint Against Coast Firms Washington, Feb. 3.— The Federal Trade Commission today revealed the cancellation of the complaint issued last week against L. H. and W. C. Hyde, trading as Royal Film Studios, Royal Revues, Inc., and West Coast Discount Trading Corp., Ltd. The commission explained that the com- plaint, issued Jan. 26, was voided when the respondents signed a stipulation agreeing to discontinue unfair meth- ods of competition in connection with the renting and leasing of films for advertising purposes. The companies, located in Holly- wood, produce advertising films for theatrical exhibition, advertising mer- chants who sign contracts. Among the representations to be discontinued are : that the films will be equal in quality to and the same length as sam- ples shown, unless such are the facts ; that the contract can be cancelled after two months, unless the privilege is granted as represented ; that no other merchant in the same business will be on the film with a customer, unless this restriction is observed ; that the price paid for the film is the entire service cost, unless the customer is told additional sums must be paid the exhibitor, and that West Coast Dis- count is an innocent purchaser for the value of the promissory notes and se- curities given by subscribers to Royal Film or Royal Revues. Canada Rejects Music Fee Bill Ottawa, Feb. 3. — The Canadian House of Commons today rejected by a vote of 91 to 58 a bill presented by W. K. Esling of Kootenay to require Canadian Performing Rights Society to furnish license applicants a full list of musical compositions over which the society claims control for use in concert, community or fraternal halls. The measure was defeated largely at the recommendation of Hon. Fer- nand Rinfret, secretary of state, to postpone the move for a year in order to test a new law providing establish- ment of a Copyright Fee Appeal Board and an enabling agreement on revised tariff of society fees for the current calendar year. Prior to vote, which cut across party lines, it was brought out in the discussion that the C.P.R.S. collects $60,000 a year from theatres while radio stations pay blanket fees of $70,000. Proposes Sales Levy St. Louis, Feb. 3. — Joseph B. Schweppe chairman of the committee on public relief of the Board of Al- dermen, plans to propose an ordinance imposing a one-cent city sales tax to obtain funds for the relief of the poor and unemployed. Local theatres would be affected by such a tax, which would be in addition to the state sales levy. See Booth Bill Signed St. Louis, Feb. 3. — Mayor Dickman is expected to sign the ordinance re- quiring a projectionist for every ma- chine in local theatres. The Board of Aldermen has passed the measure. It was sponsored by the local union. Oregon Seeks Admission Tax Portland. Feb. 3. — Provision for a tax of one cent for every twenty cents of admission, or fraction thereof, was introduced today in the Oregon Legis- lature. The same bill calls for the elimination of gambling on dog and horse racing in the state. Pre-Trial Testimony Ordered in Lab Suit Stephen H. Eller, president of H.E.R. Laboratories, Inc., and of Al- addin Pictures Corp., and Tom Bran- don, treasurer of Garrison Film Dis- tributors, Inc., must submit to an ex- amination before trial in a $62,000 suit brought by Lina Pictures Corp. The examination was ordered yesterday by Justice John E. McGeehan in N. Y. Supreme Court. The suit grows out of agreements involving the rights to pictures made and distributed by Talking Picture Epics, Inc., which was adjudged bankrupt in the Federal Court. Epics had turned over 32 negatives to H.E.R. Laboratories for printing and subsequently through assignments Lina allegedly gained the rights to the pictures in question. The plaintiff, un- able to acquire the return of the pic- tures, is suing for $50,000 damages plus $12,000 for use of said pictures for a year. In answering the suit, the defend- ants explained that H.E.R. Labora- tories gained these pictures from Epics because of liens against that company for work done. Laboratories in turn sold the rights to Aladdin which later sold the exhibition rights to Garrison. Music Suit on Today Trial of a $50,000 suit brought by the composers and publisher of the song, "Hands Across the Table," against Paramount Prod., Inc., Para- mount Pictures Distributing Corp. and Samuel Coslow, a composer, is to be- gin today before Justice Samuel Hof- stadter in N. Y. Supreme Court. The plaintiffs are Jean Delettre, composer ; Mitchell Parish, lyric writer, and Mills Music, Inc. Delettre and Parish state that they sold their composition to Mills for royalties and that on March 25, 1935, Mills granted Paramount the right to use the title of their song for the name of a pic- ture and also the right to use the song in the picture. The picture was made and it is alleged that neither Delettre nor Parish was given credit for the authorship, but that Coslow was credited as the author of all the music in the picture. The plaintiffs seek to enjoin the defendant from further distribution of the picture un- til credits are properly made and also ask for damages. In answer to the suit the defend- ants state they paid Mills $500 for the absolute rights to "Hands Across the Table" for use in any manner. Skouras Wins Ruling Justice Lloyd Church in N. Y. Supreme Court yesterday granted the Skouras Theatre Corp. right to ex- amine before trial various individuals involved in a $100,000 suit brought by Skouras against the City Theatre Co. and others, including City Utilities Power & Light Securities Corp., Wal- ter Reade. Harley L. Clarke and Jo- seph T. Sullivan. Those to be ex- amined under Justice Church's order are Clarke, Sullivan, Reade, Donald B. Riker and Clara D. Harmffon. The Cities Theatre Corp. must also submit books and records pertinent to the suit. In its complaint Skouras Theatres Corp. states that in 1931 it obtained 75 percent of the Cities Thea- tre stock and that improper acts on the part of the defendants caused the stock to depreciate in value, damag- ing them to the sum of $100,000. 10 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, February 4, 1937 Expect Start Of New Boards In Two Weeks {Continued from page 1) and practicability of the boards, and for that reason probably stands the best chance of obtaining prompt action from distribution there. Conciliation boards will be estab- lished only in territories where a ma- pority of the representative exhibitors petition them. Representatives of such exhibitors then will agree with branch managers on the number and identity of conciliators desired, and with the designation of these the local board will be ready to receive and attempt to conciliate exhibitor-distributor complaints of virtually any character. The costs of maintaining the boards will be borne entirely by the distribu- tors, six of whom already have for- mally approved their establishment. Plans Practically Completed At present, indications are that no further conferences between M.P. T.O.A. officials and distribution ex- ecutives here, preliminary to the es- tablishment of the boards locally, will be required. Authorizations to branch managers from the home offices to participate in the setting up of the boards are seen as the only further step required. The most common complaints which it is expected will be handled by the boards will include those relating to overbuying, cut-throat and non-theatri- cal competition, designated playdates, exercise of the cancellation right, clearance and zoning. Rock, Toeplitz to Produce for Dixey (Continued from page 1) and stories in an Italian studio. Jo- seph Rock's "Edge of the World" is also on offer to the company, it was said by the producer who outlined further plans and stated that he in- tended to cut salary overhead by pay- ing players partly by a share of re- ceipts. Present were J. H. lies, backer of the Rock enterprises, and Richard Dooner, Victor Sheridan, T. Graham Salmon, Randolph Richards, Major Milner, M. P., F. B. B. Blake and J. L. Prendergast were among ex- hibitor speakers. Independent exhibi- tors are to be given an opportunity of sub-underwriting the capital issue of the company, which is imminent. Play of Soil Is Barren and Lacking in What It Takes By PLAYBOY That playwright is brave' indeed who essays one of his own leads. At any rate, Raymond Bond — from repertory, vaudeville and Hollywood scenarios — did it last night in a piece called "Thirsty Soil" at the Forty-Eighth Street Theatre. He did it with variable results, mostly tiresome and unhappy Nebraska, where twisters twist, where the wind never stops whistling and where trees simply do not grow, is the locale and the year is 1895 G.M., meaning the year the G. and M. rail- road wanted to push its tracks across Bond's farm. You have Maude Allen, playing wife and mother and playing it quite be- lievably. You have Matt, the younger son who is about to become a school- teacher. There is Milly, played by Ann Meril. She's merely an adopted child who has reached the age of consent without unearthing anybody in that barren farm country willing to listen. But along comes Luke, the other son, slickened now by city ways and medicine shows. He is back for a visit and it is not long before Milly returns from a moonlight walk, her consent behind her and motherhood soon ahead. Marriage By Compulsion In the meantime, Bond, a religious man and a hard man, is worrying about his Bible, concerning himself with an early morning rising to see "Quigley about the threshing" and finally losing his mind, then his life in a Nebraska-tvpe cyclone. Don't ask us why, he just does. Eventually and in the third act, Luke does return and is forced into wedlock with Milly. As a budding side ro- mance, Matt has been finding the blonde daughter of the railroad gang- boss pretty and interesting. Even the road, however, gives up the ghost in that inhospitable country which takes Primrose back to Ohio awaiting Matt and the day. As the curtain falls, Matt is asking his mother, "How long does it take for the trees to grow?" "A long time, son," answers ma which was what we were thinking about the play and its ending. "Thirsty Soil" won't do. The au- thor obviously was trying for an O'Neill stark-and-bitter. But Ray- mond Bond is not Eugene O'Neill, and the uncompromising truth is his play is aimless and without accomplish- ment. Sound Theatres — Africa and Near East Country 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 South Africa 250 200 200 195 180 Algeria 130 60 60 95 ...* Egypt 102 90 72 72 70 Palestine 29 27 22 16 16 Tunisia 24 27 ... ... . . .* Iran 25 25 Syria 24 24 23 20 7 East Africa 11 12 13 13 4 West Africa 7 7 7 7 5 Iraq 6 6 6 6 4 Madagascar 2 2 2 2 2 Persia ... ... 6 6 6 Total 610 480 411 432 379 *Motion Picture Section's figures for 1932 listed North Africa with 85 installations. This is assumed to have embraced Algeria and Tunisia, listed separately in the survey for 1935. (Tabulation for other sections of the world on page 3) The London Wire Cable flashes from Bruce Allan on new product previewed in London : "Head Over Heels in Love" London, Feb, 3. — The new Jessie Matthews musical for G. B., trade shown at the Phoenix tonight, should please her fans on this and the other side. "Head Over Heels in Love" is set in Paris with backgrounds in Bo- hemian studios, cabarets and broad- casting stations. It has four good mu- sical numbers, but unlike previous Matthews vehicles, has the star in- dulging in very little dancing. This one is less spectacular than "It's Love Again" and it lacks the swing of the former vehicle. Yet, with its very good comedy finale, it should please. "Great Barrier" Lo ndoNj Feb. 3. — This Gaumont British film which will open tomorrow at the new Gaumont, the rebuilt Capi- tol, is a drama, crowded with action, telling the story of the difficulties en- countered in the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Queen Mary will attend the opening. Beautiful backgrounds of the Rockies, large scale construction camp scenes and the historical atmosphere in the struggle with J. J. Hill for con- trol of the line, add much to the film. Richard Arlen is good in the lead of the film, which is England's best at- tempt on the reconstruction of recent historical events. The picture should appeal to American audiences. Running time, 90 minutes. Seattle's Censors Move Into Balcony Seattle, Feb. 3. — A city ordinance sets forth that members of the theatre censor board, in the course of their work, must be given "a proper seat." Mrs. Cecilia Schultz, theatre operator, has relegated them to the last row in the balcony, up among the dyed-in- the-wool drama lovers, music devotees and balletomaniacs. Mrs. Schultz became quite indig- nant over admitting censors to the best seats in the house and threw panic their way when she reserved the opera-glass section for them. They had been in the habit of sauntering past the doorman with the admonition to put the front row seats on the cuff. Corporation Counsel A. C. Van Soelen stated Mrs. Schultz was quite within her rights and doubted her stand would result in arrest. Said Mrs. Schultz: "They (the censors) don't come to my theatre because they think the symphony orchestra is going to play in its underwear, or because they think one of my fine artists will put on a strip-tease act ; they come to see the show." Mrs. Schultz made it clear she was not discriminating against the censors, adding that they can have the best seats in the house — if they pay regular prices, plus the usual tax. The censor board is discussing the matter. Maxwell Deal With Lesser Set in Europe (Continued from page 1) daughter back from school in Swit- zerland. While in England, the star appeared with Robert Donat in "Knight Without Armor" for London Films. She will depart for the coast tomorrow, according to present plans. Michael Bartlett was another home- comer. He has just completed "The Lilac Domino" with June Knight for Max Schach. He said he had another offer from Schach, but hasn't made up his mind. Business at his Tennis Club at Palm Springs brought Charles Farrell back after making two pictures in England, one entitled "Moonlight Sonata," for a company releasing through U. A., and "Midnight Menace" for British National. He will leave for Cali- fornia today. Holtz In, Without Plans After having been away eight months appearing in vaudeville in England, Lou Holtz said he has no future plans whatsoever. Don Lahos, French producer, also was a passenger on this boat. The Paris arrived earlier in the day with a flock of film folk. Albert Lewin, new Paramount producer, headed the list. He had been away several months visiting Vienna, Athens, Cairo, Luxor, London and Paris. Although he is due at the Paramount studios March 1, Lewin asserted his first picture will not be decided until he confers with Adolph Zukor. He will spend the next few weeks looking over plays on Broad- way. Henry Henigson, at one time head of Universal studios, returned from a four-month vacation touring Europe. He said the best product on the Con- tinent comes from France. He will remain in town a week. Writers Disembark Two writers were among the list. They were E. E. Paramore, who has been spending the past three months taking in the sports on the Continent and also writing the screen adapta- tion of "Glamorous Night" for British National. He will be here for 10 days, then leave for Palm Beach. The sec- ond scrivener was James A. Creelman, who worked on "Interval for Ro- mance" for British National. Swana Beaucaire, who recently completed "It's in the Bag" for War- ners in England and previous to that played the leading role in "L' Aimatle Lingere," by Tristan Bernard, for Paramount in France, arrived on her first visit to this country and was immeasurably impressed with the sky- line. She will confer with Jake Wilk of Warners in the next few days and depart for Hollywood in about a month. Another skater to follow in the footsteps of Sonja Henie is Melitta Brunner, who comes from Vienna to make her American skating debut at the North American Winter Sports Carnival Feb. 12-14 at Saranac Lake. She will remain in the east for two weeks and then go to Hollywood, where the William Morris office is working on three film deals. The Leading Motio Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, Intelligent the In All Branches VOL. 41. NO. 30 NEW YORK, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1937 TEN CENTS Union Deals Sending of Power by Radio Here Will Be | To Be Demonstrated Mar. 1 Signed Today Agreement Will Become \ Effective Monday Signatures will be affixed this after- noon to the correlative agreements which are designed to bring to an end the long and troublesome multiple union situation in New York theatres, it was learned on reliable authority yesterday. The agreements, one pro- viding for the absorption by Local 306 of the membership of the Allied Union, and the other between the I.T.O.A. and Local 306, will become effective on Monday. The deals, which have been the subject of protracted negotiations, are the result of demands made several months ago by Mayor LaGuardia that a satisfactory settlement be reached among the unions and independent theatre operators in the city, follow- ing a series of bombings in which a number of people were injured. The 306 agreement with the I.T.O.A., which will have the effect of nullifying the existing agreement between the I.T.O.A. and the Allied Union, whose members are employed in practically all of the more than 200 I.T.O.A. houses, is understood to be for a period of 10 years. The chief features of it are provisions for an increase in wages to operators of 25 {Continued on page 10) New Castle, Del., Feb. 4. — The National Wireless Power & Light Corp. of Greenwich, Conn., will give a demonstration on the feasibility of the use of transmission of electric power and light by radio or wireless at its experimental station near here on March 1. Electrical transmission ex- perts from all parts of the United States have been invited. Using equipment installed in the research laboratories here during the past three months at a cost of more than $100,000, John C. Roberts, for- merly of Brentwood, Cal., inventor of the "Roberts method of transmis- sion through the use of the Roberts tube," said efforts will be made to transmit power by wireless to a ship en route from New York to Bermuda. Roberts declared the attempt will be made to transmit power through a channel created by an electro-mag- netic beam to be picked up and util- ized by a specially designed receiver. Tests have been made in laborato- ries set up near here and at Dover, Del., about 40 miles distant, of high {Continued on page 8) Masses A Censor, Review Board Told The most serious censorship faced by the screen as an art as well as any other art is the ignorance and stupid- ity of the mass audience, Pearl Buck, noted author told members of the National Board of Review yesterday at the opening discussion session of the three-day 13th annual conference which will conclude with the annual luncheon on Saturday at the Hotel Pennsylvania. The mass censorship is a more seri ous problem than that of official or {Continued on page 10) Kalmus Contradicts Tricolor's Letters Hollywood, Feb. 4. — Dr. Herbert T. Kalmus today issued a statement aimed to counteract letters sent to ex hibitors throughout the country by Tricolor which reportedly infer that exhibitors will be liable to suits if they show films in Technicolor. The present dispute is an outgrowth {Continued on page 10) More Radio — Page 8 Cincy Houses Open Cincinnati, Feb. 4. — Utili- ties here are approaching normal and as a result the- atres are allowed to open from 10 o'clock to 3 o'clock daily. Theatres are required to be dark after 5 o'clock. If the power stands the test, they will be allowed to resume normal schedules to- Cheap Films Not Planned, States Korda Alien Actor Bill Facing Opposition By CLARENCE LINZ Washington, Feb. 4. — Active oppo- sition to the Dickstein bill restricting the entry of alien actors and artists will be expressed by representatives of producers on Feb. 17 when the House Immigration Committee will hold its hearing on the measure. In order to give producers an op- portunity to express their views, Rep- resentative Kramer of California last month refused to permit immediate re- porting of the bill and demanded that hearings be held. The opposition of the industry is {Continued on page 10) By BRUCE ALLAN London, Jan. 27. — Commenting on the salary cuts of from five per cent to fifteen per cent, applying to all em- ployes of London Film Prod., Alex- ander Korda denied in press state- ments that any fundamental change in production policy is implied. Denham, he said, was exercising strict economy to meet the difficult times ahead for British production but talk about making cheap pictures for the British market only he described as "rubbish." A picture costing £20,000 to £40,000: without a chance for a world release, is more expensive than a £200,000 pic- ture with world release, he declared London Films gets more than 50 per cent of its revenue from abroad, 28 per cent from America, 24 per cent from the rest of the world, and 48 per cent from England. Quoting instances, Korda said "Sanders of the River" cost £100,000 {Continued on page 10) A Wire to the Shuberts By PLAYBOY Stuck roughly midships in the pro- gram of the Imperial where "Fred- erika" sang its way in last night was a "Tourate Telegram" — 35 cents for 15 words. Western Union thereon suggested a wire to the folks back home about your visit to New York. All neces- sary was to fill in the name of the sender and check any one of nine sug- gested telegrams conveniently listed Very simple and very thoughtful on the part of Western Union. You either arrived safely. Or had a fine trip. Or sent warm greetings from Broadway. In all nine, however, you had seen "Frederika" and thought it "swell, charming, delightful." It gave us an idea — a telegram of (Continued on page 11) Erpi License Pacts to Be Retroactive Cuts in New Deals Will Run Back to June 1 Erpi's new recording license agree- ments now being negotiated with ma- jor companies and embodying appre- ciable rate reductions will be retroac- tive to June 1, 1936, it was learned yesterday. Completion of the negotiations, which have been under way for some time, is probable within the next month or two. Because of the retro- active feature of the agreements, the Erpi licensees do not regard closing of the negotiations as urgent. The first agreement likely to be closed is one with Loew's. When completed, it will contain the basic provisions to be incorporated in all Erpi recording agreements and, as a result, the mak- ing of new agreements with all other Erpi licensees is expected to be con- cluded in short order thereafter. The new license agreements will remain in effect until 1944. The new Erpi recording charges will be the same as those now offered by RCA. A charge of $54 per reel has been established for features in the higher budget brackets and $27 per reel for those in the lower brack- ets. Foreign recordings and dubbing charges are eliminated in the new pacts. Erpi's $100,000 minimum roy- alty requirement will be continued in the new agreements. Paramount Theatre Partners Plan Meet A three-day meeting of Paramount theatre operators and partners from all over the country will be held at the Roney- Plaza Hotel, Miami, March 18, 19 'and 20, immediately following the M.P.T.O.A. convention, which will be attended by Adolph Zukor and most of the Paramount theatre op- erators. Among the Paramount men who are expected to be on hand for both the M.P.T.O.A. convention and the (Continued on page 10) U. S. Firms May Quit Over Austrian Quota Unless the Austrian Government withdraws plans to increase present Kontingent regulations by 25 per cent, all major companies doing business in that country will close their offices, it was stated yesterday by a foreign (Continued on page 10) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, February 5, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 February 5, 1937 No. 30 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc.. Martin Quigley, president, Colvin Brown, vice-president and '"'publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at Rockefeller Center. New York. Telephone rt?ria 7-3100 Cable address: "Quigpubco, New fork " AH contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publicating Company, Inc. Address all correspond- ent to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- THriTHFS TEATRO AL DIA. IN1EKJNA- TIONAI ^MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Sts. : Boone Mancall Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave.. C. B. O Neill, WASHINGTON: Albee Building; Bertram F. Linz, Representative. . AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan 5: Philip de Schaep. Representative. BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 K&plar-u, Budapest II; Endre Hevesi, Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientes 2495; N. Bruski. R6Dr6Scntfltiv6 HELSINKI : Fredriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszlo. Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square, W. 1; Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address, Quigpubco. Lon- MELBOUBNE: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins -St. ; Cliff Holt, Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart, Representative. MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern. Rep- MONTEVIDEO: P. O. Box 664; Paul Bodo, Rep- resentative. PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre. Repre- sentative. PRAGUE: Uhelny trn 2, Prague 1; Harry Knopf. Representative. RIO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 3358; A. Weiss- inan. Representative. ROME: Viale Gorizia; Vittorio Malpassuti, Rep- resentative. SHANGHAI: Rooms 38-41. Capital Theatre Build- ing, 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler. Repre- SGntntivc. TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken; H. Tominaca, Representative. VIENNA: Neustiftgasse, 55, Vienna VII; Hans Lorant, Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Warner Branch Men To Hold 2 Meetings Warner branch managers in the midwest and south will hold two-day meetings in Chicago and Dallas, starting tomorrow, in connection with the Sears sales drive which terminates April 4. Leo Blank, district manager, will be in charge of the midwest sessions, which will be held at the Blackstone Hotel. Managers who will attend in- clude: Tom R. Gillham, Chicago; A. W. Anderson, Des Moines; Fred Greenberg, Indianapolis ; Bob Smith, Milwaukee; C. K. Olson, Omaha; Hall Walsh, St. Louis ; Rud Lohreiiz, Minneapolis. Carl Lesernian and Robert Mochrie, assistants to Gradwell L. Sears, gen- eral sales manager, will leave today for the Chicago conclaves. The Dallas meetings will be con- ducted by Fred Jack, district manager, at the company's exchange in that city. Sears will address the men by long distance telephone tomorrow morning. Among those who will attend the southern meet are Doak Roberts, Dallas ; Joe Vergesslich, Atlanta ; R. L. McCoy, Charlotte; William War- ner, Kansas City; Byron Adams, Memphis ; Luke Connor, New Or- leans; J. L. Rhode, Oklahoma City. Insiders' Outlook By RED KANN WHEN the theatre goes fitful, stops and then starts up again, the intervening lapses be- tween the new plays leave your drama critics with columns to fill and often little to fill them with. This may or may not ex- plain some of the mediocrity which finds its way to the lino- types, but it fails to relieve us of the impression that piffle is hav- ing a mighty day of it. Piffle is what it is. We insist we know, for, you see, we read our own stuff whenever it appears and that makes us an expert of sorts. Anyhow, to the point. . . . There, for instance, was Doug- las Gilbert, minus a play and fac- ing white space in his spot on the World-Telegram, comparing the play gauge of 1927 with 1937. Sixty- three plays adorned Broadway a decade ago. As of the day, not so far back, that he wrote, Gilbert traced twenty- four this year. "Hollywood, of course, has been the chief deroga- tory influence, but everyone knows that," ups Gilbert. Why derogatory? Because the salaries are fatter and the playwrights, as well as the actors, naturally susceptible ? Suppose they are, and they are, why not? Here we are asking questions instead of following our intention of an- swering them, even if it be that they answer themselves. . . . Then the mouse-like Brooks Atkinson, filling two columns, more or less, in his Sunday cor- ner of the Times' dramatic page. He is discussing the characteris- tics of first night audiences : ". . . many of the theatregoers in a typical first night audience are disinterested observers of the night's performance, but quite as many of them actively hope that the play succeeds. ... It is com- monly objected that first night audiences go to the theatre, not to see, but to be seen. This is patently true of a few stuffed shirts and snobs, who cannot be kept out of public places, and of some people who are ambitious, although the social significance of the average premiere is only a cut or two above Madison Square Garden. But the visibility of the first nighter between acts is very largely confined to a natural eagerness to see his friends. There is nothing invidious about that. As for the rudeness, the chronic late- coming, the surly indifference to the comfort and rights of other people, those lapses in good man- ners are characteristic of a callous minority. . . . Not that the spirit of a first night audience is docile or benevolent. To a certain ex- tent it is influenced by Broadway, | where gossip is virulent, in- cessant and bitter. . . . But it [the audience] is trained and electric; it dotes on good theatre, and the roar of 'bmvos' that salutes either a triumph or a sincere at- tempt to do something exalted is about the most tingling sound the night affords." In Atkinsonian words, the Times critic is scholarly, as usual. He is also largely indulg- ing in the well known business of gilding the lily. This job of spending night after night in the theatre in search of a good play is a fresh experience with us. But already we have learned to grow weary and vexed over the be- havior of what are all dressed up like gentlemen in white tie and tails stepping on our toes, then strolling on with an El Morocco look. We are tired of the shoving, the pushing, the cigarette ashes that fill our vest pockets and the general disregard of the rights of the other indi- vidual which characterize prac- tically all openings along the Main Stem. The first night audiences along Broadway are not polite. They are damned impolite and inconsiderate, to boot, and to ex- plain away the practice by char- acterizing it as a phenomena belonging to the few is simply not the case. At least, not our case. . . . T Atkinson believes, or so he said, most of the first nighters are "disinterested observers." If this is so, they are disinterested in what ought to be their better opinions and so their better judgments. It seems to be part of the premiere ritual to applaud and to bravo on the slightest of provocations when merit has lit- tle or nothing at all to do with the circumstance. Here is fact, not even an astute observation and this, alone, can explain the huzzahs let loose for indifferent performance, poor playwriting and general theatrical senility. This department recently let it- self go about the iniquities of the Hollywood preview. It now begs leave, not to apologize for the earlier bombardment, but to enlarge the horizon and throw in the first night along Broadway as well. They are both as phony as phony and, if you ask what of it, we reply nothing of it except that it makes us feel better to unload a burning chest. . . . Between the woman with the screwy headdress who parades the aisles and hopes she will be seen; the ex-actress who arrives in an ermine wrap and appears after the second act smothered in Sales Beating Last Season, Says Clark Kansas City, Feb. 4. — In 27 weeks of this season, the , domestic sales or- ganization of 20th Century-Fox sold more contracts than during all of last season, when a record of sales was established, John D. Clark, sales head, told 32 distribution executives here today as the company's two-day meet- ing got under way at the Hotel Muehlebach. This season's pictures already have established a new record for the num- ber of extended runs. "In breaking last season's record we inherit added re- sponsibilities," said Clark, in express- ing appreciation to his men for the job they have done. Clark, who has just ended 10 days of conferences with Darryl F. Zanuck on the coast, said the studio practically has completed its schedule of pictures for this sea- son. Among those attending the annual meeting are Clark, general sales mana- ger; W. J. Kupper, William Suss- man and W. C. Gehring, division man- agers; Clarence A. Hill, Edwin H. Hill and Theodore Shaw, assistant division managers ; William J. Clark, Movietone News and short subject sales manager; Martin Moskowitz, Clark's assistant; Nat B. Finkler, contract manager, and Jack Bloom, his assistant; Charles E. McCarthy, di- rector of advertising and publicity; Walter J. Hutchinson, foreign sales manager ; Felix Jenkins, secretary and general counsel ; Lee Balsly, ad sales director; Roger Ferri, editor of the Dynamo; Leslie Whelen and Harvey Day of Terrytoons ; Joseph J. Lee, New York sales manager; M. A. Levy, Ward Scott, George A. Roberts, Edgar Moss, H. J. Ballance, J. P. O'Loghlin, Tom Bailey and Herman Wobber, district managers, and Clyde W. Eckhardt, J. H. Lorentz, Lester Sturm, George T. Landis, George W. Fuller and Harry Buxbaum, branch managers. "Plough" at $73,500 In Music Hall Week "Plough and the Stars" garnered ap- proximately $73,500 at the Music Hall. It was replaced yesterday by "On the Avenue." Harry Charnas yesterday decided to hold "Great Guy" a sixth week at the Criterion, thereby setting back the opening of "Man of Affairs," G. B. picture, for the second time. Chase to Columbia Hollywood, Feb. 4.— -Charley Chase today was signed by Columbia for two shorts with options for more. Chase recently secured a release from his contract with Hal Roach. sables; the "my dears" and the darlings" that rend the lobby, the show in front of the proscenium is usually better than the proceed- ings on the other side. If ever we want to forget the film busi- ness, our choice — entirely com- mercial, you understand — will be a monopoly on cough medicine on an opening night franchise only. The grunts and the coughs, that indicate the audience's im- patience or its restlessness open up a field for another major American industry. . . . BALCONY SCENE FROM ROMEO and JULIET Have you heard the wonderful news! Hundreds of "Romeo and Juliet" Road-shows now playing from Coast to Coast! Results are so sensational that M-G-M has set 500 Advanced- price, Twice Daily dates already! And listen to this: OUT OF THE FIRST 200 COMPLETED ENGAGEMENTS 80 PER CENT TOP "GREAT ZIEGFELD" RECORDS! (Next from The Roadshow Company: "THE GOOD EARTH") MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, February 5, 1937 6 Trade Board Led Activity In Australia By CLIFF HOLT Melbourne, Jan. 11. (Air Mail Via London).— Among the most important developments in Australia during 1936 were the creation of the N.S.W. Quota Act and the Film Board of Trade. It is too early yet to feel the conse- quences of the quota legislation, but it is clear that it has not given rise to the growth of "mushroom" production companies as was freely anticipated by opponents of the measure when it was before Parliament. The absence of new companies has been a disappointing result of the quota, since there will not be nearly enough local films available to ful- fill requirements during the first year. Only the established companies, Cine- sound, National Prod., and Ex- peditionary Films, have been con- sistently producing, and their combined output will be inadequate. Some color was lent local production by the visits to the Commonwealth of the Holly- wood players Helen Twelvetrees, Charles Farrell and Victor Jory, each of whom made a feature here. Zane Grey, was another personality to visit Australia, and his Barrier Reef fea- ture, "White Death," is now being released. Trade Board a Conciliation Unit The Film Board of Trade includes representatives of distributors and ex- hibitors, and its purpose is to settle trade disputes which hitherto have re- mained unsettled or have been taken to the Government or to court. The board's machinery has not yet had sufficient time to function properly, but it has come into existence at a most opportune time and the industry is confident that a year from now the board will have been responsible for the correction of many disputes which in the absence of an intermediary might have been taken further. The past year has not made a great deal of difference to the position of American films on the Australian mar- ket. The censor's report for 1936 shows that of the total number of fea- tures released during the year, 353 out of 481 were American, comparing with 345 out of a total of 476 for the preceding term. The trade in general considers that the standard of quality has shown a definite improvement. It is true that many of these more artistic and in- tellectual productions have not all been box-office successes, but the im- pression they have left behind has been beneficial to the industry. Shirley the Best Draw The star ranking remains much the same. Shirley Temple has unques- tionably more commercial value than any other name. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers (as a team only), Norma Shearer, Clark Gable, Robert Ta3'lor, Charles Laughton and Robert Donat are the best bets. Among the year's biggest hits on this market were "Top Hat," "Show Boat," "The Great Ziegfeld," "Mutiny on the Bounty," "Magnificent Obses- sion," and the Shirley Temple films. The list of successes suggests that no particular formula can be applied to what constitutes the greatest po- tential hit on this market, although musicals which combine dramatic and comedy values seem to represent the type of film to which the exhibitor looks for biggest grosses. The distribution situation here re- mains unaltered except for develop- ments of an unimportant character. General Theatres Corp. is still the biggest buyer, and holds franchises with every company except M-G-M and Paramount. This also applies to the Hoyts suburban circuits of Sydney and Melbourne in which approximately 60 theatres are involved. There has been considerable conjecture as to whether at the expiration of the five- year working agreement between Hoyts and Union Theatres in 1937, the two circuits will again flare into open competition; but at this time the prospects of a further renewal seem most likely. From the economic point of view, the Commonwealth found itself in a much more favorable position at the end of 1936 than at the beginning. Tax reductions are forecast in the Federal and state budgets and alto- gether the outlook for 1937 is decidedly promising. There is a healthy spirit of optimism in financial circles, and while one would not predict that Aus- tralia is on the brink of a renewed era of prosperity, at least signs are not lacking that the profits of 1936 will be eclipsed by those of 1937. "Lloyds" Houston's Best Draw, $9,000 Houston, Feb. 4. — "Lloyds of Lon- don" finished first in a week of aver- age takes and wet weather, getting $9,000 at the Metropolitan. Average is $7,000. "Stowaway" at the Majestic hit par with $7,000, as did "Beloved Enemy" at Loew's State with a take of $7,000. Bank Night and an "appreciation gift" building to $1,900 brought Kirby grosses up $200 to a total of $5,200 for the week. The pictures were "The Jungle Princess," "Along Came Love" and "The Girl on the Front Page." The General Motors "Parade of Progress" gave some competition, but the chief opposition was rain all week and freezing temperatures. Total first run business was $28,250. Average is $26,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 28 : "THE JUNGLE PRINCESS" (Para.) KIRBY— (1,450), 15c-35c, 3 days. Gross: $2,000. (Average, 7 days, $5,000) "ALONG CAME LOVE" (Para.) KIRBY — (1,450), 15c-35c, 1 day. Bank Night. Gross: $1,200. (Average, 7 days, $5,000) "GIRL ON THE FRONT PAGE" (Univ.) KIRBY— (1,450), 15c-35c, 3 days. Gross: $2,000. (Average, 7 days, $5,000) "BELOVED ENEMY" (U.A.) LOEW'S STATE— (2,750), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $7,000) "STOWAWAY" (20th-Fox) MAJESTIC— (2,250), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $7,000) "LLOYDS OF LONDON" (20th-Fox) METROPOLITAN — (2,600), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $7,000) Rogers Gets State Post Tallahassee, Fla., Feb. 4. — Frank J. Rogers, vice-president of Sparks Theatres, has been appointed a member of the state racing commis- sion, by Gov. Fred P. Cone. Fred Kent of Jacksonville, a nephew of Cone and attorney for Sparks, is slated to be attorney for the state highway commission. Would Finance Bands Albany, Feb. 4. — Under the provisions of a bill intro- duced in the Senate by George F. Rogers, newly elected Democrat from Ro- chester, by occupation a gro- cer, the General Municipal Law is amended by providing for submission to voters of a question whether a tax not exceeding one mill per year be levied on each $1 of tax- able property for the purpose of providing a fund for local bands. Such a tax levied on all of the municipalities of the State would produce a fund of about $26,000,000. "Smart Girls" And Show Set Detroit Pace Detroit, Feb. 4. — "Three Smart Girls" and a vaudeville bill sent the Fox out into the lead by a big margin at $25,500. This was above normal by $5,500. "Rainbow on the River," also with a stage show, put the Michigan up to $23,600, which was $3,600 to the good. "Pennies from Heaven," in its third week, and "Man Who Lived Twice," in its second week, at the Adams put the take $1,500 over par for a total of $6,500, and "After the Thin Man" was strong at $12,600 in its second week at the United Artists. Total first run business was $78,- 100. Average is $70,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 28: "PENNIES FROM HEAVEN" (Col.) (Third week) •"MAN WHO LIVED TWICE" (Col.) (Second week) ADAMS— (1,770), 10c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $5,000) "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) FOX — (5,100), 15c-75c, 7 days. Stage: "King's Varieties," Gil Lamb, Nina Oliv- ette, The Manginis, Alexander & Santos, Klee-Ko, Royal Bagoteers, Barry Murkin, 3 Dancing Musketeers, 6 Queens of Har- mony. Gross: $25,500. (Average, $20,000) "RAINBOW ON THE RIVER" (Radio) MICHIGAN— (4,100), 15c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Don Redman orchestra, Buck & Bubbles, Ada Brown, 4 Stepp Bros., Edna Mae Waters, Louise McCarroll. Gross: $23,600. (Average, $20,000) "BULLDOG DRUMMOND ESCAPES" (Para.) "THE PLOT THICKENS" (Radio) STATE— (3,000), 10c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,400. (Average, $5,000) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS— (2,070), 15c-65c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $12,600. (Average, $10,000) "PLOUGH AND THE STARS" (Radio) MADISON— (2,000), 15c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $10,000) Shift Zoning for House Akron, 0., Feb. 4.— City Council has approved legislation revising zon- ing restrictions in W. Market St., where a $150,000 de luxe film house is planned by Cleveland interests. The house will seat 1,500, and is expected to be ready next summer. Pattinson Promoted London, Feb. 4. — J. Pattinson, Birmingham branch manager has been promoted to branch supervisor for 20th Century-Fox. Business, Waring Lead Philadelphia Philadelphia, Feb. 4. — With "Mind Your Own Business" and Fred Waring and his band as the attrac- tion, the Earle led the way with a $19,500 gross. "Three Smart Girls" also caught on at the Stanley and will stay for a sec- ond week after grossing $17,000 on its first. "Men Are Not Gods" got a neat $11,000 for its first week at the Aldine, and "Camille" took $19,000 for its last eight days at the Boyd. Also slightly topping the average was "God's Country and the Woman" and the stage show at- the Fox, which drew $15,000. On the whole, the week maintained the profitable pace of the last few months. Business has been consistently on the upgrade. Total first run business was $95,200. Average is $83,560. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 28 : "MEN ARE NOT GODS" (U. A.) ALDINE— (1,300), 40c-55c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average. $8,160) "GO WEST, YOUNG MAN" (Para.) ARCADIA— (600), 25c-40c-5Oc, 7 days, 2nd run. Gross: $1,800. (Average, $2,400) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) BOYD— (2,400), 40c-55c, 8 days, 2nd week. Gross: $19,000. (Average, 7 days, $14,000) "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS" (Para.) EARLE— (2,000), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Stage: Waring's Pennsylvanians, band and revue. Gross: $19,500. (Average, $14,000) "GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN" (W.B.) FOX — (3,000), 40c-55c-65c, 7 days. Stage: Salici Puppets, Steve Evans, Dick, Don and Dinah. Gross: $15,000. (Average, $14,000) "THAT GIRL FROM PARIS" (Radio) KARLTON— (1,000), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days, 2nd run. Gross: $2,700. (Average, $4,000) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) KEITH'S— (2,000), 30c-40c-50c, 7 days. 2nd run. Gross: $2,900. (Average, $4,000) "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) STANLEY— (3,700), 40c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $17,000. (Average, $14,000) "CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA" (20th-Fox) STANTON— (1,700), 30c-40c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $6,300. (Average, $7,000) Ohio Censors Make 28 Cuts in January Columbus, Feb. 4. — Ohio censors reviewed a total of 502 reels in Jan- uary, and ordered 28 eliminations. Five reels were rejected during the week ending Jan. 8. This compares with 756 reels re- viewed in December, and 42 elimina- tions ordered, and 611 reels reviewed, with 16 eliminations in Jan., 1936. Snow Hits Seattle Takes Seattle, Feb. 4. — The third heavi- est snowfall in the city's history, top- ping the coldest and snowiest January in 21 years, hit theatre grosses last week. Seattle schools were dismissed for the first time in more than 15 years because of snow, and automobile and street car traffic was disrupted. Retitle Fairbanks Film London, Jan. 24. — Criterion has changed the title of the latest Doug- las Fairbanks, Jr., film from "Thief in the Night" to "When Thief Meets Thief." MOTION PICTURE DAILY MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Borderland" ( Sherman-Paramount) Hollywood, Feb. 4. — This latest Hopalong Cassidy film has concen- trated drama and is worthy action entertainment. Although romance is ignored, the film has stirring heart interest. It should appeal to general audiences as well as Cassidy fans. To trap a Mexican bandit, Stephen Morris, who is ravaging the border country, William Boyd, Texas Ranger, consents to his superior's plan to be dismissed from the force in disgrace. The reason for the action is kept secret from Boyd's mates, Jimmy Ellison and George Hayes, who refuse to accept his disgrace. Their efforts to help him result only in interference as he tries to work his way into the confidence of Morris, posing as a village half-wit. Ellison is shot as a result of his efforts to keep Boyd from going rene- gade. He is nursed back to health by Nora Lane as Boyd is half accepted by the suspicious Morris. As a ruthless member of the plundering gang, Boyd becomes con- vinced Morris is the mysterious bandit and leads him into a trap which brings about an alliance between the Rangers and the Mexican secret service. The capture of the bandit and the revelation that Boyd is a hero furnish plenty of exciting action. Boyd's part calls for more expressive dramatic acting than his previous Hopalong roles. He makes the part convincingly real. Ellison does not have as much to do as usual, but handles his part creditably as the hero- worshipping boy torn between doubt and trust. Hayes accounts for a natural comedy role and Morris satisfies as the menace. Nate Watt's direction is high class. His intelligent handling of his players and story material and his spotting of action sequences keeps the show moving at a lively pace. Archie Stout's photography adds much to the picture. It is based on Clarence Mulford's story and an excellent screenplay by Harrison Jacobs. Producetion Code Seal No. 2,970. Running time, 75 minutes. "G." Looking 'Em Over "Head Over Heels in Love" (G. B.) A lightly entertaining and engaging comedy romance with accent on music and especially Jessie Matthews, this film should be genuinely enjoyable to almost any type of audience. Lacking the elaborate spec- tacles which have featured previous Matthews films which have come to this county, this nevertheless, has marked comedy emphasis, and the star once again demonstrates her proficiency as a dancer, popular singer and actress. Of the four songs which feature the film, especially the title song, ''Head Over Heels in Love," at least two of them appear to be headed for the audience humming division. They were done by Gordon Revel. Adapted from a play by Francois de Croisset by Fred Thompson and Dwight Taylor, the story finds Miss Matthews, a Paris cabaret enter- tainer, meeting Louis Borell and Robert Flemyng. Flemyng, shy radio engineer, falls in love with her, but is beaten out by his fast-talking roommate, an actor in his own opinion. But when he meets an American film star, he walks out on the girl who, through Flemyng, is successful as a radio star. The two are engaged, Borell returns and is about to take her away from him, when Flemyng, a radio invention accepted, takes her out of his rival's arms. Situations in the cabaret, broadcasting studio and the like afford Miss Matthews ample opportunity to display her unquestioned talents. It is her picture all the way and she makes the most of it to provide a lively, tuneful piece of entertainment. Sonnie Hale directed. Reviewed without production code seal. Running time, 87 min- utes. "G." Friday, February 5, 1937 D. C. Theatres Under Fire Again in House Washington, Feb. 4. — Local the- atres today were under fire from two sources, with a bill in Congress re- stricting ticket "scalpers" to a five per cent service charge sponsored by Representative Coffee of Washington, while Congressman Schulte of In- diana planned to seek a house inves- tigation to determine whether fire rules were being observed. Schulte, a member of the District of Columbia committee, announced he would bring up the matter at the com- mittee meeting tomorrow. Overcrowding in local theatres, at one time a pet subject of former Rep- resentative Blanton of Texas, comes up from time to time in Congress. The Coffee bill would cover all amusements, including boxing and wrestling. It would prohibit the sale of tickets by brokers and others at more than five per cent over the box-office price under penalty of a fine of from $100 to $500 for each offense or imprisonment for 10 to 30 days, or both. Bissell, Columbia, Quits at Cleveland Cleveland, Feb. 4. — Holbrook Bis- sell, Columbia branch manager for the past six years, has resigned. Carl Shalit, district manager with head- quarters in Detroit, is temporarily in charge of the local office. A successor to Holbrook Bissell will be appointed next week, it was stated at Columbia's home office yes- terday. Nate Spingold, who flew to the coast last week with Abe Mon- tague, returned yesterday by plane. Montague is due Monday or Tues- day. Marion Avery to Columbia Marion Avery, who has been with Paramount for the past six years, will join Columbia on Feb. 15 as head of the play department. Will Replace Hawkins Mrs. Beatrice Kaufman, eastern story editor for Samuel Goldwyn, will fill in the spot which becomes vacant today with resignation of William W. Hawkins, Jr., her assistant. Hawkins, after a week's vacation, becomes east- ern story editor for Columbia, suc- ceeding William C. Lengel, recently resigned. Refinance Bronx Theatre The first mortgage on a theatre and property at 204th St. and Perry Ave., Bronx, held by the Bankers Trust Co., has been refinanced by Roeser- Feltner, Inc. The property consists of eight stores and a 1,000-seat theatre and rents for $35,000. Balsdon "Unchanged" Los Angeles, Feb. 4. — The condi- tion of George Balsdon, injured last week in an auto crash, is "unchanged" according to a bulletin issued by St. Joseph's Hospital, Stockton, where the National Theatres booker is confined. FWC Meet Ends Today Los Angeles, Feb. 4. — Executive meetings of Fox West Coast are scheduled to close tomorrow. Gen- eral operations in all circuits and branches are being discussed. Sets London 5-Day Week London, Jan. 27. — Radio will in- stitute the five-day week as soon as practicable, according to Ralph Han- bury, managing director. Columbia, Warners and First National already have placed the plan in effect. M-G-M to Pinewood? London, Feb. 4. — Pinewood is un- derstood waging a keen tussle to house M-G-M's British production ac- tivities, although the general impres- sion has been Amalgamated has held the inside track. 7 Central States Net $56,343,000 in '35 Washington, Feb. 4 — Receipts of 5,064 amusement places in the seven West North Central States in 1935 totaled $56,343,000, U. S. Census Bu- reau preliminary figures indicate. Missouri's 1,212 theatres had re- ceipts of $19,217,000; Minnesota's 871 had $11,881,000; Iowa's 1,016 had $8,502,000; Kansas' 774 had $7,740,- 000; Nebraska's 618, $4,789,000; South Dakota's 306, $2,267,000, and North Dakota's 217, $1,947,000. No separate figures were issued for film theatres. Over the area named average em- ployment for the year was 15,276 per- sons, with a total payroll of $11,715,- 000, of which $1,356,000 was for part- time labor. Four thousand seven hun- dred fifty-eight proprietors and firm members were active in the conduct of their business. Damage in Evansville Evansville, Ind., Feb. 4. — The new Washington here, recently opened by Oscar Fine, was completely submerged by the Ohio River flood. Fine also operates the American, which was al- most touched by the water. The Premier management removed the seats in that house and placed them on scaffolds, but the water cov- ered them. Some seats in the Majestic and Victory were also removed. The Ohio, taking its name from the river, got plenty from the stream. The Grand as well as other houses here fared well by having only a little water in their basements. Terre Haute Benefits Draw Terre Haute, Ind., Feb. 4. — Relief shows staged by several houses here were better attended than were an- ticipated. All houses passed the mark reported by the managements. The money was turned over to the Red Cross for flood sufferers. Fuesslein Services Today Funeral services for Ernest A. Fuesslein, U. A. accountant, who died of a heart ailment Wednesday, will be held today at Roemell's Funeral Church in Brooklyn. Burial will be Saturday at 2 P. M. Fuesslein had been with U. A. for the past 10 years. He was 61. Surviving are Mrs. Fuess- lein and two children. J. R. Sanderson Dead Kansas City, Feb. 4. — J. R. San- derson, 50 years old, for the past 15 years president of the stagehands Local No. 31, is dead of haart trouble. He had been an electrician for Loew's Midland, first run house, since the the- atre was opened. "Stage" Editor Dies London, Jan. 27. — Lionel Carson, veteran editor of The Stage and a figure in the theatrical world of Lon- don for more than 20 years, is dead. Swindell Merritt Passes High Point, N. C, Feb. 4. — Swin- dell Merritt, 32, local theatre man- ager, died suddenly of a heart attack. Mrs. Johnson Gets Estate Mrs. Osa Johnson, widow of Mar- tin Johnson, who was killed in an air- plane crash last month, is the princi- pal legatee of the explorer and lec- turer. RADIO MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, February 5, 1937 Seek to Send Power by Air To Steamship (Continued from page 1) frequency tubes to be utilized in the demonstrations, Roberts said. The tests made between the two laborato- ries have been successful, he said, due to favorable climatic conditions. "The current is sent out as A. C. current and is received as direct cur- rent," Roberts states. Eight electrical engineers, including Roberts and Marion Gregory of Brentwood, are working in the labora- tory here. G. P. Brailo of the Am- torg Trading Corp and a commission of Japanese railroad experts were re- cent visitors at the plant. Hampered, But Operating Cincinnati, Jan. 31. — Two floors of the building housing the main studios of WLW and WSAI, both Crosley stations, were burned, but the studios themselves were not destroyed and both stations are continuing to broad- cast, although under reduced wattage. There have been no commercial or sustaining programs over WHAS, Louisville, or WSM, Nashville, for several days. These stations are part of the volunteer intercity network, in- cluding nearly 100 others, formed for the flood emergency, to broadcast flood and relief bulletins on a 24-hour basis. Members of the WHAS staff are virtually marooned in the studio. Bank Show Goes State-Wide San Francisco, Feb. 2. — "House of Melody," Bank of America's week- ly music half-hour originating here, has been shifted from a two-city NBC Red hook-up to a split Blue which gives it statewide coverage. Previously heard at 9.30 p.m. P.S.T. Fridays over KPO, San Francisco, and KFI, Los Angeles, the new align- ment puts "House of Melody" on at 9.30 P.M. P.S.T. over KGO, San Francisco, KECA, Los Angeles, KFSD, San Diego, KFBK, Sacra- mento, KWG, Stockton, KMJ, Fresno, and KERN, Bakersfield. The four are McClatchy stations. Meredith Wilson and his orchestra are heard on the program, with John Nesbitt commentator. Theatreman on Air Kansas City, Feb. 3. — John Mc- Manus, manager of Loew's Midland, has returned to the air over KXBY, with his weekly 15-minute broadcasts of film chatter. The Friday night programs (8:45) deal largely with M-G-M, United Artists and Columbia screen personalities, the material for which McManus garners from the studios and trade papers. The pro- gram opens with a musical number, "I'd Like to Be in Pictures," a theme song, and has a melody interlude of a popular song. The current Midland offering is plugged. McManus conducted a similar broadcast over the same station dur- ing the past two seasons. WHIO Raises $16,000 Fund Dayton, Feb. 4— WHIO to date has raised $16,003 for the flood relief fund of the American Red Cross. i Radio Personals ► DAVE GREGORY, ex of the news- papers, is now a member of the Taplinger publicity staff . . . Ruth Taylor of the same office now back at her desk after a siege in the hos- pital . . . Chick Webb's orchestra will broadcast a half-hour program to England today at 4 P. M., E.S.T. via short wave relay to BBC from the studios of CBS. Ella Fitzgerald will sing with the orchestra . . . Dave Rubinoff will receive the Pilot "Award of Merit" on his CBS Chevrolet pro- gram this Sunday . . . Ahlie Roed will be Louis Katzman's guest on WINS tonight . . . Also on WINS tonight, King Features will present Murray Goodman in a sports talk. + Abe Schecter's special events staff at NBC will be augmented by three new members . . . Dick Hyman, Kings Features promotion ace and author of "It's the Law," will discuss use- less laws which exist on the statute books of the country on Phil Lord's "We, the People" program this Sun- day. Hyman, incidentally, is a dead ringer for George Raft . . . Speaking of Phil Lord, a large percentage of his mail is still addressed to "Seth Parker," proving the listeners don't forget as easily as some agencies maintain . . . + Norris West, announcer on the Philadelphia Orchestra program, is down with grippe . . . Horace Feyhl, previously heard on the network, "Pa- geant of Youth" program begins a new series on WCAU, Philadelphia, shortly . . . Harry Hirshfield returns to WMCA in another series of mid- night broadcasts beginning Feb. 8 . . . The Maple City Four, now in Holly- wood working on "Get Along Little Dogie," will be piped in on the Alka- Seltzer "Barn Dance" tomorrow night . . . George Jessel has been added as guest on next week's "Showboat" program (Feb. 11) ... Josephine An- toine has been set as Ed Wynn's guest Feb. 13 . . . Harry Richman will be Phil Baker's guest Feb. 14 . . . "Modern Masters," CBS musical pro- gram, fades after the tomorrow night's broadcast . . . Mathew Crow- ley has been added to the cast of "Myrt and Marge" . . . Bob Pastor has been added to the Shell Show's guest artist list for to- morrow night's broadcast . . . An- nouncer William Herlihy of WNAC, Boston, in town visiting his brother, Announcer Ed Herlihy of NBC . . . Ralph Kirberry's plane is on display at the Aviation Show . . . "My Mary- land" will not be Jessica Dragonette's vehicle Wednesday, Feb. 10. Instead, Miss Dragonette will offer "Countess Maritza." . . . + Hollywood, Feb. 4. — Lenox R. Lohr, president of NBC, will arrive in Hollywood Friday from San Fran- cisco and is scheduled to leave for New York about Sunday. . . . Clarence Muse, NBC artist, showed he was as honest as they make them when he returned a $500 check which he found and which was signed by Charlie Mor- rison, mythical mayor of Palm Springs. . . . Ed Cohan, chief engineer for CBS, is in San Francisco. He is due at the Hollywood studios for busi- ness conferences before returning to New York. . . . Arthur Church of KMBC and Moe Meyers of KOIN are here for coVifabs with Donald W. Thornburgh at CBS. . . . Glick in James Post Job James Post, radio director of Con- solidated Radio Corp., has been re- placed by Clifford Glick, formerly of the NBC sales department, it became known yesterday. Post is now en route to Florida where he will vaca- tion. Glick joined Consolidated some six months ago. He will be assisted in his new post by Margaret Flynn, who was also his assistant at NBC. Iodent to 8 More The Iodent Co., sponsors of "Dress Rehearsal," Sunday 11:30 A. M. to noon program on the NBC-Blue, adds eight stations beginning this Sunday. They are KVOD, Denver ; KLO, Og- den; KGO; San Francisco; KFSD, San Diego ; KECA, Los Angeles ; KEG, Portland; KJR, Seattle; KGA, Spokane. Maxon, Inc., is the agency. Hawkins to Leave NBC Stewart Hawkins, assistant to Bertha Brainard, head of NBC com- mercial programs department, leaves the organization next week. Hawkins is a radio veteran and was one of the first radio editors on the New York Herald-Tribune. More Colonels Contribute Yesterday's Kentucky colonel con- tributions for WHN's flood relief funds came from Colonels George R. Fitts, Sam Pinanski, M. J. Mullins, Max A. Cohn, N. L. Manheim, M'. A. Schlesinger, and Len Cohen. To Dramatize Cohan-Harris A dramatization of the famous thea- trical partnership of George M. Cohan and Sam Harris, now reunited after a separation of more than 16 years, will be broadcast over WJZ and the available stations of the NBC-Blue network Sunday from 8 to 8:30 P. M., E.S.T. Cohan and Harris will par- ticipate in the broadcast. John B. Kennedy will be the narrator. Cohan and Harris broke their part- nership during the Equity strike of 1916. They remained bitter enemies until a few months ago when they patched their feud to co-produce "Fulton of Oak Falls," which opens at the Morosco Feb. 10. Sue on Radio Patents Suit was filed yesterday in U. S. District Court for $10,000 by the Ha- zeltine Corp. and the Latour Corp. against the Halson Radio Mfg. Co. The plaintiffs claim ownership of cer- tain patents used in radio receivers and say that on Sept. 30, 1933, they granted a license to the defendant cor- poration for the use of those patents until Dec, 1937, for which they were to receive three per cent of the net sales price or a minimum of $10,000. They allege that the defendants failed to pay anything in 1936 or to render statements showing their sales. Gordon Mills in New Job Gordon Mills, guest tours manager at NBC, transfers to the sales de- partment, effective immediately, and will be replaced by his assistant, Charles Thurman. Mutual Broadcasts Flint Strike Riot The first on-the-scene broadcast from the automobile strike area was carried over the Mutual network yes- terday afternoon from Flint, Mich., through the facilities of CKLW, Mutual station in Detroit-Windsor. A mobile unit stationed near the Fish- er Body Plant No. 2 and commanded by Announcer Frank Gentile, fed the tense scene of the milling strikers, strike sympathizers, and the opposing Na- tional Guardsmen to the listeners. The broadcast came as a surprise. The Mutual stations were not notified of the plan until almost 4 P. M., E.S.T. yesterday, one half hour before the program went on the air. It is not known at the moment whether Mutual or the other national webs, NBC and CBS, will offer further strike-area broadcasts. "Pick and Pat" to Rest "Pick and Pat" leave their CBS "Pipe Smoking Time" program for a two-week vacation following Monday's broadcast. They will be replaced by Tito Guizar. Huston Series Impends CBS has admitted that Walter Huston had auditioned for a client who has booked time on the CBS net- work. All-Negro Show for NBC Hollywood, Feb. 4. — NBC will broadcast a flood relief program con- sisting of all-negro artists over the Blue network Saturday night, 9:30 to 10 P. M., P.S.T. Clarence Muse, originator of the idea will be m. c. Others scheduled to appear include Bill Robinson, Ethel Waters, Hall Johnson Choir and Louise Beavers. Hadek, Baker to "Barretts" Show Hollywood, Feb. 4. — Frank Hadek's orchestra and Kenny Baker, vocalist, will participate in Jack Benny's humor- ous version of "Barretts of Wimpole St." which will be shortwaved to England next Monday. Wall Street Losses Spot Board; Para. Off 3% Columbia Columbia, pfd. . . Consolidated Consolidated, pfd. Eastman Kodak . Eastman, pfd Gen. T. Equip. .. Loew's, Inc Paramount Paramount 2 pfd.. Pathe Film RKO 20th Century -Fox 20th Century, pfd Warner Bros. ... Net High Low Close Change . 37 36J4 3654 - 34 . 4554 45^4 4554 + ^ • 5/8 5 5 - Vt . 17 17 17 •174J4 173J4 17454 + 'A .16034 16054 16034 . 33 325/6 3254 78 7534 7654 -134 • 2754 27 2754 .191 19054 19054 -334 • 24% 245/4 2434 - 54 ■ 9Vs 9J4 954 -Vi . ■ 854 m 854 ■ 367/s 36?4 3654 — H ■ 4554 45?4 4554 — Vi • iSH 1554 1554 - 54 Curb Gains Net High Low Close Change . m 354 334 + Vs . i 1 1 • 254 2J4 254 ■ 2154 2154 21% + v> . 4/ 4?4 43/8 Fractional Bond Changes Net High Low Close Change Loew's 354s '46. ...IOO14 10054 IOO36 + yt Paramount B'way 3s '55 74K 74J4 7454 — 54 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 IOO54 10036 100% RKO 6s '41 pp.... 120 120 120 — }4 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 9934 9954 9954 — 54 (Quotations at close of Feb. 4) Radio Acceptance Columbia BROADCASTING SYSTEM • INC WESTERN OFFICE 4 I O NORTH MICHIGAN AV E N U E CHICAGO WHITEHALL 6000 January 21, 1937. Mr. Maurice Kann, Motion Picture Daily, Rockefeller Center, New York City. Dear Mr. Kann: Now that you have been offering a radio page each day in "Motion Picture Daily," it occurs to me that you may possibly be interested in knowing what sort of an impression it is making on us here in the Chicago office of CBS. I can assure you that the page is well edited and that it contains much pertinent material that is timely and interesting. The material is always newsy and definitely informative. I think you are doing a grand job on it and hope that it will continue to be a terse but thorough coverage of what is going on in broadcasting. Cordially, Prank L. Rand, Director Western Division Publicity Dept. Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc. ROCKEFELLER CENTER NEW YORK MOTION PICTURE DAILY 10 Union Deals Here Will Be Signed Today (Continued from page 1) per cent and a reduction of working hours from 84 to 70 per week. Harry Brandt, president of the I.T.O.A., said recently that the change will cost the organization's members an aggregate of $400,000 additionally annually in the cost of operation. Although the basic agreement be- tween 306 and the I.T.O.A. had been in readiness for signing for several weeks, the delay was occasioned by the inability of 306 and Allied to agree on terms of their agreement. The chief difficulty arose over the status of unemployed members of Allied. Local 306, it was understood, was unwilling to take the unemployed Al- lied men into the organization as members, but was willing to place them on a preferred list. Final con- clusion of the entire agreement was dependent upon a settlement of that situation, since the I.T.O.A. refused to sign one agreement without the other having been concluded. Both are being signed at the same time. I.A.T.S.E. Approves The negotiations have been carried out under the sponsorship of a survey board appointed some months ago by Mayor LaGuardia, of which Samuel Lewisohn is chairman, and Ben Golden chief intermediary between the board and the parties involved. The I. A. T.S.E., parent organization of 306 and an A.F.L. affiliate, has approved the agreement. Another element of the union situa- tion in New York, that involving the Empire Union, which is confined al- most exclusively to Brooklyn, has not been considered up to this time, but it is anticipated that it will be taken up following the institution of the present agreement. An attempt on the part of the Harris circuit last week to prevent the con- clusion of the agreement by injunc- tion, is still pending. A temporary injunction was vacated early this week in the N. Y. Supreme Court, and a hearing has been set for Feb. 10. Pick Chicago Union Slate Chicago, Feb. 4. — All the present officers of the operators' union were renominated today and will be re- elected March 4. Thev were : Peter Shayne, president ; Glen Sweeney, vice-president ; Frank Clifford, busi- ness manager; J. P. Smith, assistant business manager ; Neil Bishop, sec- retary-treasurer. Portland Confers on Wages Portland, Feb. 4.— T. J. Parker is holding conferences with operators and other theatre unions on a demand for restoration of the 10 per cent pay cuts which went into effect a year ago. If raises are granted it i= expected an effort will be made to lift admission scales to the 3Sc-40c-5Sc level. Retitle Molnar Story Hollywood. Feb. 4— "Once There Was a Ladv" is the final title of M-G-M's "The Girl from Trieste," Ferenc Molnar's play. Cheap Films Not Planned, States Korda (Continued from page 1) and brought in £180,000 and the first six pictures made by London Films grossed over £1,000,000 and were still earning money. While 3,000 were employed at Den- ham last summer, the present total of 1,400, in the absence of so many visit- ing units, was adequate for require- ments ; the cuts affected 400, including all the foreign experts, whose engage- ment he defended because they were needed to train the British personnel. Korda gave the figure of £1,200,000 ($6,000,000) as the investment in the six London films just completed: "Fire Over England," "Knight With- out Armour," "Elephant Boy," "Troopship," "Dark Journey," and "Storm in a Teacup." His backers, he declared, are con- fident, in spite of losses inevitable in building up a new industry. Korda will make 12 pictures for world distribution by United Artists this year, the second of his 10-year U.A. contract. The total is double the first year's output. Sixty per cent of the United Artists' product during the last 12 months was composed of Brit- ish films. Paramount Theatre Partners Plan Meet (Continued from page 1) company meetings in addition to Zukor, are E. J. Sparks, S. A. Lynch, Karl Hoblitzelle, E. V. Richards, Frank G. Walker, Hunter Perry, John Balaban, Vincent McFaul, Joseph Clemmons, Saul Gordon, R. J. O'Don- nell, Jules Rubin, Tracy Barham, George Trendle, Sam Pinansky, John Friedl, Harry Nace, Harry David, Joseph Cooper, Pat McGee, John Ford, M. A. Lightman, E. C. Beatty, Robert Wilby, Ed Kincey, Mar- tin Mullin, A. H. Blank, Arthur Lucas, William Jenkins and Y. Frank Freeman, Paramount vice- president in charge of theatres. Ad- ditional home office executives prob- ably will attend. Loew's Set Dividends Loew's directors have declared a quarterly dividend of 50 cents on the common in addition to an extra of . 50 cents, pavable March 31 to stock- holders of record as of March 12. David Bernstein, vice-president and treasurer, is en route to Miami and will make a number of stopovers en route, visiting Loew theatres. He will be gone over a month. Harry Bern- stein of the real estate denartment left yesterday for Miami and is due back March 1. Bader Turns Author London, Jan. 30.- — David A. Bader is author of "Three Bad Men" in col- laboration with David Evans. E. Howard Alexander, managing director of Alexander Film Prod., is expected to make it for National Provincial release. Ralph Spence will do the script and Mel Brown will direct. $497,257,013 Amusement securities list- ed in the N. Y. Stock Ex- change had a paper value of $497,257,013 on Feb. 1. Average market value j>er share was $31.31. Masses A Censor, Review Board Told (Continued from page 1) self-appointed bodies, Miss Buck de- clared. During the session in the evening at New York University, in connec- tion with the showing of the 1912 re- lease, "Queen Elizabeth," and the 1937 picture, "The Maid of Salem," Terry Ramsaye, editor of Motion Picture Herald, stressed that faith in the in- dustry expressed by Adolph Zukor throughout his 25 years of activity in it. Speaking of the high opinion Zukor always has maintained of the industry, Ramsaye said, "He has al- ways believed that its tomorrow would be bigger and better, and he has al- ways meanwhile been busy doing something to make that belief into a fact. . . . He has always been de- manding for the screen the best in talent and all else the world afforded, and always has been ready to pay for it, convinced that the consumer would justify the lavishness. "He has stayed by his company, his job, his work — and there has never been enough alarum to make him sell the motion picture short." Other speakers yesterday included J. Searle Dawley, first director of the old Edison Co., Harry Evans, eastern talent scout for Universal, Lowell Thomas, of Fox Movietone News, and Albert S. Howson of Warners. Further discussions of various phases of screen activity will occupy the con- ference today. U. S. Firms May Quit Over Austrian Quota (Continued from page 1) executive. Columbia has no branch in that country. A decision by Austria is expected later in the month. Distributors con- tend that under existing regulations offices cannot operate profitably and if the new 25 per cent Kontingent in- crease goes through there is no other alternative but to withdraw. Increase Effective Feb. 7 Vienna, Feb. 4. — The Ministry of Commerce today set Feb. 7 as the date when a 25 per cent increase in Kontingents will go into effect. The ruling affects American pictures only, it was said. German films are im- ported tax free, according to a law passed some time ago, while the French Government has a private agreement with the Austrian Govern- ment banning Kontingents. O'Connor Is Promoted Jerry O'Connor has been promoted from the non-theatrical department of G. B. to a sales post in the Cleve- land branch by George W. Weeks. G. B. sales manager. The non-theatrical department will continue under the supervision of Wil- liam Berry, who has just received 17 new subjects from abroad. These are designed for visual education use. Friday, February 5, 1937 Alien Actor Bill Facing Opposition (Continued from page 1) based upon the fear that despite a pro- vision that as many admissions may be granted artists from any country as are granted to Americans who are permitted to take professional engage- ments therein, the bill will act to bar entirely the admission of foreign per- formers, even in the face of further provisions that temporary or perma- nent admission may be granted to art- ists upon findings by the Secretary of Labor that persons of equal talent cannot be secured from among unem- ployed citizens or lawful permanent resident aliens. The joker in the bill, as seen by the producers, lies in a provision that the question of availability here of per- formers is to be determined by the Secretary of Labor with "the cooper- ation and counsel of American" organ- izations and associations of actors, vo- cal musicians, operatic singers, solo dancers, solo instrumentalists, or or- chestra conductors." Experience in the past, it is said, has shown that unions and similar or- ganizations seldom are willing to ad- mit that they cannot provide from their own ranks persons of necessary ability to fill any position. Kalmus Contradicts Tricolor's Letters (Continued from page 1) of a suit filed against Technicolor some time ago and which will be given a hearing next month. Infringement on a duplex camera patent is alleged. Kalmus states that Lyon and Lyon of Los Angeles, and Roberts, Cushman and Woodberry of Boston, attorneys for Technicolor, have advised Tri- color that the patent under considera- tion contains no valid claim which is infringed by any camera ever made or used by Technicolor. "In my opinion," says Kalmus, "neither producers, distributors, exhib- itors, Technicolor nor anyone else has anything to fear and Technicolor's at- torneys advise me that in their opin- ion notification of exhibitors by Tri- color appears to amount to unwar- ranted intimidation." Kalmus further asserts that the claims of the patent in the suit cover only the construction of a camera; therefore, even assuming that the claims are valid and infringed, exhibi- tors of films in Technicolor are not liable for infringement directly or in- directly. Air Shipments Gaining Film shipments by air in 1936 in- creased 130 per cent over 1935, ac- cording to the current issue of Express Messenger, official publication of the Railway Express Agency. With 216 cities available by airlines, film ship- ments from exchanges to theatres and return account for much of the in- crease noted. Newsreel use of the airlines, as well as shipments of nega- tives from Hollywood to New York, also increased during the year. Cinema Club to Dance Boston, Feb. 4. — Wednesday eve- ning, March 16, will see the initial gathering of the newly incorporated Cinema Club of Boston, in the form of a dinner-dance at the Hotel Statler. MOTION PICTURE DAILY A Wire to the Shuberts (Continued from page 1) our own to the Shuberts, not via Western Union which anybody can do but via Motion Picture Daily which anybody can't do. Here it is: Messrs. Shubert, New York City. Trip from Rockefeller Build- ing to Imperial safe although taxicab hazard considerable. Almost fell asleep during first act frederika woke up during second after much ef- fort and stuck it out during third. Don't take it to heart however. It's just BECAUSE WE THINK OPERETTAS SHOULD HAVE GONE OUT WITH THE DEPRESSION OR EVEN EARLIER. YOUR SHOW O.K. AS ROUTINE AFFAIR WITH ITS BOY NAMED GOETHE LOSING GIRL NAMED FREDERIKA FOR THREE WHOLE STANZAS. MUSIC BY Le- HAR PLEASANT BUT NOT DISTIN- GUISHED. Dennis King cut fine and dashing figure and voice was pleasing yet not what it used to be. Helen Gleason as frederika perfunctorily pleas- ANT. Ernest Truex good as Ernest Truex but singularly unfunny as Lenz. Costuming gorgeous and settings filled optics. Advising Hollywood Friday morning your musical would make good film if any- BODY wants operettas. We don't but it's one man opinion after all. Incidentally tell Gre- neker he could have put us somewhere besides last row although it did help dodge crowd as final curtain dropped. Friday, February 5, 1937 i Purely Personal ► ARTHUR J. KELLY, accom- panied by Mrs. Kelly, leaves Johannesburg today for New York, with his only stop London, where he will confer with Maurice Silver- stone, chairman of United Artists, Ltd., and Alexander Korda. The Kellys left this city last September and reached South Africa via South America. • David J. Brown, former counsel for the N. Y. State Mortgage Commis- sion, yesterday became a member of the firm of Hirsh, Newman, Reass & Becker, familiar to the industry as attorneys for William Fox. • Nate J. Blumberg and Max Fel- lerman are due from Kansas City tomorrow, but they may make stop- overs en route which will delay their arrival until Monday. • Dorothy Peterson, who recently completed a role in "Two Shall Meet" for Grand National, was guest of honor at the Ampa luncheon yester- day. • Charles Farrell departed for Palm Springs yesterday and will re- turn to England in a month to appear in a number of British films. • Paul Lazarus of United Artists to- day sails on the Statendam for a West Indies cruise. A. H. Schwartz will be on the same boat. • Marvin Gosch, handling radio pub- licity for Warners, will arrive from Hollywood today for talks with Her- man Starr. • Harry A. Ross, head of Ross Fed- eral Checking Service, will leave this morning for a Miami vacation. • George Jessel is on his way east for rehearsals of a stage show sched- uled to open March 8. • Robert Andrews' original story, "Flight from Glory," has been pur- chased by Radio. • Rudolph Friml's and Otto Har- bach's "Katinka" has been acquired by M-G-M. • Gene Towne, co-author of "You Only Live Once," left for Hollywood yesterday. • Ned E. Depinet and Jules Levy do not plan to leave the coast for sev- eral days. • Richard Wormser's novel, "Love in the Mud," has been acquired by Universal. • Fredric March has leased a nine- room duplex apartment at 129 East 69th St. • Marion Davies is slated to depart for Hollywood within the next few days. • Joseph M. Schenck is due the end of the month from California. Luise Rainer is stopping at the Waldorf. Bill Would Change Kansas Censor Law Kansas City, Feb. 4. — Senate Bill 175 in Kansas, introduced Feb. 2, pro- vides for a state manager ($10,000 a year) and assistants (maximum $2,400 a year) to replace the present state board of review, state oil inspector, hotel commissioner, etc. Senator Joseph S. McDonald of Kansas City, has introduced a bill to regulate and license pari-mutuel horse racing in the state. A state racing commission of three to be appointed by the Governor would regulate and control racing and betting. The bill is not expected to get far. Move to End Theatre Giveaways in Kansas Kansas City, Feb. 4. — "This is to advise you that the operation of Bank Night, Screeno, or any other similar scheme or device is illegal and will not be permitted in this county," Arthur J. Stanley, Jr., county attorney of Wyandotte County (Kansas City, Kan.), has written all theatres in the county. "This includes any scheme or system, whereby anything of value is given away to any person selected by chance, through any method." The Kansas law provides for use of the injunction method in this con- nection, Stanley said, and any theatre proceeding with any sort of giveaway based on chance would be closed in that manner. Ends Ban on "Dance" Budapest, Feb. 4. — Grave, conserv- ative Hungarian bureaucracy found its official sense of dignity shocked when the American film, "Born to Dance," came up before the censorship. The clowning and "monkeyshines" of mid- dies and doughboys were regarded as downright mutinous and "subversive." Out of consideration for a friendly power's navy the censor forthwith banned the picture. When the press pointed out that the picture not only had been officially approved by Washington and shown all over the world, but had had the co-operation of the U. S. Naval au- thorities in its- making, Nicholas Kozma, as one of his last acts as re- tiring Minister of the Interior attended a showing and cancelled the ban. Theatres Are Hit in New Ohio Tax Bills Columbus, Feb. 4. — To raise $10,- 000,000 for relief purposes a bill was introduced in the House today pro- viding for a seven per cent tax on ad- missions over 25 cents in addition to the present three per cent gross admission tax. Another bill presented today pro- vides for a boost in censorship fees. Cleveland circuit owners are in- censed over the admission tax bill. Denies Stay Against U.A. N. Y. Supreme Court Justice Sal- vatore A. Cotillo denied a temporary injunction yesterday to Rock Beach, Inc., operators of the Gem at Far Rockaway, which would restrain United Artists and the Century Cir- cuit from continuing an alleged breach of contract to supply the plaintiff with United Artists pictures after they had been shown in theatres at nearby Rockaway Park. The Century Circuit operates the Central at Cedarhurst and it is al- leged that the Century succeeds in getting United Artists pictures for that theatre prior to their being given to the Gem. In denying the injunction Justice Cotillo said the contract involved did not specifiy exactly when the plaintiff was to get his pictures from United Artists ; merely that they were to get them after they had been shown at Rockaway Park. The court decided that the question was one to be de- termined during the trial for a per- manent injunction against the de- fendants. Universal Sued by Producer Los Angeles, Feb. 4. — Sam Ronkel, producer, today filed suit for $10,500 against Universal Studios through L. Miller, assignee. The producer asserts that he was hired by the company Jan. 11, 1936 on a written agreement to make three pictures annually at $3,500 each but that he received no assign- ments. Shift Marquee Ordinance Wilmington, Feb. 4. — The board of directors of the Street and Sewer Dept. has adopted a resolution giving the directors power to grant permis- sion for erection of signs, advertising and ornamentation upon marquises. II Weisman Gets Award Of $15,000 for Fees Federal Judge Martin G. Manton yesterday granted Milton C. Weisman, receiver for the Fox Theatres Corp. in the suit brought by the Chicago Title & Trust Co., an allowance of $15,000 for his services for the six months from July 13, 1936, to Janu- ary 12, 1937. Weisman had asked for $20,000. Claims against Fox The- atres, totaling $3,861,693, have been allowed for $1,258,391, the hearing revealed. Other allowances were: Franklin Operating Co., claim $816,666, $25,- 399 granted ; Ridgeway Operating Co., claim $550,000, $11,568 granted; Trust Company of Georgia, claim $1,332,563, $400,000 granted; Theatre Realty Corp., claim $1,073,028, $773,300 granted; Philadelphia Co. for Guar- anteeing Mortgages, claim $389,436, $48,734 granted. Montaigne Made Plaintiff Arthur G. Montaigne, to whom George C. Dawson assigned his rights, was substituted as plaintiff yesterday in his breach of contract suit before Federal Judge John W. Clancy against Pathe News. RCA and M. H. Ayles- worth were not proceed ag(ainst, due to failure to serve them. Testifying, Dawson said he had received about 200 responses to his circulars and actually had been in a position to close with Erwin Wasey & Co., advertis- ing agents, for Pathe sound tracks, but alleged he had been prevented from so doing by Pathe and Courtland Smith, its president. He claimed he had a contract to use Pathe films for three years in two half-hour programs per week. Smith, he alleged, had refused to abide by the contract, saying that three years was too long, and the price too low. He claimed the loss of 33 1/3% commission. Cross-examina- tion will follow today. Discontinue Music Suit The $50,000 suit brought by the composers and publisher of the song "Hands Across the Table" against Paramount Prod., Paramount Pic- tures Distributing Corp. and Samuel Coslow, composer, was discontinued yesterday by the plaintiff. Discontinu- ance was announced just before it was to go on trial before Justice Samuel Hofstadter in the N. Y. Supreme Court. The plaintiffs, Jean Delettre, a composer, and Michtell Parish, lyric writer, and Mills Music, Inc., charged that the defendants failed to give Delettre and Parish proper credit for use of their song in "Hands Across the Table." Charninsky Wins Award Louis Charninsky of the Capital, Dallas, has been awarded a first prize of $350 by Warners for the best cam- paign on "Bengal Tiger," according to Gradwell Sears, general sales man- ager. The contest began Sept. 9. Four other winners were : Sid Hol- land, Elco, Elkhart, Ind., $250; A. J. Belle, RKO Skouras Terminal, New- ark, $150 ; J. M. Borresen, Strand, Minot, N. D., $100 ; J. Floore, Empire, San Antonio, $75. Form Producing Firm Hollywood, Feb. 4. — Lewis A. French and Jed Buell have formed Blackstone Prod, to produce six fea- tures for summer release. ' f. PLAY IN FEBRUARY It's such fun — and it pays such thrilling profits! All that it requires is a little quick thinking and your signature today on a booking notice for <>ve>*6 llllil par KAY FRANCIS - STOLEN HOLIDAY with IAN HUNTER CLAUDE RAINS The GREAT O'M ALLEY with PAT O'BRIEN HUMPHREY BOGART ERROL FLYNN ANITA LOUISE ,„ GREEN LIGHT PENROD AND SAM w,h BILLY MAUGH (Little 'Anthony Adverse') Mi Check 'Em Off MtR Date 'Em Up WM) Count Your Winnings and You'll Have 4 Wonderful Weekly Reasons to Yell IT'S A SOCK0V Every Night Is Bank Night With WARNER BROS. The Leading Motio Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert. Intelligent the in All Branches VOL. 41. NO. 31 NEW YORK, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1937 TEN CENTS Modernization Of Courts Aim Of President Cauld Name Six Supreme Justices in 6 Months By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, Feb. 5. — Striking at Federal courts which have invalidated New Deal legislation in a determina- tion to get away from the "horse and buggy days" to which nearly two years ago he declared the Supreme Court had returned the country by holding the NRA unconstitutional, President Roosevelt today sent to Con- gress a message and a draft of leg- islation for modernization of the Fed- eral judiciary. Laying down a policy for superan- nuation which would permit him, six months after enactment of the legis- lation, to appoint six new members of the Supreme Court, the President, de- claring that it would speed up the handling of the cases and relieve over- (Continued on page 4) 20th-Fox Policies Discussed at Meet Kansas City, Feb. 5. — General sales problems occupied the 20th Cen- tury-Fox sales executives here on the second and last day of their midwinter sales meet. John P. O'Loghlin, Canadian mana- ger, was named next drive leader, and William C. Gehring, who headed the last drive, was presented a plaque. Charles E. McCarthy outlined the 1937 advertising plans and William J. Clark discussed the newsreel and shorts. District Managers William J. Kupper and William Sussman spoke. "On the Avenue" was previewed this afternoon. Most of those attending left on a special car at 11 P. M. End of Long Strike Cheers Up Portland Portland, Feb. 5. — Exhibitors are cheered by the ending of the maritime strike which had been in progress more than three months. The business loss is estimated to have run into the millions and it has hit box-offices hard. Heavy snow lately also has been a drawback. On the pleasanter side of the pic- ture, however, is the banning of all lotteries — pin ball games, punch boards and others. The Legislature is now in session, but there are no tax bills on the horizon, so the prospect is much brighter. Proposes High Tax On Foreign Income Washington, Feb. 5. — Foreign sub- sidiaries of American film companies would be made subject to sky high taxes under the terms of a resolution introduced in the House by Congress- man O'Malley of Wisconsin. The measure proposes an amend- ment to the income tax law passed last year imposing an emergency surtax of 50 per cent on the net income of all foreign subsidiaries of American corporations, associations or partner- ships or individuals. More Loew Thursday Openings Scheduled All Loew's first, second and third run theatres in Greater New York are now operating on a Thursday change schedule with 17 more houses sched- uled to follow within the next few weeks. The Capitol is slated to adopt this opening date following the four-week run of "Camille." According to latest developments "Maytime" may precede "Romeo and Juliet." Either picture may open Feb. 18. Approximately 17 houses have not yet changed to Thursday openings. They include the Warwick, Canal, Brevoort, Astoria, Mayfair, Spooner, Borough Park, Palace, Century, Jer- sey City and Newark theatres. These are regarded as odd theatres by the circuit. All the units will play pictures five days, it was stated at the circuit's headquarters. Conclusion of Union Agreements Delayed The signing of agreements between Local 306 and the Allied Union and Local 306 and I.T.O.A., which was scheduled for yesterday, was delayed a day or two following a conference which began early yesterday after- noon and was adjourned at a late hour last night. The conference, including all parties (Continued on page 4) Come on All Boats "Every boat arriving from England brings a G. B. pic- ture," Arthur Lee, vice- president of the American company, said yesteray. This indicates the company will release its announced schedule of 24 features this North Central Gross Rises to $137,320,000 By CLARENCE LINZ Washington, Feb. 5. — U. S. Census Bureau reports released today dis- closed that 7,412 places of amusement in the five east north central states had total box-office receipts in 1935 of $137,320,000, gave employment to an average of 32,269 persons during the year in addition to 6,444 proprietors and firm members active in the con- duct of their business, and had an ag- gregate payroll for the year of $32,- 506,000, of which $4,173,000 was for part-time employment. The reports made public today cov- ered the heavily populated states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. They showed that 1,726 amusement establishments in Illinois had receipts in 1935 of $50,732,000; 2,201 in Ohio reported $36,846,000; 1,558 in Michi- gan, $23,728,000; 1,085 in Indiana, $15,497,000, and 842 in Wisconsin, $10,517,000. The reports covered the amusement industries as a whole and no individual data was given for film theatres or other branches. Legislative Battle Looms in California Los Angeles, Feb. 5. — A legisla tive fight between independent exhib- tors and major circuits, producers and distributors is predicted here as a re- sult of the formation of the California Independent Exhibitors' Protective League by D. D. Russell, formerly of (Continued on page 4) Evans a Brilliant Richard; Play Among Season 's Finest Ascap Denies Any Share in Score Charges Mills Says Its Only Fees Are to Exhibitors It started as early as intermission between Acts 1 and 2 in the excited lobby of the St. James last night. It will continue today and by the time the weekend is over in circles where the theatre is cuffed, cursed and dis- cussed this argument will be raging : Is Maurice Evans a greater Shake- By PLAYBOY spearian actor than John Gieulgud? The lines imperceptibly were form- ing as the first night advanced. Yet, being an old hand at avoidance of this sort of pitfall, your drama critic steps aside as nimbly as he knows how by venturing no -opinion on the impend- (Continued on page 4) Ascap does not levy any charge of any kind on either producers or dis- tributors for the use of its copyrighted music in pictures and does not partici- pate in any way in the score charges collected from exhibitors by distribu- tors, E. C. Mills, general manager of Ascap, advises the I. T. O. A. in a let- ter published in The Independent. "Ascap' s sole and only charge made to exhibitors," Mills' letter states, "is in respect of a license to publicly per- form musical compositions copyrighted by our members. We make no charges whatever to the producers of pictures — have no contact or relationship whatever with them . . . "We have suggested before and we suggest again that it would be per- fectly proper and consistent for the exhibitors to ask the producers who. bill them for these charges to explain just what is covered by the charges. "I wish emphatically to repeat," the letter concludes, "that this society does not participate in the revenue derived' by film exchanges or producers under the heading of score charges." Report Skouras in Westchester Deals Skouras Theatres are reported get- ting together with Nick Paley and Jack Rosenthal on an operating deal for the Bronxville, Bronxville, and Scarsdale, Scarsdale, N. Y. For the past several months, George Skouras has been expanding his ac- tivities in Westchester county, having taken over a theatre at Suffern and Haverstraw. Efforts to check on reported nego- tiations with Paley and Rosenthal were unavailing yesterday. British to Use EMI Television Method London, Feb. 5.— The Postmaster General yesterday revealed that henceforth the British Broadcasting Corp. will use the Marconi-EMI sys- tem in the transmission of all televi- sion programs, rather than the Baird system, developed by John L. Baird. LTp to this time, both systems had (Continued on page 3) More Radio — Page 3 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Saturday, February 6, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 February 6, 1937 No. 31 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published dally except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc., Martin Quigley, president: Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco. New York." All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publicating Company, Inc. Address all correspond- ence'to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- cations: MOTION PICTURE HERALD, BETTER THEATRES, TEATRO AL DIA, INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Sts. ; Boone Mancall, Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave.. C. B. O'Neill, Manager. WASHINGTON: Albee Building; Bertram F. Linz, Representative. AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan 5: Philip de Schaep, Representative. BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 35: Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest II; Endre Hevesi. Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientes 2495; N. Bruski. Representative. HELSINKI: Fredriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszlo, Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square, W. 1; Bruce Allan. Representative. Cable address, Quigpubco. Lon- don. MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins St. ; Cliff Holt, Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart. Jtepresentstive. MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern. Rep- resentative. MONTEVIDEO: P. O. Box 664; Paul Bodo, Rep- resentative. PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre. Repre- sentative. PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2. Prague 1; Harry Knopf. Representative. RIO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 3358; A. Weiss- man, Representative. ROME: Viale Gorizia; Vittorio Malpassuti. Rep- resentative. SHANGHAI: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Build- ing, 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler, Repre- sentative. TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken; H. Tominaca, Representative. VIENNA: Neustiftgasse, 55, Vienna VII; Hans Lorant, Representative. W.ARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. . Rogers Succeeds Schenck Hollywood, Feb. 5. — Charles R. Rogers was elected second vice-presi- dent, to succeed Joseph Schenck, and Louis B. Mayer, president, and all other officers of the Association of M. P. Producers, Inc., were re-elected at the annual meeting. Schenck re- signed due to pressure of other busi- ness affairs. The other officers re- elected were : Jack L. Warner, first vice-president ; Fred W. Beetson, sec- retary-treasurer ; Joseph I. Breen, di- rector of Production Code Administra- tion ; director of studio relations., Dr. James Wingate ; associate director of studio relations, Mrs. T. G. Winter. Duals Not Discussed Pittsburgh, Feb. 5. — John H. Har- ris, head of the Harris theatres here, has declared that the subject of possi- ble elimination of double bills in the city has never been discussed by the- atre operators. The Alvin, according to Harris, uses duals during only about 25 per cent of the year. Double billing was started by Warners at the Warner here, Harris declared. 4 Purely Personal ► Italy Honors Zukor Hollywood, Feb. 5. — Adolph Zukor has been notified that he has been named a commendatore of the Crown of Italy by King Victor Emmanuel JOHN D. CLARK heads the 20th Century-Fox delegation of 21 home-coming tomorrow from the an- nual mid-winter sales meeting in Kansas City. • Betty Hynes, film and drama critic of the Washington Herald, is in town on a two-week vacation, seeing stage and film shows and gathering mate- rial for feature stories. She is stopping at the Warwick. • D. J. Goldenberg is en route to Trinidad to succeed Harry Bryman as M-G-M manager there. Bryman will take over a similar post in South America. • Hank Kaufman, Columbia's man- ager of exchange operations, leaves tomorrow for an extended tour in connection with the Montague Sweep- stakes. • Harry Cahill, manager of Tito Schipa, has returned on the Lafayette with two recordings from "Vivere," film being released in Italy by M-G-M. • Edgar B. Hatrick arrived on the coast today. Ditto Marion Davies, who has been spending several months here since she returned from Europe. • Yasha Bunchuk, Herbert Bre- non, Jean de Cavaignac and Robert Schless, Warner European manager, sail today on the Paris. • E. J. McNerney, U. A. branch manager in San Francisco, left for the coast yesterday after visiting his fam- ily in New England. • David J. Kaye, nephew of Kelcey Allen, has just completed an original script with Giles Gerard called "Rhythm Racket." Sic Wittman returned from Phila- delphia yesterday with a cold which kept him home for the day. • Herman Rifkin, Boston Republic franchise holder, left for the New England city yesterday. • George Brent left yesterday for Florida to spend two weeks before going to the coast. H. J. Yates concluded his coast visit yesterday and is expected back here on Monday. • William A. Pierce's story, "Ar- mored Car," has been purchased by Universal. • Harold Kusell, writer, has had his option taken up by RKO for another year. m Mort Spring is due back from the coast next weekend. Vacation stuff. • Howard Benedict flew to the coast yesterday via American Airlines. • . Willard McKay left by plane last night for a brief stay in Miami. • Frank McCarthy of Universal left yesterday for Miami. Herman Gluckman of Republic is back from Hollywood. • Louis Chatain will sail today on the Paris. MILT KUSELL, Paramount dis- trict manager, will leave Mon- day for Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pitts- burgh, Columbus and the south as far as Oklahoma City. He expects to be gone a month. • D. A. Doran has delayed his trip to the Columbia studios in Hollywood another five weeks. After a visit to the coast, he will return and sail for London, all in the interests of co- ordinating the editorial departments. • William Hulburt will have two of his plays produced shortly on Broad- way, one by Harry Cort and the second by Al Woods. • Arthur Hirschman and Gene Murphy of Loew's have returned from sick leaves. Hirschman spent a month in Miami. • I. A. R. Wylie's forthcoming novel, "Puritan at Large," has been pur- chased by Universal for next season's production. • William Shiffrin has rejoined the Hawk-Volck agency on the coast. He was last with H. N. Swanson. • Beatrice Faber has joined the edi- torial staff of Loew's Movie-Goer under Oscar Doob. • Joseph Pollak arrived last night on the Washington. • . . . Denver Ed Maple, producer of "Mari- huana," and part owner of two Den- ver theatres, has left for Hollywood to make another film. J. T. Sheffield is in town to super- yise the finishing of his two new ex- change buildings. Bert Turgeon is back at his job as booker for J. H. Cooper Enterprises following an attack of the flu. William Chin has reopened his Sun theatre. . . . Indianapolis Don R. Rossiter, local manager of Ger-Bar, and Sam Eibeck, booker for Columbia, are flu victims. Truman Rembusch, Franklin ex- hibitor, plans a vacation at Key West. Ralph Abbott, Jam-Handy repre- sentative, formerly of Indianapolis, a visitor on Film Row. C. C. Wallace has joined Grand National. Harold Neese, operator of the Bev- erly in Brazil, Ind., has reopened the Capitol in Clinton, Ind. • . . . San Francisco Hal Neidas, Orpheum manager, and Lou Williams, assistant at the Fox, back at work after illness. Sam Werner is the new manager of Lou Kaliski's Uptown in Oakland. Ada Hanifin, drama editor of the Examiner, and Claude La Belle, the paper's news drama chief, lecturing on films at the San Francisco Museum of Art. Set "Good Earth" Date M-G-M has set a roadshow engage- ment of "The Good Earth" at the New Locust, Philadelphia, Feb. 21. March 8 has been selected as the ten- tative date for the Boston opening. Smith Is Production Head for Dixey Unit By BRUCE ALLAN London, Feb. 5. — A. George Smith, once London chief for Samuel Gold- wyn, and recently an independent pro- ducer, has joined the board of direc- tors of Capt. A. C. N. Dixey's new company, Independent Exhibitors' Dis- tributing Co., in charge of production. J. H. lies, backer of Joe Rock, also is a new member of the directorate. Production contracts are in the course of negotiation by Dixey with several other producers. Rock and Ludovico Toeplitz signified their intention of producing for the new company, which is backed by exhibitors, a few days ago. /. Buchanan Forms New English Firm London, Feb. S. — Jack Buchanan Prod., Ltd., has been registered here with capital of il00,500. Other direc- tors are J. Arthur Rank and Charles M. Woolf, of General Film Distribu- tors, Ltd., and S. J. Passmore, an attorney. Buchanan will produce at Pinewood Studios, and will release his product through General Film Distributors. Harris U.A. Winner Milton Harris, manager of Loew's State in Cleveland, has won the "Dodsworth" exploitation award, of- fered by United Artists, for which 237 exhibitors competed during the past three months. Harris will receive a free trip by plane to New York, hotel accommodations here and a seven-day cruise to Nassau on the Carinthia. Wins Warners' Drive Philadelphia, Feb. 5. — Abe Frank, manager of the Lyric in Camden, N. J., won the $300 first prize in the second annual managers' parade drive conducted by the Warner theatres in the Philadelphia area. Awards of $200 each went to Mickey Kippel, Vic- toria ; Abe Sunberg, Keystone, and Sol Getzow, Washington. English Group to Visit London, Feb. 5. — Arthur Taylor, secretary of the London Branch of the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Ass'n, will lead a group of English exhibitors on a visit to the United States, simi- lar to that of last year. The group will leave on the Queen Mary on May 19. Book Guaranteed Film RKO has booked for 11 houses of its metropolitan circuit "Phantom Ship," latest release of Guaranteed Pictures, starting Feb. 16. Bela Lugosi is fea- tured. Mary Pickford Gaining Hollywood, Feb. 5. — Mary Pickford is recovering from an operation per- formed in the Los Angeles Hospital on Thursday. "Parole Racket' Set Hollywood, Feb. 5. — "Parole Racket" is the final title of Colum- bia's "Freedom for Sale." Postpone A.T.&T. Probe Washington, Feb. 5. — F. C. C. hearings in the A. T. & T. probe were adjourned today until Feb. '15. Saturday, Fefcruary 6, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY New Shows On the Air "Coffee Club" "Coffee Club" is a pleasant, tuneful program geared to the days that are gone. Musically it offers one of the finest bands in radio — Dick Him- ber's — a pair of excellent vocalists — Stuart Allen and GoGo — and Fred Utell as master of ceremonies. If last night's inaugural program can be taken as a criterion, "Coffee Club" can well compete with any pro- gram on the Friday night radio bill of fair. With half of radio's musical pro- grams engaged in a race to offer first the popular artists of the moment and the other half striving to guess the hits of tomorrow, "Coffee Club" wisely offers only the hit songs of yesterday. There's something inex- pressibly pleasant about becoming acquainted again with the songs that once afforded pleasure and which have been forgotten. Wisely the ■ sponsor has permitted Himber's Band to dom- inate the program. And we say wisely because — to repeat— his is one of the finest, if not the finest, band in radio. Holland House Coffee sponsors. "Coffee Club" is offered each Friday at 8 P. M., E.S.T., on the Mutual net- work. "Hollywood Hotel" It is unfortunate that no system has been devised as yet whereby it can be determined accurately how many radio listeners are drawn into theatres by the pictures they've heard prevued on the air. However, we're willing to bet that 20th Century-Fox will bene- fit heavily at the box-office as a result of last night's "Hollywood Hotel" of- fering of "On the Avenue." It was was one of the most engaging pro- one of the most engaging programs to which we've ever listened. Perhaps its effectiveness is due to the fact that thirty minutes of the show were set aside as a tribute to the musical genius of Irving Berlin, thereby cutting the program in half and permitting only a mere inkling of the musical formula of the picture to be broadcast. In other words, we are suggesting to "Hollywood Hotel" that perhaps a full hour of picture prevue is too much. Dick Powell, who recently was re- moved from the program by Warner Brothers, returned to his old air-spot last night as Gary Blake, author-actor, in "On the Avenue." Madeleine Car- roll played "Mimi Caraway, the rich- est girl in the world," who, enraged at Blake's musical comedy, slaps him in the face. And in pictures, you know, a slap leads to love. The Irving Berlin tunes are grand, notably "He Ain't Got Rhythm" and "Slumming on Park Avenue." "Hol- lywood Hotel" is heard Fridays on CBS, 9 to 10 P. M., E.S.T.; Camp- bell's Soups, sponsors. Jack Banner KWK Men Are Injured St. Louis, Feb. 5. — Three em- ployes of KWK, Mutual affiliate here, were seriously injured when the mobile unit in which they were travel- ing to cover the flood crashed head-on with another car between Cape Girar- deau and Hayti, Mo. James Burke, chief engineer, suf- fered a partial ' skull fracture. Toscanini Plans NBC Series Here Arturo Toscanini will return to America some time before the end of the present year to broadcast a series of symphonic concerts over the NBC network. A cable to this effect was received by David Sarnoff, president of RCA, late yesterday afternoon from Milan, Italy, where Toscanini is now resting. The cable read: "I am very happy to accept your invitation to broadcast a series of symphonic concerts over the NBC network. It is a great pleas- ure for me to think that I shall be able to put myself once more in touch with the radio public which gave me in my last season with the Philhar- monic the greatest proof of its appre- ciation and sympathy." The cable bore Toscanini's name. The series will be non-commercial. Whether this is at the express stipula- tion of Toscanini is not known at the moment. It was known, however, that RCA, or possibly the General Motors were both eager to sponsor the Tos- canini concerts in the event that he agreed to return to America for a radio series. Recently Samuel Chotzinoff, music critic for the New York Post and a warm personal friend of the maestro, was sent to Italy as an emissary of Sarnoff to persuade Toscanini to re- turn to the United States for a series of broadcasts. The NBC symphony orchestra will be utilized for the NBC concerts. Toscanini made his farewell concert in the United States last April in Carnegie Hall. Preparing 10 Shows In Hollywood-Paley Hollywood, Calif., Feb. 5. — Ten weekly shows emanating from the coast will be the total of new radio programs in preparation, according to William S. Paley, president of the Columbia Broadcasting System, in an interview here, thus evidencing Holly- wood's gradual growth as a radio cen- ter. He stressed the increased time spent in program preparation. Where- as in 1930 one and one-half hours were spent in rehearsals, the System now averages six and one-half hours, he said. "The committee on the working code between producers and radio, headed by Will Hays, is now working out conditions regarding star appear- ances," Paley added. Although he could not state the time when the code would be completed, he was op- timistic as to the outcome. He mani- fested enthusiasm regarding television experiments at New York and pre- dicted that the new operation would be ready for the market within two years, with receiving sets priced at about four hundred dollars. "We have a wealth of material to utilize when television is ready," he said. "The broadcasting system's 'big headache' will come in the transi- tion period after television is first in- troduced and before advertising starts coming in." He added that new ex- periments were now being made on the secondary television area recently dis- covered by experts. He asserted the only competition with newspapers would be on spot coverage. He de- nied that the CBS was negotiating any exclusive studio talent deals. Paley will be here for another week. Discard Plan for Filming "Family" Hollywood, Feb. 5. — Don E. Gil- man, vice-president in charge of the western division of NBC, today ad- mitted that negotiations for the screening of the radio serial "One Man's Family," by Paramount, had been dropped. According to Gilman, the decision was made because Carlton E. Morse, author of the serial, and Paramount executives were unable to agree on a director, type of story, and other de- tails. The negotiations had been under way for months, but contracts never were signed. NBC owns half the rights to the story jointly with Morse, creator of the serial. "Both Morse and myself felt that it wouldn't be fair to the 'One Man's Family' audience, which has again and again manifested its loyalty to this program, by offering a film production which might in any way be inferior to the standards which have been set on the air," said Gilman. WMCA Depositions Are Asked in Suit Damskov, Inc., which has sued Knickerbocker Broadcasting Inc., op- erators of Station WMCA, for $10,000 will ask Justice Lloyd Church in N. Y. Supreme Court Monday for per- mission to take a deposition from Don- ald FJamm, president, concerning an agreement of Feb. 20, 1930, whereby Knickerbocker allegedly agreed to broadcast thrice weekly the plaintiff's half-hour program, "V. E. Meadows' Beauty Forum." In an affidavit, Dor- othea J. Damskov, president of the plaintiff's corporation, states that the contract was to run a year at a cost of $85 a week. This figure was later reduced by half. On May 17, it is al- leged, Knickerbocker refused to adver- tise a product formula. The defendant asserts that under a ruling of the F. C. C. it was privileged to discontinue advertising the product because the program was "not of a character creditable to the station," and because the formula allegedly was not truthfully advertised. Details Ordered in Parker's Pathe Suit Phillips H. Lord (Seth Parker) was ordered by Federal Judge Robert P. Patterson yesterday to file a bill of particulars in his breach of con- tract action against Pathe News in which he asks $50,000 damages. Lord claims that under a contract with Pathe News made in July, 1933, he agreed to take three Pathe news- men on an 18-month cruise aboard his schooner, "Georgette" and pay their expenses. The cameramen, he as- serts, were to make a minimum of 13 shorts and one feature and the pro- ceeds from their distribution were to be divided equally between himself and Pathe News. His action charges that Pathe News failed to fulfill the agreement. Brown Describes B. B. C. Tieup Hollywood, Calif., Feb. 5. — In- creased entertainment budgets and closer co-operation with the British Broadcasting Company were approved at the Mutual sales meeting at Chi- cago, declared Willett Brown, assist- ant manager of HJK, upon his return RADIO i Radio Personals ► RAY LYON, research engineer at WOR, leaves for a Florida va- cation today. . . . Jack Pearl, whose program has just been renewed, begins the second 13 weeks of his series Monday. . . . W. J. Price, film dis- tributor for the Social Security Board, will be heard over WINS at 4:30 P. M. today. . . . Hugo Mariani re- places Al Kavelin on the nightly Mutual dance parade beginning next week. . . . And Clyde Lucas will have a Mutual wire after Feb. 12. . . . Blanche Yurka, Stuart Churchill and Tom Thomas will appear as "Ham- merstein Music Hall" guest stars Feb. 9. . . . + Rea Hudiberh joined the WBT staff this week and Dewey Long, sales man- ager of the station, returns from a business trip to Atlanta Monday. . . . Lady Wilkins, wife of the noted ex- plorer, appears as guest star on the "Theatre Guide" program today at 11 :45 A. M Block and Sully make a return appearance on Jack Oakie's "College" Tuesday night. . . . Sig- mund Spaeth, the "Tune Detective," will appear on the Heinz "Magazine of the Air" program" Feb. 15. . . . Leo Carrillo and Flora Finch will ap- pear with Jackie Cooper on WOR Feb. 8 and 10, respectively. + Grant Mitchell, currently appearing on Broadway in "Tide Rising," will be interviewed by Lawrence Gray on "Morning Matinee" Feb. 11. . . . Gertrude Niesen is en route from Hollywood to Chicago, where she be- gins a stay at the Chez Paree Feb. 12. . . . Smiling Ed McConnell, who has been vacationing in Florida, re- turns to his NBC-Red network pro- gram this Sunday at 5:30 P. M., E.S.T. McConnell has just signed a two-year contract with his spon- sor. . . . British Use EMI Television Method (Continued from page 1) been employed in alternate weeks, and it was left in the hands of the Gov- ernment's television advisory commit- tee to recommend a single system. The EMI (Electrical and Musical Industries) system calls for 405 lines interlaced per picture transmitted at the rate of 50 picture or frames per second, while the Baird is a 240 line- 25 frame method. Following a special meeting of the board of Baird today, the company declared that the decision does not imply a monopolistic policy or the sole adoption of one system, and in- dicated it will not hinder Baird de- velopments. The inference drawn here is that Baird will attempt to evolve a system meeting the new standards. Baird deferred ordinary shares to- day dropped from four shillings, six pence to two shillings, three pence, and the preferred ordinary from two shillings to one shilling, four and one- half pence. EMI ordinaries rose to 26 shillings, three pence on the strength of the decision. here. Preliminary plans included na- tional hookup for several of twelve Den Lee programs. MOTION PICTURE DAILY Evans a Brilliant Richard; Play Among Season 9s Finest 4 Modernization Of Courts Aim Of President {Continued from page 1) worked judges, recommended that when any judge in a Federal court reached the age of 70 and has had not less than 10 years service, con- tinuous or broken, and refuses to re- sign or retire within six months there- after, the President shall appoint an additional judge to that court. The number of judges to be so appointed is limited and in the case of the Su- preme Court the membership is not to exceed 15. Enactment of the bill would permit the President to change the Supreme Court in six months, since six of the nine present members are over 70 and have served for more than 10 years, although Chief Justice Hughes' serv- ice has not been continuous. Whether the membership of the court would be increased would depend upon whether these six resigned. With new members of the court, selected by himself, the President is confident that a more liberal interpre- tation of the constitution and of the validity of the New Deal legislation will be secured, which would be im- portant in the consideration of new industry control legislation which he is expected to secure later. Varied Screen Uses Discussed by Board Various uses of the screen outside the usual theatrical field were dis- cussed yesterday in a series of talks accompanied by films at the second day of the three-day 13th annual con- ference of the National Board of Re- view at the Hotel Pennsylvania. The topic of the morning session was "Looking at the Motion Picture in its Various Uses." During the afternoon period, under the general title, "Looking at the Jun- ior Motion Picture Activity," mem- bers of the Young Reviewers, junior organization connected with the Na- tional Board, discussed the several phases of their work. The evening session, held at the Chanin Little Theatre in the Chanin Bldg., John V. Hansen, producer, and D. E. Hyndman, of the film depart- ment of Eastman Kodak, discussed the developments of color photography. Col. Roy W. Winton, managing di- rector of the Amateur Cinema League, presided. This morning, preceding the 22nd annual luncheon at the Pennsylvania, the Young Reviewers will meet at the 20th Century-Fox home office to re- view and discuss an unreleased film. Leroy E. Bowman will be toastmaster at the luncheon, at which the speakers will include Trubee Davison, Langdon W. Post, Clarence Little, former pres- ident of Michigan University; Fritz Lang, director, and Frederick Feher, producer of "The Robber Sym- phony." Numerous film, radio and stage players will attend the luncheon. Borrows Montgomery Hollywood, Feb. 5. — Cosmopolitan has borrowed Robert Montgomery from M-G-M for the lead opposite Marion Davies in "Ever Since Eve." (Continued from page 1) ing controversy which so plainly is just in the offing. On one point, however, he is cer- tain. In fact, he is more than cer- tain. He is emphatic and he won't be argued with about it that very quickly now the town will be resound- ing with lavish encomiums recount- ing the brilliance of this young Eng- lish actor's performance as Richard II in the play of that name. And with the fanfare, let him inform you quickly he is in thorough and most complete accord. Charming and cunning, masterful and weak, stalwart and cringing, re- signed and tragic, the various facets of the part Evans harnessed, then tapped. When he returned from the Irish wars to learn of Bolingbroke's rebellion to say "I had forgot myself : am I not king?," the fire, the ma- jesty, the conviction with which he cloaked that stirring, but temporary, rekindling of faith in his own power rippled through an enthralled audi- ence like an electric wave. So it went for three acts. For this performance is rich in dramatic rendition, so rich that a play glamorous in its pageantry and in the beauty of its lighting seemed to dim when it went on its way with no Richard on the stage. Possibilities Fully Utilized Eddie Dowling and Robinson Smith turned out a handsome and im- pressive piece. Margaret Webster staged it with an appreciation of the tragedy and in full recognizance of its possibilities for visual appeal. They surrounded their stellar light with an effective cast in which Ian Keith, as the conniving Bolingbroke, stands second to Evans in plot import- ance, yet something further removed in point of histrionics. This is not to minimize Keith's performance. Not at all. He did well, as did others in variable degrees, including Augustin Duncan as John of Gaunt, Lionel Hogarth as the Duke of York, Whit- ford Kane as the gardener and Olive Deering as the Queen. But nothing in the evening rivaled Evans. Star by billing and star by right, he gave New York and its theatre one of the few memorable evenings of the cur- rent season. Conclusion of Union Agreements Delayed (Continued from page 1). involved, was held in the offices of Weis, Quinn, Allan & Spett for the express purpose of affixing final sig- natures to the agreements designed to end the multiple union situation in the New York theatres. Inability to arrive at a satisfactory settlement of several minor points forced the adjournment after hours in the conference room. The agree- ments were to have become effective Monday. It is not anticipated that the final signing of the deals will be delayed more than a day or two. Additional conferences are expected to be held over the weekend, with the possibility that the Monday effective date may still be attained. No Theatre Changes For the first time in many months, the local Film Board of Trade reports no changes in theatre management for a week. Legislation Battle Looms in California (Continued from page 1) the independent producers' organiza- tion. The new group will campaign for passage of three anti-industry bills re- cently introduced at Sacramento by Assemblyman Ernest Voight of Culver City. The bills would ban designated playdates in sales contracts, block booking and theatre operation and control by producers or distributors. Although the I. T. O. of Southern California and Arizona is sponsor- ing the new league, it is understood it is acting independently. The league will embark on a propaganda cam- paign to set up a plan of procedure. The I. T. O. is now contacting all members by mail. Fight 4 Massachusetts Bills Boston, Feb. 5. — Opposition to four theatre bills was registered by Joseph Brennan of M.P.T.O. and Arthur K. Howard of Allied at a hearing held here today before the legislative com- mittee on public safety. Of the four measures, which were introduced by Harrison Atwood and George Leary, one seeks regulation requiring two licensed operators in booths at all times during projection while another stipulates that no film shall be rewound except in a booth or enclosure constructed separate and apart from the projection booth. The third bill provides that at no time shall more than 1,000 feet of film be inserted in the projection machine, while the fourth measure calls for the compulsory installation of sprinkler systems. The bills have been taken under ad- visement and are expected to die in committee. File Patent Suit Detail A bill of particulars was filed in U. S. District Court here today by the Amperite Corp. and Samuel Rut- tenberg, defendants in a patent in- fringement action brought by RCA and General Electric. The action is for an injunction and accounting of damages for the alleged infringement of four patents on microphones and amplifiers. The defendants claim the patents are invalid and deny any in- fringement. William Fox Asks Injunction Camden, Feb. 5.— William Fox to- day petitioned Federal Judge Boyd Avis for an injunction against his arrest in New York State. Charles A. Wolverton, counsel for Fox, declared the latter's arrest, threatened by George Frankenthal, counsel for Capi- tal Co., would interfere with pending proceedings under Judge Avis' jurisdic- tion. Saturday, February 6, 1937 Variety Club Washington Washington, Feb. 5. — The first stag smoker in several weeks was held this week with the Social Activities Committee, under Charles Kranz, chairman, assisted by A. Julian Brylawski. Liquid and solid refresh- ments were served. Nelson B. Bell and Andrew R. Kelley, respectively dramatic editors of the Washington Post and Wash- ington Times, will be kings-for-a-day at the luncheon on Feb. 8. Barker Morton G. Thalheimer, president of the M.P.T.O. of Virginia, has issued an invitation to members of Variety Club and local theatre people to attend the annual convention of his organization Feb. 11 in Richmond. Finke Is Promoted By General Register Harry Finke, manager of the Chi- cago branch of General Register, has been promoted to vice-president and named a director of the company, it is reveated by Percy Philipson, presi- dent. Phillipson, who is here from Eng- land, outlined new apparatus which the company plans to market. Peskay Leaving Coast Hollywood, Feb. S. — Edward Peskay leaves tomorrow for New York, stopping at Chicago for the Grand National regional sales meet- ing. He announced realignment of February and March releases : for February, "Romance and Riches," "The Navy Spy," "Killers of the Sea" and "Trouble in Texas ;" for March : "23 y2 Hours Leave," "Two Shall Meet" and "Hittin' the Trail." Jessel Joins LeRoy Hollywood, Feb. 5. — George Jessel today was signed by Mervyn LeRoy as an associate in production. The effective date is April 15. Wall Street Board Losses Continue Net High Low Close Change Columbia 36% 3554 3554 -54 Columbia, pfd 45 45 45 - % 5% 5 55* + % Consolidated, pfd.. 16% 16% 16% - % Eastman Kodak . . 174J4 1735,6 17354 -% Eastman, pfd 160%. 16054 16054 Gen. T. Equip 32% 3254 3254 -X Loew's, Inc 77% 7554 76 - 54 27% 2654 2654 - 54 Paramount 1 pfd. .195 187 188 -2% Paramount 2 pfd.. 25 24 24% 8% — % Pathe Film 9% m -H RKO 36% 854 3554 854 3554 20th Century-Fox. - % 20th Century, pfd.. 4554 4454 4454 -i% Warner Bros 1554 15 15% ■ % Curb Declines Net High Low Close Change Grand National . . 3% 3% 3% — % Sonotone 254 2 2 — % Technicolor 21% 20% 20% — % Trans-Lux 454 4% 4% + % Universal Pict. ... 17 17 17 Little Bond Movement Net High Low Close Change Loew's 354s '46.... 10054 100% 10054 +% Paramount B'way 3s '55 74% 74% 74% Paramount Pict. 6s '55 100% 1003% 100% RKO 6s '41 pp.... 119% 119% 119% — % Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 99% 99% 99% — % (Quotations at close of Feb. 5) The Leading Motto Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, Intelligent the Industry in AH Branches VOL. 41. No. 32 NEW YORK, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1937 TEN CENTS Grosses Gain 13.8% in 28 Keys for Year Eight Spots Show Losses From Sept. to January Grosses in 28 key cities increased approximately 13.8 per cent in 1936 over 1935 during the peak of the ex- hibition season from early September through the New Year rush. This is believed to typify the general average increase in box-office receipts through- out the country for the entire season running from September to September. The 1935 total for 28 key spots was The financial score card, citu by city, on page 5. $21,708,740. For 1936 it was $24,- 704,313, a jump of $2,995,573. These figures are compiled from weekly box- office reports checked by Motion Picture Daily correspondents. An analysis of the totals discloses (.Continued on page 5) Block Booking Bill Backers Ask Action Washington, Feb. 7. — Efforts _ to secure consideration of block-booking legislation by Congressional commit- tees .will be made in the near future by parent-teacher organizations and other groups which are supporting such bills, it was stated here today. The National Parent-Teacher Ass'n has a continuing program on films of which anti-block-booking legislation is an important phase. The full support of the organization was given to block- booking legislation at the hearings last year. It is anticipated that requests for hearings will be submitted to the com- mittees in charge of the legislation as soon as the presently pending im- portant measures are disposed of. Lynton" Testimony To Be Heard in West A stipulation authorizing the taking of testimony at the M-G-M studios, br ginning March 1, in the accounting / d damage action of Edward Sheldon and Margaret Ayer Barnes against M-G-M, was signed Saturday by at- torneys for the principals. The ac- counting testimony is an aftermath of the recent decision which held that the plaintiffs' book, "Dishonored Lady," had been plagiarized by the film, "Letty Lynton." The plaintiffs esti- mate the damages at more than $1,000,000. Special Master Gordon Auchincloss will hear the testimony. Distributors 9 Branch Heads To Aid Conciliation Boards Major distributors who have agreed to cooperate in the establishment of local conciliation boards will begin at once to authorize their branch mana- gers to participate in the setting up of the boards in conjunction with local exhibitor organizations in those cities where the first, or "test" boards will be established, it was learned over the weekend. The boards will be set up only in those territories where the local ex- hibitor organizations have requested them. From present indications it ap- pears that Philadelphia will have the first completed board and Kansas City the second. Either Dallas or Seattle will follow and Charlotte may com- plete the initial "trial" group of con- ciliation boards. While procedures are being established and the possibilities of the boards being studied in this ini- tial group of four or five territories, there is little likelihood of any addi- tional boards being added, it is said. The degree of success attained by the trial group will, of course, influence (Continued on page 5) Mochrie Resigns Warner Sales Post Bob Mochrie on Saturday resigned as eastern sales manager of Warners, effective the end of this week. "I'm going to take the first ship out of here on a vacation and will talk about future plans after my re- turn," he declared. In view of his close association with A. W. Smith, Jr., now general sales manager of United Artists, the proba- bility is Mochrie will join that organ- ization. Coming up from Philadelphia three years ago where he had been branch manager, Mochrie was appointed as- sistant to Smith, then eastern sales manager for Warners. When the latter resigned and Gradwell L. Sears (Continued on page 5) Expect Early Close Of Westchester Deal Negotiations between George Skou- ras and Nick Paley and Jack Rosen- thal whereby Skouras Theatres will operate the Bronxville, Bronxville, and Scarsdale, Scarsdale, N. Y., are expected to be consummated shortly. The deal is understood to be in line with Skouras' plans to expand his ac- tivities in Westchester County. An executive of the circuit admitted a deal was on over the weekend. Both theatres are playing single features, and whether Skouras will add an- other picture to programs is prob- lematical. Educational to Vote Upon Changes Today Wilmington, Feb. 7. — An adjourned special meeting of stockholders of Ed- ucational Pictures, Inc., is scheduled to be held here tomorrow to vote on the company's plan of capital re- organization and corporate simplifica- (Continued on page 5) Dallas Defendants May Answer Today Dallas, Feb. 7.— The Hoblitzelle theatre interests and major distributor defendants in the government action attacking the legality of restrictive first run contracts made with certain Hoblitzelle theatres are expected to file answers to the Government's com- plaint in U. S. District Court here to- day. It is expected that all of the answers will contain general denials of the allegations made in the Gov- ernment's complaint, the most impor- tant of which charged restraint of trade and conspiracy in violation of the anti-trust laws. The contracts under attack were made at the behest of certain of the Hoblitzelle theatres which agree to maintain an advanced minimum ad- mission during the runs of specified pictures, in return for which the dis- tributors agree not to license such pic- tures to subsequent runs except at a designated minimum admission and for single feature showings. The con- tracts were unsuccessfully attacked in the state supreme court here in 1935. Mother of Momand In Suit of Her Own Boston, Feb. 7. — Loretta L. Mo- mand, mother of A. B. Momand of Oklahoma City who is suing distribu- tors for $5,000,000 in an anti-trust ac- tion, filed a suit of her own here Saturday through George S. Ryan, (Continued on page 5) Caffey Issues Order On Hearing for Roxy Federal Judge Francis G. Caffey signed an order on Saturday directing creditors and stockholders of the Roxy to show cause on March 5 why the plan of reorganization for the theatre company should not be declared fair (Continued on page 5) Para's Reply In; Finishes MPTO Agenda Follows Pattern Struck In Earlier Instances Major company replies to the M. P. T. O. A. 10-point trade practice pro- gram were completed on Saturday with the release of Paramount's state- ment advising Ed Kuykendall, M. P. T. O. A. president, of the company's attitude on the proposals. Paramount's reply follows the pat- tern set by the other companies in granting a liberalized 10 per cent can- cellation, offering cooperation in the setting up of local conciliation boards and evidencing a willingness to coop- erate in the future on other matters of mutual exhibitor-distributor inter- est. The company declines to elimi- nate the separate score charge and sets forth that it "is an essential part of our revenue and we cannot afford to forego it." Paramount is the seventh major dis- tributor to formulate its stand on the program. No reply is expected from Warners which declined to participate in the joint distributor conferences with the M. P. T. O. A. executive committee, held here last June. Na- tional independent distributors, such as (Continued on page 5) Seven Denver Houses Dropping Bank Night Denver, Feb. 7. — Bank Night has been dropped by the group of seven houses operated by Harry Huffman and the Civic Theatres have dropped Cash Nights, but are retaining their weekly Ford giveaways. Neighbor- hood houses are retaining their cash and other minor giveaways. The Denham is the only first run in the so-called "Lucky Seven" group which is continuing Bank Night. If business does not hold up without Bank Night, it has been stated, other first runs will restore it. Iowa I.T.O. Annual Meeting Feb. 15-16 Des Moines, Feb. 7. — The Allied- Independent Theatre Owners of Iowa and Nebraska, Inc., will hold its an- nual convention at the Savery Hotel here on Feb. 15-16, with Leo F. Wol- cott, president, presiding. Among the subjects to be discussed (Continued on page 5) Radio News — Page 6 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, February 8, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 February 8, 1937 No. 32 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc., Martin Quigley, president: Colvin Brown, vice-president and Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave nue at P^ckefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle /-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York " All contents copyrighted 193T by Quigley vnblicating Company, Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- cations: MOTION PICTUBE HERALD, BETTER THEATRES, TEATRO AL DIA. INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Sts. ; Boone Mancall. Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave.. C. B. O'Neill. Manager. . „ , _ WASHINGTON: Albee Building; Bertram F. Linz, Representative. AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan • 5: Philip de Schaep. Representative. BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 35: Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 Kaplar-u. Budapest Hi Endre Hevesi. Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientes 2495; N. Bruski. Representative. HELSINKI: Fredriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszlo, Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square. W. 1; Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address, Quigpubco. Lon- don. MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins St.; Cliff Holt, Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart. Representative. MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern. Rep- MONTEVIDEO: P. O. Box 664; Plul Bodo, Rep- PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre, Repre- sentative. PRAGUE : Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1; Harry Knopf. Representative. RIO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 3358: A. Weiss- man, Representative. ROME: Viale Gorizia; Yittorio Malpassuti, Rep- SHANGHAl': Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Build- ing, 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler. Repre- S6nt3tiV6. TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka. Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken; H. Tominaca, Representative. VIENNA: Neustiftgasse, 55, Vienna VII; Hans Lorant, Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 82; R. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Legion Approves 13 Of 15 New Pictures The National Legion of Decency in its list of IS new pictures for the current week approved nine for general pat- ronage, four for adults, classed one as objectionable in part and condemned one. The list of new pictures and their classification follow. Class A-l, Unobjectionable for Gen- eral Patronage — "Don't Pull Your Punches," "Don't Tell the Wife," "Law and Lead," "Left-Handed Law," "Off to the Races," "On the Avenue," "Park Avenue Logger," "Rebellion," "Sarga Csiko" (Hungarian). Class A-2, Unobjectionable for Adults — "August der Starke" (German), "The Good Earth," "Mama Steps Out," "Outcast." Class B, Objectionable in Part — "Woman Alone." Condemned — "Pitfalls of Youth." Denies Kaplan Motion Federal Judge Robert P. Patterson on Saturday denied a motion for a fur- ther bill of particulars in an action brought by F. Kay Kaplan against Fox Film Corp., charging copyright infringement. Kaplan alleges in his suit that the "George White's Scan- days of 1935" contained a copy of the cover design of the August, 1929, Theatre Magazine and employed stills from the publication. He asks an ac- counting and damages. i Purely Personal ► Nate J. Blumberg and Max Fel- lerman returned Saturday from the coast and Kansas City, respec- tively. • Milt Kusell will preside over a sales meeting of the local Paramount exchange today. J. J. Unger will at- tend. Kusell spent Saturday in bed with a bad cold. • Robert Schless, French represent- ative for Warners, sailed Saturday on the Paris after spending two months here. He said his next trip will be in about four years. • Lou Weinberg got back from the coast over the weekend. The trip was a 20th wedding anniversary vacation. • Arthur Gottlieb of Du Art Lab- oratories left Saturday for the coast via American Airlines. • Rube Jackter takes off for Miami Beach on Feb. 16. . . . Baltimore Industry folks here who are in, or have just returned from Florida va- cations include Meyer and Mrs. Lev- enthal, Mrs. Leo H. Homand, Frank A. and Mrs. Hornig and Joseph Brodie. Louis Srozek, assistant manager of Warners' Metropolitan, ill for several days. • . . . Cincinnati Paul Krieger, branch manager Universal, is back at his desk follow- ing an operation for a face infection Stan Jacques, RKO branch man- ager, and Mrs. Jacques are vacation ing in Florida. Mrs. Max Stahl, wife of the U. A. branch manager, reported out of danger after an operation at Jewish Hospital. • . . . Los Angeles Clarence Mullins, owner of the Florence, has changed the name to the World. Fred Hershorn has bought a half interest in the Metro. Bob Dunagan, owner of the Lib- erty in Blythe, is in town. Dunagan expects to begin construction on a new theatre soon. • . . . Omaha Larry Hensler, Grand National salesman here, has joined the sales force of Universal out of Omaha. He replaces Jack McCarty, who resigned Charles Lieb, M-G-M salesman, has returned from a visit with friends at Minneapolis. Charles Schlaifer, Tri-States ad manager here, is back on the job after being ill with a throat infection dur- ing the holidays. • . . . Pittsburgh Art Morrone is recovering at Mercy Hospital from an appendix op eration. Paul Adams has joined the Pitts burgh Playhouse's permanent com- pany, replacing Franklin Gray, who left for Broadwav and a role in "In Gold We Trust." Gabe Rubin has held "Cloistered" Your Own Ripley Tops among unusual gifts received by artists is the one sent to Bob ("Believe It or Not") Ripley by a listener from Southview, Pa. It was, a money order for one cent, "in appreciation for pleasure received." Cleveland Holds Big Show for Flood Fund for a sixth week at the Art Cinema. George Jaffe is leaving this week for his annual winter vacation in Hot Springs. . . Washington C. A. Neeper, national representa- tive for Harold Lloyd, was a visitor at the Paramount Exchange. Charles J. Brennan, one-time ex- ploiteer for Universal, later manager of Warner's Metropolitan, has joined the local staff of United Artists. Edmund Plohn has replaced Stephen E. Cochran as manager of the National. Edward deS. Melcher, formerly dramatic editor of The Evening Star, has arrived in Hollywood. Harrold A. Weinberger, lately office manager for M-G-M, has gone to Hollywood. Hardie Meaktn, manager of RKO- Keith's, tossed a luncheon for RKO's George Gerhard, and division man- ager, Jim Brennan. Rudolph Berger, branch manager for M-G-M, is back at his desk after throat and eye operations. John J. Payette of Warner the- atres has been ill with the prevailing malady. Cleveland, Feb. 7. — All Cleveland theatres held a midnight performance Friday night at the RKO Palace for the benefit of flood sufferers. This in- cluded Loew's RKO, Warners, repre- senting the first run and affiliated the- atres and the Cleveland M. P. Exhibi- tors' Ass'n., representing the indepen- dent theatres in the Greater Cleveland area. Twenty acts, composed of lead- , ing members of "On Your Toes" cur- rently playing the Hanna, the stage revue on the RKO Palace program, and stars of local night clubs donated their services. Stage hands, projec- tionists and theatre employes also con- tributed their time. In addition to the stage show, there was a preview of M-G-M's "Dangerous Number." The show opened with a speech by Mayor Harold Burton. Admission was $1. Report 585 British Defaults on Quotas London, Jan. 29. — In the four years to September, 1935, 585 exhibitors failed to show the statutory percent- age of British films. In 42 cases, cer- tificates of exemption were granted. In four years to March, 1936, 29 cases of default by distributors were re- corded. There were no exemptions granted. The figures were given in the House of Commons today by Dr. Burgin, parliamentary secretary to the Board of Trade. He declined to say whether action had been or would be taken in cases of default not condoned by a certificate from the B. O. T. Loew's to Continue Thursday Openings Loew's change to Thursday open- ings instead of Fridays will be per manent, according to C. C. Moskowitz All theatres will not play pictures five days on the long split and two days on the short, it was stated. Many houses will continue the four and three-day bookings and still other houses two, three and two-day weeks All first, second and third run houses are now on a Thursday change arrangement with 17 odd run theatres switching within the next few weeks. Cincinnati Houses Reopen Cincinnati, Feb. 7. — Amusement- starved citizens flocked to the local houses which opened from 10 A. M. to 5 P. M. on Thursday, and resumed regular operating schedules on Fri- day, after having been dark for 10 days to help conserve power during the flood emergency. Business began building Friday, as the natives finished their urgent shopping needs. "Happy Days Are Here Again" was the cap- tion carried on RKO theatre newspa- per advertisements. See $1,000 in Seattle Seattle, Feb. 7. — A minimum of $1,000 for the Red Cross flood relief fund has been promised local officials by John Hamrick, as the contribution of the theatre and film industry of this locality. Hamrick, as chairman of the industry's division of a special flood relief committee, is supervising collec- tions. Surveys Flood Area Washington, Feb. 7. — Sam Ga- lanty, midwest division manager for Columbia, is making a complete sur- vey of the Cincinnati and Pittsburgh areas to check on flood area theatres. Portsmouth Opening Delayed Cleveland, Feb. 7. — Nat Wolf, Warner zone manager, who has been commuting between Cleveland and the flood areas, reports that, in his opinion, the Portsmouth houses will not be in condition to reopen within a month. Circuit Has Flood Shows Columbus, O., Feb. 7.— The North- ern, Garden, Alhambra, Hudson, Grandview, Empress and Ogden,_ sub- urban units of the Chesbrough circuit here, donated an entire evening's re- ceipts to the Red Cross for flood relief. Lundgren Rites Held Chicago, Feb. 7. — Funeral services for Charles Lundgren, Warner sales- man were held Friday. Lundgren died suddenly from a heart attack. He was widely known in film circles lyre having been on the sales staff of nu ly major companies. Date "Earth" in Chicago Loew's has set the first roadshow engagement of "The Good Earth", fol- lowing the current Astor engagement, for the Apollo in Chicago on Feb. 20. Other dates are the New Locust, Philadelphia, Feb. 21 and the Colonial, Boston, March 8, Hold Mrs. Maloney Rites Worcester, Feb. 7. — Funeral ser- vices for Mrs. William Henry Ma- loney, 86, mother of H. M. Maloney, were held here yesterday. Maloney is the Poli manager, recently transferred from a similar position at the Poli in New Haven, . . And watch the way the 'G-Men' producers start another success cycle rolling this month with the first story of the Junior G-Men, that spunky group of young Americans now win- ning as much national favor as the heroes who inspire them. Booth Tarkington wrote it and none other than little 'Anthony Adverse' himself, Billy Mauch, is star! Yessir, you'll find seven reels of rousing family appeal in this latest addition to the Famous February Four— and another big reason why every night is Bank Night with WARNER BROS. MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, February 8, 1937 Variety Club Omaha Omaha, Feb. 7. — Joe Jacobs, pub- licity chairman of the Omaha tent of the Variety Club, says efforts are being made to bring either John B. Kennedy or M. H. Aylesworth to Omaha as a speaker for the national convention of the Variety Club April 17 and 18. The convention will take over the entire mezzanine floor of the Hotel Fontenelle, including the grand ball- room, balcony and smaller dining rooms, for the miniature circus, mid- way and side shows the local club is planning as an entertainment feature. Letters have gone out to all chief barkers of local tents seeking their cooperation to make the convention a success. Irish Houses Fight British Penetration London, Jan. 29. — The Irish Cin- ema and Theatre Ass'n, of the Irish Free State, is to associate itself with a movement originated by the National Agricultural and Industrial Develop- ment Ass'n to protect the Irish the- atre field from "penetration" by Brit- ish circuit interest. A national con- ference of exhibiting interests is to be held, which will discuss, among other matters, offers made to Dublin the- ate owners for control of their houses by British circuits. "To prevent the same kind of finan- cial disruption as has been occasioned in England" is the declared object of the movement. It is asserted that com- petition with English combines, with a price-cutting policy, would seriously affect Irish industry wages, which are declared to be 50 to 100 per cent high- er than in England. An all-Irish news- reel is one of the objects aimed at by the movement. THEATRE ACCOUNTING by WILLIAM F. MORRIS (C.P.A.) Tells all the facta about your business each week. • Payroll data for Social Security Taxes. • Profit at a glance — Daily or Weekly. • All expenses deducted — In- cluding Rent, Taxes and Depreciation. • Complete record of ad- vance bookings. • Itemized Schedule of "All Assets and Equipment with Table of Depreciation Rates. • Does not require a book- keeper to handle it. $3 ENOUGH FOR A FULL YEAR'S BOOKKEEPING QUIGLEY BOOKSHOP ROCKEFELLER CENTER NEW YORK MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Time Out for Romance" {Twentieth Century-Fox) Hollywood, Feb. 6. — Fun in a cross-country auto caravan is the key- note of this film. The thin, but pleasant, quality of the story, bolstered by the capable performances of Claire Trevor, Michael Whalen, Chick Chandler, Douglas Fowley, Bennie Bartlett, William Griffith, William Demarest, Lelah Taylor and Joan Davis, who steals the show; the story by Eleanore Griffith and William Rankin, fashioned into a screenplay by Lou Breslow and John Patrick, ripples with clever dialogue and builds interesting situations. Malcolm St. Clair directed, causing the laughs to come fast and often. The plot involves Miss Trevor, who is running away from marriage. She hitch-hikes a ride in Whalen's caravan-car and there ensues breezy fun which is participated in by all the cast. Tourists think Miss Trevor is a gangster's moll and she, while hiding her true identity, thinks Whalen to be a jewel thief. The mixup is ironed out when Miss Trevor's father, played by Andrew Tombes, shows up to claim his daughter and also to toss her into jail with Whalen, where she will be safe from trouble. The light and wholesome amusement of the show should strengthen a weak program and make a good one better. Production Code Seal No. 3,014. Running time, 70 minutes. "G." Looking 'Em Over "Les Mysteres de Paris" ("The Mysteries of Paris") {Franco- American) From the famed novel of Eugene Sue, Felix Gaudera, the producer, has fashioned a shocker type of melodrama, laden with all the heavy atmosphere which attached to the seamy side of the Paris of the early 19th Century. It would seem on occasion that too great an effort has been made to provide the most sinister appearing characters, to paint their cut- throat activities in almost too depressing a light, for the maximum in entertainment value. Also, there are not enough English subtitle trans- lations to permit the viewer lacking a knowledge of French to follow many of the details of the film's plot. These two factors tend to in- dicate the picture's market as the foreign language house exclusively. The cast is strong for the most part, but of course unknown here. In essentials, the story concerns the wife of a prince of a mythical duchy, who refuses to permit him to see their child when she is ordered from the castle. A lapse of years finds him the king, spending his time discovering how the other half lives in the depths of Paris. His friend- ship for a young girl, when he saves her from mistreatment, the efforts to do away with her, and the final revelation that she is his own daugh- ter, pursued by her mother unknowingly, when the latter fears the girl's friendship with the king, make up the plot. No production code seal. Running time, 88 minutes. "A." "Spain in Flames" {Amkino) A compilation of material gathered, it is said, in part by official Span- ish Government cameramen and for the most part by the photographers of Soviet Russia, this film graphically points out that "War is Hell," but does so in a decidedly one-sided fashion. The side is indicated by the Russian origin of most of the camera work. Graphic indeed many parts of the picture are, especially when the blood-spattered bodies of women and children are shown in the heaps of rubbish which once were Madrid homes, but throughout the film is the breath of Moscow inspiration, exemplified in the continuous rais- ing of clenched fists. The audience at New York's film center of Com- munism, the Cameo, responded vigorously with cheers. Not for a moment to condone the activites of the hordes of Mussolini and Hitler "volunteers" and their activties in the Spanish war, this is nonetheless not an unbiased series of war shots, but one which has been devised and is presented with a definite and obvious purpose. The Soviet cameramen covered Madrid, Valencia and the Guaderramo Mountains, and the results are for those whose sympathies lie not so much for the defenders of beleaguered Madrid as for the system which they represent. Actually, the film is neither above nor below average. No production code seal. Running time, 65 minutes. "A." Short Subjects "Hollywood; The Second Step" {M-G-M) More interesting adventures of Jane Barnes as she seeks her place on the screen. Her contract as a stand-in through, she registers with Central Casting and gets extra work again. There is a small talking bit in a test and finally she gets a minor part. At the preview she sadly discovers her art has been eliminated. But hope rises again when she is engaged for the lead in a new film. These shorts have appeal. Well produced, they should be welcomed by the masses. Production Code Seal No. 2,867. Run- ning time, 10 mins. "G." "Everybody Sing" { U niversal) Contented Birdville is tunefully thriving, a condition enhanced by the fact that Oswald, the cartoon rabbit, and his band are playing at the local inn. Terror in the form of a trio of crows swoops in and they proceed to ransack the peaceful hamlet. Oswald, however, after some slam-bang action drives off the raiders. An excellent item for children's programs. Should amuse adults, too. Production Code Seal No. 2,866. Running time, 7 mins. "G." "Screen Snapshots, Series 16 No. 4" {Columbia) The picturesque eating places about Hollywood are toured in the first part of this diverting item. Next Warren William's home where one of his in- ventions is shown. A baby party at Arline Judge's, some cricket practice by David Niven and Nigel Bruce with Merle Oberon looking on and finally a parade of the now defunct McLag- len Light Horse Troop. Production Code Seal No. 2,543. Running time, 10 mins. "G." Wall Street Liqht Gains on Board Net High Low Close Change 3554 3554 35J4 + 54 Columbia, pfd 4554 45 45 Consolidated Film 554 554 5J4 Consolidated, pfd. 17 \m 17 + 54 Eastman Kodak.. 17454 174 174 + 34 Eastman, pfd 161 161 161 + 54 General Theatre Loew's, Inc 3254 3254 3254 — 54 mi 76-4 77Vs +m Paramount 2754 2654 27 + 54 Paramount 1 pfd. ...190 190 190 +2 Paramount 2 pfd. 2454 24J4 2454 + 54 Pathe Film 954 m °54 + 54 RKO 854 854 854 + 54 20th Century- Fox 36 35?4 35J4 20th Century, pfd. 4454 4454 4454 + 54 Warner Bros 1554 15 1554 Curb Rises Fractionally Net High Low Close Change 354 % 254 20J4 4/2 Grand National... 354 Sentry Safety 1 Sonotone 254 Technicolor 2054 Trans Lux 454 354 1 254 2054 454 + 54 +1/16 + 54 + 54 Bonds Unchanged Net High Low Close Change Loew's 354s '46...10054 10054 10054 Paramount Pic- tures 6s '55 10054 IOO54 10054 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 9954 9954 9954 (Quotations at close of Feb. 6.) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Where Grosses Gained and LosH 1935- '36 City Period Boston Sept. 5- Jan. Buffalo Sept. 5-Jan. Chicago Sept. 5-Jan. Cincinnati Oct. 4- Jan. Cleveland Sept. 6-Jan. Denver Sept. S-Dec. Detroit Sept. 5-Jan. Houston Oct. 3- Jan. Kansas City Sept. 5-Jan. Indianapolis Sept. 5-Jan. Lincoln Oct. 3-Dec. Los Angeles Sept. 5-Jan. Louisville Oct. 3- Jan. Milwaukee Oct. 3-Dec. Minneapolis Sept. 5-Jan. Montreal Sept. 5-Jan. New Haven Oct. 3-Jan. Oklahoma City... Sept. 5-Jan. Omaha Sept. 5-Dec. Philadelphia Sept. 5-Jan. Pittsburgh Sept. 5-Jan. Portland Sept. 5-Jan. Providence Sept. 5-Jan. San Francisco Sept. 5-Jan. Seattle Sept. 5-Dec. St. Louis Oct. 3 -Jan. St. Paul Sept. 5-Jan. Washington Sept. 5-Jan. Total 3 $1,704,500 753,139 2 2,218,300 ! 811,500 3 947,370 470,800 2 1,360,300 310,700 755,700 496,700 SI 164,400 2 1,596,651 350,900 369,260 504,800 783,500 304,400 253,825 371,150 2 1,529,150 3. 31.. 1.. 3.. 1... 4.. 31. 830,120 5 551,100 2 770,300 3 1,446,675 31. 596,100 723,700 2 319,600 2 1,364,700 Total $21,708,740 1936-'37 t ^ ^ Period Total Sept. 5-Jan. 2 $1,810,200 Sept. 5-Jan. 2 917,821 Sept. 5-Jan. 2 2,532,600 Oct. 3-Jan. 2 805,750* Sept. 5-Jan. 2 1,067,180 Sept. 5-Jan. 2 665,500 Sept. 5-Jan. 2 1,393,000 Oct. 3-Jan. 2 389,000 Sept. 4-Jan. 2 737,900* Sept. 4- Jan. 1 535,700 Oct. 3-Jan. 2 162,585* Sept. 4-Dec. 30 1,771,587 Oct. 3-Jan. 3 334,600* Oct. 3-Jan. 3 337,500* Sept. 4- Jan. 2 563,450 Sept. 4-Jan. 2 786,500 Oct. 3-Jan. 1 322,800 Sept. 4-Jan. 2 267,800 Sept. 4-Jan. 3 466,700 Sept. 4-Jan. 2 1,609,650 Sept. 4-Jan. 2 933,795 Sept. 4-Jan. 1 654,850 Sept. 4-Jan. 2 758,700* Sept. 4-Jan. 2 1,626,820 Sept. 4-Jan. 2 714,800 Oct. 4-Jan. 2 897,525 Sept. 4-Jan. 2 312,200* Sept. 4-Jan. 2 1,327,800* Total $24,704,313 *Loss. Monday, February 8, 1937 Grosses Gain 13.8% in 28 I Keys for Year {Continued from page 1) some surprises. Eight of the 28 keys 1 did less business in the 1936 season than they did the year before. These cities were Cincinnati, Kansas City, Lincoln, Louisville, Milwaukee, Provi- dence, St. Paul and Washington. In Kansas City, Lincoln, Milwaukee and St. Paul this may have been due \ to the drought in the wheat growing country, but the falling off in Cin- cinnati, Louisville, Milwaukee and Washington cannot be explained. Cin- cinnati shared in the general industrial pickup, Louisville general business was good and Washington had more Gov- ernment employes than ever before. The falling off in Providence is be- lieved to have been due to the over- whelming popularity of horse racing with pari mutuel betting, a novelty in New England. Mother of Momand In Suit of Her Own (Continued from page 1) local attorney who also represents her son. Ryan filed the latest action here fol- lowing his return from Oklahoma City where A. B. Momand's suits were postponed a few days ago by the unex- pected death of U. S. Circuit Court Judge Tilman Johnson. That case now has been transferred to a special term of the Federal court in Denver for Feb. 16. The suit for Mrs. Momand was en- tered here because service can be made against all major distributors locally. Her claim is that she had been op- erating the Odeon, Shawnee, Okla., since July 15, 1931, and alleges an "unlawful combination and conspiracy to restrain and to monopolize inter- state trade and commerce in motion picture films." Triple damages are sought. Mochrie Resigns Warner Sales Post (Continued from page 1) was appointed general sales manager, Mochrie was named in charge of the east. Sears told Motion Picture Daily on Saturday he had not determined upon any successor. Iowa I.T.O. Annual Meeting Feb. 15-16 (Continued from page 1) will be opposition to proposed adverse legislation by the Iowa legislature this session. The Bank Night bill, admis- sion tax, booth labor bill and censor- ship are some of the proposed pieces of legislation. Research Council Meets Hollywood, Feb. 7. — The Academy Research Council, at its first quarterly meeting of the year, approved the com- pleted report on standards for theatres, inaugurated a new project for stand- ardization of framing, and approved the progress reports of several techni- cal committees. Luncheon Concludes Review Board Meet The National Board of Review con- cluded its three-day 13th annual con- ference at the Hotel Pennsylvania on Saturday, with the 22nd annual con- ference luncheon. A number of stars of the screen, stage and radio were present and numerous prominent figures in vari- ous fields spoke. Among the speakers were Fritz Lang, director ; Will Irwin, author ; F. Trubee Davison, president of the American Museum of Natural History; Dr. Clarence Cook Little, managing director of the American Society for the Control of Cancer ; Langdon Post, Tenement House Com- missioner of New York ; Mrs. Johanna M. Lindlof of the New York Board of Education, and Frederick Feher, director of "The Robber Symphony." Irwin's talk was a vigorous attack on censorship against any form of liter- ary effort. L. E. Bowman, chairman of the luncheon, read messages from Presi- dent Roosevelt and Mayor LaGuardia. During the morning session on Sat- urday, the Young Reviewers unit of the National Board viewed a new film at the 20th Century-Fox home office, reviewed the film and held a discussion of it. Several hundred dele- gates from all parts of the country attended the conference, called one of its most successful by National Board executives. Caffey Issues Order On Hearing for Roxy (Continued from page 1) and equitable by the court and adopted. Judge Caffey's order also directed the stockholders and creditors to show whether the company is solvent or in- solvent and whether or not stock- holders have a right to participate in the plan. The order directs the trustee to mail the plan to all interested par- ties on Feb. 20 after advertising notice of the March 5 hearing and sets forth that a list of creditors of the Roxy may be had by application to the court. Manufacturers Trust Co. was des- ignated depository for bondholders' assents to the plan, and Halsey, Stu- art & Co. for the noteholders. Loew's to Start New House in the Bronx Loew's will have another new the- atre in the Bronx, a 1,200-seat house, at Fenton Ave. and Boston Road. Construction will get under way imme- diately with July 1 scheduled as the date of opening. Although Loew's has a long-term ground lease on the site, actual build- ing will be handled by an outside com- pany. Harry Moskowitz, head of the circuit's construction department, will supervise from plans drafted by Thomas Lamb. The last theatre taken over by Loew in the local area was the Boston Road, in the same zone, from Henry Seigel a few years ago. There is no intention to give up this house, according to Charles C. Moskowitz. Educational to Vote Upon Changes Today (Continued from page 1) tion. Under the plan accrued divi- dends on the outstanding preferred would be eliminated by an exchange of new shares for the old, while com- mon shareholders will receive warrants to buy new common at $10 per share. The new capitalization of the com- pany would be $1,500,000 and 150,000 shares of common. The plan also provides for the dis- solution of six of the present nine subsidiaries of Educational Pictures. Town Abandons Games Kansas City, Feb. 7. — Theatres at Ottawa, Kan., have abandoned all money .giveaways, including Bank Night, following the order of Attor- ney General Clarence V. Beck to county attorneys. Beck issued the order after the Kansas Supreme Court declined to review its decision holding Bank Night a lottery. RCA Estimates '36 Net RCA, prior to its stockholders' meeting which is scheduled for April 6, has estimated its gross income for 1936 at $101,850,000, an increase of 14.1 per cent over 1935. The company's official audit has not yet been com- pleted. Para's Reply In; Finishes MPTO Agenda (Continued from page 1) Grand National, G-B, Republic and Monogram, have indicated that they will cooperate with the M. P. T. O. A. movement and several of them may make formal written statements later. Paramount authorizes the cancella- tion of 10 per cent of the total number of features contracted for on 10 days' written notice by the exhibitor after a picture's availability. It is restricted to exhibitors who are not in default on their contracts at the time the can- cellation is sought. Clearance is held by Paramount to be a matter of negotiation between buyer and seller. The company states that it recognizes that clearance should not be "excessive," but asserts that it is a subject which cannot be left to the determination of local conciliation boards. Overbuying is held to be "a problem between exhibitors" and one over which the distributor has no control. Unfair cut-rate competition is placed in the same category by Paramount, but it states that the company has in- sisted upon "reasonable minimum ad- missions" and has refused to license situations which might result in unfair competition or injury to a customer's business. Standard Agreement Rejected The statement declares against the licensing of non-theatrical accounts which compete with established thea- tres. It rejects both the proposed standard license agreement and the short form of contract prescribed by the M. P. T. O. A. on both legal grounds and those of company policy. Paramount holds the designation of preferred play-dates to be a matter of negotiation between buyer and seller on a fair basis and declines to permit the subject to be delegated to a local conciliation board in the event it gives rise to a dispute. It asserts that it expects a customer "to take at least the same proportion of our short sub- jects as they do of our features." Distributors to Aid Conciliation's Start (Continued from page \) the pace at which other boards are added. With home offices giving their branch managers authorization to par- ticipate in the setting up of the boards, all that will remain to be done will be the selection of a mutually agree- able slate of conciliators by the local exhibitors and branch managers and the establishment of headquarters for the boards. Exhibitors probably will submit a slate of nominees to the branch managers and, if any are not acceptable, alternate nominees may be submitted by either exhibitors or branch managers until a mutually agreeable slate has been agreed upon. Some official opinion holds that the Philadelphia board may be completed by the end of this week. Paramount, whose reply to the M. P. T. O. A. trade practice program is made public today, is the seventh major distributor to - approve the boards. MOTION PICTURE DAILY . RADIO i Radio Personals ► DR. and Mrs. H. L. Mendenhall are now in New York, visiting. Dr. Mendenhall is a research engineer for the Bell Laboratories in Alaska . . . Little Jackie Heller, now in England, will be heard from London Feb. 11 on the "Jamboree" program . . . Phil Lord may go into a sanatorium for a four- week rest . . . Edward Everett Horton will guest appear on Bing Crosby's "Music Hall" Feb. 11 . . . Jack Inger- soll, WINS sports announcer, will address the Manchester Dartmouth Alumni Association next week. . . . + Ben Bernie will guest appear on Jack Benny's program Feb. 14 . . . Frank Black, NBC maestro, is en- deavoring to break Andre Kostela- netz's air record. Every week Black takes the United Airline Skylounge to Chicago for a Monday night broadcast and then returns to New York for broadcasts here . . . Lotte Lehmann has been set for a Ford "Sunday Evening Hour" performance Feb. 14 . . . Mar- garet Horan will be interviewed by Jeff Sparks on WOR's "Harmonia Interlude" net Sunday. . . . WMCA to Emphasize Films More attention will be paid to films, particularly to current films, by WMCA and affiliated stations of the Inter-City network, beginning with Harry Hershfield's return to the sta- tion today. Martin Starr, film critic and com- mentator for Inter- City for some months past has been doubling as the- atre critic as well, filling Hershfield's spot while the latter has been in Hol- lywood working for Warners. With the return of Hershfield, Starr will be relieved of the theatrical routine, per- mitting him to devote more time to screen comments and picture reviews. Rockefeller Address Set John D. Rockefeller, Jr., will make one of his rare public addresses Wed- nesday at 9:30 p. m., E.S.T., when he extends greetings to those who at- tended meetings of National Preach- ing Missions throughout the country during the past few months. Over the NBC-Blue network. WTMJ at Milwaukee Gets $38,351 Fund Milwaukee, Feb. 7. — WTMJ, the Milwaukee Journal station, in four evening benefit broadcasts, succeeded in raising $38,351 for flood relief. In each instance, the broadcasts continued for several hours and names of con- tributors were announced over the ra- dio. In connection with one of the broad- casts, the entire Riverside stage show, including Lee Roth's Orchestra, pre- sented an hour broadcast from the Journal studios. One and a half carloads of meat and foodstuffs donated by WTMJ listen- ers as a result of appeals by Heinie, of the Grenadiers, were shipped by the Red Cross to the flood zone in addi- tion to a carload of clothing. John Olson served as master of ceremonies for. the broadcasts which included a host of WTMJ stars. Carpenter Promises To 'Vindicate' WHK Cleveland, Feb. 7.— H. K. Car- penter, director of WHK, today stated that he will issue a statement vindicat- ing the station of charges of censor- ship and breach of contract made by the Automobile Workers Union and by the American Civil Liberties Union when present existing conditions are settled. Under the present unsettled circumstances he will not comment for publication, he said. H. K. Carpenter's statement is in answer to the story which appeared in Motion Picture Daily Feb. 3. The American Civil Liberties Union had stated it had wired WHK protesting censorship talks made by officials of the Automobile Workers Union, and the "unwarranted" termination of the contract between the strikers and the station when Lewis Spisak, president of the Cleveland strikers' local, was abruptly cut off the air while reading verbatim from a script that presum- ably had already been censored and ap- proved by the station. New "Hollywood" Shows The "Hollywood Hotel" schedule for Feb. 19 and Feb. 26 will offer re- enactments from the current "Black Legion" and from the forthcoming "Internes Can't Take Money." Hum- phrey Bogart and Ann Sheridan will be heard in scenes from "Black Leg- ion" Feb. 19, while Joel McCrea and Barbara Stanwyck will offer high- lights from "Internes Can't Take Money." WOR Reports Renewals R. H. Macy & Co. renews Martha Manning's program on WOR begin- ning Feb. 12. The program is heard Mondays through Fridays at 8 :30 a.m. Additionally on WOR, the Anderson Co. will present Frank Singiser in Transradio news readings beginning Feb. 14 at 10 a. m. The program was previously broadcast at 11 a. m. Cecil Lewis, B. B. C, Arrives Cecil Lewis, English author and vice-president of the British Broad- casting Co., arrived in New York Fri- day aboard the Rex and left for Cali- fornia by plane yesterday. Re-Sign Kirberry, Reisers Ralph Kirberry and Al and Lee Reiser, who broadcast over WEAF Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for the Thomas J. Lipton Tea Co., have been renewed for 13 weeks be- ginning Feb. 17. Frank Presbrey Co. is the agency. Mutual Billings Up The Mutual network time billings for January, 1937, exceed last year's revenue for the month by 12.7 per cent. This year's billings were $187,362, as compared with $166,266 for January, 1935. George Engelter Goes to WIRE Des Moines, Feb. 7. — George En- gelter, traffic manager of the Iowa network, shifts to WIRE, Indian- apolis, in a similar capacity, beginning next week. Bernie West for Talent Herman Bernie will leave Wednes- day for the Coast to book guest stars for the American Can program. Those P. A.'s Again Florence Hurlbut, who made the front pages when Harold Hulen chained himself to a hallway radiator and staged a sit-down strike to win her hand in marriage, was brought to New York by the Gulf Co., sponsors of Phil Baker's pro- gram, for an air appearance on the show yesterday. What the sponsor may not have known is that the hall- way sit-down strike is a pub- licity stunt cooked up by Tom Fizdale, Chicago press agent, who handles the publicity for Excelsior Springs, site of the strike. Gibbons Retraction Is Not Forthcoming Cincinnati, Feb. 7. — Cincinnatians listened in vain for a radio retraction from Floyd Gibbons, requested from Colgate-Palmolive-Peet Co., sponsors, by city officials, mercantile organiza- tions and the Red Cross, who charged him with an inaccurate and exagger- ated description of local flood condi- tions in his weekly broadcast of "True Adventures," over the Columbia net- work through its local affiliate, WKRC, on Jan. 31, from 10 to 10:30 P. M. Gibbons, however, paid tribute to the manner in which Cincinnati car- ried on during the flood emergency, and complimented the city on again being back to practically a normal basis in many ways. Benton and Bowles, agents for the program, refused comment when asked what action had been taken by the agency and client in response to the protest. Will Have Hawaii Program Beginning Feb. 20 and alternating Saturdays thereafter, the Mutual net- work will present a half-hour pro- gram, 10 to 10:30 P. M., E.S.T., from KGMB, Honolulu. The series will be known as "Hawaiian Serenades" and will feature native music and en- tertainers. Waring a Good Scout Fred Waring's Orchestra will be heard in a special program over CBS Feb. 11 at 5 :15 p. m., E.S.T., in be- half of Boy Scout Week. Waring has also arranged to be heard in a Boy Scout program over NBC. Both programs are his per- sonal contribution to the scout cause. To Renew "David Harum" "David Harum," five-times-weekly drama sponsored by B. T. Babbitt Co., will be renewed over 21 NBC- Red stations beginning Feb. 22. Blackett-Sample-Hummert is the agency. General Electric to Use WBT A three-time-weekly program, Tues- days, Thursdays and Saturdays, will be sponsored by the General Electric Co. over WBT, CBS station in Char- lotte, N. C, beginning Feb. 16. "Red" Barber to Handle Shows Cincinnati, Feb. 7. — "Red" Bar- ber, sports announcer for WLW and WSAI, has taken on the added duties of directing several shows at both sta- tions. Monday, February 8, 1937 WPG, Atlantic City, Has Net of $69,747 Atlantic City, Feb. 7— WPG, this city's municipally-owned and operated broadcasting station, took in $69,747.- 01 from commercial business last year, according to the annual report com- pleted today by Manager Norman Reed. Total expenses were $74,911.40, so the total operating loss, aside from de- preciation, was $5,164.39. This con- trasted with an annual loss of $16,- 000 during a five-year lease to CBS, Reed declared. The station was on the air 5,034 hours. "Look" Turns to Radio Des Moines, Feb. 7. — Look, the new monthly picture magazine pub- lished by Gardner Cowles, Jr., execu- tive editor of the Des Moines Register and Tribune, has added radio to its advertising campaign, beginning with a test campaign of spot announce- ments. If results warrant, radio pro- grams will instituted later. The first spot schedule includes WBNS, Col- umbus; WFBM, Indianapolis, and WCAE and WJAS, Pittsburgh. Other stations may be added this week. Dave Nowinson, publicity director for the magazine and for ■ the Iowa network, is in charge of the campaign. WKRC Increases Service Cincinnati, Feb. 7. — Telephone calls at WKRC, Columbia affiliate, have been so numerous during the flood that three new trunk lines have been added to the six normally in op- eration. The station stays on the air until three o'clock each morning and is continuing to render aid to flood suf- ferers. Manager Timothy Goodman has received hundreds of letters from listeners all over the country express- ing appreciation of the special flood broadcasts. U. of P. to Honor Ormandy Philadelphia, Feb. 7. — The hon- orary degree of doctor of music will be conferred on Eugene Ormandy by the University of Pennsylvania on Feb. 13 at the midyear convocation. Or- mandy has been conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra since Oct. 1, and directs the symphonic group on the CBS air show for the bank spon- sors. To Do New Blackface Act Hollywood, Feb. 7. — 'Lasses White and Honey Wilds, billed as 'Lasses and Honey, will inaugurate a new blackface comedy skit over KEHE and the CRS chain Monday. The show will be heard five nights a week beginning at 7 P.M., Pacific Time. Charter New Radio Firm Wilmington, Feb. 7. — Associated Broadcasting Co. has been incorpo- rated at Dover to operate a broadcast- ing station. Capital is listed at 100 $1,000 shares. Incorporators are M. C. Swearer, M. L. Geisbert and A. G. Foulk of Wilmington. Peabody to Do New Series Hollywood, Feb. 7. — Eddie Pea- body gets in from a series of stage engagements in the North on Feb. 10 to start a series of air programs over KFWB. Acceptance NEW YORK LO N DO N CH ICAGO ' HOLLYWOOD ESTABLISHED 1898 WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY I N C. ROCKEFELLER CENTER 1270 SIXTH AVENUE NEW YORK EXECUTIVE OFFICES January 26, 1937 Mr. James Cron Motion Picture Daily 1270 Sixth Avenue New York City My dear Mr. Cron: Up-to-the-minute radio news is of benefit to every branch of radio. Our compliments to you and to the Radio News Department of the Motion Picture Daily. Sincerely, OP Wililam Morris MOTION PICTURE DAILY ROCKEFELLER CENTER NEW YORK MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, February 8, 1937 64 Champagne," Show $50,500 Chicago Smash Chicago, Feb. 7. — "Champagne Waltz" with the aid of Veloz and Yolanda neared a record at the Chi- cago. The gross was $50,500, above average by $18,500. With better weather and no hindrance from health regulations, which prohibited standees in the lobby, the gross woulcf have been somewhat higher. As it was, extra shows were given daily to take care of the crowds. At the United Artists "Camille" did terrific business to double the average gross for a big $30,000. A swell ad- vertising campaign helped. Other houses doing better than av- erage were the Oriental with "Banjo On My Knee," "Rembrandt" at the Apollo and "After the Thin Man" at the Garrick. The latter came to the Garrick after four big weeks at the U. A. The State-Lake did well wjth "Join the Marines" and grossed a neat $17,300. Cold weather and snow hurt grosses some, but business in the Loop has shown a strong comeback the past 10 days and continues to look good. Total first run business was $162,- 000. Average is $118,000. Estimated takings : Week Ending Feb. 4: "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS — (1,700), 35c-55c-7Sc, 7 days. Gross: $30,000. (Average, $15,000) "GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN" (W.B.) ROOSEVELT— (1,591), 35c-55c-75c, 6 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $11,000) Week Ending Feb. 4: "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) PALACE— (2,509), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days, 2nd week. Stage: James Melton in person and revue. Gross: $17,700. (Average, $19,000) "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ" (Para.) CHICAGO— (4,000), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Veloz and Yolanda in person and revue. Gross: $50,500. (Average, $32,000) "BANJO ON MY KNEE" (20th-Fox) ORIENTAL — (3,490), 35c-55c, 7 days. Stage: "Hawaiian Follies." Gross: $18,800. (Average, $15,000) "REMBRANDT" (U.A.) APOLLO— (1,400), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $8,800. (Average, $6,500) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) GARRICK— (900), 35c-S5c-75c, 7 days, 5th Loop week. Gross: $9,900. (Average, $6,500) Week Ending Feb. 5: "JOIN THE MARINES" (Republic) STATE-LAKE — (2,776), 20c-35c-40c, 7 days. Stage: Rex Weber and revue. Gross: $17,300. (Average, $13,000) Marvin Townsend III Detroit, Feb. 7. — Marvin Town- send, Butterfield circuit booker, is seriously ill in Herman Kiefer Hos- pital here. Charles Perry, manager of the Adams, was taken to a hospital when he slipped on some ice in a parking lot and broke his leg. William G. Bishop, whose wife and son died of pneumonia during the holidays and who has been seriously ill with the same ailment, is reported to be out of danger, but still confined to the hos- pital. RCA Issues New Book RCA Photophone has prepared and sent to all recording licensees a binder- type book containing all necessary in- formation for the installation and use of the RCA recording channel, in easily accessible form, and permitting the insertion of new or revised pages. Out Hollywood Way Hollywood, Feb. 7. — Sonja Henie's next for 20th Century-Fox will be "Thin Ice," an original by Melville Baker. Laurence Schwab will produce. Robert Lockwood, well known art- ist, added to art department of Selz- nick International. . . . Lela Rogers returns from eastern talent hunt for Radio. . . . "Internes Can't Take Money" stopped second time at Para- mount due to illness of Barbara Stan- wyck and Joel McCrea. . . . "Danger, Men Working" held up because of Lew Ayres' illness. . . . "The Luck of the Irish" next for Pat O'Brien, Warners. . . . Vladimir Sokolow here to work for Warners. Lew Landers finished "Wings of Mercy" at Radio two days ahead of schedule. . . . Dean Jaggers changes his name to Dean Jefferys. . . . Wil- liam Dieterle to finish directing "The Prince and the Pauper," Warners, for William Ketghley, who is sick. . . . As sequel to "The Old Mill Pond," Harman-Ising will make "Swing Wedding" in color. + Casting — Charles Winninger in "Cafe Metropole," 20th Century-Fox. . . . Norman Willis in "Midnight Taxie," same studio. . . . Helen Jer- ome Eddy in "Special Orders" and Greta Meyers in "Steel," Republic. . . . Eduardo Cianelli, Kane Rich- mond and Colin Tapley in "The Girl from Scotland Yard," Major. . . . Rosalind Keith and Charles Quig- ley in leads of "Honeymoon Pilot," Columbia. Robert McWade in "Private En- emy," 20th Century-Fox. . . . Patri- cia Ellis and Craig Reynolds in "The Hobo and the Heiress," and Jane Darwell in "The Singing Ma- rine," Warners. . . . John Boles in "Stella Dallas," Samuel Goldwyn. . . . Irving Pichell, Jack Clifford and Lucien Littlefield in "High, Wide and Handsome," Paramount. + Writers — Robert E. Cohen signed to term contract, Columbia. . . . Al- bert Treynor and Jeff Moffit as- signed to adapt "There's Always a Woman," Same studio. . . . Dwight Taylor signed by Columbia to do screenplay of "The Awful Truth.". . . Frederick Lonsdale off to Palm Springs. . . . He will write the screen- play for "Kiss in the Sun," Samuel Goldwyn. + Directors — Gus Meins signed by Nat Levine for "The Hit Parade," next for Republic. + Title Change — "Trapped" is new title for Columbia's "Raiding Guns." + Story Buy — David Garth's "Don't Forget to Remember" acquired by Radio. Champagne" Hits ,000 in Denver DenIver, Feb. 7. — "Champagne Waltz" got off to a flying start at the Denham and piled up a gross of $9,000, exactly double par for the house. It was held over. "Three Smart Girls" also was in the money with a gross of $9,500 at the Denver. This was $2,000 to the good. The picture was moved to the Broad- way for another week. Other houses failed to stand up under the competi- tion. Total first run business was $30,000. Average is $26,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 4: "BELOVED ENEMY" (U. A.) ALADDIN— (1,500), 25c-40c-50c, 7 days, following a week at the Denver. Gross: $1,500. (Average, $3,000) "REMBRANDT" (U. A.) BROADWAY — (1,500), 25c-40c, 7 days, fol- lowing a week at the Aladdin. Gross: $1,500. (Average, $2,000) "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ" (Para.) DENHAM— (1,500), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $4,500) "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) DENVER— (2,500), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Stage band. Gross: $9,500. (Average, $7,500) "PLOUGH AND THE STARS" (Radio) "RACING LADY" (Radio) ORPHEUM— (2,600), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $6,000) "SMART BLONDE" (W. B.) "FUGITIVE IN THE SKY" (W. B.) PARAMOUNT— (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $3,500) Interstate Checking Move Interstate Checking Service has moved from the Paramount Bldg. into larger quarters in the Candler Bldg. The company is expected to announce a new type checking plan shortly. Charles Schwerin is general manager of the company. God's Country" at ,000 in Portland Portland, Feb. 7. — "God's Country and the Woman," in its second week at the Paramount, secured a take of $8,000, over average by $3,000. "Three Smart Girls" on a dual with "Mad Holiday" was continued for a second week at Broadway, rolling up $7,000, over par by $2,000. "Country Gentlemen" with Weaver Bros, and Elviry, took $6,000 at the Mayfair doubling the usual take here. Heavy snow cut in heavily. Total first run business was $36,500. Average is $24,700. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 30 : "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) "MAD HOLIDAY" (M-G-M) BROADWAY— (1,912), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $5,000) "THEODORA GOES WILD" (Col.) "CAN THIS BE DIXIE" (20th-Fox) BLUE MOUSE— (1,700), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 5th downtown week. Gross: $2,500. (Average, $1,700) "COUNTRY GENTLEMAN" (Republic) MAYFAIR— (1,700), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Stage: Weaver Bros. Elviry. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $3,000) "BANJO ON MY KNEE" (20th-Fox) "IN HIS STEPS" (G.N.) ORPHEUM— (1,700), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,000) "GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN" (W.B.) "FIND THE WITNESS" (Col.) PARAMOUNT — (3,008), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $5,000) "STOLEN HOLIDAY" (W.B.) UNITED ARTIST— (945), 30c-35c-4Oc, 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $5,000) Rousseau in New Job Barnesville, Ga., Feb. 7. — E. H. Rousseau has been appointed manager of the Ritz, succeeding Olin Hall, who has been transferred to the West Point in West Point, Ga. "Lloyds" Dual Best Draw in Frisco Slump San Francisco, Feb. 7. — "Lloyds of London," on a dual with "Off to the Races," was the only attraction to make the grade here last week. It grossed $14,800, up by $1,800, at the Warfield. "Champagne Waltz" and "Career Woman" at the Paramount was to the good on a take of $13,800. Competition included two legitimate shows, "Cocktail Hour" at the Geary and "Return of Hannibal" at the Cur- ran. The Municipal Opera gave six performances. Total first run business was $84,200. Average is $85,000. Estimated takings : Week Ending Feb. 2: "FORBIDDEN ADVENTURE" (Roadshow Att.) EMBASSY — (1,400), 15c-30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,200. (Average, $4,500) "CONDEMNED ROW" (Radio) GOLDEN GATE— (2,850), 15c-30c-35c-40c- 55c, 7 days. Stage: vaudeville. Gross: $15,500. (Average, $16,000) "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) "FIND THE WITNESS" (Col.) ORPHEUM — (2,440), 15c-30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $9,500) Week Ending Feb. 3: "STOLEN HOLIDAY" (W.B.) "BULLDOG DRUMMOND ESCAPES" (Para.) FOX— (5,000), 15c-3Oc-35c-40c-55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $15,600. (Average, $16,000) "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ" (Para.) "CAREER WOMAN" (20th-Fox) PARAMOUNT— (2,740), 15c-30c-35c-40c- 55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $13,800. (Average, $13,000) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) "HATS OFF" (G.N.) ST. FRANCIS— (1,400), 15c-30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 4th downtown week. Gross: $6,400. (Average, $6,000) "GARDEN OF ALLAH" (U.A.) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,200), 15c-30c-35c- 40c-65c. 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $4,700. (Average, $6,000) Week Ending Feb. 4: "LLOYDS OF LONDON" (2ttth-Fox) "OFF TO THE RACES" (20th-Fox) WARFIELD— (2,680), 15c-30c-35c-4Oc-55c- 75c, 7 days. Gross: $14,800. (Average, $13,000) Week Ending Feb. 5: "SON OF MONGOLIA" (Amkino) CLAY— (400), 15c-35c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $700. (Average, $1,000) Arrange Hunter Dinner Baltimore, Feb. 7. — J. Lawrence Schanberger, manager of Keith's, and Frank H. Durkee have been appointed a committee of two to invite and ar- range for transportation of as many Baltimore exhibitors as possible to attend the testimonial dinner at the Hotel Willard in Washington Feb. 16 for Harry Hunter, Paramount ex- change manager, who has been pro- moted to take charge of the Austra- lia and New Zealand territory for that company. Control Milford Building Milford, Del., Feb. 7.— The City Council of Milford at a special ses- sion has adopted a building ordinance regulating construction of buildings for amusement purposes. The ordi- nance was adopted in view of the prospective building of a new theatre here already announced and the re- modeling of a building for amusement purposes is scheduled. The Leading Motio Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, Intelligent the In in All Branches VOL. 41. NO. 33 NEW YORK, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1937 TEN CENTS Educational Stockholders Approve Plan New Company Shares to Be Exchanged for Old Wilmington, Feb. 8. — A plan of recapitalization for Educational Pic- tures, Inc., was approved by a special meeting of stockholders here today. The plan provides for the exchange of the old preferred stock of the com- pany, about 18,000 shares of which are oustanding, on the basis of 3.2 shares of new common for each share of pre- ferred, plus 1.8 shares of new common in payment of the accrued dividends on each share of old preferred, or a unit of five shares of new common for each share of old preferred. The preferred stockholder also will receive a warrant to subscribe for one new share of common stock at $10 per share for each share of old preferred now held. Holders of Educational's old com- mon stock will receive a warrant to subscribe for one share of new com- mon at $10 per share for each two shares of old common now held. The warrants to subscribe for the new common will extend for 18 months after the plan becomes effective. The plan must be approved by the Delaware state chancellor and the new issues of common and cumulative con- vertible preferred must be registered (Continued on page 10) Louisville Houses Manning the Pumps Louisville, Feb. 8. — Gasoline pumps were operating here yesterday outside each downtown house, in an effort to rid the basements of flood water. All houses were affected, and after the water is pumped out, heating plants will be dried out and made ready for operation. Two pumps have been going con- tinuously at the Strand, and the water has now been pumped out to the low- est level. Several rows of seats were removed, although the water did not come up to the floor of the house. At Loew's State, Manager George (.Continued on page 6) Harry Hunter Named To Australian Post Harry Hunter, Washington branch manager for Paramount, has been named to succeed the late John E. Kennebeck as managing director for Paramount Film Service, Ltd., in Aus- tralia and New Zealand. The appoint- ment was made by John W. Hicks, (Continued on page 10) Warners About to Step Out As Radio Producers on Film Hollywood, Feb. 8. — Warners are about to step out into the field of celluloid transcription with programs totaling as many hours a day as the organization can find time buyers. Applying straight entertainment principles and the complete resources of the studio, the shows will be recorded on film. They will be unham- pered by limitations imposed on the producers of radio shows and will be handled on a scope which marks modern film production methods, the limitations imposed on the plan being only those imposed by the radio medium itself. Discussed has been an elaborate program. Retakes and remakes, com- mon in film production until the desired result is achieved, would be allowed for. Dramatized newsreels are well within the realm of possi- bility, extensive musical and dance routines viewed as outside the pale of the one-time produced radio show are others. Experimental in intent is a full hour's film-recorded program with Dick Powell as master of ceremonies. It was built by Don Becker of (Continued on page 12) Additional Radio on Pages 12, IB and 14 Distributors File Dallas Suit Reply Dallas, Feb. 8. — Answers were filed today by distributor defendants in the U. S. District Court here to the Government's charge that provi- sions in contracts with first and sub- sequent run exhibitors in Dallas, Ft. Worth, Houston and San Antonio were in restraint of trade in violation of the Sherman Act. The answers deny the Government (Continued on page 7) Production Drops With 43 in Work Hollywood, Feb. 8. — Seven fea- tures were completed here last week while only four new ones started to lower activity to 43 in work against the preceding week's 46. Short sub- ject production showed a noticeable gain, jumping from four to six dur- ing the week. Pictures scheduled to go into work within the next two weeks included 24 features and nine (Continued on page 16) Atlas' RKO Issues Held at $4,058,274 Atlas Corporation's books carry the company's RKO investment at $4,058,- 274, it was disclosed in the Atlas re- port giving effect to changes in the company's structure as a result of re- cent mergers and dissolutions of Atlas subsidiaries. The Atlas holdings in RKO were listed as $2,128,597 face amount of RKO bonds and 263,493 shares of (Continued from page 4) Benton-Schine Join In Expansion Moves Saratoga Springs, Feb. 8. — Wil- lian E. Benton has entered into a partnership with Schine Theatres for a joint expansion program in northern and eastern New York and Vermont and Massachusetts. Benton operates houses at Ballston Spa, Mechanicsville, Whitehall, Co- hoes, Plattsburg and Saratoga Springs. The Schine group has grown to 130 houses. Anderson Play Is Overlong, Confused, on the Dull Side Maxwell Anderson's socio-econ- omico consciousness has been bother- ing him again. The fruits of his latest reflections on the status of man and the world he has built find expression in "The Masque of Kings," the fourth By PLAYBOY play of this, the Theatre Guild's 19th season and about on the same plane as its three predecessors. Which is not so high. Here, the playwright draws upon (Continued on page 7) Columbia, "U" Replies Best, MPTOA Finds Agreed to Nine of 10 Points Presented Columbia and Universal delivered the most satisfactory responses of any of the larger distributors who replied to the M.P.T.O.A. 10 trade practice proposals, a tabulation just completed by the national exhibitor organization and made public yesterday discloses. The M.P.T.O.A. analysis of the distributors' replies shows that Colum- bia and Universal responded "favor- ably", in so far as the exhibitor or- ganization is concerned, on nine of the 10 proposals. The one point refused by both was the recommendation for adoption of a short form of contract and, in their replies, both companies cited what they believed to be legal obstacles in the way of taking such action. RKO is second on the list with favorable responses in eight instances, one refusal, that of abandonment of the score charge, and a doubtful atti- tude on designation of preferred play- ing time. Loew's is listed third with a favorable action on seven proposals ; two refusals, relating to elimination of the score charge and designation of preferred playdates, and a doubtful at- titude on the forcing of shorts with features. United Artists ranks fourth with favorable action on six proposals ; re- fusals on granting cancellation and adopting the short form of contract ; a qualified endorsement of the local con- ciliation boards, and a doubtful atti- (Continued on page 7) Republic Will Start Unit Producing Plan Republic will inaugurate a unit production system, similar to that adopted by Grand National, as a re- sult of the resignation last week of Nat Levine, vice-president and studio head, it was stated here yesterday following the return from the coast of H. J. Yates, J. J. Milstein, sales (Continued on page 16) Chicago to Start 239 B. N. Suits Tomorrow Chicago, Feb. 8. — Two hundred and thirty-nine chance drawing suits which have been brought by the city against 114 theatre corporations and 125 the- atre managers will be heard by Chief Justice Sonsteby in municipal court here Wednesday. They will be charged (Continued on page 4) MOTION P1CTVRL DAILY Tuesday, February 9, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 February 9, 1937 No. 33 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and 'I treasurer. '^^^^ Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at Rockefeller Center. New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publicating Company, Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- cations: MOTION PICTURE HERALD, BETTER THEATRES, TEATRO AL DIA. INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Lite Building. Vine and Yucca Sts. ; Boone Mancall. Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave.. C. B. O'Neill. Manager. WASHINGTON: Albee Building; Bertram F. Linz, Representative. AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan 3; Philip de Schuep, Representative. BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2. Berlin W. 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest II; Endre Hevesi, Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientes 2495; N. Bruski, Representative. HELSINKI: Fredriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszlo. Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square, W. 1; Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address, Quigpubco. Lon- don. MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins St.; Cliff Holt, Representative. MEXICO CITY : Apartado 269; James Lockhart, Representative. MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern. Rep- resentative. MONTEVIDEO: P. O. Box 664; Paul Bodo, Rep- resentative. PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre, Repre- sentative. PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2. Prague 1; Harry Knopf. Representative. RIO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 3358; A. Weiss- man. Representative. ROME: Viale Gorizia; Vittorio Malpassuti, Rep- resentative. SHANGHAI: Booms 38-41, Capital Theatre Build- ing, 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler, Repre- sentative. TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken; H. Tominaca, Representative. VIENNA: Neustiftgasse, 55, Vienna VII; Hans Lorant, Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, »cd foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. i Purely Personal ► JOE POLLAK on the telephone, cheery and bright. He has recov- ered from the accident which almost cost him his life near Budapest some months ago. He caught cold aboard ship, but admits readily it's sissy stuff by comparison. • Leon Netter, assistant to Y. Frank Freeman, Paramount vice-president, left last night for Greensboro, N. C, to attend a meeting of the board of North Carolina Theatres, a Para- mount subsidiary. • Mildred Iliffe Feely, daughter of Joseph Alan and Mrs. Feely of "Edely," Merion, Pa., has become en- gaged to Vincent Gavin Hart. He is in charge of eastern activities of the Production Code Administration. MPPDA Executives Dined by L. B. Mayer Hollywood, Feb. 8.— Louis B. May- er played host to members of the M. P. P. D. A. at a dinner here tonight following which industry problems were discussed. Among those attending were: Will Hays, Fred W. Beetson, Samuel J. Briskin, George Cohen, Herbert Fres- ton, A. J. Loeb, Henry Herzbrun, Ben Kahane, Edward Mannix, J. P. Nor- manly, Charles R. Rogers, Joseph Schenck, Leo Spitz, Hal Wallis, Dar- ryl Zanuck, Adolph Zukor, M. B. Sil- berberg and Nicholas Mayfack. MITCHELL MAY, Jr. CO., INC. • INSURANCE Specialists To The Motion Picture Industry 75 M-Hen Lane, N. Y. City 510 V/ 6th St., Los Angeles, Cal. Whither Levine? Hollywood, Feb. 8.— Where Nat Levine, president of Re- public Prod., will go from there, when he resigns his post in two months, is the subject of much speculation, including : To Warners as an associate producer. To M-G-M for a production post in London. To M-G-M as a producer of "B" product. To take a long rest. U.A. Closes a Deal On 21 British Films L. W. Conrow, general operating manager of Erpi, returned yesterday from the coast. He stopped en route at the New Orleans and Atlanta offices. • J. Frank Brockliss, one of the leading supply dealers in Europe, and F. W. Pins arrived here yesterday on the Europa. • A. H. McCausland, Irving Trust Co. representative in RKO, returned yesterday from a brief visit at the RKO studio. • Edward J. Peskay returned to New York yesterday, at the conclusion of a tour of exchanges which ended with a visit to the coast studio. • Irving Stein, until recently with Standard Theatres at Milwaukee,* has joined Gilliams & Rubin, stereotypers, as home office contact man. • Norman H. Moray, Vitaphone sales manager, has returned from a six-week tour of Warner exchanges. • Willoughby Speyers' original story, "Certified," has been purchased by Radio. • Herb Crooker, Warner publicity director, left for Pittsburgh last night. He'll be away a week. • Abe Montague returned after a visit of a few days at the Columbia studio. • Joe Vogel returned from his Florida vacation yesterday. Paul Ash and his orchestra open tonight at the French Casino. • Leo Spitz is remaining at the RKO studio for a while. . . . Pittsburgh Eddie Carrier, Bill Ferguson's assistant in the M-G-M exploitation department, was in town. Mannie Greenwald and Gertrude Goldstein have named an April date. Danny Davis has been named talent scout in this district for Bur- roughs-Tarzan Pictures. Betty Janos, Joe Feldman's former secretary, will become Mrs. George Jones, wife of the basketball referee, in a couple of months. End Lincoln Fight With New Agreement Lincoln, Feb. 8. — The protracted fight here among J. H. Cooper, head of the Lincoln Theatres Corp. ; Bob Livingston, manager of the Capitol and dependent on Cooper for film, and the major film exchanges which have not been getting second runs on sched- ule, has been tentatively ironed out. Livingston is to start single features, full weeks, and raise all prices five cents to 15-20 cents on Feb. 14. Cooper, plagued with dime admis- sions for which the ace pictures were refused him second run behind the Stuart, was unplayed on all but about a half dozen of the Stuart's 1936 pro- grams. The new arrangement bene fits Livingston and should improve bus iness since it is another move into the upper price brackets. Cooper went on to Denver for conferences with his division head, L. J. Finske. London, Feb. 8. — Under the terms of contracts just signed United Art- tists will distribute 21 British pictures in 102 countries during the next 12 months. U. A. estimates they will gross $5,000,000. The list will be dubbed in French, Italian, Spanish and German, and titles for other countries will be in 25 languages. The product includes that of Alex- anda Korda, Max Schach, Erich Pom- mer, Paul Czinner, Victor Saville, Marcel Hellman and Lothar Mendes. Exchange Head Married Baltimore, Feb. 8. — Ben Oletsky, manager of the Hollywood Exchange here, was married yesterday in Phila- delphia to Lillian Brandt. The Quaker City, on Mar. 6, will also be the scene of the wedding of Sam Diamond, 20th Century-Fox salesman, and Mae Segal. Parkyakarkus Weds Hollywood, Feb. 8. — Harry Ein- stein, Parkyakarkus of the air-waves, was married here to Thelma Goodman, professionally known as Thelma Leeds. Following the ceremony, the couple left on a wedding trip to Bermuda. St. Clair-Holt Nuptials Laguna Beach, Cal. Feb. 8. — Hal St. Clair, the director, and Margaret Murray Holt were married here over the weekend. Zabel, Powers Arrive Ed Zabel and William T. Powers j arrived in New York late last night from the coast, following the Fox West Coast meetings which ended on Friday. Milton Hossfeldt and Aubrey Schenck, who left the coast Saturday, are due here today. Spyros Skouras is remaining in Los Angeles until to- day or tomorrow. Hospital reports from Stockton, Cal., indicated that George Balsdon was still in a coma on Saturday, while Sumner Gambee's condition continued unchanged. Variety Meet April 17 Omaha, Feb. 8. — The third annual national convention of the Variety Clubs of America will be held here April 17 and 18. General chairman of the affair is Harry J. Shumow. Biddell Moves Offices Hollywood, Feb. 8. — Sidney M. Biddell, executive assistant to Edward L. Alperson, president of Grand Na- tional, has moved his offices into the Educational Studio. The company will take over the lot officially on April 1, at which time the name will be changed to Grand National Studios. Producers Richard Rowland, Victor Schertzinger and Zion Myers will move in later this week. Joe Shea, publicity head, and Harold Lewis, production manager, moved in with Biddell. G.N. May Meet on Coast Hollywood, Feb. 8. — Grand Nation- al will probably hold its next sales convention here, Edward L. Alperson stated today. Tentative plans call for the meeting to be held at the com- pany's studios. Brandt to Add Two More The Brandt circuit will take over operation of the Rogers, Brooklyn, and start construction on a house at 231st St. and Broadway. The circuit has taken over the 79th St., at 79th St., and Second Ave., and after reno- vations will reopen with American films instead of German. Work on another new house located at 23rd St. and Eighth Ave. has been started. After Film Names Leonard S. Field has entered upon a producing arrangement with Jerome Mayer, producer of "Russet Mantle" and jointly they will put on "We, the Living," by Ayn Rand, on the New York stage this fall. The play deals with Russia. Field is now in Holly- wood after film names to head his cast. Is Houston Manager Houston, Feb. 8. — Edward H. Smith, former west coast Paramount division manager and more recently managing director of the Metropoli- tan, Boston, has been named manager of the Metropolitan here, Interstate unit. Ellis Ford, former manager, has gone to the suburban Delman. Bryan Foy in Denial Hollywood, Feb. 8. — Bryan Foy to- day denied reports that he will succeed Nat Levine as president of Republic Prod. WANTED EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Executive in Distribution Organization requires capable secretary. Write in detail stating qualifications, past expe- rience and connections. To Box No. 950, MOTION PICTURE DAILY. THE GREAT O'Ma^ _ . ■ — pat-right making every ^ — With ANN SHERIDAN FRIEDA INESCORT SYBIL JASON *DONALD CRISP • HENRY O'NEILL CRAIG REYNOLDS HOBART CAVANAUGH GORDON HART Directed by William Dieterle MOTION PICTURE DAILY 4 Atlas' RKO Issues Held at $4,058,274 (Continued from page 1) RKO common. The company is a par- ticipant with Lehman Bros, in an option to buy an equal amount of RKO securities from RCA for $2,610,- 000, subject to certain adjustments. The securities now held were also ac- quired from RCA in conjunction with Lehman Bros. The Atlas report notes that its RKO holdings may not be disposed of before Dec. 31, 1937, or until the re- organization of RKO is effective. It also states that reorganization ex- penses and the proposed management of RKO are expected to absorb a minor part of the profits from the investment. Depinet, Levy Will Preside at Chicago Ned E. Depinet, vice-president in charge of distribution of RKO Radio Pictures, and Jules Levy, general sales manager, will preside at a re- gional sales meeting at the Drake Hotel, Chicago, on Thursday and Friday, which will be attended by the company's southern and midwestern district representatives. Depinet and Levy left the RKO studios for Chi- cago last night and are expected in New York next Monday. The following home office officials will go to Chicago from here for the meeting: Cresson Smith, Harry Michalson, A. A. Schubart, Franklin Fielding, Herb Maclntyre, Walter E. Branson and Ralph Rolen, the latter representing March of Time. Branch managers who will attend the session are : J. Osserman, Chi- cago ; Lou Elman, Des Moines ; T. R. Thompson, Kansas City; A. N. Sch- mitz, Milwaukee ; L. E. Goldhammer, Minneapolis ; A. M. Avery, Omaha ; B. J. McCarthy, St. Louis; S. W. Fitch, Sioux Falls ; H. M. Lyons, Atlanta; S. M. Sachs, Dallas; R. C. Price, Charlotte; C. W. Allen, Jack- sonville ; P. M. Baker, Memphis ; G. C. Brown, New Orleans, and R. B. Williams, Oklahoma City. Depinet and Levy are expected to set a date for an eastern district meeting to be held here following their return. Year end and new sea- son product plans developed as a re- sult of the recent meetings at the RKO studio will be outlined at the sessions. Set Dixey Firm Name London, Jan. 29 — The British In- dependent Exhibitors (Distribution) Co., Ltd., is the title finally chosen for the "Dixey scheme" flotation. It was formally registered today with a cap- ital of £200,000 in £100,000 £1 pre- ference shares, 300,000 ordinary shares of four shillings value and 400,000 franchise shares of two shill- ings value. The latter are reserved to exhibitors. The directors are A. C. N. Dixey, R. McLaughlin, J. X. Prendergast, J. Milner, R. Dooner, R. E. Richards, F. U. Astbury, O. E. Wetzel and G. M. Heap. Fire Damages House Olympia, Wash., Feb. 8. — The Capitol here was damaged to the extent of $1,000 by a fire yesterday which was caused by a cigarette. Fur- niture and fittings were burned. Six Suits Dismissed Here by Judge Knox Federal Judge John C. Knox yes- terday dismissed six suits because of failure to prosecute. They were : An action brought by Joseph M. Runshinsky, president of the Society of Jewish Composers and Publishers, and Henry Lefkowitz, song writer, against the Giglia Broadcasting Co. which op- erates Station WHOM. Infringement on two songs written by Lefkowitz was claimed. An action by Headline Pictures, Inc., against Paramount Distributing Corp., the plaintiff claiming that in 1930 it purchased a script from John Matteford called "Private Scandal" which it produced. Paramount also produced a picture with this title which Headline claims was an in- fringement. An accounting and dam- ages were asked. A suit brought by American Tri- Ergon against Talking Picture Epics. The plaintiffs claimed that in 1922 Hans Vogt invented for them im- provements in sound recording and re- production. They further claimed that the defendants infringed on this by putting out on the market a similar device for the same purpose. An action started in May, 1934, by Fleischer Studios, Inc., and King Fea- ture Syndicate against the Daily Mir- ror. It was claimed that the Daily Mirror plagiarized Betty Boop on which the plaintiffs claimed to have a copyright. An injunction and damages were asked. Jersey Firms Involved An action by Eagle Pictures Corp. of New Jersey, Paul J. Duffy, as re- ceiver, and Morris Levin against the Forward Picture Corp., Eagle Prod., Ltd., and Empire Laboratories, Inc. The suit was filed in May, 1933, and charged infringement on a picture called "Big Chance," the plaintiff claiming that Eagle Prod., Ltd., in- corporated the Forward Picture Corp. which company procured the negative of "Big Chance" from the plaintiff and turned it over to the Empire Lab- oratories who released it. An action brought by Winifred Ash- ton who is known as Clemence Dane and Richard Addinsell against Shu- wynne Prod., Inc., Harold B. Frank- lin, I. F. Kingman, Lee Shubert, Art Selwyn, Eva La Gallienne and Double- day, Doran & Co. The suit was filed in Dec, 1934, Dane claiming that he wrote a book called "L'Aiglon" which Doubleday, Doran published for him. The Shuberts produced a play called "LAiglon" and Dane claimed that they did not pay him royalties to which he was entitled. The plaintiffs sued for an injunction and damages. File Nomand Details Boston, Feb. 8.— A lengthy series of allegations charging conspiracy to restrain trade are included in the ac- tion filed here Saturday by George S. Ryan, attorney for A. B. Momand of Oklahoma City, on behalf of Mo- mand's mother, Loretta L. Momand, against major distributors. Ryan will leave here again this week for Denver, where the other action will come up Feb. 16. In the suit here, it was charged that the alleged conspiracy was for the purpose of granting to producer-con- trolled theatres special licenses, priv- ileges and franchises and to refuse to grant them to independent exhibitors ; to prevent double featuring through- Patriotic Arthur L. Mayer said yes- terday the new Trans Lux theatre in Washington which opens some time in March, will be offered to the Govern- ment. "It only seats 600 and I fig- ure it about the right size for the Supreme Court." out the country ; to increase and main- tain minimum admissions and to elim- inate giveaways. The suit revolves about Mrs. Momand's claim that she operated the Odeon in Shawnee, Okla., in 1931, and that the Griffith Amuse- ment Co., which is called in the ac- tion a subsidiary and affiliated operat- ing company of Universal Film Ex- change, acquired a third house in Shawnee "knowing that the popula- tion was insufficient to support or re- quire an additional theatre." The action goes on to charge that in 1935 Griffith built another house in Shawnee, and that the defendants sup- plied it with first and second run film to the exclusion of the plaintiff. It is charged that the producers attempted to force Mrs. Momand to raise ad- missions and eliminate giveaways, al- though no such compulsion was exer- cised against the Griffith houses. The complaint also charged picketing of the plaintiff's house. Alleged Bombers Go On Trial at Mineola Mineola, Feb. 8. — Six men charged with exploding tear gas bombs in three Nassau County theatres went on trial yesterday. The defendants are Frank Cummings of Great Neck, busi- ness agent of Operators' Local 640 ; Leroy Schwartz of Mineola, president of the local ; Thomas A. Watson of Mineola, Michael D'Angelo of Hemp- stead, John M. Baptiste of Freeport and Thomas E. Cubbard of Great Neck. Several women and children were slightly injured on May 15, 1936, when a bomb was set off at the Mineola. A stage hand had been displaced by the new mechanical equipment. Bombs also were set off at the Cen- tral Theatre in Cedarhurst and the Park in New Hyde Park. Cohan Sues Publishers George M. Cohan filed suit yester- day in U. S. District Court against Maurice A. Richmond and Max May- er, who do business as the Paull- Pioneer Music Co. Cohan claims that prior to 1908 he copyrighted about 52 songs and licensed Fred A. Mills to publish them for him. Mills assigned his rights to the defendants. Cohan claims the defendants are continuing to publish the songs, but are not pay- ing royalties due him. He asks an accounting and an injunction to re- strain the company from further pub- lishing of the songs. "Horizon" Roadshow Set Hollywood, Feb. 8. — Columbia will release "Lost Horizon" on a roadshow basis nationally the first week in March with world premiere set for the Gary, San Francisco, March 2. Local premiere will be held at the Four Star with the house closing a week in ad- vance to prepare for the two-a-day policy. Tuesday, February 9, 1937 Chicago to Start 239 B.N. Suits Tomorrow (Continued from page 1) with distributing money by chance on prize drawing nights in violation of terms of the city ordinance under which they obtained their theatre licenses. The corporation cases will be tried first, according to Assistant City Cor- poration Counsel Charles Horan. In- dications are that separate suits against theatre managers will be dropped if the corporations are suc- cessfully prosecuted. The maximum fine is $100. Omaha Not to Oust B.N. Omaha, Feb. 8. — A formal decision was reached by the City Council that it will not attempt to oust Bank Night here or do anything about the Luth- eran Ministerial Ass'n request that Bank Night either be banned or changed to some other night than Wednesday during Lent. City Attorney Seymour Smith in two decisions informed the Council that Bank Night is conducted legally in Omaha and that there was no legal basis for the council to comply with the ministers' request. Irvin Levin, attorney in Nebraska and Iowa for Affiliated Enterprises, Inc., of Denver, and district manager Evert R. Cummings of Tri-State have offered to confer with a committee of ministers in regard to the night on which the drawing is held, but their offer has been ignored. B.N. Proxies Illegal Windsor Locks, Conn., Feb. 8. — Bank Night, operated with a proxy system, was declared a lottery in the Town Court today. David Magliora, exhibitor there, who is contesting the case without aid, has appealed to the Superior Court in Hartford. Roy Heffner, Bank Night distribu- tor here, declared he had warned Mag- liora that if he intended running the chance game on a proxy basis, the ex- hibitor would have to assume respon- sibility for any action relative to possible violation of the lottery laws. The action was precipitated by the refusal of Magliora to pay a $525 prize to a 15-year-old boy when his name was called, on the ground that he was under the age limit. A protest to the state police followed. The police dis- covered that ticket buyers received stubs entitling them to win awards without being present. Of five counts, the Town Court found Magliora guilty on only one, that of using the proxy system. The Bank Night distributors here are maintaining a hands-off pol- icy in the case. Ask B.N. Repeal in Nebraska Lincoln, Feb. 8. — Nebraska is be- ing covered by a petition asking that all existing gambling laws be re- pealed at the Nov. 8, 1938, election. The plan is to legalize chance games and levy a tax, the revenue from which can be turned over to funds for widows, orphans, and the aged. The show business generally has an eye on the plan, but gives it little chance of success. The circulators of the petition, calling themselves the Na- tional Liberty League, Omaha, are headed by Don E. DeBok, secretary. Would End Contests Seattle, Feb. 8. — Walkathons and other endurance contests will be pro- hibited in the state of Washington if a bill introduced in the legislature is passed. WENDELL HALL BILLY JONES * ERNIE HARE JOLLY. (Ten year old singing star) ANDY SANNELLA and HIS ORCHESTRA A COLUMBIA SHORT SUBJECT TT rfl MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, February 9, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Sea Devils" (Radio) Hollywood, Feb. 8. — In a rough, boisterous melodrama, Victor Mc- Laglen returns in a typical "What Price Glory - Cockeyed World" char- acter. Preston Foster is his capable, glib-tongued, fist-swinging running mate. Presented in the atmosphere of the Coast Guard, the film majors in well toned rowdy stuff, includes acceptable romance contrast and has its full quota of seagoing comedy. It combines breezy dialogue, brisk action and wild situations to give the film an exciting wallop. Human interest is there in abundance and is believable even when daubed on with a mop. The swaggering McLaglen arranges a marriage between Ida Lupino, his daughter, and Donald Woods, a studious sailor. At this point the hard-boiled Foster enters. The romantic conflict between the girl and him effectively balances the personal antagonism between McLaglen and Foster. As the story seethes with roaring brawls, McLaglen's personal romance with Helen Flint forms an interlude which creates tension and pleasing comedy. The cutter is ordered to duty on the iceberg patrol and here are given vivid glimpses of the legitimate Coast Guard activity in locating and charting icebergs. While Woods is planting dynamite in a berg, Mc- Laglen and Foster are engaged in a mad battle which finally causes their dory to go adrift. Woods is injured in the blast, for which McLaglen and Foster are courtmartialed. McLaglen turns the trial into a riot with his personal accusations and recriminations matched by the vitriolic mouthings of Foster. McLaglen is reduced in rank and ordered to retire, while Foster is sentenced to the brig. The two rivals disregard the regulations and take charge of the film's big spectacle, a storm-swept sea rescue. Woods having died, the pair save the passengers of a disabled vessel. Being the last two aboard, McLaglen knocks Foster unconscious in order to send him safely ashore in the breeches buoy, after which McLaglen goes down with the sinking ship. The picture is colorful and exciting all the way. Both McLaglen and Foster give realistic performances. ' Their work is abetted by the capable support of Miss Lupino, Woods, Miss Flint, Gordon Jones, Pierre Watkin, Murray Alper, Billy Gilbert and Barbara Pepper. Melodrama, together with the McLaglen-Foster ability to present hair-raising action, form the dominating theme of the screenplay by Frank Wead, John Twist and P. J. Wolfson. Ben Stoloff's direction concentrates on ac- centuating those qualities. Edward Small produced in a manner which captured their full effect. The film should enthuse those who like to see plenty happening in a picture that is moving every minute. Production Code Seal No. 2,814. Running time, 85 minutes. "G." Looking 'Em Over "The Gun Ranger" (Republic) The necessary ingredients of westerns are present in this film. There is a full quota of tight-lipped dialogue, bullet-slinging, brawling and hard-riding. The story drags along but builds to an '■ exciting climax. On the whole it should be found acceptable to its type of audience. As a Texas ranger, Bob Steele is unable to cope with the flood of range crime. When a suspected murderer is set loose, he resigns and decides to take the law unto himself. He also appoints himself guardian of Eleanor Stewart, who is heiress to a big cattle property. His one aim is to find the murderer of Miss Stewart's father. Tracking down his clues and locating his quarry Steele brings things to their proper noisy and vengeful conclusion. The story is an original by Homer Gordon. Robert Bradbury directed. The supporting cast includes John Merton, Ernest Adams and Earl Dwire. Production Code Seal No. 2,598. Running time, 55 minutes. "G." (.Additional Reviews on Page 10) Short Subjects 6 Louisville Houses Manning the Pumps (Continued from page 1) Hunt, Jr., is replacing damaged seats. Water damaged about half the lower floor. Crews are also busy at the Rialto, where the water did only slight damage. New seats were on hand when the disaster hit this area, and the shut down will be an opportunity to install the new seating equipment. Foresight on the part of the Switow brothers, operators of the Kentucky, saved much equipment. All seats were removed and taken to an upper floor before the flood waters came into the house. The Switows, however, suf- fered a heavy loss in the flood, par- ticularly to their houses in Jefferson- ville and New Albany, Ind. Houses of the Fourth Avenue Amusement Co. which suffered severe damage by the flood were the Ideal and Oak, in the inundated West End district, and the Broadway and Tow- ers, situated in the East End of the city, where flood waters were par- ticularly devastating. Considerable loss was suffered by the Brown, which was completely cov- ered with water on the lower floor. The terrific upward pressure of the water under the stage, caused the con- crete section to buckle, and rise about eight feet in the air. The damage here will be considerably greater than any other house in the city. At present, nothing is being done to repair the damage, although a crew is on hand to pump the water from the basement. A large cave-in in front of the house is barricaded. Slight Pittsburgh Damage Pittsburgh, Feb. 8. — Returning over the weekend from a tour of the flood area, C. J. Latta, assistant zone manager for Warners, said that the physical damage to the theatres in this district would be very slight. In most cases, the managers, profitting from their experience last year, were ready for the high water and had most of the furnishings removed to safety by the time it struck. Gives Shows for Refugees Indianapolis, Feb. 8. — Robert B. Annis, president of the R. B. Annis Co., supply house, is giving two-hour showings nightly for about 200 flood refugees from southern Indiana housed in the Municipal Gardens community house here. A no-admission show, with contribu- tions collected inside the house, netted $104.65 for flood relief at the Para- mount, Jack Finkelstein, manager, re- ported. Benefits in 7 Houses '..Columbus, O., Feb. 8. — Seven local theatres gave the receipts of one full day's business to the Red Cross for flood relief. The houses were : the Hudson, Alhambra, Garden, Grand- view, Northern, Empress and Ogden. Small House Gives $200 Pittsburgh, Feb. 8. — The Roxian in McKees Rocks raised $200.46 for flood relief in collections from patrons. Sam Fleishman, manager of the house, started the ball rolling himself with a $25 donation. The first of the downtown theatres here to stage a benefit show for the flood victims will be the Casino, which has scheduled its performance for next Sunday night. Ohio Valley Houses to Open Cincinnati, Feb. 8.— With flood waters slowly receding, theatres ifi this territory are preparing to re- open. In nearby Portsmouth, the Westland has been opened. Six others in that town, including three Warner houses are still dark pending rehabili- tation. "Spooky Hooky" (Roach-M-G-M) The circus comes to town and the "Gang" decides to play hookey and attend. They place a note explaining their absence on the teacher's desk and find themselves in a spot when she tells them she is taking the entire class to the show the following day. The rest of the film concerns their difficulties when they return to the school at night to retrieve the note. The 'usual spook and skeleton busi- ness follows. Their trip through the rain nets the would-be truants severe colds and though they want to go to class their respective mothers de- cline. It is routine "Our Gang" com- edy. Production Code Seal No. 2,880. Running time, 11 mins. "G." "Slippery Silks" (Columbia) The Three Stooges inherit their uncle's dress shop and therein go through their reliably comic bag of tricks. Rising from cabinet makers to modistes, they are pursued by Vernon Dent after they ruin his antique Chinese box. Dent catches up with them and in the melee a free-for-all cream puff throwing battle develops. It has its moments. Production Code Seal No. 2,325. Running time, 20 mins. "G." "Stranger Than Fiction No. 32" (Universal) Another collection of the strange and bizarre. This issue includes a cow that pumps its own water, a bicycle riding dog, a "worm-omat" for early rising anglers, a beer guzzling roost- er, and a varied number of others. Interesting. Production Code Seal No. 01,302. Running time, 9 mins. "G." "School for Swing" (Mentone-Universal) Tuneful doings in a modern musical school. A show is put on for a visit- ing "swing" king by Sylvia Froos, Bert Gordon, and Wally and Ver'dyn Stapleton, who hope to land engage- ments. Later, it turns out the specta- tor is a hammock and swing mogul. Quite snappy and diverting. Produc- tion Code Seal No. 01,395. Running time, 10 mins. "G." Would Boost Mo. Tax Kansas City, Feb. 8. — Senator Al- best M. Clark has introduced an ad- ministration-approved bill providing for an increase in the present Missouri sales tax from one to two per cent. The present tax law expires at the end of this year. The tax would be paid by tokens, probably 'of metal. If the present tokens are discarded the token change machines installed by many theatres in the state would be worthless and exhibitors would have to purchase new ones to fit the new pieces. Players at MPTOA Meet Hollywood, Feb. 8. — A delegation of film players will attend the M.P.- T.O.A. convention in Miami, March 16-18, according to current plans un- der way between the M.P.P.A. and major studios. Tuesday, February 9, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Columbia, "U" Replies Best, MPTOA Finds {Continued from page 1) tude on clearance problems. The tabu- lation puts 20th Century-Fox in fifth place with only three favorable re- plies ; two refusals, relating to elimina- tion of the score charge and adoption of the short form of contract, and four doubtful responses, relating to clear- ance disputes, overbuying complaints, "investigation and mediation of charges of unfair competition between theatres", and designation of preferred playing time. Paramount's answer, which was completed last Saturday, had not been received at the time the tabulation was made, but on the basis of the M.P.T.O.A. grading, that company's reply would appear to rank about on a par with or below that of 20th Century- Fox. The Paramount state- ment contained two refusals, one quali- fied acceptance and five responses which might be considered doubtful. The M.P.T.O.A. points out that the responses are the first concrete results to be obtained as a result of exhibitor- distributor conferences and indicates that further efforts to extend its trade practice negotiations will be under- taken after discussions are held and plans formulated at the organization's national convention in Miami, March 16, 17 and 18. The bulletin also states that actual setting up of the local conciliation boards now rests with the distributors and the local exhibitor organizations. It points out that six or seven of its proposals can only be accomplished through these boards. Anderson Play Is Overlong, Confused, on the Dull Side Distributors File Dallas Suit Reply (Continued from page 1) charges and state that since all the defendants' films are copyrighted, the distributors have the right under the copyright laws to require subsequent run exhibitors to agree that any mo- tion picture shown first run at an adult admission price of 40 cents shall not be shown subsequently in the same city at a night adult admission price of less than 25 cents, nor as part of a double feature program, and that such agreements are not in restraint of trade. The case is expected to be tried shortly and the outcome is regarded as of wide significance to the indus- try. The companies filing answers were Paramount, Vitagraph, RKO Radio, Columbia, United Artists, Universal, M-G-M and 20th Century-Fox. Erpi Meeting Today All Erpi district superintendents and district managers will convene to- day for a three-day conference under the direction of G. L. Carrington, operating manager. The opening ses- sion will be devoted to reorganization work made necessary by recent orders for Mirrophonic installations from Loew's and Paramount. Tomorrow and Thursday will be devoted to fa- miliarizing the personnel with new technical developments and to tours of the Erpi laboratories. (Continued from page 1) the mystery and legend which sur- round the Mayerling tragedies. Much has been indulged in point of specu- lation as to how Crown Prince Ru- dolph, heir apparent to the throne of Austria-Hungary, and the Baroness Vetsera, his mistress, came to their end. One account, strongly credited, says the baroness was actually the crown prince's sister through an early indiscretion by the emperor with the young woman's mother ; that when Franz Joseph learned of his son's af- fair, he ultimately told the truth and the young couple thereafter entered upon a death pact. However, there is another approach, that which held Rudolph as a liberal, and so a rarity among 19th century royalty, who sought relief for his people and his own release from the decadent and enervating atmosphere of the court at Vienna. Tale of Regal Intrigue This is the basis of Anderson's treatment. He tells of Rudolph's pas- sion for the Vetsera and the em- peror's displeasure over it ; of the crown prince's plan to lead a revolt of the Hungarian populace ; its col- lapse and the effort next to capture a Vienna depleted by troops hurrying to crush the earlier disturbance ; the collapse of the second plan when it means the son must order his own father's execution. The letting of blood, in wholesale, proves too much for Rudolph, who recognizes his de- feat and with it the death of his hope that a monarchical government could also be a liberal government. To Mayerling he goes determined to re- turn to his allotted part as the em- peror to be. By this time, his faith has been further shattered by discov- ery that- Vetsera, the woman he loves, also has been in Franz Joseph's ser- vice. Vetsera is repentant and proves it by shooting herself, which seemed silly. Rudolph, for some reason and seeking some out never made lucid, follows in her footsteps and that was even sillier. Solution Is One Man's Opinion So it is that Anderson explains the mystery of Mayerling. Purely his own version, available fact has been em- broidered with playwriting fancy. Also he has indulged in those flights of beautiful prose usual with him. They do not, however, always aid the plot which is another way of saying that effective and thoughtful dialogue on its own simply will not turn out a play. Strong in the first act, weak in the first half of the second and power- ful in its close, the stream begins to go dry in the third and finishes parched by the time the curtain drops. Henry Hull as the crown prince and Margo as Vetsera impressed this re- viewer not a bit. They were rarely believable and never captured his sym- pathy. Pauline Frederick as the queen was quietly effective, but the best per- formance of them all and by far was that of Dudley Digges as the emper- or. He looked like Franz Joseph and he played his tyrannies in a manner which seemed plausible. Our deadline impression of "The Masque of Kings" is that Anderson inadvertently found himself rather They're Different Indianapolis, Feb. 8. — Film audiences and legitimate audiences are different castes in Indianapolis. Hence: "Those people look pros- perous," said a member of the cast of "You Can't Take It With You," looking through the curtain at the house just before the play opened at English's. "Yes," cracked a stage hand. "Those who have money go to first nights; those who don't go to bank nights." badly tricked up in his own endeavors and failed to find the way out. "Be So Kindly" A rather authentic view of a certain pseudo-social stratum of New York and one peculiarly of New York, this latest addition to the considerably un- important list of unimportant plays to reach Broadway this season, emerged at the Little last night as a harmless, albeit occasionally amusing piece. It was penned by Sara Sandberg. There is the glow — but just a glow — of the spark of drama along the way, but it never quite flames to give the play a great deal more substance than it now has. Let it be said at once that there is nothing here for the screen. It is the sort of thing which does not have to be bought from the stage and in any case is too peculiarly "typed" as of the cloak-and- suit "society" of New York, to en- able it to have a potential range of appeal for Hollywood. If it is pointed out that the one and only set is the living room of an apartment on West End Ave., and that it concerns the family of Kadan, which was not that originally, it would seem to tell the story quite thoroughly. There is the accented father and moth- er, played well by Angela Jacobs and Francis Pierlot, whose accent occa- sionally slips ; the affected daughter out for a catch, played even better by Jeanne Greene ; the studious daugh- ter, played not too well by Eva Lang- bord, and the jobless, happy-go-lucky son, played with a good touch of highly unsubtle comedy by John Call. Marrying Off Important The efforts of the mother, in par- ticular, to foster good "matches" for her children, and her disappointment when one, at least, turns out badly, with a considerable admixture of com- edy, a note of almost pathos and the drawing of a picture which is typical of a situation, make up the somewhat insignificant structure. Richard Skinner and Hope Lawder produced in association with Aldrich and Myers and Kenneth MacKenna staged the piece. Playboy, Jr. Pettey in Meeting Hollywood, Feb. 8. — Tom Pettey of the M.P.P.D.A. here, held a meet- ing with several studio publicity di- rectors at the request of Will Hays. 10 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, February 9, 1937 Educational Stockholders Approve Plan {Continued from page 1) with and approved by the Securities & Exchange Commission. The new com- mon will consist of 150,000 shares and there will also be 150,000 shares of the new $100 par preferred. The stockholders' meeting also au- thorized the company to proceed with the dissolution or merger of six of the nine subsidiaries of Educational Pic- tures, and this will be undertaken by the company at once. Commenting on the meeting, E. W. Hammons, Educational president, said, "The fact that more than 75 per cent of each class of stock now outstanding has given approval to our plans, with no objection being voiced by any stockholder, is a most encouraging sign for Educational's plan for greater future activities." Harry Hunter Named To Australian Post (Continued from page 1) vice-president in charge of the foreign department. Hunter will be guest of honor at a testimonial dinner to be sponsored by the Washington Variety Club Feb. 18. The following day he will come to New York to spend a couple of weeks in conference with home office execu- tives before starting for Australia via Los Angeles. He has been with the company since 1917, first as salesman in Portland and later as assistant manager there. Later he was at Des Moines as branch manager. Joel McCrea Assigned Hollywood, Feb. 8. — Joel McCrea's first assignment under his new con- tract with Samuel Goldwyn is the leading male role in "Hurricane." Wall Street Paramount Issues Drop on Board Net High Low Close Change 37 36$* 3m 44% +m 44^ 44% -Vs 5 5Vs Consolidated, pfd. 17 17 17 Eastman Kodak . 174 174 174 Gen. T. Equip. . . . 32% 32 32M, + Vs 7734 7634, 77/2 + Vs 27'A 26% 26?4 - JA Paramount 1 pfd. 190^ 18634 18634, -m Paramount 2 pfd. 24% 24^ 243/i - Vs Pathe Film 9H m 954 + y* RKO 85/g 3534 W2 36*4 20th Century -Fox 36H + 54 20th Century, pfd. AAVz 44J4 4414 Warner Bros. ... 153/s 15 15 - a Little Curb Movement Net Low Close Change 3% 354 — Vs 2Vs 2% 20?* 21 +54 4?4 454 — yt High Grand National . . 334, Sonotone 2l/s Technicolor 2\y2 Trans-Lux 4J4 Slight Bond Changes Net High Low Close Change Loew's 3j4s '46 ...IOO54 IOO54 10054 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 10034 10034 10054 RKO 6s '41 pp.... 120 120 120 + Vs Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 9954 99V4 99J4 — Vs (Quotations at close of Feb. 8) Out Hollywood Way Hollywood, Feb. 8. — Grace Moore's next for Columbia, "The Sound of Your Voice," an original by Stephen Morehouse Avery. Walter Connolly to have role of Nero Wolfe in Columbia's "The Lea- gue of Frightened Men" by Rex Stout . . . Hal Roach building a double star dressing room bungalow on the lot . . . Grantland Rice a guest of Pete Smith watching the shooting of "Gold Mistakes" . . . Ring Lardner, Jr., and Silvia Schulman, secretary to David O. Selznick, to be married soon . . . Paramount's "Souls at Sea" resumes after week's delay due to illness of Gary Cooper and Director Henry Hathaway. S. J. Briskin offers $50 cash prizes for titles for Radio's "Tomorrow's Headlines" and "Satisfaction Guar- anteed" . . . Dwight Franklin sign- ed by Cecil B. DeMille as costume designer on "The Buccaneer ;" he held a similar post on "The Plainsman" . . . Patricia Ellis, on loan from Warners, gets lead in Columbia's "Venus Makes Trouble." Gary Grant signs with Columbia to do two pictures a year for four years . . . "This Is My Affair" starts this week at 20th Century-Fox . . . Andrew L. Stone, Grand National producer, signs Ray Heinz as pro- duction manager on"Broadway Chisel- ers" . . . Harry Sherman completes cast of "The Hills of Wyoming," next in "Hapalong Cassidy" series . . . Richard Rowland to produce first color film for Grand National, "The Thief of Taos." + Director — Ralph Murphy will direct "The Stones Cry Out," Univer- sal, replacing Harold Young, who has the flu. + Writers — Anthony Veiller will work with Mortimer Offner on the screenplay of Radio's "Vivacious Lady" . . . Louis Stevens' contract renewed by Paramount . . . Edwin V. Westrate signed by Paramount . . . Henry Ducoin signed by Uni- versal. + Casting — Morgan Wallace in "Charlie Chan at the Olympics," 20th "Elephant Boy" London, Feb. 8.— Trade shown tonight at the Picca- dilly, the two stars of this production are Sabu, an at- tractive Indian boy, and Ko- lonai, a magnificent elephant. It is, of course, a jungle story and has not a single woman character. The high spot of the picture is a spectacular roundup of a large herd of elephants. The Indian backgrounds are not exceptional and the sound seems to have been slightly overdone. Adults will characterize the film as original and pic- turesque while the younger element will undoubtedly be fascinated. Running time, 100 minutes. ALLAN Century-Fox . . . Paul Graetz in "Madame Walewska," Pat West and Albert Hill in "Skidding," M-G-M . . . Erik Rhodes on loan from Radio in "The Woman's Touch," Samuel Goldwyn . . . Republic castings in- clude Weldon Heyburn in "Git Along, Little Doggies," Duncan Renaldo in "Painted Stallion," Ho- ward Hickman, Charles McMur- phy, Grace Hayle, Gladys Gale, Lu Miller and Harry Tyler in "Jim Hanvy" and Pierre Watkin in "Hit Parade." Seattle House to Duals Seattle, Feb. 8. — Hamrick-Ever- green's Fifth Avenue, last of the de luxe first run houses in this territory to retain a single feature policy, has at last capitulated. Admissions remain as before, with a 40-cent top. House Changes Policy Danbury, Conn., Feb. 8. — A policy shift brings two double-feature bills weekly to the Palace with a drop in admission prices. Matinees are now 25 cents with the evening top 40 cents. Overseas Previews "Faisons Un Reve" "Let's Dream" (Cineas-Tobis) Paris, Jan. 29. — This film is adapted from one of Sacha Guitry's first stage plays. It was directed and is acted mainly by its author. The story, dealing with the problem of the eternal triangle, is quite immoral, and its denouement still more so, but the film is well acted, the dialogue smart, and although very much a screened stage play, the film is cer- tainly not without interest. The prologue is notable for its originality, for while the film itself is acted entirely by three actors : Guitry, as the lover, Jacqueline Delubac (in private life, Mrs. Guitry), as the wife of his friend, and Raimu as the husband, the prologue introduces 15 of the most popular and best stage and screen stars of the present moment in Paris. "Faisons un Reve," besides being of interest to Guitry's numerous admirers, should be of particular interest to foreign people interested in good French productions. Running time, 80 minutes. "A." Autre Will Name Academy Winners on March 4 Hollywood, Feb. 8. — Winners of the Academy awards for 1936 will be revealed at the annual dinner to be held the evening of March 4. Nomi- nations, now completed, include 10 films, five actors, five actresses, nomi- nees for best supporting performance by actor and actress, direction, orig- inal story, screenplay, and assistant manager. The nominations in each of the several divisions follow : Films — "Anthony Adverse," War- ners ; "Dodsworth," Goldwyn-U. A. ; "The Great Ziegfeld," M-G-M; "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," Columbia ; "Li- beled Lady," M-G-M ; "Romeo and Juliet," M-G-M ; "San Francisco," M-G-M ; "The Story of Louis Pas- teur," Warners ; "A Tale of Two Cities," M-G-M; "Three Smart Girls," Universal. Actors — Gary Cooper in "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" ; Walter Huston in "Dodsworth" ; Paul Muni in "The Story of Louis Pasteur" ; William Powell in "My Man Godfrey" ; Spen- cer Tracy in "San Francisco." Actress — Irene Dunne in "Theodora Goes Wild," Gladys George in "Val- iant Is the Word for Carrie," Carole Lombard in "My Man Godfrey," Luise Rainer in "The Great Ziegfeld," and Norma Shearer in "Romeo and Ju- liet." Supporting Actor — Mischa Auer in "My Man Godfrey," Walter Brennan in "Come and Get It," Stuart Erwin in "Pigskin Parade," Basil Rathbone in "Romeo and Juliet" and Akim Tam- iroff in "The General Died at Dawn." Supporting Actress — Beulah Bondi in "Gorgeous Hussy," Alice Brady in "My Man Godfrey," Bonita Granville in "These Three," Maria Ouspenskaya in "Dodsworth" and Gale Sondergaard in "Anthony Adverse." Direction — "Dodsworth," by Wil- liam Wyler ; "The Great Ziegfeld," by Robert Z. Leonard; "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," by Frank Capra ; "My Man Godfrey," by Gregory la Cava, and "San Francisco," by W. S. VanDyke. Original Story — "Fury," by Norman Krasna; "The Great Ziegfeld," by William Anthony McGuire ; "San Francisco," by Robert Hopkins ; "The Story of Louis Pasteur," by Sheridan Gibney and Pierre Collings and "Three Smart Girls," by Adele Co- mandini. Screenplay — "After the Thin Man," by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett; "Dodsworth," by Sidney Howard; "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," by Robert Riskin; "My Man God- frey," by Morris Ryskind and Eric Hatch, and "The Story of Louis Pas- teur," by Sheridan Gibney and Pierre Collings. Assistant Directors— William Can- non for "Anthony Adverse," Jack Sul- livan for "The Charge of the Light Brigade," Eric G. Stacey for "Gar- den of Allah," Clem Beauchamp for ' "The Last of the Mohicans," Joseph Newman for "San Francisco." Art Direction — "Anthonv Adverse," "Dodsworth," "The Great Ziegfeld," "Lloyds of London," "Magnificent Brute," "Romeo and Juliet," "Winter- set." Under a change in rules, the art direction nominees were selected by a nominating committee from a group chosen by committees representing the art directors section and other branches rather than by general vote of the whole Academy membership. CARBONS HELP MAKE YOUR THEATRE Recently published records show that a major factor con- tributing to accidents in motion picture theatres is the low visibility experienced by patrons entering the dark- ened interior from the brilliant light of the street. Darkened interiors are necessary when the level of screen illumination is low, but SUPREX CARBONS provide an intensity of screen illumination which per- mits supplementary lighting adequate for comfortable vision from the moment of entrance. USE NATIONAL CARBONS NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY, INC. Unit of Union Carbide 1 1 1 j j and Carbon Corporation CARBON SALES DIVISION, CLEVELAND, OHIO General Offices: 30 East 42nd St., New York, N. Y. Branch Sales Offices : New York - Pittsburgh - Chicago - San Franetseo J MOTION PICTURE DAILY Warners About to Step Out As Radio Producers on Film RADIO Wrigley Pays $30,000 for Benefit Show By contributing a sum reported to be $30,000 to the American Red Cross, William Wrigley & Co. has secured sponsorship of the flood relief pro- gram which will be broadcast over the combined networks of CBS, Mu- tal and NBC-Blue, as well as over WMCA and WHN, Thursday night from 12:30 to 2:30 A. M., E. S. T. The program also will be available to any other broadcasting stations in the country that desire to donate the air time. Participating networks, stations and artists are donating time and talent. The entertainment will originate in Radio City Music Hall. Radio, stage and screen have joined hands for the huge benefit, and a list of talent lined up for the program reads like a "Who's Who" of the entertainment world. Thus far more than 100 artists have been assembled and the list is growing hourly. The talent lineup for this program has already been pub- lished in the radio section of Motion Picture Daily. The broadcast orginally was to have been sold to the sponsors in half- hour units, at a cost of $10,000 for each stanza. Classical Program Set Additionally, the American Guild of Musical Artists, Inc., is now com- pleting plans for a Red Cross benefit to be held in Carnegie Hall Feb. 20. Among the topflight concert artists who will perform at the benefit are Lily Pons, Lawrence Tibbett, Gladys Swarthout, Elizabeth Rethberg, Efrem Zimbalist, and others. Mrs. Alma Gluck Zimbalist, wife of the famous violin virtuoso, is in charge of the committee arranging the benefit. Unquestionably the con- cert will be broadcast if a sponsor willing to contribute anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 to the Red Cross flood fund can be found. WCAU Has Portable Unit Philadelphia, Feb. 8. — W3XEO, portable short-wave station of WCAU, has been installed in a small truck and will play an important part in a new series of broadcasts now be- ing planned by the station's officials. The mobile unit will visit historic points in a series called "Historic Philadelphia." With an announcer rid- ing in the truck, pickup will be in the nature of a sightseeing tour, giving descriptions as they pass the spots. "With Regrets" Philadelphia, Feb. 8.— When Mayor S. Davis Wilson in- vited his radio audience to shake his hand in his City Hall reception room, he was overheard by a chap in Nyassaland, British Central Africa, whose "regrets" were just received. Writing as a British subject, L. S. Norman explained he always likes to accept invitations, but un- fortunately had to pass this one by. (.Continued from page 1) Transamerica, a Warner subsidiary, and includes the Vitaphone orchestra conducted by Leo Forbstein, a voice ensemble of 40 voices, bits by Allan Jenkins and Rosalind Marquis and a re-enactment of scenes from "Kid Gallahad" with Bette Davis and Ed- ward G. Robinson. A print is expected to arrive in New York momentarily where it will be "auditioned" for prospective buyers. It was reported here today that Chase and Sanborn will get a first peek at the show to determine whether or not they will supplant the coffee company's current program, "So You Want to Be an Actor?" The latter is also a Warner-Transamerica air production, but reports indicate Chase and Sanborn are not completely satis- fied with it and may want another. Warners are believed to be of the opinion that, with their years of ex- perience in the entertainment-building business, they are in a stategic posi- tion to develop shows which may open an entirely new avenue in the calibre of air entertainment. It has been re- ported for some time that the studio has frowned upon the appearance of its talent on the air and that it has made arrangements to hold the ser- vices of its players for air entertain- ment turned out by its own studio exclusively. John Clark, president of Trans- america, arrived in New York from Florida yesterday. Don Becker, Transamerica production chief, who produced the Powell film-recorded air show, is due from the coast this week. Martin Gosch, active on radio within the Warner organization, already has arrived from the coast. If Warners succeed in selling their first air show, some in the radio field yesterday were inclined to believe the day of the "waxed" program may be hastened to its close. Hollywood re- ports declare the Powell show, which is on film, represents a considerable improvement over transcriptions on wax. Expand on "Lone Ranger" "The Lone Ranger," radio serial produced at WXY, Detroit, and heard over the eight stations of the Michigan network of which WXY is the key station, and WOR, Newark, WGN, Chicago, and WSPD, Toledo, will be heard additionally over the entire 10 stations of the Don Lee net- work beginning Feb. 15. Expansion of the "Lone Ranger" gives the program three sponsors. In the east and middle west it is spon- sored by the Gordon Baking Co., in Southern California by the Western Bakeries, and in the northern part of the Pacific Coast by the Kilpatrick Bakeries. Marrow Renews Show J. W. Marrow Manufacturing Co., sponsors of the Henry Busse Orches- tra program heard Wednesdays at 4 P.M. E.S.T., over a split NBC-Red network, renew the series for eight weeks beginning March 17. The pro- gram is broadcast in behalf of Mar-O- Oil shampoo and was placed through Baggaley, Horton and Hoyt. May Enter Radio New Haven, Feb. 8.— It is reported John Day Jackson, publisher of New Haven's daily newspapers, is looking into the radio field with a buy in mind. Philco to Show New Television Thursday Philadelphia, Feb. 8. — Latest ad- vances in television will be demon- strated by Philco Radio & Television Corp. Thursday at the Germantown Cricket Club. The showing will be an invitation affair, presenting for the first time 441 line television. A Philco demonstration in August, 1937, seven miles from the company's laboratory, showed pictures of only 345 lines. KSFO Gets Power Increase San Francisco, Feb. 8. — After a long wait, KSFO, new Columbia out- let in this territory, has been granted permission by the F.C.C. to increase its day power from 1,000 to 5,000 watts, and to locate its transmitter in suburban San Francisco. The present transmitter, which op- erates on a day power of 1,000 watts, is located in Oakland, having been erected when KSFO was KTAB and owned by the 10th Ave. Baptist Church of that city. No location has yet been selected but a site on the Bay Shore highway, near the beach, is understood to be under considera- tion. May Get Unlimited Time New Orleans, Feb. 8. — An F.C.C. examiner in Washington has recom- mended approval of an application of the Alexandria Broadcasting Co., Inc., operator of KALB, Alexandria, La., for full-time operation on a new wave length. KALB now operates during the day on 1,420 kilocycles. If the commission approves the exam- iner's report, KALB will be permitted to operate on unlimited time on a fre- quency of 1,210 kilocyles. Examiners reported there was a need for addi- tional service in that area and that granting of the application would "serve public interest." Staging a Comeback Philadelphia, Feb. 8. — Larry Vin- cent and Ben Alley, former stars whose songs thrilled listeners from coast to coast, are hitting the come- back trail via local airlines. Both singers are doing their songs daily over WCAU, Vincent doing a sustain- ing shot at 11:20 P. M., and Alley, once again with an organ accompani- ment, at 5:45 P. M. for the House- hold Finance Corp. "NBC Progress" Is Out The first issue of NBC Progress, a new weekly published by the broad- casting chain for its employes, cli- ents, advertising agencies and radio executives throughout the nation was placed in the mail yesterday. The pub- lication is intended to summarize cur- rent activities of NBC. Tuesday, February 9, 1937 New Jersey Opposes Liquor Ads on Radio Easton, Pa., Feb. 8. — Disapproval of all liquor advertising over radio stations, "because it carries its mes- sage directly into the home and to the family fireside, whether welcome or not," is voiced by New Jersey State Alcoholic Beverage Control Commis- sioner D. Frederick Burnett in a letter to WEST, replying to an inquiry from the local station regarding his atti- tude on a proposed word-building con- test by a liquor advertiser. Although admitting there is noth- ing in the present New Jersey liquor rules and regulations barring such contests, Commissioner Burnett warned WEST that its widespread use in connection with liquor adver- tising would result in "immediate pro- mulgation and rigid enforcement of rules forbidding the conduct of such contests." It was also pointed out to the sta- tion that beer advertising is no long- er being carried by the Iowa Broad- casting System, operating WMT, Waterloo, and KRNT, Des Moines, confirming the policies of the affiliated Des Moines Register & Tribune, which rejects beer advertising, this in spite of the fact that seven beer sponsors in 1936 yielded considerable revenue to the stations. Will Short Wave Mardi Gras New Orleans, Feb. 8. — Every Eng- lish speaking country in the world will hear the Mardi Gras, Feb. 9, from 3 :30 to 4 o'clock in the afternoon when WWL, through CBS and the British Broadcasting system, London, broadcast a half-hour program from the streets of New Orleans and the WWL studio. Alfred Danziger, assistant to Mayor Maestri, will make an address on be- half of the Mayor, and there will be other speakers as well as Announcer Jimmy Wilson for the street broad- casts. WDSU to Air Mardi Gras New Orleans, Feb. 8.— WDSU will broadcast Mardi Gras events from four points throughout the city dur- ing the event, with a statewide hookup, as well as a transfer to the Mutual System. P. K. Ewing, manager of WDSU, has purchased the construction rights for a station in Granada, Miss., and the station midway between Gulfport and Biloxi, Miss. (WGCM) 250 kilo- cycles, which has been placed in charge of his son, P. K. Ewing, Jr. This gives him coverage in both north and south Mississippi, as well as Louisi- ana with WDSU. New equipment has been purchased for WGCM. Music, the Idea Oklahoma City, Feb. 8.— The Heestand-Stuart Music Co. is demonstrating that radio is a natural medium for selling the music idea to schools. It invites a different high school band to broad- cast over WKY each Sunday afternoon and ties in with the program by mentioning the fact that many of the in- struments used in the band have been sold by the spon- soring company. MOTION PICTURE DAILY "Showboat" Faces Cut in Two; Burns and Allen May Be Added It was reliably reported yesterday that the Thursday night Maxwell House "Showboat" program, one of radio's oldest full hour programs, will be sliced in half beginning some time in April and that the last half of the 9 to 10 P. M., E.S.T. NBC Red network period will be filled by Burns and Allen, who were signed some time ago by General Foods through Young and Rubicam to broadcast for Grape Nuts. The "Showboat" program is also a General Foods account, placed through Benton & Bowles. The agency yesterday admitted that the report had reached it, but withheld information. Young and Rubicam also refused con- firmation. i Radio Personals ► Tuesday, February 9, 1937 California Has Bill for State Radio Stations Sacramento, Feb. 8 — A bill intro- duced by Assemblyman Ellis Patter- son just before the recess of the Legis- lature session here would appropriate $500,000 of state funds to build twin radio stations in Los Angeles and Berkeley. They would be operated by the staffs of the University of California extension division, which, under the bill, would be required to "prepare and broadcast a curriculum of educa- tion beneficial to those citizens who are unable to partake of the benefits afforded by actual attendance at a uni- versity." The University Explorer, a weekly University of California program, is heard in California over the NBC blue network, and numerous educational programs are heard over various sta- tions in the state. Delay WMCA Case to Feb. 23 A cross motion filed in N. Y. Su- preme Court yesterday by Knicker- bocker Broadcasting Co., Inc., oper- ators of WMCA, asked for a summary judgment in favor of Knickerbocker in the $10,000 suit brought against the company by Damskov, Inc. Argument on that motion as well as the motion submitted by Damskov last week was adjourned yesterday until Feb. 23. Damskov seeks per- mission to examine Donald Flam, president of Knickerbocker, before trial concerning an agreement of Feb. 20, 1935, whereby Knickerbocker al- legedly agreed to broadcast a beauty forum program three times a week for one year. Knickerbocker dropped the program last May and thus vio- lated the contract, it is alleged. The defendant argued that the discontinua- tion of the program was permissible under a rule of the F.C.C. The plain- tiff also has asked the defendant to file a bill of particulars concerning its defense. Sinclair Reserves CBS Time The Sinclair Refining Co. has re- served stations and time on the CBS network for a new program to begin April 7. The program will be heard Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 :30 to 10:45 P. M., E.S.T., over 59 CBS stations. Federal Advertising Agency is the Sinclair representative. The program idea is still nebulous and will not be set for another 10 days or so. A script show is indicated, however, by the twice weekly 15-min- ute periods. "Romancers" for Weston Beginning Sunday, Feb. 14, from 9:45 to 10 P. M., E.S.T., the Weston Biscuit Co. will sponsor a new series entitled "The Romancers" on WOR. The talent lineup will include Willard Amison and Adelaide Norton, vocal- ists, as well as poetry readings by Erik Rolf and incidental organ music supplied by Louis Wilcher. The deal was handled direct between client and station. More Radio — Page 14 CROSBY GAIGE, producer of "Eternal Road," is the "surprise" master-of -ceremonies for the forthcom- ing C. F. Mueller Co.'s program which will be heard five times weekly on the NBC Blue beginning Feb. 22. Gaige will introduce occasional guest art- ists on the series . . . Two new addi- tions to the staff of WROK, Rock- ford, have been affected with the en- gagements of Maurice P. Owens and William R. Traum as announcers . . . Billy K. Wells, dean of the radio joke- smiths, may be heard on an automo- bile series shortly. Wells was a dia- lect comedian for years before turning to scripting . . . Toni Gaye (Miss New Orleans) is now vocalizing with Dave Schooler's band on WOR . . . + Arthur Boran may join the Gus Ed- wards program on the coast . . . Wil- liam Griffin, publisher of the New York Enquirer, will be heard in a spe- cial program over WOR today at 6 :30 P. M. . . . Freddie Martin celebrates his first year on Mutual this week . . . "Home Made Rhythm," a new CBS series, begins tomorrow at 9 P. M., E.S.T. . . . Virginia Clark, of the "Romance of Helen Trent," planes to Omaha for a hurried visit with her parents . . . Stan Thompson, day su- pervisor of WBBM, CBS Chicago, birthdays Feb. 25 . . . + Absent from the airwaves for three weeks, Nancy Hurdle, actress-wife of Director Lawrence M. Hurdle, has resumed her part in the "Betty and Bob" scripts . . . Kay Brinker, who played in the stage mystery melodrama "Night of January 16," has been added to the cast of the network serial "Mod- ern Cinderella" . . . The "Magic Key" program this Sunday will feature Gina Cigna, Helen Gleason,Dennis King and Carlos Salvedo. . . . + NBC will tender a dinner for New York's music critics tonight in the RCA dining room to introduce Vis- count Hidemaro Konoye, noted Japa- nese conductor and younger brother of the President of the House of Japa- nese Peers, who is scheduled to make his air debut in America on the RCA "Magic Key" program this Sun- day . . . + Don C. Gillette, former managing editor of The Film Daily, is now fill- ing a like post on Radio Daily, which marks its debut today. He succeeds William Pitts. + Hollywood Chatter Hollywood, Feb. 8. — John Conte appointed chief announcer at KHJ suc- ceeding the late Bill Kuser . . . Mar- shall P. Tate joins the same station as salesman by appointment of Roger K. Huston, sales manager . . . Robert and Mrs. Montgomery attended a Don Lee television test conducted at the coast home of Harry R. Lubcke, television director of the network . . . Norris Goff, (Abner, of Lum and Abner) has leased a home in San Fernando Val- ley, next door to his friend, Don Ameche . . . Guest stars on Elza Shal- lert's Feb. 12 program will be Dolores Del Rio and her husband, Cedric Gib- bons . . . Elmer Pederson, CBS sales manager, touring the Pacific Coast stations of the network . . . Humphrey Bogart and Anne Sheridan will be guest stars on the Feb. 19 "Hollywood Hotel" program. They will do "Black Legion". . . Block and Sully will be back in Jack Oakie's College for Camel over CBS Tuesday. Don- ald Novis will be guest singer on the same program and overtures are being made to Amherst College. . . . KFWB entertained the press at a dinner held at the Hollywood Cin- nabar Restaurant with station execu- tives and personel including Harry Maizlish, station manager, Bill Ray, Jean Armand, Ray Buffum, Wen Niles, Dan Addison, Fred Dodge and others attending. . . . Nick Angelo, who made the finals in the California Hour amateur program contest, spotted in the new NBC feature "Thrills." . . . Tommy Harris of the Moonglow program has bought him- self a new home. . . . KEHE, local CBS station, has eliminated records on broadcasts with the exception of one early morning program. Live talent and in a few cases transcriptions from the Associated Music Publishers libraries make up the shows. . . . + They Say in 'Frisco San Francisco, Feb. 8. — Pablo Ri- cardo named to succeed Joseph Hor- nik as orchestra conductor of the "Woman's Magazine of the Air," heard daily at 3 P. M., P.S.T., over NBC's coast Red . . . Paul Pendar- vis, radio orchestra leader, is playing at a local hotel . . . Cornelia Burdick, who handles the title role in "Dr. Kate," Hal Burdick's new serial heard Thursdays over NBC's coast Blue, took time out to act as show commen- tator for the Spring Market Week ex- hibit. Cyrus Trobbe, for several years KYA music director, has left the Hearst station. Walter Rudolph, formerly music director with Colum- bia's KSFO when it was still KTAB, assumes Trobbe's post. . . . Ernie Smith, KYA commentator, acted as "em cee" for the Oakland President's Ball. . . . Buddy Moreno, singer with Griff Williams's band, is back from RADIO a KGGC, KLS to Join Broadcast Programs San Francisco, Feb. 8.— Arrange- ments just completed by W. N. Mc- Gill, station manager of KGGC, will establish a "midget network" compris- ing KGGC and KLS in Oakland. The two small stations will start broadcasting simultaneously as soon as KGGC gets permission from the F. C. C. to step up its power to 250 watts. Report Warners Sign Waring for Picture Fred Waring and his troupe of Pennsylvanians have been signed by Warner Bros, for a picture tentatively entitled "Varsity Show," according to a report last night. The price for the Pennsylvanians is said to have been set at $150,000. If so, this is an all-time high for a band. KOY Joins CBS KOY, 1,000- watt station in Phoenix, Ariz., joins CBS March 1. The station recently was granted permission to step up its power from 500 watts. Back to Announcing Signed yesterday by Martinson's Coffee, Gabriel Heatter tonight be- gins a new series of news comments over WOR, from 9 to 9:15 P. M. The series is for 26 weeks and was placed through the Albert Frank- Guenther-Law Agency. The understanding is that Heatter accepted the local program only be- cause the automobile strike has held up several network commercials for which he'd been angling. Broadcast Rio Carnival As part of NBC's policy of ex- changing broadcasts with South and Central America, the carnival festivi- ties at Rio de Janiero was broad- cast over the NBC-Blue network last night at 7 P. M., E.S.T. The pro- gram will be brought to this country over the facilities of Radiobrass, Brazilian broadcasting system, and RCA Communications. Hollywood after a screen test. . . . Don Steele, announcer, and H. P. Davis, technician, are new KYA staff members. . . . Andrew Love, NBC continuity editor, is passing on prison- ers, not scripts, these davs. He is on jury duty. . . . + From the Quaker City Philadelphia, Feb. 8.— Clarice Mayer, KYW's woman reporter, and Dr. Joseph Garfield, local den- tist, announce their engagement . . . Music of Emerson Gill added to WFIL'S dance parade, emanating from the Arcadia International Restaurant and fed to the Mutual system. . . . WIP gives Philadelphia its own "March of Time," Edward Wallace, WIP's dramatic director, scripting and producing a weekly "Philadelphia Parade of Events," dramatizing important local events of the week. . . . Rae Eleanor Ball, con- cert violinist, returns to the WCAU airlanes. . . . "Colored Kiddies Revue" from the stage of the Nixon-Grand, and carried for the past three years by WIP, moves to WDAS. . . . KYW's studio band, Jan Savitt's Top-Hatters, get the bid for the Princeton Junior Prom on Feb. 19. . . MOTION PICTURE " radio DAILY Chicago Group Gets Film, Radio Talent Chicago, Feb. 8. — The Chicago Group Theatre, Inc., now starting its second season, has announced that such stage and screen stars as Fran- chot Tone, Grace George, Anna May Wong, Victor Jory, Conrad Nagel, Florence Reed, Rudy Vallee, Paul Whiteman and Ted Lewis are being lined up for stage appearances here this year. The theatre group recently leased the Studebaker. Formerly housed in the Chicago Woman's theatre, the group found the response so great larger quarters were obtained. Among the plays scheduled are: "Shanghai Gesture," "One Good Year," "Kind Lady," "Libel," "Suc- cess Story" and several others. Arkansas Governor on Air Little Rock, Feb. 8.— Gov. Carl E. Bailey has been offered and is using the facilities of KARK, local NBC outlet, for a series of "messages to the people" broadcast from his office. Twice recently the Governor has gone on the air without advance notice — once in the emergency created by the flood in Eastern Arkansas and again with a message relative to the "open gambling and disregard for law" in Hot Springs. KARK sponsored the first state- wide broadcast of an Arkansas Gov- ernor's inaugural by radio over 12 Arkansas stations and one Memphis station on Jan. 12. Hill to Oklahoma City Oklahoma City, Feb. 8. — Ivan Hill, formerly vice-president of the Walter Biddick Co., Pacific Coast ra- dio station representatives, has joined the promotion department of the Okla- homa Publishing Co., operators of WKY, Oklahoma City ; KLZ, Denver, and KVOR, their recently purchased CBS affiliate in Colorado Springs. Cy Taillon, commercial manager o f KGHL, Billings, Mont., for several years, has just been added to the KLZ sales staff. KJBS Completes Move San Francisco, Feb. 8. — KJBS has completed its move from the old stu- dio on Bush St. to new plant at 1470 Pine. The night of the move, KJBS's "Night Owl" program — from midnight to 6 A. M. of records — was shifted to KQW, San Jose unit of the North- ern California Broadcasting chain which Ralph Brunton heads. Entrance to the new KJBS build- ing is through the sub-frame of the 250-foot antenna tower. Allan Trench with WWSW Pittsburgh, Feb. 8. — Allan Trench, former WCAE announcer who has been in England for the last year, has returned to Pittsburgh with his fam- ily to join WWSW as a time sales- man. Trench is not devoting himself to the sales end exclusively however, doing some part-time announcing as well as a question-and-answer com- mercial for Yellow Cab. Carter Turning Author Philadelphia, Feb. 8. — Boake Car- ter, Philco news commentator, is readying a new book, "This Is Life," a collection of his outstanding broad- casts. Carter's air contract has been renewed, effective Feb. 22, for another year, making his fifth on the net- works. News from London on Canadian Network Montreal, Feb. 8. — News pickups from London, New York and "any point in the world where it breaks" featured the ambitious air show on a coast-to-coast Canadian 34-station network which started Sunday. Spon- sors are the Imperial Tobacco Co., Ltd. Burt Hall of Whitehall Broad- casting, Ltd. is handling the program. Hall returned from London Monday where he completed arrangements for the overseas portion of the broad- cast. The point is Montreal. From Lon- don, Vernon Bartlett, well-known BBC commentator and foreign affairs expert, gave comment on the Euro- pean situation. L. S. B. Shapiro, New York columnist for the Montreal Ga- zette, talked on films and theatre from Manhattan, and a third overseas pickup was to be from wherever something is happening at any point on the globe. The Montreal end of the 45-minute program consisted of a dramatic sketch, orchestra under the direction of Henri Miro and songs from a choir and quartet. Leo Lesieur is musical director. The weekly budget is rough- ly $10,000. Discusses Emergency Broadcast Little Rock, Feb. 8. — The Arkan- sas Amateur Radio Club today dis- cussed formation of an emergency plan to be used in the event of another statewide flood disaster. The proposed plan would specify wavelengths, fre- quencies and operating program for all amateur broadcasters in coopera- tion with local police and airline radio sets. WDRC Seeks a Booster Hardford, Feb. 8.— WDRC, 5,000- watt, 1,330-kilocycle Hartford station, CBS outlet, has an application before the FCC for authority to locate a 250- watt booster transmitter in New Haven. With no Columbia outlet in the Bridgeport-New Haven section of the state, the booster, if approved, would be of considerable advantage in this direction. San Francisco, Feb. 8. — Two novel variations in "personalized" radio acts are blossoming here, one called "The Other Man" offering air interviews with anonymous job-hunters, and the other in which bona fide prospective bridegrooms tell the air audience how they "popped the question." Dean Maddux, producer of the "Buddha" amateur shows for Marin- dell Milk, conducts the job-hunters' pa- rade over KFRC every Friday. Num- bers are used to identify those stating their qualifications for various jobs and prospective employers are asked to telephone the station if they think they can use the applicants. The 30- minute show is a sustaining feature. As yet untitled, the KJBS feature is handled by J. Lester Malloy, who checks the marriage licenses column in the daily papers, then gets the couples to the studio for air inter- views. Merchandise orders which may be used as down payments on engage- ment and wedding rings, or other Wax Papal Blessing Des Moines, Feb. 8.— As an accommodation to late sleep- ers, WHO made an electrical transcription of the Pope's blessing, given for the 33d International Eucharistic Congress at Manila, that reached Des Moines at 7 A. M. and broadcast it at 3:30 P. M. Hays, Klauber Conferring Hollywood, Feb. 8. — E. K. Klauber, vice-president of CBS, is here from New York and is conferring with Will Hays on a radio-producer code. Batten Urges Tolerance Philadelphia, Feb. 8. — Need for humanity, friendship and tolerance in all industrial affairs was cited by H. A. Batten, president of N. W. Ayer & Son, Inc., at the unveiling of a portrait of the late Wilfred W. Fry at the offices of the company. Fry, who died last July, was the second president of the agency, succeeding F. Wayland Ayer, the founder, upon the latter's death in 1923. FCC Turns Down WMAS Springfield, Mass., Feb. 8. — WMAS' application for permission to switch to 560 kilocycles and increase its power has been refused. Gladwyn Joins Yankee Hartford, Feb. 8. — -The Yankee net- work offices have added Graham Glad- wyn, formerly with WTIC here and the Hammer advertising agency. WBRY Seeks More Power Waterbury, Feb. 8.— WBRY, Wat- erbury-New Haven's kilowatter, has applied to Washington for a daytime power increase to 5,000 watts. Chet Santon with WBRY Waterbury, Feb. 8. — Chet Santon has been added to the WBRY studio staff as announcer. His style is similar to that of Edwin C. Hill. jewelry, are given the interviewed pair by the sponsor, a local gem house. Listener interest in the half-hour Saturday night show has been pro- nounced and KJBS will shortly con- duct an audience contest to obtain a suitable name for it. The radio edi- tors of the local papers — Bob Hall of the Call, Herb Caen of the Chron- icle, Darrell Donnelly of the Examiner and Claude LaBelle of the News — will probably act as judges, with the spon- sor providing a merchandise order prize for the winning title. Another personal angle is current- ly being aired by the Call-Bulletin, local Hearst afternoon paper, over KPO every day with a "Radio Inquir- ing Reporter" handling shortwave pickup interviews with passersby at various business intersections. WBNX, New York, currently airs a job hunters' program along the above lines. Tuesday, February 9, 1937 N. H. Business Men Plan Radio C, of C. New Haven, Feb. 8. — The Chamber of Commerce program finally gets started on WBRY Tuesday at 12:45 P. M. with Robert Lancraft, retail division executive, as principal speaker. The plan is to organize an actual Chamber of Commerce of the air, with membership cards and officers. All questions of listeners will be answered following a first discussion on the re- ligion of the people of the city, and subsequent statistics on industries, births, deaths and other data. Tucker Goes to WWSW Pittsburgh, Feb. 8. — WWSW's new sports announcer is Joe Tucker, who is getting his first baptism of radio on the job, having previously been a buyer in a local department store. He has taken over the post left vacant by Jack Craddock's recent resignation to re-enter evangelistic work. Tucker won the job over 200 ap- plicants who had auditioned for sta- tion manager Frank Smith for several *veeks. Want Their Radio Clear Wildwood, N. J., Feb. 8. — Designed to assist radio listeners in Wildwood, city commissioners have adopted an ordinance prohibiting preventable in- terference with radio reception. The measure pointed out that it is "unlaw- ful for any person, firm or corpora- tion to operate any machine or ap- paratus within the territorial jurisdic- tion of Wildwood if the operation causes reasonably preventable elec- trical interference with radio recep- tion." Columnist Gets Sponsor Pittsburgh, Feb. 8. — Charles F. Danver, veteran columnist of the Post-Gazette who writes the daily "Pittsburghesque" feature, has been signed by the Yellow Cab Co. for a series of broadcasts over WCAE. Danver will air every Tuesday and Friday night for the next four weeks, doing a combination of gossip, news and descriptions about well-known landmarks of the town. Switch to Iowa Barn Show Des Moines, Feb. 8. — Bill Osborne and Bob Balentine, "Bill and Bob" over the National Farm and Home hour of WGN, Chicago, are here and will be heard over WHO every Satur- day night in the Iowa Barn Dance Frolic program. N. W. Vickery in New Spot Philadelphia, Feb. 8. — Norman W. Vickery has moved to McKee, Al- bright & Ivey agency. He had been associated for a number of years with Calkins & Holden, and for the last three years has been with Donovan- Armstrong. J. V. Callinan Joins WICC New Haven, Feb. 8. — J. Vincent Calanan has been appointed WICC commercial representative here, fol- lowing the resignation of Richard Ponsaing. Callanan has worked on the staffs of various newspapers. Ripley Addresses Ad Men Philadelphia, Feb. 8. — Poor Rich- ard Club, composed of local ad men, had Robert L. Ripley as guest of honor at their weekly luncheon today. The session was aired locally by KYW. Job Hunters, Future Grooms Take Air in 'Frisco Programs Acceptance OP CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER ESTABLISHED AS THE EVENING PLAIN DEALER IN 1845 MORNING AND SUNDAY EDITIONS FOUNDED IN 1885 BY L.E.HOLDEN LARGEST MORNING AND SUNDAY CIRCULATION IN OHIO B. P. BOLE, President JOH N S. M= CARR E NS, Vice Pbcs & Gen'l Mob PAUL BELLAMY, Editor January 12, 1937 Mr. Jack Banner, Radio News Editor, Motion Picture Daily, Rockefeller Center, New York, N. Y. My dear Mr. Banner: I have been receiving copies of Motion Picture Daily for some weeks now and I thought you might like to know that I feel you are giving your readers a fine compact service as far as radio news is concerned. I like especially the brief way in which you summarize your news items and I think there is considerable of value in your review of programs. We have too little reviewing done in this business. Cordially yours, Robert S. Stephan Radio Editor MOTION PICTURE DAILY I ROCKEFELLER CENTER NEW YORK MOTION PICTURE DAILY "Champagne," "Legion" Top Philadelphia Philadelphia, Feb. 8. — Outstand- ing in a generally spotty week were "Champagne Waltz" at the Boyd and "Black Legion" at the Stanton. The former grabbed a neat $17,000 and was held. Backed 'by a heavy cam- paign and extra advertising space, "Legion" took $9,500 and was also given a second week. "Stolen Holiday" and the Fox stage show also clicked profitably with $16,- 500 on the week. The rest of the town was off, "Ca- reer Woman" being yanked at the Karlton after five days and "Men are Not Gods" and "Three Smart Girls" winding up their second weeks under average. First sustained cold weather of the winter set in and did its part to cut down night trade. Total first run business was $78,600. Average is $79,250. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 4: "MEN ARE NOT GODS" (U.A.) ALDINE — (1,300), 40c-55c-65c, 6 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, 7 days, $8,160) "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) (2nd run) ARCADIA— (600), 25c-40c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $1,900. (Average, $2,400) "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ" (Para.) BOYD— (2,400), 40c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $17,000. (Average, $14,000) "CRIMINAL LAWYER" (Radio) EARLE — (2,000), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Stage: Roscoe Ates, Mells, Kirk and How- ard, Reynolds and White, Oehman Twins, Doris Rhodes. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $14,000) "STOLEN HOLIDAY" (F.N.) FOX— (3,000), 40c-55c-65c, 7 days. Stage: Paul Draper: Liazeed Troupe, Buster Shaver with Olive and George. Gross: $16,500. (Average, $14,000) "CAREER WOMAN" (ZOth-Fox) KARLTON— (1,000), 25c-3Sc-40c, 5 days. Gross: $1,200. (Average, 7 days, $4,000) "GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN" (W.B.) (2nd run) KEITH'S— (2,000), 30c-40c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $2,500. (Average, $4,000) "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) STANLEY— (3,700), 40c -55c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $11,500. (Average, $14,000) "BLACK LEGION" (W.B.) STANTON— (1,700), 30c-40c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $9,500. (Average, $7,000) Asks Picture Permit Bridgeport, Feb. 8. — The Lyric, burlesque house, has aske4 permission to operate films and vaudeville on Sundays. The management says the house must close unless the permit for films is granted. The house now is using amateur night and stage basketball games in addition to regu- lar shows. Cincy Paper Gives Bonus Cincinnati, Feb. 8. — All employes of the Cincinnati Post, including mem- bers of the staff of WCPO, the daily's radio station located in Hotel Sinton, have been given an extra week's pay in recognition of extraordinary ser- vices rendered during the flood. Pick Md. Nominators Baltimore, Feb. 8. — The Nominat- ing Committee of the M. P. T. O. of Maryland, Inc., of which Frank A. Hornig is president, has been appointed and includes Charles Nolte, chairman ; Eugene B. McCurdy, Samuel Back, Meyer Leventhal and Oscar Coblentz. "Love on Ice" With a Show Tops Seattle Seattle, Feb. 8. — <"Love on the Ice," with a Major Bowes girl unit at the Palomar, took top honors for the week, $6,100. This was $1,600 above par. "More Than a Secretary" and "Woman in Distress" took a fair $6,700 at the Liberty and "One Way Passage," with "White Legion" went slightly over the line with $6,150 at the Orpheum, but business elsewhere was in the doldrums. Total first run business was $43,700. Average is $42,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 5: "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) BLUE MOUSE — (950), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week, extended run from Music Hall. Gross: $3,700. (Average, $4,000) "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ" (Para.) "SINNER TAKE ALL" (M-G-M) FIFTH AVENUE— (2,500), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $6,850. (Average, $7,000) "MORE THAN A SECRETARY" (Col.) "WOMAN IN DISTRESS" (Col.) LIBERTY — (1,800), 15c-25c-30c-40c-55c, 9 days. Gross: $6,700. (Average, $5,000) "ONE IN A MILLION" (20th-Fox) MUSIC BOX— (950), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days, 5th week, extended run from Orpheum and Music Hall. Gross: $4,200. (Average, $4,000) "MAN OF AFFAIRS" (G.B.) "NIGHT WAITRESS" (Radio) MUSIC HALL— (2,275), 25c-30c-4Oc-55c, 7 days. Gross: $4,300. (Average, $6,000) "ONE WAY PASSAGE" (W.B.) "WHITE LEGION" (G.N.) ORPHEUM— (2,450), 25c-30c-40c, 7 days. Vaudeville headed by Eddie Peabody. Gross: $6,150. (Average, $6,000) "LOVE ON THE ICE" PALOMAR— (1,500), 15c-25c-35c, 7 days. Stage: Major Bowes' All-Girl Unit on stage. Gross: $6,100. (Average, $4,500) "WINTERSET" (Radio) "WOMAN WISE" (20th-Fox) PARAMOUNT — (3,1,50), 25c-30c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,700. (Average, $6,000) 'Champagne' Takes Lead in Providence Providence, Feb. 8.— "Champagne Waltz" danced its way to $11,000 at the Strand on a dual with "Arizona Mahoney," topping par by $4,500. Fay's caught a neat $7,300 with "Secret Valley" and the stage offering, "Palestine Shrine Frolic," over by $300. The Majestic had an average week at $7,000, featuring "God's Coun- try and the Woman" and "Once a Doctor." "Man of the People" and "Woman in Distress" brought in but $7,300 to Loew's State, under by $4,700. Total first run business was $37,600. Average is $39,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 4: "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ" (Para.) "ARIZONA MAHONEY" (Para.) STRAND— (2,300), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $6,500) "GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN" (W.B.) "ONCE A DOCTOR" (W.B.) MAJESTIC — (2,400), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $7,000) "MAN OF THE PEOPLE" (M-G-M) "WOMAN IN DISTRESS" (Col.) LOEW'S STATE— (3,400), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,300. (Average, $12,000) "SECRET VALLEY" (20th-Fox) FAY'S— (1,600), 15c-40c, 7 days. Stage: "Palestine Shrine Revue." Gross: $7,300. (Average, $7,000) "MEN ARE NOT GODS" (U.A.) "CRIMINAL LAWYER" (Radio) RKO ALBEE— (2,300), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $7,000) Production Drops With 43 in Work {Continued from page 1) shorts. Fifty features and 12 shorts were in the cutting rooms. The four features started were : "Song of the City" at M-G-M, "Spe- cial Orders" and "Steel" at Republic and "Smoke Tree Range" at Uni- versal. Universal registered a gain in activity which has not been equaled in many months at that studio to tie Paramount and 20th Century-Fox for first place in studio activity. Each company had eight pictures in work. Columbia had two features shoot- ing, three preparing and nine editing. M-G-M had five, two and six ; Para- mount, eight, four and eight ; Republic, two, one and three ; Radio, four, two and five ; Roach, zero and three ; 20th Century- Fox, eight, three and four ; Universal, eight, three and zero ; Wal- ter Wanger, zero, zero and one ; War- ners six, three and 11, and the inde- pendents, zero, three and zero. In the short subject division Colum- bia had two in work, two preparing and two in the cutting rooms. M-G-M had three, one and six ; Radio, zero, five and two ; Roach, one, one and one, and Warners zero, zero and one. Republic Will Start Unit Producing Plan (Continued from page 1) manager, and M. H. Lavenstein, at- torney for Consolidated Film Indus- tries. The present nine producers will each supervise a production unit for Republic under the new plans, which provide for no change in the personnel at this time. Whether or not a prod- uction head will be named to succeed Levine has not been decided definitely, but indications are that a supervising board composed of the nine producers may be set up in the near future to head studio activities. Jack Fier, who had been in charge of business management at the studio, resigned on Saturday and will be suc- ceeded by E. H. Goldstein. Fier's future plans are indefinite. Levine's Republic stock holdings were acquired by the company on his resignation, it was stated. Contestants Shift In Republic Drive In the third week of the Republic sales drive Cleveland, New York and Philadelphia are leading in that order in the eastern division, New Orleans, Atlanta and Charlotte head the south- ern division, Chicago, Milwaukee and Indianapolis head the central division, and San Francisco, Portland and Los Angeles are ahead in the western division. Buffalo jumped from ninth to seventh during the week in the east- ern division. Atlanta and Charlotte jumped from fifth and sixth to second and third in the southern division, St. Louis ousted Kansas City from fourth place in the Central division, and Portland replaced Los Angeles in second place in the western division. Women on CEA Council London, Jan. 29. — The C. E. A. council has its first woman member in Miss D. M. Mcintosh, elected delegate by the Dundee section of the Scottish Branch. Tuesday, February 9, 1937 "Lloyds" High In Detroit as Strike Hurts Detroit, Feb. 8. — In spite of the fact that the General Motors strike is be- ginning to cut theatre attendance "Lloyds of London" reached $24,500, with the help of a stage show, at the Fox. This was $4,500 over normal. "Champagne Waltz," also with a show, at the Michigan, took $22,500, up by $2,500. "After the Thin Man" held up to $12,700 in its third week at the United Artists. "Three Smart Girls," in its third week on a dual at the Adams, was good for $5,300. Total first run business was $78,- 500. Average is $73,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 4: "THREE SMART GIRLS" (U) (2nd week) "MYSTERIOUS CROSSING" (Univ.) ADAMS— (1,770), 10c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,300. (Average, $5,000) "LLOYDS OF LONDON" (20th-Fox) FOX— (5,100), 15c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Edgar Bergen, Art Frank, Sue Ryan, Ted Adair, Donald Green, Red Skelton, Alyce Serf, Vivian Peterson, Edna Stillwell. Gross: $24,500. (Average, $20,000) "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ" (Para.) MICHIGAN— (4,100), 15c-75c, 7 days. Stage: 7 Loria Bros., Calgary Bros., Elinor Sherry, Sol Grauman Co., Cix Canestrellys. Gross: $22,500. (Average, $20,000) "GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN" (W. B.) "FUGITIVE IN THE SKY" (W. B.) STATE— (3,000), 10c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,200. (Average, $5,000) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS— (2,070), 15c-65c, 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $12,700. (Average, $10,000) "THE BLACK LEGION" (W. B.) MADISON— (2,000), 15c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $10,000) "CAPTAIN CALAMITY" (G. N.) "WE'RE IN THE LEGION NOW" (G. N.) DOWNTOWN— (2,950), 10c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $3,800. (Average, $3,500) "Paris Girl" Gets Top Montreal Take Montreal, Feb. 8. — "That Girl from Paris," heading a double at the Princess, caught the fancy of the French Canadian populace and grossed $8,500. "Smart Blonde," with Olsen & Johnson, was good for $11,000 at Loew's, this being $500 above the line. "One In a Million," topping the two at the Palace, accounted for $10,500, while a second week of "The Plains- man" at the Capitol took $7,000 after garnering $12,000 during the first seven days. The winter continued mild. Total first run business was $41,000. Average is $43,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 30 : "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) CAPITOL— (2,547), 25c-35c-4Oc-50c-60c, 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $9,500) "FORGET ME NOT" (British) "TRAPPED IN THE ALPS" (British) HIS MAJESTY'S— (1,700), 25c-35c-40c- 50c, 7 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $5,000) "SMART BLONDE" (W.B.) LOEW'S— (3,115), 25c-34c-40c-50c-60c, 7 days. Stage: Olsen & Johnson in "Fun Marches On." Gross: $11,000. (Average, $10,500) "ONE IN A MILLION" (20th-Fox) "CRACK-UP" (20th-Fox) PALACE — (2,600) , 25c-35c-4Oc-50c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $10,500. (Average, $11,000) "THAT GIRL FROM PARIS" (Radio) "WANTED: JANE TURNER" (Radio) PRINCESS— (2,272), 25c-30c-35c-50c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $8,500. (Average, $7,000) The Leading Motio Picture industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, intelligent the in All Branches VOL. 41. NO. 34 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1937 TEN CENTS FCC Studying Air Messages In Flood Area Future Emergency Plans Purpose of Inquiry By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, Feb. 9— Engineers of the Federal Communications Commis- sion are now in the Ohio Valley flood area making a study of flood commu- nications so that in the event of an- other similar emergency immediate steps may be taken in cooperation with broadcasting and other radio stations to set up a communications system in- dependent of wires without delay. No effort is to be made to organize MoreRadio—Pp.10-11-12 an emergency network, since it cannot be foretold where the next disaster will hit. The information as to oper- ation and needs of stations will be used so that the commission may be in a better position to give advice and aid in the development of a network such (Continued on page 11) Cincinnati Theatre Power Is Restored Cincinnati, Feb 9. — Electric power, discontinued or curtailed since closing of power plants submerged by the flood nearly two weeks ago, has been restored in full, and all restric- tions removed, thus permitting the- atres to again illuminate their mar- quees, which, as a precautionary mea- sure in power conservation, was for- bidden since the houses reopened Thursday of last week. The interim period during partial restoration of power was marked by absence of street lighting, and darkened display windows in downtown stores, both of which hurt night theatre attendance. Although located approximately 12 miles from the Ohio River, the Amer- icus, 500-seat unit of Associated The- atres in suburban Northside, was the hardest hit among local theatres, a (Continued on page 6) Warner Stock Sales Halted After Statement on Issues A statement by Warners at midday yesterday that no additional common stock of the company would be issued, contradicting reports which had been in circulation in Wall St. for two weeks, caused a buying flurry in the shares which forced suspension of trading in the issue for more than an hour on both the New York and San Francisco Stock Exchanges. It had been reported that Warners would offer 950,000 additional shares of common for subscription at $12.50 a share in the ratio of one new for each four of old. The report caused the stock to sell off three points from its high of 18. The Warner statement that the negotiations with Hayden, Stone for issuance of the additional shares had been broken off, appar- ently caught many traders on the short side and the rush to cover resulted in a buying flurry that sent the stock up sharply and forced a halt in trading. When dealings in the issues were re- sumed after a little more than an hour, 20,000 shares were sold at 17, which (Continued on page 8) Detroit Has Best Year Since 1929 Detroit, Feb. 9. — When the auto- motive industry is humming, Michigan exhibitors have no worries and, as Ford, Chrysler, Hudson and the other big plants soared to new records dur- ing 1936, the film industry in the state had its best year since 1929. Not only the picture business, but almost every other line as well found 1936 a banner year, because of the ac- tivity in the motor world and, too, as these other business profited, theatres (Continued on page 8) Myron Selznick III; In an Oxygen Tent Los Angeles, Feb. 9. — Myron Selznick, critically ill with pneumonia which developed from influenza, has been placed in an oxygen tent in Santa Monica Hospital. While Selznick's condition is said to be grave, the hospital reported a slight improvement today. Milwaukee Expects To Hold '36 Gains Milwaukee, Feb. 9. — The business improvement which manifested itself in 1936 is expected to continue in 1937 for Wisconsin exhibitors. Wisconsin factory employment in- creased .1 per cent between Oct. 15 and Nov. 15, 1936, according to re- ports by the state industrial commis- sion. This gain was contra-seasonal as in the 14-year period, 1922-1935, and av- erage employment decline of 1.1 per (Continued on page 8) Aylesworth to Get $200,000 from RKO M. H. Aylesworth, who resigned as chairman of the board of RKO last week to join the Scripps-Howard newspaper syndicate, will be paid ap- proximately $200,000 by RKO for his services in interesting the Atlas Corp. in investing in RKO. In its current financial breakdown, Atlas lists its RKO investment at $4,058,274. Details of the Aylesworth settlement are now being worked out. In the meantime, Aylesworth is due to re- turn from San Diego tomorrow. Warners Will Start Renting Accessories Rebates to Be Given on Returned Materials Para, Drive Bookings Hit S even-Year High Paramount's film rentals for Jan- uary, the first month of the Adolph Zukor silver jubilee drive, established a seven-year high with a gain of more than 37 per cent over the same month last year, Neil Agnew, vice-president in charge of sales, said yesterday. Agnew cited "The Plainsman" as the company's top-money picture of the season to date and, with current and future attractions of comparable value, he expressed confidence that the company's record business would be sustained. H amnions Going West On Educational Plan The plan of corporate simplification for Educational Pictures, Inc., which involves the dissolution of six sub- sidiaries, will be advanced by E. W. Hammons, president, during a two or three weeks' visit on the west coast this month. Hammons leaves for Hol- lywood on Friday, and will also work on new production plans for the com- pany while there. Educational stockholders at a spe- cial meeting in Wilmington, Monday, approved the company's plan of re- (Continued on page 8) Warners-First National will inau- gurate on April 4 an accessories' rent- al plan designed to encourage the re- turn of posters and other advertising materials on all of the company's fea- tures and short subjects, Gradwell L. Sears, vice-president and general sales manager, said yesterday. Paramount inaugurated a similar plan about two years ago. It was met by widespread opposition from poster rental exchanges who feared serious business losses, but has proved popu- lar with a large number of exhibi- tors, according to officials of the com- pany. Warners, thus, will be the sec- ond large distributor to adopt the plan. The Warner plan will make specific credit allowances for all material re- turned to the company's exchanges within five days after the final play- date on any particular picture. A "maximum credit" scale will be devel- oped and posted to cover the specific credits which will be allowed exhibi- tors for the return of accessories in "serviceable condition," while a spe- cial credit allowance scale will be de- vised to cover accessories returned in (Continued on page 8) Strike End Brightens Frisco Film Outlook San Francisco, Feb. 9. — Exhibitors here are hoping for better things now that the maritime strike has been settled after 100 days of idleness for 13,000 workers directly affected and an unnamed number of others thrown out of work unwillingly. Exceptionally cold weather during the strike also hurt. On several oc- casions weekly grosses in the Market St. first runs fell as low as $59,000. Normal is about $75,000. To the surprise of exhibitors down- (Continued on page 12) Seek End of Austria Kontingent Increase The United States minister to Aus- tria is conducting negotiations with the Austrian Government at Vienna in an attempt to bring about a reduc- tion or complete elimination of the 25 per cent increase in the Austrian kon- tingent regulations which became ef- fective two days ago, it was learned here yesterday. It was indicated that a decision by major companies relative to possible withdrawal from the Austrian market in the event the increase decree is not rescinded, will await the outcome of the negotiations under way between (Continued on page 6) Rathvon Quits Atlas To Form New Firm N. Peter Rathvon, former vice- president of Atlas Corp., and a rep- resentative of that company in its in- vestment activities in RKO, with other Atlas officials, has resigned as of last Jan. 1 to organize Rathvon & Co., Inc., private investment bankers and analysts. Associated with him is (Continued on Page 8) MOTION PICTURE DAILY MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 February 10, 1937 No. 34 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager as^mSM Published dally except Sunday and fVJ kll holidays by Quigley Publishing Corn- IB §1 pany, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and tVyH treasurer. 1 publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at Rockefeller Center. New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publicating Company, Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- cations: MOTION PICTUBE HERALD, BETTER THEATRES, TEATRO AL DIA. INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building. Vine and Yucca Sts. ; Boone Mancall, Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave.. C. B. O'Neill, Manager. WASHINGTON: Albee Building; Bertram F. Linz, Representative. AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan 5; Philip de Schaep, Representative. BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative. BUDAPEST : 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest II: Endre Hevesi, Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientes 2495; N. Bruski. Representative. HELSINKI: Fredriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszlo. Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square, W. 1; Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address. Quigpubco. Lon- don. MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins St.; Cliff Holt, Representative. MEXICO OITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart, Representative. MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern, Rep- resentative. MONTEVIDEO : P. O. Box 664; Paul Bodo, Rep- resentative. PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre, Repre- sentative. PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1; Harry Knopf, Representative. RIO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 3358; A. Weiss- man, Representative. ROME: Viale Gorizia; Vittorio Malpassuti, Rep- resentative. SHANGHAI: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Build- ing, 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler, Repre- sentative. TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken; H. Tominaca, Representative. VIENNA: Neustiftgasse, 55, Vienna VII; Hans Lorant, Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. i Purely Personal ► CHARLES B. PAINE, Universal treasurer, and Samuel Mach- novitch, his assistant, have returned from product conferences at the Uni- versal studio. J. B. Grainger is re- maining at the studio for several days longer. • F. J. Holleran, assistant vice- president and manager, and Harold Hatter, assistant manager of the Times Square Branch of the National City Bank, leave tomorrow for Holly- wood on business for the bank. Cyril Von Baumann, who recently returned from the Ecuadorean jungle where he made "White Gods," is en route to Monday, Texas, on a honey- moon. His bride is the former Helen E. Smith of the Texas town. • Jack Schlaifer, western division manager for United Artists, left yes- terday for Detroit. After a few days there he will tour western exchanges to speed up the Schaefer sales drive. • Earl I. Sponable, chief technical engineer for 20th Century-Fox, ar- rived from the coast yesterday. F. L. Harley, managing director in England for the company, left for the coast. • Leona Dalrymple's story, "Blind Date," has been purchased by Mono- gram. The company has also acquired film rights to Josephine Bentham's "A Bride for Henry." • Louis Cohen, who left F. W. C. several years ago to go with RKO in New York, back in town visiting for the first time since he left. • Joseph Burke is new auditor at the local 20th Century-Fox exchange. Burke has just arrived here from New York. Canada to End Duty On Educational Film Ottawa, Feb. 9. — The Canadian Government is preparing to provide for free entry of films of an educa- tional nature intended exclusively for use in primary and secondary schools. The plan involves the signing of a reciprocal agreement with other inter- ested countries for interchange of ap- propriate films. At present the Dominion is conducting a survey into the present and prospective use of films in schools. Balabans to Entertain Barney Balaban, president of Para- mount Pictures, Inc., and Mrs. Bala- ban, will entertain at a cocktail party for all members of the Paramount Pep Club prior to their annual informal dinner and dance which takes place at the Hotel Astor on the evening of Friday, Feb. 19. WANTED EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Executive in Distribution Organization requires capable secretary. Write in detail stating qualifications, past expe- rience and connections. To Box No. 950, MOTION PICTURE DAILY. • Leon Goldberg of RKO sails on the Santa Paula for Hollywood Sat- urday. Mrs. Goldberg accompanies him. • Frank Gillmore, Actors Equity head, is back from a South American cruise. • J. A. Dundas has closed the Margo, Oceanside, after operating it for eight months. • H. J. Yates, who returned from the coast on Monday is at his home with a cold. • . . . London Ruth Chatterton met the press at Mrs. Ad Schulberg's Park Lane flat. William Collier, Jr., arrived on the Berengaria. Harry Adley in a nursing home for observation. Jack Barnstyn looking round Wardour St. Going on to Australia. Jack Hayden of South African Theatres returned to Cape Town. Balsdon Unchanged Los Angeles, Feb. 9. — The condi- tion of George Balsdon, National Theatres booker injured in an auto- mobile accident, is still serious and unchanged, St. Joseph's Hospital re- ports. Hey wood-Wake field Report Shows Gain Boston, Feb. 9. — The annual re- port to stockholders of Heywood- Wakefield Co., issued as of Dec. 31 reveals that: "Net sales for the year exceeded by 38 per cent the volume of sales billed for the previous year. Operations resulted in a net profit of $548,177, [this comparing with $105,- 565 for the year 1935] after provision for all charges, including Federal taxes. "The consolidated balance sheet shows a net working capital of $2,957,- 974, compared with $2,794,887 a year ago. Receivables and inventories in- creased $964,748 during the period to serve the demands of an expanding volume of business. The additional employment of working capital, com- bined with requirements for property expenditure and cash used for the extinguishment of preferred dividends in arrears, necessitated bank borrow- ings of $150,000 in cash, the amount outstanding at the close of the year. "Capital expenditures during the year amounted to $283,600, the princi- pal item representing construction of a boiler plant at the factory in Gard- ner, Mass. Miscellaneous adjustments, represented chiefly by the undepreci- ated value of plant and machinery abandoned during the year, amount to $32,320. "Orders received since the begin- ning of the year are substantially in excess of those for the same period a year ago and the outlook in all de- partments of the business is encourag- ing." The comparative balance sheet shows total current assets of $3,550,- 474.14 as compared to $2,951,117.12 during 1935. Total assets are $7,389,- 878.32 which compares with last year's figure of $6,660,676.16. Surplus as of Dec. 31 is given at $1,725,128.05. Roxy Nets $97,726 In 27-Week Period Howard S. Cullman, trustee for the Roxy, yesterday presented to U. S. District Court Judge Caffey a report for the 27 weeks beginning July 3 and ending Jan. 7 which shows a net profit, excluding depreciation and interest on funded indebtedness, of $97,726. The weekly average profit, the report states, has been $3,619. The attendance total has been 2,267,- 079; daily average attendance, 11,995; average rental per picture, $6,826. Admissions totalled $961,532; oper- ating expenses, $445,274, plus $329,389 as other operating expenses, making the total $774,664. Film rentals totalled $195,174. Women Will Attend Zukor Dinner Here Both men and women are to be admitted to the Adolph Zukor Silver Jubilee dinner to be held at the Wal- dorf-Astoria March 27, it has been de- cided by the committee in charge. Wil- liam Brandt, chairman, says the re- quest for admission of women was general. Paramount theatre partners from all parts of the country are expected. Arnold to Wallingford Wallingford, Conn., Feb. 9. — H. Arnold, formerly Publix manager in Rhode Island, will take over manage- ment of the Strand, Wallingford. Wednesday, February 10, 1937 Loew's Game Awards To Be Made Tonight One award of $1,500 and two of $1,000 each will be the object of Loew's large scale Bank Night which began yesterday and continues through today. The awards will be determined at 8:20 P. M. at the Metropolitan in Brooklyn, with the results to be tele- phoned immediately to the 55 Loew houses which are participating. All Loew houses in the five New York boroughs are included, with the exception of the 72nd St., 83rd St., Mayiair, State, Ziegfeld and Lexing- ton, in Manhattan, and all New Jersey and Westchester theatres. In all, 13 houses are not participating. All patrons signing as they enter the thea- tres throughout yesterday and today will be eligible for the three prizes. It was explained it is not necessary for patrons to be present in the thea- tres. Winners will be informed by mail of the result if they are not present. Managers of the 55 houses will announce the results from the stages. Loew's will repeat the awards next week with the same amount involved, and may possibly extend it to a third week, it was learned yesterday. Connecticut Hearing April 5 Windsor Locks, Conn., Feb. 9. — The appeal of David Magliora of the Rialto here from the conviction and fine in Town Court here on a charge of operating Bank Night on a proxy basis, has been set for hearing on April 5 in Superior Court at Hartford. Frank Healy will represent Magliora. Gilbert Friedman Dead Gilbert Friedman, veteran exhibitor, died at his home in Yonkers yesterday following a long illness. He was 61. A son, Harold Friedman, operator of the Terrace, Yonkers, survives. Fu- neral arrangements have not been set. Earle Griggs Passes Atlanta, Feb. 9. — Earle Griggs, southern division exploitation repre- sentative for United Artists, is dead at his home here. He was formerly one of the south's leading sports writers. Rites for Mrs. Donner Funeral services for Mrs. Adelaide Donner, mother of Vyvyan Donner, fashion editor of Movietone News, who died Sunday, were held last night at Campbell's Funeral Church. Samuel Shipman Dies Samuel Shipman, 53, playwright, who authored "Behind Red Lights" as well as some outstanding successes of an earlier day, died yesterday at the Hotel Alamac. Ask Moyne to CEA Party London, Feb. 2. — Lord Moyne, chairman of the committee which made the report on Films Act revision, and Dr. Burgin, Parliamentary secretary to the Board of Trade, have been in- vited to the annual banquet of the C. E. A. on March 9. New Tax Bill in Albany Albany, Feb. 9. — A bill introduced in the Assembly by Bernard J. Moran, Brooklyn Democrat, asks a tax of one mill per foot upon every original motion picture film or copy thereof. LAURELS FOR LEO! "Camille ", 4th Week, Capitol, N. Y. The big Capitol Theatre on Broadway seats 5200 paying guests! When you can get a picture that holds over 4 weeks at the Capitol you've got a great picture. When you can get two pictures in a row that hold over 4 weeks each you're dealing with a great producing outfit! With pardonable pride M-G-M announces the 4th big week of "Camille" following 4 merry weeks of "After The Thin Man/' Of course those smiling faces on Film Row are the boys with M-G-M contracts! MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, February 10, 1937 "Alone" with Scandals Big In Cleveland Cleveland, Feb. 9. — With business up all along the line, the RKO Palace drew the biggest gross with $23,000 with "Woman Alone" on the screen and George White's Scandals starring Helen Morgan on the stage. This was 310,000 over average. "Criminal Lawyer" at the Allen with $7,500 was $2,500 better than par. "The Plainsman," in a second week downtown at Loew's Stillman follow- ing a good week at the State, grossed S7.500. Average is $6,000. "Black Legion" at Warners' Hippo- drome was $500 over the $10,000 par. "Beloved Enemy" was $1,000 under the $15,000 average at Loew's State. The weather was uncertain — rain part of the week, clear and cold the rest of the week. "On Your Toes" with the original New York cast was the legitimate attraction at the Hanna. Red Cross benefits and the drive for flood relief funds cut into business. Total first run business was $64,500. Average is $51,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 5 : "CRIMINAL LAWYER" (Univ.) ALLEN— (3,300). 30c-35c-42c. 7 days. Gross: S7.500. (Average. S3.000) "BELOVED ENEMY" (U.A.) LOEWS STATE — (3.400) . 30c-35c-42c. 7 davs. Gross: $14,000. (Average. $15,000) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) LOEW'S STILLMAN — (1 ,900) . 30c-35c- 42c, 7 davs. 2nd week. Gross: $7,300. (Aver- age, $6,000) "THE WOMAN ALONE" (G.B.) RKO PALACE — (3.100) . 30c-42c-60c, 7 days. Stage: George White Scandals with Helen Jlorgan. Gross: $23,000. (Average. $15,000) "BLACK LEGION" (W.B.) WARNERS' HIPPODROME — (3.800). 30c-35c-42c. 7 davs. Gross: $10,500. (Aver- age. $10,000) First Maxwell Films Set for GB Theatre London, Feb. 9.— An indication of the influence exercised by John Max- well, head of Associated British Pic- tures in the Gaumont British setup is seen in the revelation that "The Dom- inant Sex." A.B.P. feature, will play the New Gallerv, large G.B. house in the West End. Following "The Dominant Sex." will be another A.B.P. film, "Aren't Men Beasts." These two are the first films from the Maxwell company to top the bill at the G.B. theatre. Gordon Joins LeRoy Hollywood, Feb. 9. — Max Gordon. Broadway producer, has joined Mer- vyn LeRoy to assist him in the pro- duction of a musical which will fea- ture Ethel Merman, Fernand Gravet and perhaps Fannie Brice. Sonja to Be American Pittsburgh, Feb. 9. — Sonja Henie stated here today that she will take out her first papers for American citi- zenship. The skating: star plans to make her home in California. Blaisdell Named Editor Hollywood, Feb. 9. — George Blais- dell has been named to succeed Charles T. VerHalen as editor of "Cinematographer," ASC organ. MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "John Meade's Woman" (Schulberg-Paramount) Hollywood, Feb. 9. — By virtue of a tense dramatic story and capable performances and direction, this picture possesses a punch which should give it wide audience appeal. The story primarily concerns a series of retributions. Edward Arnold, a lumber king, seeks revenge on Gail Patrick, socialite who wants to marry him for his wealth. Jilting her at the altar, Arnold marries Francine Larrimore, a farm girl. Learning the true reason for the marriage, Miss Larrimore seeks vengeance in turn Arnold meanwhile has made himself vulnerable by deserting his lumber business to gobble farm mortgages. As the farmers are organized by Miss Larrimore to fight Arnold, a final retribution comes in the form of a dust storm which serves to bring Arnold and Miss Larrimore to gether. The direction of Richard Wallace makes the most of the sharp drama inherent in the story, which is lightened by well-timed comedy. Miss Larrimore establishes herself here as a definite screen possibility. Her voice has a peculiarly attractive tone which becomes more interesting as her performance continues. Arnold accounts for another powerful char- acterization and good performances in the support are turned in by George Bancroft, John Trent, Aileen Pringle, Sidney Blackmer, Willard Robertson and Jonathan Hale. Herman Mankiewicz and Vincent Law- rence did an excellent writing job from the original of John Bright and Robert Tasker. Production Code Seal No. 2,905. Running time, 85 minutes. "G." Looking 'Em Over "They Wanted to Marry" {Radio) A well-turned, laugh-provoking comedy. It is the familiar girl-meets- boy material set in newspaper, advertising and society surroundings. There are new twists though and the film should satisfactorily measure up to an entertaining B feature. Gordon Jones, as the crack photographer on his paper, is assigned to cover a swanky wedding. His initiative and intrusion causes him to meet Betty Furness. Romance develops and Miss Furness becomes Jones' assistant in charge of his negative-delivering pigeon, Emily. The story introduces serio-comic situations in which the pair have misunderstand- ings and reunions, interrupted by short periods in jail for disrupting the peace. Cleverly the film ends when Jones is ultimately vindicated for alleged candid-camera prowess. The supporting cast includes E. E. Clive. who is hilarious as the butler ; Henry Kolker. the embarrassinglv photographed father ; Charles Wilson. Patsy Lee Parsons, Frank M. Thomas. William Benedict and Diana Gibson. Lew Landers directed. The story was concocted by Paul Yawitz and Ethel Borden. Production Code Seal No. 2.815. Running time, 65 minutes. "G." ( Additional Reviews on Page 6) Open Technicolor Plant London'. Feb. 2. — British Techni- color's plant at Harmondsworth, which has been operating for a week or two. has been formally opened. Erect- ed from American plans, it consists of a factory block and an administrative building. Two floor construction is carried through most of the plant. Air conditioning is a feature. The vearly capacity is stated to be 24.000.000 feet of color processed positive. Mrs. Johnson to Explore Hollywood, Feb. 9. — Mrs. Martin Johnson, widow of the late exolorer. will head an exploration expedition to the Belgrian Congo following- her re- covery from the injuries which she sufferer1 in the nlane crash which caused her husband's death. To Ask Color Releases Los Angeles. Feb. 9.— The I.T.O of Southern California has sent a bul- letin to members advising them to se- cure releases in writing from ex- changes selline color prints, pending the outcome of the suit between Tri- color Corp. and Technicolor. The suit, filed some months aero, comes uo for hearine in March. Meanwhile, I.T O feels that responsibility for any in- fringement should rest with distribu- tors. Stokowski to Universal Hollywood. Feb. 9. — Universal has sigmed Leopold Stokowski to direct the svmphony orchestra, and to be in com- plete charsre of all music on "100 Men and a Girl," which will star Deanna Durbin. Short Subjects "Torture Money" (M-G-M) A vividly done number of the "Crime Does Not Pay" line. Dealing with the accident racket, it is a grip- ping expose of the methods and hor- rible tactics of this manner of extor- tion from insurance companies. Fram- ing painful accidents, the group is finally apprehended by a reporter who inveigles himself into their confidence and sets the trap which results in the roundup. The piece is realistically acted and packs a punch. Production Code Seal No. 2,899. Running time, 20 mins. "G." "Picturesque South Africa" (Fitspatrkk-M-G-M) Beautifully photographed scenes in Technicolor of the Cape of Good Hope, Capetown, Durban and Victoria Falls in Rhodesia. With usual good taste, it is another fine item. Need- less to mention, audiences will favor- ably accept. Production Code Seal No. 01,074. Running time, 9 mins. "G." "A Girl's Best Years" (M-G-M) _ A serio-comic, but mostly comic, little piece concerning the troubled loves of a playwright. They invari- ably land him in court. He engages a court reporter to ward off the women but she only falls in love with him herself. It is tunefully and gayly done in the sophisticated manner. Pro- duction Code Seal No. 2,816. Run- ning time, 19 mins. "G." American Films Up To 64% in Denmark Washington, Feb. 9. — The relative position of American films in Den- mark improved during 1936 as com- pared with the preceding year, accord- ing to a transmitted report to the U. S. Dept. of Commerce from its Copen- hagen office. During the first nine months of 1936 a total of 229 features was released, of which 147, or 64 per cent, were Ameri- can. During the corresponding period of 1935, total releases numbered 285, of which 147, or 59 per cent, were American, the report states. German films accounted for 18 per cent in the first nine months of 1936, against 14 per cent in the correspond- ing 1935 period, while the ratio of British releases declined from 10 to five per cent. Six feature films were released by th ree Danish producers in 1936, com- pared with 10 in 1935. No informa- tion is available regarding production plans^ of the Danish studios in 1937, it is pointed out. The industry has peti- tioned the Government for relief from the amusement tax of 40 per cent of box-office receipts, but no action has been taken. Cameramen Plan Dance Film, radio and stage stars will contribute their talents for the en- tertainment end of the eighth annual ball of the Press Photographers' Ass'n of N. Y., which will be held at the Commodore on April 9, the organiza- tion's dance committee stated yester- day. Any VITAPHONE Release Schedule Shows You Why FEB. 6th JOE PALOOKA in KICK ME AGAIN with Robert Norton • Shemp Howard 'Broadway Brevities7 Series PORKY'S ROAD RACE 'Looney Tune'Cartoon Series FEB. 13th in GEORGIE PRICE CAPT. BLUE BLOOD 'Broadway Brevities' Series PICTORIAL REVUE NO. 6 HAL LEROY m "SWING FOR SALE 'Broadway Brevities' Series WHALE HO 'Vitaphone Novelty' Series FEB. 20th UNDER SOUTHERN STARS All In Technicolor with Fred Lawrence • Jane Bryan Fritz Leiber • Wayne Morris 'Broadway Brevities' Series CAB CALLOWAY & HIS ORCHESTRA in "HI DE HO" 'Melody Master' Series FEB. 27th E. M. Newman's "LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN 'Colortour Adventures' Series I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU" A 'Merrie Melody' Cartoon In Gorgeous New Technicolor FEB. 6th KAY FRANCIS m STOLEN HOLIDAY with IAN HUNTER ClAUDE RAINS FEB. 13th TheGREATO'MALLEY with PAT O'BRIEN HUMPHREY BOGART FEB. 20th ERROL FLYNN and ANITA LOUISE in GREEN LIGHT FEB. 27th PENROD AND SAM with BILLY MAUCH (little 'Anthony Advene') MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, February 10, 1937 Cincinnati Theatre Power Is Restored (Continued from page 1) post-flood survey reveals. Water from overflowing streams in the vicinity stood 25 feet deep near the screen, and submerged the balcony to a depth of several feet. It was considerably over the marquee. F. W. Huss, Jr., circuit head, succeeded in saving about half the seats at the beginning of the flood. Remodeling of the house was com- pleted only a few weeks ago at a cost of $12,000. The Highland, unit of Associated Theatres, at Ft. Thomas, Ky., across the river from here, out of the path of the flood, but dark because of lack of current, was used for joint daylight church services during the height of the emergency. Eight hundred per- sons attended the initial service, at which $490 was collected for Red Cross relief. Contributions ranged from one cent to $50. Cleveland Nets $1,000 Cleveland, Feb. 9. — A total of $1,000 was turned over to the Red Cross for flood relief by Nat Holt, Great Lakes RKO division manager and chairman of the gala fund special midnight show at the RKO Palace. This was the entire proceeds of the affair, everything having been contri- buted by artists, technicians and the- atre owners. RKO, Loew's, Warners and the Cleveland Motion Picture Ex- hibitors Ass'n joined in the affair. Tickets sold for $1 all over the house. Two Kentucky Houses Open Ashland, Ky., Feb. 9. — Two of the four active houses here closed by the flood have reopened. The Paramount, operated by Boyd Theatres, Inc., and the Capitol, a Dick Martin operation, have been relighted. The Grand, an- other Martin unit, and the Lyric, in- dependent, still are dark, but probably will be reopened soon. Brooklyn Show Net $2,500 The flood relief benefit show at the Fox Brooklyn resulted in a total of $2,500 for the Red Cross. Warners, Paramount and Michael Bros., as- sisted in the effort. Ticket sales brought $1,783, over $500 was re- ceived through WMCA and $217 in direct contribution. The Brooklyn local of the I.A.T.S.E. contributed an additional $100. Oklahoma Gives $35,000 Oklahoma City, Feb 9. — Okla- homa County's contribution to aid eastern flood victims reached $35,000. The fund was increased by $500 from the Criterion Saturday night benefit preview. After advertising and film rental costs were deducted, the pre- view had $250 for the flood. The Cri- terion then matched this amount with a second $250. Portland Theatres Collect Portland, Ore., Feb 9. — Slides with appeals for help for the flood sufferers were shown on all theatre screens and the contributions turned over to the Red Cross. Most active in the campaign were Hamrick-Evergreen houses, and those of J. J. Parker. Large bowls in all lobbies were the "banks" for collections. Drop Colorado Tax Plan Denver, Feb 9. — The bill to tax admissions 20 per cent, introduced in the Colorado legislature, has been withdrawn. Overseas Previews » The Dominant Sex {Associated British) London, Feb. 2. — As workmanlike a picture as has recently come from Elstree. The wit of dialogue of a brilliant stage original is retained, there is an outstanding piece of acting by Diana Churchill and it has been cleverly and speedily directed by Herbert Brenon. Also the theme of sex conflict, treated neither too lightly nor too ponderously, is popular. It is the story of a young married couple, of whom the feminine mem- ber is an example of that type of managing woman who wheedles, cajoles and tricks her husband into the business career she thinks best for him and, concealing the double-cross by a camouflage of self-sacrifice and a skillful exploitation of her sex, approaching motherhood and the rest, makes a gilded wage slave out of an independent inventor. Her success is more convincing than his revolt, which, nevertheless, comes as a useful final sop to masculine self-respect. Parallel is the story of another couple in whose case feminine dominance leads to infidelity and tragedy. It looks like a woman's picture, although, and perhaps because, it pictures woman so unflatteringly. There are good exploitation possibili- ties, for both sexes. Phillips Holmes, Carol Goodner and Romney Brent all are excellent, but it is Miss Churchill's picture — and the author's, Michael Egan, and director's. Running time, 82 minutes. "A." "The Threat" {Gaumont British) London, Feb. 2. — This may have as its primary or secondary pur- pose the boosting of the British Army, but it is nonetheless good, snappy entertainment. It was produced here under the title "O.H.M.S." ("On His Majesty's Service"). The tentative release title in the United States is "The Threat." It is box-office material with the comedy note stressed, but with ex- cellent military atmosphere, a bit of fighting and a good finish. Wallace Ford and the British Army co-star. Ford is an American thug, mistaken for a Canadian by an English girl on his arrival in London on a bolt from a New York murder charge. He enlists because the girl's father is in that line of business and because the man he is believed to be came over to join the army. Thereafter it is a story of his adventures in barracks, enlivened by plenty of straight military dis- plays by as smart a collection of boys in khaki as the war office could find for G. B. The war comes in China and Ford makes his heroic exit because the other man (John Mills) had to marry the girl (Anna Lee), but it's the story of the raw soldier's adventures, against authentic army backgrounds, that makes it. Running time, 80 minutes. "G." Dreaming Lips {Trafalgar-United Artists) London, Feb. 2. — The German film with this title made Elisabeth Bergner screen-famous. Max Schach, the producer of the present version, undoubtedly shows sound artistic judgment in making it practically a transcript of the original, which was a big success, and is still, in art and foreign language theatres. The point for exhibitors is to what extent Miss Bergner's exquisite acting will appeal to popular audiences and whether the story, slight and yet grimly tragic, will be truly appreciated by a public used to coarser, but more solid fare. It is a study of the whimsical, capricious and delightful girl-wife of an orchestra leader, who falls passionately in love with a famous violinist, her husband's friend. When the girl is about to tell her husband the truth, he falls seriously ill. She nurses him at the expense of her own health and, when the violinist returns from an American tour and renews his appeals, the fight between her love for him and her knowledge that her husband absolutely depends upon her leads her to despair and suicide. The bare bones of the story can give no idea of the delightful blend of wistful charm and deep feeling which Bergner gives to her part. The film is 90 per cent Bergner, but Raymond Massey as the violinist and Romney Brent as the husband are admirable supports. Technically, the production shows an advance over the German film. The sound is ad- mirable and a full orchestral rendering of a Beethoven symphony is offered to the musical. Bergner's name, and her brilliant and moving performance, should make it a certainty in specialized big city theatres. For the ordinary run of houses it is a problem which should be solved by personal viewing. Running time, 90 minute. "A." Allan ["Dreaming Lips" was covered briefly by cable Feb. 3.] Academy Group Acts On Film "Framing Hollywood, Feb. 9. — Recognizing an apparent confusion and lack of a standard procedure in both studio and theatre projection rooms in the "framing" of pictures, the Academy Research Council has appointed a committee of cameramen, technicians and theatre projectionists, under the chairmanship of Grover Laube of 20th Century-Fox, to investigate the possi- bilities for standardizing the method of framing in the camera and pro- jector aperture. In addition, the council has ap- proved a report submitted by John Hilliard, chairman of the Committee on Standardization of Theatre Sound Projection Equipment Characteristics, containing a proposed standard elec- trical characteristic for theatres, which will be published and distributed. A report submitted by the Screen Illumination Committee, under the chairmanship of John Aalberg, con- taining recommendations that the council inaugurate a nationwide sur- vey to measure the illumination of screens in theatres has been approved. Three for Cinematography Hollywood, Feb. 9. — "Anthony Adverse," "The General Died at Dawn" and "The Gorgeous Hussy" have been nominated for the Academy cinematography award, it was stated today by Ray June, chairman. Seek End to Austria Kontingent Increase (Continued from page 1) the Austrian Government and the U. S. minister. It was pointed out that all American companies are af- fected by the increase, whether they maintain their own branches in Aus- tria or release their product through independent distributors there. The action of the U. S. minister at Vienna followed conferences conducted by dis- tributors in New York and Paris on the situation. Wall Street Paramount Best Board Gain Net High Low Close Change Columbia 38J4 3654 3ty* + U Consolidated 554 554 &A Eastman Kodak . . 174 173J4 173J4 — ZA Eastman, pfd 161 161 161 Gen. T. Equip. ... 32J4 3154 31 54 —1 Loew's, Inc 79 7754 78 + 54 Paramount 2754 2654 2754 + 54 Paramount 1 pfd.. 193% 18754 193 +654 Paramount 2 pfd.. 25 2454 2454 + 54 Pathe Film 1054 954 934 + 54 RKO 956 »% +Vi 20th Century-Fox. 36% 3656 36^ + 54 20th Century, pfd. . 4554 45 4554 +154 Warner Bros 1754 15 17 +2 Warner, pfd 68 68 68 + 54 Fractional Gains on Curb Net High Low Close Change Grand National . . 3% 354 354+54 Sentry Safety .... 15/16 15/16 15/16—1/16 Sonotone 2% 2 2% Technicolor 2154 2154 2154 + 54 Trans-Lux 454 454 454 + 54 Universal Pict. .. 1654 1654 1654 — # Bonds Fluctuate Slightly Net High Low Close Change Loew's 354s '46. ...10054 10054 10054 Paramount Pict. 6s *55 100% 10054 100% + 54 RKO 6s '41 pp 12054 120 120J* + J4 Warner Bros. 6s *39 wd 99K 9854 99 — % (Quotations at close of Feb. 9) ANNABEL HENRY FON LA DA LESLIE BANKS in WINGS ,°„FE MORNING // IN NATURAL TECHNICOLOR with STEWART ROME IRENE VANBRUGH HARRY TATE STEVE DONOGHUE PRESENTING THE WORLD-FAMOUS TENOR JOHN McCORMACK Produced by Robert T. Kane • Directed by Harold Schuster • From stories by Donn Byrne Colour direction by Natalie Kalmus A 20th Century-Fox Film Release Produced by New World Pictures Limited MOTION PICTURE DAILY Amusing, Diverting Play Is Filmable After Alterations 8 Warners Will Start Renting Accessories (Continued from page 1) damaged or unserviceable condition, Sears states. "It is the intention of the company," he said, "to maintain a most liberal policy with respect to such material returned in damaged condition." The following accessories are in- cluded under the plan, one, three and six sheets; 8x10 stills; 11x14 and 22x28 lobby display cards ; 14x36 in- sert cards; 40x60 and 30x40 photo- gelatines; 14x17 colored lobby display cards, and 8x10 and 11x14 colored- gloss prints. These units will be billed at prices to be listed later and the credits made against such billings on the return of the material, the company states. Warners-F. N. give as one of the main reasons for the substitution of the accessories rental plan for the present method of outright sales of material, the company's desire "to in- sure the use of the most effective sell- ing angles on its product through maximium distribution of the right type of accessory." The company points out that this can be accomplished through the lower costs involved in the new accessories' distribution plan, which should permit the exhibitor to obtain a larger supply of accessories. New personnel will be added to all Warner-F. N. exchanges throughout the country to handle the new service. From now until April 4, when the plan becomes effective, the new per- sonnel will be trained in the require- ments of the new work by the com- pany's advertising sales department. Sears states that the plan results from two months of field investiga- tion and a 95 per cent favorable reac- tion to the plan thus far. Detroit Has Best Business Since 1929 (Continued from page 1) found themselves the recipients of in- creased patronage. Circuit and first run officials agree that grosses were up from 25 to 35 per cent over 1935 and subsequent run showmen report a similar increase. The year ended with only one house dark and that will be reopened shortly. More new houses were built in this area and other parts of the state dur- ing 1936 than for several years and the same was true of remodeling. Equipment houses report definite in- creases in business during the past year. Optimism still prevails among exhibitors, despite the General Motors strike, and they are of the belief that the excellent product turned out by Hollywood last year will be continued this year. Many at Denver Party Denver, Feb 9.— More than 200 at- tended the annual party and banquet of operators local No. 230 and stage employes' Union No. 7. Guests in- cluded state and city officials, city councilmen, heads of the fire and police department, judges, owners and man- agers of local theatres, veteran mem- bers of both unions and heads of the musicians' union. By PLAYBOY It's like reaching into a grab bag. You can't tell what might come up. Usually the wrong number, but occa- sionally, like last night for instance, a happier one. This luckier-than-most draw was a bright and entertaining comedy by Mark Reed, titled "Yes, My Darling Daughter" and it kept a first night au- dience at the Playhouse decidedly amused throughout its three acts. Here was an infrequent combination of ex- cellence in cast with worth in play and there, you must recognize, were the necessaries. From Lucile Watson, the author-mother of renown; Charles' Bryant, the banker-husband; Violet Heming, as the onetime and somewhat scarlet sister-in-law ; and Peggy Conklin, the intelligent and free-mind- ed daughter, to Nicholas Joy, Miss Watson's onetime lover, and Boyd Crawford, Miss Conklin's lover, the players were refreshing and most competent. Led, by all odds, by Miss Watson and Miss Conklin. Freedom for All But Daughter This all has to do with the strong- minded, repression-proof daughter of a mother who rose from free thinking and suffrage in and around Green- wich Village to a high peak in the lit- erary world. Miss Watson always, it seems, was for freedom and less and less inhibitions. When Miss Conklin, the daughter, goes off for the weekend with Crawford who has chucked archi- tecture for razor blades in Belgium, the maternal instinct endeavors to cloak its one-daughter brood with pro- tection, plus advice. Follows an ex- tremely effective and humorous scene where the girl reverses tables and up- braids mother for seeking to impose the very hamperings which her life- time of writing and propagandizing had endeavored to break down. Of course, Miss Conklin goes off on her weekend with the boy and, of course, Bryant storms in true paternal fashion with exactly nil in results. Monday comes and returns the couple. Prepared to excoriate Crawford for his lack of orthodoxy, a funny twist, well turned out, has the boy upbraid the family for advance knowledge of the love tryst without a try at thwart- ing it. In the final curtain, Miss Conklin lands a newspaper job in Paris and marriage, slightly late with- out champing at the bit, is indicated. Adaptable to Films The plot convolutions would indi- cate broad streak in off-color. Ac- tually and in strict conventional mould, those streaks, we suppose, are there. Yet the playwright has spun such a light and frothy aura around his situ- ations that the consequences are vast- ly amusing without approaching the offensive. Hollywood should be interested in this play. It would require changes, but those changes can be effected with- out smudging out the comedy, yet al- lowing the offering to conform with the tenets of the Production Code Ad- ministration. Heads N. S. S. Branch New Haven, Feb. 9. — Jay McFar- land is in charge of the National Screen Service and Accessories here. Milwaukee Expects To Hold 9 36 Gains (Continued from page 1) cent was shown, while payrolls fell 2.7 per cent, the commission said. The commission declared that fac- tory employment in November was 9.9 per cent greater last November than in 1935 ; 21.9 per cent above November, 1934, and 61.2 per cent in excess of November, 1932. Payrolls were 22.3 per cent larger than in 1935 ; 54 per cent above 1934 and 142.7 per cent greater than November, 1932. Increases in job indices in Wiscon- sin during the past year have been reflected in business gains for exhibi- tors ranging from 10 to 20 per cent. Continued improvement in business anticipated for 1937 is expected to be reflected in improved grosses for the current year. Warner Stock Sales Halted by Statement (Continued from page 1) was the closing price for the day and represented a gain of two points over the opening quotation. It was believed that during the sus- pension of trading in the shares efforts were made to have large stockholders supply stock in order to prevent a runaway market. On the San Fran- cisco Exchange the stock ran up to 18^4 before trading was halted. Hayden, Stone officials declined to comment, other than to say that the negotiations for the new issue had been broken off by Warners and that, therefore, any statement to be made should come from that quarter. War- ner officials said the company had "nothing to say." Allied Program Out In Printed Pamphlet Washington, Feb. 9. — Allied States current bulletin to members which sets forth the organization's Federal and state legislative aims has been printed in pamphlet form here and is being given wide distribution. Appended to the pamphlet are the names of members of the Senate Com- mittee on Interstate Commerce, the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, and the Senate and House Patents Committees. Sympathizers' are urged to com- municate with the committee members in behalf of the Allied-indorsed legis- lation. Rathvon Quits Atlas To Form New Co. (Continued from page 1) Matthew Robinson, also a former Atlas executive and one of the com- pany's advisers on RKO matters. It is understood that the new Rath- von firm, in which Atlas is said to have no capital interest, will continue to serve Atlas in the reorganization of RKO. About 18 months ago, Rathvon's name was mentioned in con- nection with Atlas' choice for the pres- idency of RKO and as a member of the company's new board. Wednesday, February 10, 1937 Hammons Going West On Educational Plan (Continued from page 1) capitalization, which made possible the secondary plan for Corporate simplifi- cation. The financial reorganization plan eliminates accrued dividends on the 18,000 shares of Educational pre- ferred stock outstanding and provides for 150,000 shares of new $100 par cumulative convertible preferred and 150,000 shares of new common. Vitaphone Enters Suit Judge Robert T. Patterson signed an order yesterday bringing in the Vitaphone Corp. and Vitagraph, Inc., as additional defendants in an action brought by Mary McFadden, execu- trix of the estate of Elmer Ellsworth McFadden, who was known profes- sionally as Edward Esmond, against Warners and First National. The complaint asked for $15,000 damages charging infringement of the title "Girl Trouble," claiming that Esmond wrote a play bearing this title and that the defendants produced a picture with this title without permis- sion of Esmond. An examination •be- fore trial held in California revealed that Vitaphone and Vitagraph pro- duced and distributed the picture rather than Warner Bros, and First National. Two Cases Dismissed The following actions were dis- missed yesterday by Judge John C. Knox, because of failure to prosecute : Action brought in 1932 by L. F. Harris, executor of estate of Ida H. Harris, on behalf of bondholders against Paramount Publix Corp., Chase National Bank, as trustee of Paramount Publix 6% Sinking Fund Gold Bonds, charging reckless mis- conduct and gross negligence on the part of Chase National and claiming that Chase disregarded rights of bond- holders in failing to give Paramount written notice of its default. Action brought by Ross S. Jennings on behalf of bondholders of the Urban M. P. Industries, Inc., against the Urban M. P. Industries, Inc., Photo Color Corp., National Theatres, Inc., Bray Pictures and others. It was claimed that in 1923 Urban in order to buy up all their outstanding nego- tiable coupons mortgaged their com- pany to the amount of $1,000,000 and then transferred all property to the Lawyers Title and Trust Co. as trustees. Bombing Case Opened _ Mineola, Feb. 9.— Prosecutor Mar- tin W. Littleton today opened his case against six men charged with setting off tear gas bombs in three Nassau County theatres in connection with labor disputes. The prosecutor said the theatres were bombed a few nights after officials of the theatre employes union had made contacts with the theatre managers in an effort to per- suade them to hire union stage hands. The defendants were indicted on charges of setting off bombs, damag- ing property, coercion and attempted extortion. Montaigne Loses Pathe Suit A jury decided yesterday in favor of Pathe News and Courtland Smith in the suit brought against them by Arthur G. Montaigne. The case was a breach of contract action and was tried before U. S. District Judge John W. Clancy. 10 RADIO MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, February 10, 1937 NBC to Hold Up Expansion, Declares Lohr Hollywood, Feb. 9. — Expansion plans for NBC's Hollywood activities will be held in abeyance pending a decision to purchase additional sites for new studios, Lenox R. Lohr, NBC president, said today. It had been re- ported that the contemplated expansion program would double the company's present Hollywood facilities. The report was described by Lohr as "illogical." He denied that there was any significance attached to his arrival here with William S- Paley, CBS head. Lohr said, however, that meetings had been held here with Will H. Hays and other film execu- tives in connection with a proposed code for the regulation of radio ap- pearances of film stars on hours which are competitive with theatres. The problems confronting radio and film officials are not thoroughly un- derstood, he said, but advanced the belief that mutually agreeable plans could be devised at meetings which are planned for the future. Lohr said that he had not been informed that radio interests planned to send representatives to the M.P.T. O.A. convention at Miami in March to hear and probably answer any exhibitor protests against radio com- petition which may arise. Calls Television Progress Economic First New York, then Chicago and now Hollywood is increasingly im- portant as a radio center, he said. The present trend is toward better radio ideas and not increased wages for talent, although talent salaries are up and current line rates are lower, Lohr said. Commenting on television, he said that the advance of this medi- um was an economic rather than a technical problem. The big question confronting executives, he said, is "Can television be networked?" The answer, Lohr stated, is technically "Yes," but the economic problem must be considered. NBC is currently planning to build a television relay station between New York and Philadelphia. Television will not end sound broadcasting, he asserted, and indicated that it held no serious competitive problem for films. Lohr goes to San Diego on Wed- nesday and from there to Phoenix and other chain points on an inspec- tion tour en route to New York. Lohr, Hays, Gilman Confer Hollywood, Feb. 9. — Lenox R. Lohr, president of NBC, and Don Gil- man met with Will H. Hays at lunch- eon today following a press meeting. While details are lacking, it is under- stood that several film producers also participated. Lift Ban on Airing Of Texas Ball Games Oklahoma City, Feb. 9. — All re- strictions against broadcasts of Texas League baseball games were lifted at the annual league session held in Tulsa. The league refused an offer of $25,000 of General Mills Co. for exclusive broadcasting rights in the league. The matter was left to each club to do as it pleases. There will be no broadcast of the Oklahoma City Indians' home games. Road games will be broadcast. The local club has signed a contract with General Mills to put the games played away from home on the air. The station which will carry these games has not been selected. They were broadcast by KFXR last year but other local stations are bidding for the baseball rights this summer. Most of the teams in the league will broadcast all road games and some of them will put the home contests on the air also. The Texas league is comprised of ball clubs of Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Beaumont, Galveston and San Antonio. Jack Votion Joining NBC Artist Service Hollywood, Feb. 9. — Jack Votion, formerly head of the Paramount tal- ent department, today joined NBC Artists' Service as associate to Dena Harshbarger. Kirberry, Reisers Shift Ralph Kirberry and Al and Lee Reiser move from WJZ to WEAF Feb. 17, and thereafter will have three periods, instead of two, a week. The program at present is heard Mondays and Fridays at 7:45 P. M. The new schedule will be Mondays, Wednes- days and Fridays at 12 :30 P. M. The program is sponsored by Lipton's Tea Co. "Castles" Finds Sponsor "Castles of Romance," long a sus- tainer on WJZ, takes unto itself a sponsor, Harvey Whipple, Inc., begin- ning March 16 and continuing for eight weeks. The Willard Myers agency, New York handled the deal. "Castles of Romance" features Alice Remsen, George Griffin, and Al & Lee Reiser. Time and station will remain the same, WJZ, Tuesdays, at 6:35 P. M., E.S.T. LaValle Moved Up Cleveland, Feb. 9. — Gene LaValle has been named dramatic director of WJAY-WHK. He has established himself on the air in the character roles of "Old Pop," Uncle Rudolph. Allan Jenkins, recently sent to Co- lumbus as a member of the WHKC staff, has returned to Cleveland as an- nouncer for WHK. Hershfield Seeks Laughs Radio listeners who think they are funny will be given their chance by Harry Hershfield in a new series of programs entitled "Hershfield's Laugh Parade" beginning on WMCA Friday, Feb. 19, from 7:30 to 8 P. M. Prizes will be awarded. Big Chance Lost Whoever he is, wherever he is, there's an audition wait- ing for him. He answered questions of- fered by Art Wallberg, WPRO (Providence) "man in the street" broadcaster. Among other things, he said, he had ambitions of becom- ing a radio announcer. Sta- tion staff members listening in liked his voice and agreed that a studio audition for the tyro was in order. But no- body knows who he is. He walked away before the sign- off. CBS Receives First Work of Song Group CBS has received the first work completed by a member of the Colum- bia Composers Commission appointed last fall by William S. Paley, CBS president, to write music specifically for the microphone. The composition, "Lenox Avenue," is by William Grant Still, who is now in Hollywood writ- ing and arranging music for films. The work will be performed by the CBS Symphony Orchestra some time this summer. Other members of the Composers Commission are Aaron Copland, Louis Gruenberg, Howard Hanson, Roy Harris and Walter Piston. Their compositions will be submitted to CBS during the spring months. KGFG Building Own Home Oklahoma City, Feb. 9. — KGFG will begin construction of its $25,000 plant at 1800 W. Main St. as soon as a permit is obtained from the city building department, Manager J. R. Wetzel states. A one story frame studio will be erected. Towers 204 feet high will be built south of the studio between Grand and California Aves. The station now has studios in the Perrine Bldg. and its towers are atop Faith Tabernacle. Tibbett, Jepson to Sing Lawrence Tibbett and Helen Jepson will sing at the testimonial dinner to James A. Farley at the Mayflower Hotel, Washington, Feb. 15. The af- fair will be broadcast over the com- bined CBS, NBC and Mutual net- works beginning at 10 P. M., E.S.T. Bob Berger, in charge of the techni- cal details for the broadcast, left for the capital last night. James E. Sauter, who is handling the musical details for the broadcast, leaves for Washington Saturday. His Best a Mere Whinny Oklahoma City, Feb. 9. — What is believed to be one of the first "personal appearances" of a horse on a radio program was wit- nessed in the studios of WKY here. The horse was "Champion," the film mount on which Gene Au- try gallons through his western film thrillers. Autry was the guest of Johnny Marvin, veteran radio singer, who is fulfilling an extended sponsored engagement at WKY. Autry decided that since "Champion" is co-starred in his pictures, he was entitled to equal prominence on the air. By using a freight elevator, the ani- mal was brought to the WKY studios on the fifth floor of the Skir- vin Tower Hotel. His sole contribution to the program was a wistful whinny when his master held out a lump of sugar. WQXR Raises Rates From $150 to $250 WQXR, New York's only high fidelity station, has made its first in- crease in rates, which go into effect Feb. 15. The new rate card shows that the basic hour rate for evening time has been increased from $150 to $250, while the cost of shorter periods has been increased proportionately. There is no change in the schedule of con- tract and frequency discounts. Among the advertisers recently signed for programs at WQXR are Dictograph Products, M. Lehman, Inc., Raymond and Raymond, Leben- thal & Co., Filmarte Theatre, Carbona Products, Headington Corp., and Random House. Martinson's Coffee also has just signed a 52- week re- newal. KSO Power Increased Des Moines, Feb. 9. — KSO has in- creased its daytime power from 1,000 to 2,500 watts. KSO is one of three stations linked by leased phones to form the Iowa Network. The others are KRNT, Des Moines, and WMT, Waterloo and Cedar Rapids, la. Court Show Gets Audience Hollywood, Feb. 9. — The public attended the "Court of the People" program today in KHJ's auditorium. The program features actual cases from court records and the jury was selected from the audience. True Boardman scripted the feature. Will Use College Shows Columbus, Feb. 9. — "Varsity Show," a musical, and "Seven-thirty or Eight," a play by Robert Hughes, of the Ohio State University student body, will be aired from 10 to 10:30 tonight, Friday, over the NBC-Blue, fed through WCOL. The pickup will be made from the University stadium. NBC signs Emily Weyman Philadelphia, Feb. 9. — Emily Weyman is the latest local radio en- tertainer to be recognized in New York. The daughter of the head of a local music house that bears that name, Miss Weyman has been signed by NBC for a net series. Now It's By Telephone Hollywood, Feb 9. — KECA will start a new radio feature a week from Tuesday called "The Man on the Tele- phone." The procedure consists of calling names in the telephone book at random and asking a series of ques- tions with the conversation picked up by the studio microphone and re- broadcast. The program runs for 15 minutes. Eddie Holden to Chicago Hollywood, Feb. 9. — Eddie Holden, who does the Frank Wantanabe sketches dealing with a Japanese house boy for NBC, went to Chicago Thursday where he will make his permanent headquarters. Holden will continue with his broadcasts five days a week from the NBC Chicago studios starting Feb. 15. Willis, WIP Production Man Philadelphia, .Feb. 9. — WIP moves up Lynn Willis, announcer, to produc- tion post. Alan Williams, former pro- duction director, will devote all his time to announcing. John Facenda is a new addition to the station's an- nouncing staff. MOTION PICTURE DAI LY radio Wednesday, February 10, 1937 FCC Studying Air Messages In Flood Area {Continued from page 1) as the voluntary chain which was of inestimable value along the Ohio. During the recent flood, the com- mission maintained a 24-hour watch in Washington so that any station de- siring to undertake flood service and operate outside the confines of its li- cense could obtain approval without delay. This cutting of the red tape was of tremendous assistance in get- ting rescue work and communications organized in the Louisville area. In the event of a disaster, the com- mission immediately lifts any regula- tions which would handicap rescue and relief work, on the ground that with wires down radio becomes of para- mount importance as a means of com- munication and should not suffer in- terference or delay. Accordingly, in the event of another disaster, the com- mission will counsel and aid stations in developing networks or other ma- chinery for handling communications. Newspaper and Radio Test Mystery Serial Omaha, Feb. 9. — A unique experi- ment in presentation of a mystery se- rial, "Murder on Schedule," which started Jan. 18 and will be concluded Monday, after 13 chapters, is being conducted on a co-operative basis by KOIL and the Omaha Bee-News. The play, by Bernard Fenner, night police reporter for the newspaper, and John Henry, general manager of KOIL's parent company, the Central States Broadcasting Co., is being pre- sented at 10:15 P.M. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays by the KOIL Dramatic Players under direction of Arthur Faust. On the same days, the chapter presented on the program is printed in both morning and evening editions of the Bee-News. On every day of the presentation, eight clues are scattered through the newspaper's want ad sections. From these clues the listeners and readers are to prepare a solution to the mys- tery and enter it in a contest, first prize for which is $100 cash. Twenty other prizes of 10-volume sets of mys- tery stories also are offered. Fenner formerly was in radio work here and at Topeka, as an announcer and script writer. Prior to that he was film critic for the Bee-News. Promotion Manager Bill Wiseman is in charge of the contest. Lord Incapacitated Bearing out a prediction made in these columns sev- eral days ago, Phil Lord, author and star of "We, the People" and "Gang Busters," leaves shortly for a rest at a sanitarium because of poor health. Col. H. Norman Schwartz- kopf, former head of the New Jersey State Police, will take over Lord's duties for four weeks on "Gang Busters" starting Mar. 3. 4 Radio Personals ► CE. MIDGELEY, radio time • buyer at Batten, Barton, Dur- stine & Osborn is now the pappy of a baby boy . . . Paul Ash opened at the French Casino last night . . . Bill Jenkins, manager of the trade news di- vision at Young & Rubicam, leaves his post this Monday for three weeks for a cutting up session with the medicos . . . Manya Roberti, sister of Lyda, will guest appear on Fred Allen's session Feb. 17 . . . Jackie Coogan and Mitzi Green have been set for "Showboat" Feb. 18 . . . + What happens when a boy from a quartet meets a girl from a trio? He marries her ! Which is a way of telling that Bob Simmons, of radio's "Revelers" and Patti Pickens, of the Pickens sisters, have taken the plunge . . . Jack Curran, ex of the agencies and radio magazines, is now the co- ordinator of radio activities for the WPA . . . Arlene Harris, the "Hu- man Chatterbox" of the Ford "Watch the Fun Go By" program, begins a week's engagement at the Earle The- atre, Philadelphia, this Friday . . . + Bruce Robertson arrived in New York yesterday from Chicago to take over his new duties as local represen- tative for Broadcasting . . . The "Cap- tain Diamond" network series is the latest program to feature guest stars. Cameron King has been set for next Sunday on this series . . . Lee Has- sell of the "Barn Dance" girl trio and Gene Donovan, pianist, will vow to love, honor and obey on St. Val- entine's Day . . . Stars who celebrate their birthdays on St. Valentine's Day are Jessica Dragonette, Jack Benny, and Peggy Allenby . . . + Alex Gray, one time screen actor, will guest appear on Ed Wynn's pro- gram Feb. 20 . . . WOR's "Morning Matinee" Feb. 18 will feature Ozzie Nelson, Ernest Truex and Dian Gay- ler. The latter is now appearing in "Frederika" . . . Maida Severn, heard on WINS, leaves this afternoon for a trip to the West Indies . . . "Chic" Lindsey, novelty singer, has been signed for two years by the CBS Artists Bureau . . . Loretta Lee opens at the Paramount Theatre, Los An- geles, Feb. 18 . . . WNEW joins the networks and WHN and WMCA in carrying the Red Cross benefit show from the Radio City Music Hall to- morrow . . . + Jesse Owens, colored Olympic flash, arrives in New York today to begin rehearsals with an orchestra recruited by Consolidated Radio . . . Jimmy Melton, now in Florida, will return to New York for a guest appearance on the "Saturday Night Party" Feb. 13. The broadcast will mark Jimmy's first air appearance in a long time . . . Jean Hersholt will tell of his experi- ences with the quintuplets on the "Shell Show" Feb. 13 . . Mrs. Al Goodman is seriously ill in a hospi- tal .. . Jan Peerce is planning a con- cert tour of eastern cities . . . Bernice Claire has consented to remain on "Waltz Time" another week in order to give Mary Eastman time to get back to New York and pinch hit for Odd Fan Mail PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 9.-. Radio is making for strange bedfellows for Dr. Jeremiah P. Shalloo, professor of crim- inology at the University of Pennsylvania. Broadcasting a series of talks on adult de- linquency and trends in prison welfare over WIP, Dr. Shalloo receives fan mail from some of the best cells in some of the best prisons. Signatures are all with either their gangland monicker or prison number. But all are unanimous in telling the pro- fessor that "we think you've got something there." her. Bernice will leave for a Florida rest Feb. 19. + Leslie Howard, now offering "Hamlet" to Californians, will appear with Eddie Cantor on the latter's program this Sunday . . . Ilka Chase, Willie Morris and George Rosely will guest appear on the Hammerstein "Music Hall" Feb. 16 . . . Dave Gothard, leading man on the "Helen Trent" series, leaves for Hollywood, with rumors afloat that he will return a married man . . . Howard Mem- mott, WPRO' (Providence) program director, is now the father of a boy . . . Challenging the statement of Jose Iturbi in respect to the limitation of women's ability, NBC will present a special show, "But Women Have Brains!" tonight at 10 P. M., E.S.T. on the Blue. Participating will be Yolanda Mero-Irion, Helen Jerome, Eugen Boissevain and Dorothy Thompson . . . + Jack Pearl's wife, Winnie, lost an $8,000 diamond bracelet after last Monday's "Baron Munchausen" broad- cast. Last night John Bell, page su- pervisor, found the bracelet under a radiator outside her husband's dress- ing room. He received a reward of $50. O'Keefe to Take on Nash-Lafayette Show Walter O'Keefe, who left his last regular radio series, "Saturday Night Party," because of script dissatisfac- tion, will take over the Nash-Lafay- ette "Speedshow" shortly, it was learned from a reliable source yester- day. Floyd Gibbons is the present feature on the program. The deal for O'Keefe's services on the series will probably be effected within the next fortnight or so. "Radio Revue" Renewed The "1937 Radio Revue," sponsored by Feenamint on the coast-to-coast Mutual network, has been renewed for additional 13 week period, effective as of next Sunday. William Esty & Co. is the agency. The program was formerly known as the National Ama- teur Hour, and has been a network feature at CBS and Mutual for sev- eral years. DeLys on Full Assignment GoGo DeLys, who has made sev- eral guest appearances with Stoop- nagle & Budd of late, has been signed to appear regularly on the series. Young & Rubicam is the agency for the program. Extras on Radio in New Coast Program Hollywood, Feb. 9. — Talent from the extra ranks will go on the air over KFI in a half-hour program next Friday, inaugurating the show as a weekly feature. Francis X. Bushman will be master of ceremonies with the extras appear- ing in three and four minute bits taken from actual screen working scripts. Archdale Jones is the producer. "Radio Clinic" Is Revived "Radio Clinic," the program of medical information which was can- celled by WBNX before it even got started, has been revised and pre- sented to the medical profession for ratification. The new formula pro- vides for the elimination of actual patients and their substitution by a dramatic cast. The cases will be drawn from medical records, and doc- tors in the studio will prescribe for the ailments. In the opinion of competent ob- servers, however, it is unlikely that the medical profession will ratify the program. Two "Sonny Boys" in Studio Davy Holt, six years old, played "Sonny Boy" in Al Jolson's reenact- ment of the drama "Sonny Boy" on the air last night. In the studio sat an- other lad. He was 15-year-old Davie Lee, the original "Sonny Boy" of Jol- son's famous picture. 52-Week Renewal "Carnation Contented" hour, spon- sored by the Carnation Milk Co. and heard Mondays from 10 to 10:30 P. M., E.S.T. on the NBC-Red, has had its options picked up for 52 weeks, cancellable after each 13-week stanza. Erwin, Wasey & Co. of Chicago is the agency. Seeks 250-Watt Booster Hartford, Feb. 9. — WDRC has ap- plied to F. C. C. for a 250-watt booster transmitter in the Bridgeport-New Haven area. Strahl Goes to Sacramento Des Moines, Feb. 9. — George Strahl, for the past year enginer at KSO, has resigned to join the Mc- Clatchy newspaper organization at Sacramento. Texas Editor Joins Radio Tyler, Tex., Feb. 9. — Craddock Goins, editorial writer for the Tyler Courier-Times and the Morning Tele- graph, has resigned to enter radio work here. Goins will conduct a daily "Chauncey Speer" radio feature. A Maxim Memorial Hartford, Feb. 9.— A Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial has been established in the form of an annual award to the amateur under 21 who makes the greatest contribution to amateur radio for the year, by Mrs. John G. Lee and Hiram Hamilton Maxim. The late Hiram Maxim was founder of the American Radio Relay League, national amateur radio organization. MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, February 10, 1937 Radio CBS Lines Up Big Coverage On Coronation By cable from London yesterday, Caeser Saerchinger, CBS representa- tive in Europe, informed the home office in New York of the broadcast details already set for the coronation of King George VI on May 12. According to Saerchinger, 30 re- mote control pickup points will be utilized alone along the line of the procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. Other pick- up points will be at Constitution Hill, Whitehall Cenotaph, and Trafalgar. Saerchinger has also arranged for microphone appearances of a host of British notables, who will speak ex- clusively for CBS during the course of the coronation. The speakers in- clude Commander Stephan King-Hall, Sir Joshua Stamp, the Marquis of Donegall, Sir Frederick Whyte, Dr. Harold Laski, Viscount Cecil of Chel- wood, Lord Strabolgi, chairman of the Radio Ass'n of Great Britain, Ellen C. Wilkelson, Labor Member of Parliament, the Duchess of Athol, and Hector Bolitho, official biograph- er of King George VI. The ceremonies will be broadcast by CBS beginning at 5:15 A. M. and continuing until some time past 11 A. M., E.S.T. NBC, Mutual and various non-network stations desiring the Coronation coverage will of course broadcast during the same hours. Paul White, special events head at CBS, and Bob Trout, announcer, will leave for London early in May. Abandon Televising Of Abbey Coronation London, Feb. 2. — Plans to televise the coronation ceremony in Westmin- ster Abbey have been abandoned, the Abbey authorities refusing permission after months of negotiation with the BBC. The necessity of the television trans- mitter being inconveniently close to the leading actors in the ceremony is understood to have been the deciding factor. Newsreel companies will be granted permission to film the Abbey ceremony, but television "viewers" will have to be content with scenes of the processions to and from the Abbey. FCC Licenses Three New Small Stations Washington, Feb. 9 — The F.C.C. today licensed three new 100-watt sta- tions at Kilgore, Tex. ; Mason City, la. ; and Jefferson City, Mo., and in- creased the day power of Stations KWSC, Pullman, Wash., to 5,000 watts ; KFRU, Columbia, Mo., to 1,000 watts, and KSO, Des Moines, to 2,500 watts. Stations WCBA and WSAN, Allen- town, Pa., were authorized to use 500 watts, sharing time. Colgate Sends Reply On Gibbons Program Cincinnati, Feb. 9.— "I was most disturbed by your telegram criticizing Floyd Gibbons' broadcast from Cincin- nati on Jan. 28," said S. Bayard Col- gate, president of Colgate-Palmolive- Peet Co., sponsors of "True Adven- tures," in a telegram to Morris Ed- wards, executive vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce here. "I have carefully checked the facts in the script, and while there may have been some over-dramatization, Gibbons and the men who helped produce the show apparently made every possible effort to report actually what they saw and heard. They checked their facts with the sheriff's office, fire department, po- lice, newspaper reporters and coast guard, and as far as I can determine, it is the general feeling that the Gib- bons dramatization of the flood situa- tion was much less colored than other broadcasts emanating from radio sta- tions in the flooded area. "Above all, Gibbons intended to pay tribute to the superb spirit of the Cin- cinnati people and to the cool efficient handling of the emergency by the local authorities. Gibbons is much dis- tressed, as am I, that any of your citi- zens should have any adverse criti- cism of what was intended as a sin- cere tribute to the people in the flood- ed area." A copy of the telegram also was sent to the Cincinnati Retail Mer- chants' Ass'n, which also protested the substance of the Gibbons broadcast. WIP Adds Accounts; Has Seven Renewals Philadelphia, Feb. 9. — WIP sales books add two new accounts and re- newals keep seven others going. New- comers are Fitch Investment Service, placed direct, taking daily five-minute shots for a year, and Varady of Vi- enna, face powder, placed direct, with three five-minute periods daily for 13 weeks. Renewals are Keasbey & Mattison, headache remedy, daily participation in Homemakers' Club for 13 weeks, through Geare - Marston Agency ; Mackie-Henkels Co., iodine jelly, daily participation in Homemakers' Club for an indefinite period, through Feigen- baum Agency; Shuman Bros., depart- ment store, daily quarter-hour news periods for one year, through Julian Pollock, Inc. ; Adams Clothes, daily 10-minute sport shots for indefinite period, through Feigenbaum Agency; Crawford's Furriers, three quarter hours weekly of musical transcriptions for indefinite period, placed direct ; P. B. White & Co., tailors, daily quarter hour periods for indefinite period, through Feigenbaum Agency and starting Feb. 22, for 20 weeks, Sam the Tailor taking three spot announce- ments weekly, placed through Gal- lagher & Muir, Inc. Arno Arriga Named Director Arno Arriga has been appointed musical director of WBNX, New York. Arriga's background includes ap- pearances at the Metropolitan Opera, and direction of orchestras on WJZ and WEAF. U. A. and Odeon Plan Immediate Releases London, Feb. 2. — United Artists and the Odeon circuit are planning an extension of the practice of immediate release, which has already been ex- perimented with in the case of specific U.A. pictures in Odeon houses. A possibility is that, when the Odeon in Leicester Square is com- pleted and becomes the main U.A. show window in London, U.A. may release immediately to all or a per- centage of the other Odeon theatres, which will soon number 200. Contradicting press stories of a complete adoption of the practice of immediate release by U.A., officials of the company emphasize that any steps taken will be experimental, although definitely designed to assist in the pro- gressive shortening of the present re- lease schedule. Immediate release has been given by Gaumont-British to certain of its own films in some of its own theatres and the tendency in the British trade is to make general release more fluid, al- though quite recently the standard period was six months after trade show. Many films are now available three months or less after West End presentation. Wardour in New Deal London, Feb 9. — A contract has been prepared calling for the distribu- tion by Wardour Films of the product of British National. It is expected six features will be handled annually. The first production will be "Interval for Romance." Strike End Brightens Frisco Film Outlok {Continued from page 1) town subsequent runs charging 15 cents were more severly hurt than were the suburbans with scales run- ning up to 30 cents.. The Chamber of Commerce esti- mates that more than $350,000 per day in wages will go back into circulation again. Colorado Strike Ended Colorado Springs, Feb. 9. — The operators' strike at the local theatres lasting eight weeks, ended when they went back to work at $84 a booth — the union to decide whether two or three men will divide the hours, or if a swing man will be used between the- atres so that each man will work six days a week. Technicians Protest London Salary Cuts London, Feb. 2. — A committee rep- resenting the Ass'n of Cine-Tech- nicians at a conference with Alexander Korda declared they believed the re- cent salary cuts instituted by London Films were unjustified, and that the cost of production could not justly be blamed on technicians' salaries. D. B. Cunynghame, production manager, was present at the meeting. Korda replied that he had followed the principle that all grades should share in the general economy move and that he regarded all the cuts as merely temporary. He promised to consider any specific cases of hardship. a t a e a vl i cavtt MATTHEWS The Leading Motio Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, Intelligent the In In All Branches VOL. 41. NO. 35 NEW YORK, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1937 TEN CENTS Deals Signed Ending Long Union Fight Contract Forerunner of Operator Peace The final agreements between Local 306 and the Allied Union on the one hand, and the definitive 10-year agree- ment between 306 and the I. T. O. A., were signed in the early hours of yes- terday morning. They will become effective on Monday. Both deals were signed at the same time. Permanent peace in the long trou- blesome operator situation here are expected to follow the conclusion of the settlement, it was indicated. The agreements, which ended many weeks of negotiation, instigated by the survey board appointed by Mayor LaGuardia to end the multiple union situation in New York, were concluded in the office of Harry Brandt, presi- dent of the I. T. O. A. Representatives of all three parties involved, the two unions, the indepen- dent exhibitor organizations and their {Continued on page 12) Levine's Successor Decision Is Delayed No decision will be made for the time being on whether or not a suc- cessor to Nat Levine will be named to head Republic production, H. J. Yates said yesterday on returning to his of- fice after an illness of several' days. It was pointed out that Levine is remaining with Republic until about the end of March to supervise the completion of pictures now in work and that no immediate action on a suc- cessor is necessary. It is * known that Republic ,will adopt a unit production system in the near future and there is a possibility that the company's nine producers may form a production council which would direct studio activities in lieu of nam- ing a successor to Levine. However, this possibility, too, will not be de- cided until later. W anger May Move Producing from U.A. Hollywood, Feb. 10.— Walter Wan- ger may move his production person- nel from United Artists to another studio but continue to release through United Artists as a result of a dis- pute between the producer and the studio regarding production costs, it was learned here today. Wanger is reported to have claimed that his present production costs are 33 per (Continued on page 6) RKO Forces to Hold Four Studio! Meets Annually on Film Trends Four pow-wows a year in Hollywood to discuss changes in trends and thus in production schedules will be held by RKO executives if plans discussed following meeting recently completed on the coast hold. The recent get-together is understood to have brought about considerably more understanding than has prevailed in various divisions of the RKO family heretofore. Several properties, originally appearing on the studio program, for instance, were scrapped at the behest of the theatre department. The suggestion of quarterly sessions at which would be present again all of the studio's producers sprang from the producers themselves and a declared desire to maintain a closer touch with their market. Continued Sabath Probe is Expected By CLARENCE LINZ Washington, Feb. 10. — Continua- tion of the Sabath investigation of re- organizations will meet with opposi- tion when the legislation is brought up in the House of Representatives, but is expected to be secured without great difficulty, it was learned here today. The continuing resolution was fa- vorably reported yesterday by the Rules Committee and may be brought (Continued on page 6) Chicago Game Trials Postponed to Today Chicago, Feb. 10. — Trial of the 239 Bank Night suits, brought by the city against 114 theatre corporations and 125 managers, charging violation of a city ordinance against giving away money, prizes, etc., was postponed until tomorrow. The cases against B & K will be first on the docket, it is reported. Poster Renters Will Fight Warner Move "Members of the National Poster Service A'ssn will counteract War- ners' move to rent posters and other advertising displays," a director of the organization said yesterday. "We will do the same with Warners as we did with Paramount when it inaugurated the plan last year," the source stated. "Paramount has not hurt our business and neither will Warners." Next month, members of the inde- (Continued on page 6) Schwerin Resigns as Interstate Manager Charles Schwerin, general manager for Interstate Checking Service since the company was organized about a year ago, has resigned. No successor has been appointed and indications are the post will not be filled. Postal Telegraph, which assumes the physi- cal details and transmission of re- (Continued on page 6) "/ Don 't Belong" — Gypsy Chicago, Feb. 10.— "He's right. I don't belong in pictures," said Gypsy Rose Lee, "strip-tease" burlesque player, who is now ap- pearing here in the "Ziegfeld Follies," referring to recent edito- rials by Red Kann, editor of Motion Picture Daily, to the effect that a "strip-tease artist" has no place in pictures. Miss Lee, among the guests at a press party, astonished the group with her remarks. "But," continued Miss Lee, "I like the way they treat you around film studios. There's someone to powder your nose, get you a glass of water, help you with your wardrobe and do other countless favors. In the theatre you have to do everything yourself and you get bossed around besides." Miss Lee said she had gained her knowledge of picture making while screen tests were being made of her in New York, prior to leaving for Chicago. She said it was so much fun and the pay was too tempting to refuse, so therefore she had signed a con- tract with 20th Century-Fox, although she( knew that pictures were not the place for a "strip-tease artist." RKO's Offer For Orpheum Is Accepted Referee Favors $700,000 Cash Proposal RKO's offer to acquire clear title to the assets of Orpheum Circuit for $700,000 cash and subordination of its own claims of approximately $3,450,- 000 against Orpheum was approved by Federal Referee Oscar W. Ehrhorn in a decision handed down yesterday. The decision rejected the offer of $2,000,000 cash for the circuit's assets which had been made by Hudson County Warehouses, Inc., on behalf of a committee of preferred stockholders of Orpheum whose membership in- cludes Martin Beck, Asher Levy, Harry Borns and others. Referee Ehrhorn's decision was based on the acceptance of the RKO offer by a majority of the Orpheum creditors represented at a meeting held on Feb. 2 to receive and consider the offers. Referee Ehrhorn's decision also de- nied the petition of the preferred stock- holders' committee for orders direct- ing Marcus Heiman, trustee in bank- ruptcy for Orpheum, to intervene in the RKO reorganization proceedings, to file objections to the RKO reorgan- ization plan on the grounds that it (Continued on page 6) SEC Starts Probe of Warner Stock Sales The Securities and Exchange Com- mission yesterday undertook a study of the circumstances surrounding the suspension of trading in Warner stock on the New York and San Francisco exchanges on Tuesday. No indica- tion of any irregularity was uncovered as a result of yesterday's investiga- tion, it was reported. FCC Authorizes Two New Radio Stations Washington, Feb. 10. — The con- struction of two new broadcasting sta- tions was authorized today by the F.C.C. One will be at Saginaw, Mich., and the other at Santa Barbara, Cal. Both will have power of 500 watts. The commission denied six other applications for new stations. On one a construction permit had been granted. It was to have been assigned to the Los Angeles Central Labor Council. More Radio— Pp. 10-11 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, February II, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 February 11, 1937 No. 35 Maetin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc., Martin Quigley, president: Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 12T0 Sixth Ave nue at Rockefeller Center. New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publieating Company, Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- cations: MOTION PICTURE HERALD. BETTER THEATRES. TEATRO AL DIA. INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building. Vine and Yucca Sts. ; Boone Mancall, Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave., C. B. O'Neill. Manager. WASHINGTON: Albee Building; Bertram F. Linz, Representative. AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan 5; Philip de Sehaep. Representative. BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest II; Endre Hevesi. Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientes 2495; N. Bruski. Representative. HELSINKI: Fredriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszlo. Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square. W. 1; Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address, Quigpubco. Lon- don. MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins St.; Cliff Holt. Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart, Representative. MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern, Rep- resentative. MONTEVIDEO: P. 0. Box 664; Paul Bodo, Rep- resentative. PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre. Repre- sentative. PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1; Harry Knopf Representative. RIO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 3358; A. Weiss- man, Representative. ROME: Viale Gorilla; Yittorio Malpassuti, Rep- resentative. SHANGHAI: Rooms 38-41. Capital Theatre Build- ing. 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehier, Repre- sentative. TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken; H. Tominaca, Representative. VIENNA: Neustiftgasse, 55, Vienna VH; Hans Lorani, Representative. WARSAW : Sienna 32; R. Billet, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Roxy Gifts $13^73.58 Contributions received from patrons of the Roxy for 13 days for flood relief victims totaled $13,273.58. How- ard S. Cullman, trustee, has sent the money to the Red Cross. The Music Hall tonight will hold a benefit show which is expected to net the Red Cross $15,000. Eastman Sets Dividend Eastman Kodak Co., yesterday de- clared a quarterly dividend of $1.50 per share on the common stock, com- paring with previous quarterly pay- ments of $1.25. The current dividend is payable April 2 to stockholders of record March 5. Cohan Does A Grand Job In A Creaky, Pollyanna Vehicle Selznick Little Improved Los Angeles, Feb. 10.— The con- dition of Myron Selznick, gravely ill of pneumonia in Santa Monica Hos- pital, was reported today as being slightly improved. WANTED EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Executive in Distribution Organization requires capable secretary. Write in detail stating qualifications, past expe- rience and connections. To Box No. 850, MOTION PICTURE DAILY. By PLAYBOY The perilous crossing last night from the Morosco to this critical type- writer included a bit of speculation about "Fulton of Oak Falls" and what it would have been without George M. Cohan. The thought was disturb- ing enough to make us reflectively walk against three red lights, an un- commonly foolish practice in the by- lanes off Times Square. For Cohan, "in his own way of tell- ing the story of Parker Fennelly's Tulton of Oak Falls'" — courtesy of the handbill — breathes life and warmth and homely touches where a runner up, any runner-up, might have dropped honest sentimentality for pathos. Cer- tainly the play itself is a creaking, de- crepit and decidedly minor effort of the sweetness and light formula and as a job of playwrighting is about as streamlined as Henry Ford's original Model-T. Cohan All the Way The importance about it and in it, however, is Cohan. He is the Cohan which Broadway knows — the same funnily slouched walk, the old-time grimaces, the infectious laugh and, while you don't actually see it in his latest play, it is easy indeed to en- visage his lines dripping out of the side of his mouth. He had company among his actors last night, as well. There was Rita Johnson, attractive and infectious blonde who carries Cohan back to his quarter century-old memories and gives him a new and pleasant batch to replace those which time was dim- ming. Jessamine Newcombe, as his somewhat impatient wife, was expres- sive, too, and Gilberta Faust, as the crochety old mother-in-law, an excel- lent character bit. Francesca Lenni, the daughter who goes off on an illicit week-end with Robert Light and drops it for legitimacy and ultimate mar- riage, was satisfactory while Brandon Peters, as minister and neighbor, fitted in well in long and comradely scenes with the star. It is all Pollyanna. Here is Cohan, innocently basking in the obvious ado- ration of a summer crush ; it gives him lift to continue his Oak Falls duties as bank cashier, impeccable family man and good neighbor with no harm touching any of the principals. There, his daughter, unduly restrained by her mother and breaking out in a rash that spends itself when home training and a sense of propriety catch hold and in time. Throughout, there is Cohan's confidence that right always will prevail. The evening was historically impor- tant as events in the New York the- atre go. It marked a resumption of an old and honored partnership after a lapse of many years. Again it was "Cohan and Harris present," but the regret of the night was they had not presented some thing more notable. If Hollywood is listening, on the other hand, it will be interested in learning that "Fulton of Oak Falls" is filmable if anyone will essay the story of a middle-aged man, is clean- er than a hound's tooth and also shy on bite. To Change Old Barn Hollywood, Feb. 10.— The old Lasky barn is about to un- dergo alterations, according to Dick Kline, Paramount studio physical instructor. The barn, in which Cecil B. De Mille made "The Squaw Man," has been used for some years as the studio gymna- sium. A large sun deck, addi- tional locker rooms and show- ers are among the improve- ments planned. Burnside Testimony Ordered by Referee Referee John E. Joyce signed an order yesterday authorizing the Irving Trust Co., as trustee of the estate of Charles E. Dillingham, to proceed in the Southern District of California to examine" R. H. Burnside concerning the conduct and property of the bank- ruptcy. The trustee claims that Burnside's attorney informed him on Jan. 15, 1937, that Burnside had sent all the manu- scripts, plays and contracts to Frank Furlong of Hartford, Conn., who is the executor of the estate and that they were sent without permission and in violation of his demands. "Camille" Gross Is $41,000 in 2nd Week "Camille" tallied $41,000 in its sec- ond week at the Capitol and will prob- ably finish its third week tonight with approximately §10,000 less. After dat- ing in "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney," "Maytime" and "Romeo and Juliet" to follow "Camille," a decision has fi- nally been made for the first named picture to open Feb. 18. At the Astor, Loew's other Broad- way house, "The Good Earth" gar- nered $17,573 for the first five days. Loew's has the theatre on a short term lease, which most likely will be extended as the picture continues. "Champagne Waltz" at the Para- mount with Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians took in about $48,000 in the first week. "You Only Live Once" at the Rivoli ended the first seven dayrs with §26,500. The Strand wound up its first week with "Stolen Holiday" with about $18,000. Tomorrow, "The Green Light" opens. "Great Guy" took in about $9,500 in the fifth week at the Criterion. Harry Charnas has decided to hold the James Cagney film a seventh week. "Sinner Take All" at the Rialto got approximately §7,500. The Roxy tonight will close the three-week run of "Three Smart Girls." In its last week, the picture probably will do about $35,000. The Music Hall last night ended a first week of "On the Avenue" with close to $88,000. Jessie Matthews in "Head Over Heels in Love" and Herman Timberg on the stage are the opening attractions at the Roxy tomorrow. Order Hippodrome Appeal Judge Robert T. Patterson signed an order yesterday allowing the Hippo- drome Bldg. Co. to make an appeal in the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals from an order signed on Jan. 17, which confirmed the report of Special Master Thomas D. Thatcher. This report reduced the claim of the Hippodrome Co. against RKO from $451,166.39 to §88,666.39. Hippodrome maintains that its claim should be allowed in its en- tirety. Talk New Recording At Meeting of Erpi New recording methods, advance- ments in technical development and new roadshow equipment for the show- ing of 35 mm. non-theatrical material were discussed yesterday in the course of the three-day semi-annual confer- ence of Erpi district superintendents and district managers at the home of- fice. The meeting is under the direc- tion of G. L. Carrington, operating manager. The men will leave for their respective sales territories to- morrow. Present were : S. W. Johnson, Obie Hunt, A. Fiore, W. W. Simons, A. J. Rademacher, W. S. Weatherspoon, J. A. Cameron, P. Jones, B. L. Turner, A. S. Lyman, J. L. Patton and A. A. Ward. Coast Jobs Ramsay e School Talk Subject Remaining away from Hollywood and becoming important in some of the arts upon which the screen draws for talent is the surest way to get a job there, Terry Ramsaye, editor of Motion Picture Herald, told a student group in a course conducted by Prof. A. B. Cohen at Hunter College. "When the picture makers are look- ing for somebody to do a job they do not search the crowd hammering at the studio gates, but rather look across the world to find some one so compe- tent that he is already recognized and employed, " Ramsaye said. "There is no time, no patience to experiment. The time for Hollywood is always now, not yesterday, not tomorrow, but now," he concluded. Gore Funeral on Coast Los Angeles, Feb. 10. — Funeral services were held here today at the Groman Mortuary for Charles Gore, 62, veteran theatre operator, who died yesterday. Burial took place in Peace Cemetery. The deceased is survived by his widow, Dora ; two brothers, Mike and Abe ; three sons and a daughter. Mrs. Smith Gets Estate Hollywood, Feb. 10. — The will of the late Wallace Smith, film writer, has been filed for probate. The peti- tion declared the estate would exceed $10,000. An unofficial estimate was approximately $150,000. The will be- queathed the entire estate to the au- thor's widow, Mrs. Ethel Smith. Frank Paul Passes Carlinsville, 111., Feb. 10. — Frank Paul, 76, former manager of the Mar- vel, died after a lingering illness. He retired from active duties because of ill health. Surviving are his widow and a son, Norman. Shipman Rites Today Funeral services for Samuel Ship- man, playright, who died Tuesday, will be held at 1 :30 P. M. this after- noon at the Universal Funeral Chapel. Look for the Big Red Letters on the Box FOR 4 (COUNT 'EM) WAYS TO MAKE FEBRUARY AMERICAS FAVORITE FILM MONTH! r ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTES! To be sure you get the genuine articles, phone or write today for the FAMOUS FEBRUARY FOUR Available only through the world-wide offices of Warner Bros. CV MOTION PICTURE DAILY 4 "ThinMaiTin 2 Spots Leads Boston'sTake Boston, Feb. 10. — "After the Thin Man" grossed $8,000 over average at the Loew's Orpheum this week, taking $20,000 in a week of mild weather. The same program also did well at Loew's State with $18,500, over par by $7,500. "Champagne Waltz" at the Metro- politan, with Ray Noble and his or- chestra on the stage, drew $28,000 at the Metropolitan. Average is $22,000. Sonja Henie did a two-day engage- ment at the Boston Garden to a full house on both nights, while her film "One in a Million," playing second run with "Man of Affairs," grossed $9,000 at the Paramount, over the line by $2,000. The same program drew $6,000 at the Fenway, above av- erage by $1,500. Total first run business was $98,500. Average is $88,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 4: "ONE IN A MILLION" (20th-Fox) (2nd Run) "MAN OF AFFAIRS" (G.B.) FENWAY — (1,392), 30c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $4,500) "RAINBOW ON THE RIVER" (Radio) RKO MEMORIAL — (2,907), 25c-50c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $12,000) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) LOEW'S ORPHEUM— (2,970), 25c-.45c- 65c, 7 days. Gross: $20,000. (Average, $12 000) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE — (3,537), 25c-45c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $18,500. (Average, $11,000) "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ" (M-G-M) METROPOLITAN— (4,322), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Ray Noble and his orchestra. Gross: $28,000. (Average, $22,000) "ONE IN A MILLION" (20th-Fox) (2nd Run) "MAN OF AFFAIRS" (G.B.) PARAMOUNT— (1,793), ~25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $7,000) "FLYING HOSTESS" (Univ.) RKO BOSTON— (3,246), 35c-S5c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Mardi Gras. Gross: $20,000. (Average, $20,000) "Thin Man" Pulls $3,000 at Spokane Spokane, Feb. 10. — Short weeks at the Fox and State held total grosses down last week. "After the Thin Man" at the State stood only five days in the second week and took $3,000, about $200 over par. "Banjo on My Knee" and "Fugitive in the Sky" grossed $4,000 on a dual at the Fox, about $200 over par. "Great Guy" and "The Plot Thickens" were good at the Orpheum for $2,600 in five days, $200 above par. Total first run business for the week was $11,140. Average is $10,600. Estimated takings : Week Ending Feb. 4: "BANJO ON MY KNEE" (20th-Fox) "FUGITIVE IN THE SKY" (W.B.) FOX— (2,300), 25c-40c, 5 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $3,800) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) STATE— (1,000), 30c-40c, 5 days, 2nd week. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $2,800) "GREAT GUY" (G.N.) "THE PLOT THICKENS" (Radio) ORPHEUM— (1,300), 20c -30c. 5 days. Gross: $2,600. (Average, $2,400) "WHITE LEGION" (G. N.) "HIDEAWAY GIRL" (Para.) ORPHEUM— (1,300), 20c-30c, 3 days. Gross: $900. (Average, $1,000) "HEART OF THE WEST" (Para.) EMPRESS— (300), 25c-40c, 3 days. Stage show. Gross: $650. (Average, $600) "Secretary" Gets $15,900 At St. Louis St. Louis, Feb. 10. — More Than a Secretary" with a fair stage show at the Ambassador proved the best draw of a dull week. It ended with $15,900, or about $1,900 above average but somewhat below what the house has been doing recently. "Great Guy" and "Crack-Up" at the Fox slipped through with an average week of $13,000. At Loew's "Beloved Enemy" and "Mad Holiday" had a fair week with $13,000, which was about $1,000 below house average. Total first run business was $58,400. Average is $59,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Jan. 28 : "MORE THAN A SECRETARY" (Col.) AMBASSADOR — (3,018), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Stage: specialty acts. Gross: $15,900. (Average, $14,000) "GREAT GUY" (G.N.) "CRACK-UP" (20th-Fox) FOX — (5,038) 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $13,000) "BELOVED ENEMY" (U.A.) "MAD HOLIDAY" (M-G-M) LOEW'S — (3,162), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $14,000) "WE WHO ARE ABOUT TO DIE" (Radio) "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (F.N.) MISSOURI— (3,514), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $10,500. (Average, $11,000) "BANJO ON MY KNEE" (2ttth-Fox) ST. LOUIS — (4,000), 25c-4Cc, 6 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $7,000) "Champagne" Only Grosser in Omaha Omaha, Feb. 10. — "Champagne Waltz," on a dual with "Under Cover of Night," was the only attraction to stir up box-office activity during a week marked by sleet and freezing weather. The take at the Omaha was $7,100, over normal by $1,600. _ The Orpheum broke even with av- erage, $7,200, for "Mind Your Own Business" and "Sinner Take All." "The Plough and the Stars" and "They Wanted to Marry" at the Bran- deis slipped $100 under average. Total first run business was $18,200. Average is $16,700. Estimated takings : Week Ending Feb. 2: "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ" (Para.) "UNDER COVER OF NIGHT" (M-G-M) OMAHA— (2,200), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,100. (Average, $5,500) Week Ending Feb. 3: "PLOUGH AND THE STARS" (Radio) "THEY WANTED TO MARRY" (Radio) BRANDEIS— (1,200), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,900. (Average, $4,000) Week Ending Feb. 4: "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS" (Para.) "SINNER TAKE ALL" (M-G-M) ORPHEUM— (3,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,200. (Average, $7,200) Clark Made a Director Hollywood, Feb. 10. — Charles Clark, veteran cameraman, has been made a director by M-G-M. He will direct "Pigskin Champions," a Pete Smith specialty. The short features the Green Bay Packers, national pro- fessional football champions. David Miller originally was to han- dle the films, but was stricken with influenza. Million" on Dual $9,800, Portland Portland, Feb. 10. — "One in a Mil- lion," with "Counterfeit Lady," scored heavily at the Paramount with a gross of $9,800, over average by $4,800. "Three Smart Girls" and "Mad Holiday" were held for a good third week at the Broadway annexing $7,200, over par by $2,200. "Winterset," plus "More Than a Secretary," at the Orpheum drew $8,900, over house average by $3,900. Total first run business was $39,400. Average is $24,700. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 6: "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) "MAD HOLIDAY" (M-G-M) BROADWAY— (1,912), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $7,200. (Average, $5,000) "THEODORA GOES WILD" (Col.) "CAN THIS BE DIXIE?" (20th-Fox) BLUE MOUSE!— (1,700), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 6th downtown week. Gross: $2,500. (Average, $1,700) "MAN OF AFFAIRS" (G. B.) "GENERAL SPANKY" (M-G-M) MA YFAIR— (1,700), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $3,000) "WINTERSET" (Radio) "MORE THAN A SECRETARY" (Col.) ORPHEUM— (1,700), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,900. (Average, $5,000) "ONE IN A MILLION" (20th-Fox) "COUNTERFEIT LADY" (Col.) PARAMOUNT— (3,008), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $9,800. (Average, $5,000) "STOLEN HOLIDAY" (W. B.) UNITED ARTIST— (945), 30c-35c-40c, 7 day, 2nd week. Gross: $7,000. (Average, 55,000) "Smart Girls" Is Houston's Leader Houston, Feb. 10 — ."Three Smart Girls" led the field with $10,000 for seven days, this being $3,000 to the good at the Majestic. "Champagne Waltz" also was in the money with a take of $9,200 at the Metropolitan where average is $7,000. "A Man of the People" took a lick- ing at Loew's State, $3,800 as com- pared to a $7,000 average week. Three films, "Charlie Chan at the Opera," "Easy to Take" and "Come Closer," Folks," and Bank Night brought a par week of $5,000 to the Kirby. The weather continued wet and cold. A mild but city-wide flu epidemic cut in on grosses. Total first run business was $28,000. Average is $29,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 4: "CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA" (20th-Fox) KTRBY— (1,450), 15c-35c, 3 days. Gross: $2,000. (Average, 7 days, $5,000) "EASY TO TAKE" (Para.) KIRBY— (1,450), 15c-35c, 1 day. Bank Night. Gross: $1,200. (Average, 7 days, $5,000) "COME CLOSER, FOLKS" (Col.) KIRBY— (1,450), 15c-35c, 3 days. Gross: $1,800. (Average, 7 days, $5,000) "A MAN OF THE PEOPLE" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE— (2,750), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $3,800. (Average, $7,000) "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) MAJESTIC — (2,250), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $7,000) "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ" (Para.) METROPOLITAN — (2,600), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $9,200. (Average, $7,000) Boys Want G-Men Films A preference for pictures dealing with G-Men has been registered by a poll of 10,000 boys conducted by the Children's Aid Society. Mystery films took second place, followed in order by : Pictures featuring a child star, musicals, gangster films and, finally, war pictures. Thursday, February II, 1937 "Plainsmen" Pittsburgh's Hit, $20,000 Pittsburgh, Feb. 10. — With the tension of the flood scare eased and the weather turning clear-business took a healthy spurt. "The Plainsman" at the Penn jumped into a phenomenal $20,000 and the picture was held a second week at the Warner. At the Stanley, "Black Legion" hit around $12,000, which was good. At the Warner, which has gradually ad- vanced its average gross in the last few months, "Make Way for a Lady" and "Mad Holiday" garnered $5,800. "Great Guy" started off in excellent fashion at the Alvin, but had competi- tion from "The Plainsman" and "Black Legion" and fell off to just a fair $7,000. Total first run business was $48,000. Average is $37,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 4: "GREAT GUY" (G.N.) ALVIN— (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $5,500) "ACCUSED" (U.A.) "CRACK UP" (20th-Fox) FULTON— (1,750), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,200. (Average, $4,500) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) PENN— (3,300), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $20,000. (Average, $11,000) "BLACK LEGION" (W.B.) STANLEY — (3,600), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $11,000) "MAKE WAY FOR A LADY" (Radio) "MAD HOLIDAY" (M-G-M) WARNER — (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,800. (Average, $5,000) "Girl from Paris" $5,800, New Haven New Haven, Feb. 10.— "That Girl from Paris" and "Criminal Lawyer" took $5,800 at the Roger Sherman, above par by $1,100. Moved from the Poli to the Col- lege, at the higher Poli admissions, the second week of "One in a Million" and "Crack-Up" grossed $3,600, over the usual by $800. The Poli, with "Beloved Enemy" and "The Longest Night," stayed at the $7,000 average. Bad Sunday weather and a cold snap during the week had unfavorable effects, as did the two-night sellout of the Arena Ice Follies. Total first run business was $21,300. Average is $19,400. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 5: "ONE IN A MILLION" (2 III y IN A STIRRING TRIBUTE! telegrams arrived too late to be included in this advertisement MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, February 15, 1937 4 Purely Personal > HARRY SHIFFMAN, Edward Schnitzer, Leo Abrams and Irving Wormser will return tomor- row on the Lafayette from a West Indies cruise. Alfred Crown has been named Grand National representative in all Latin American countries and will leave for a tour of his territory March 1. • Dwight Deere Wiman, producer, will arrive tomorrow on the // de France. He will bring with him a new untitled play by Marcel Pagnol. • Billy and Bobby Mauch, the twins, who recently completed roles in "The Prince and the Pauper," are due in New York shortly. • Edwin M. Hartley, RCA Photo- phone head, has returned from Rich- mond where he attended the M. P. T. O. meeting. • Monte Proser has gone to Miami to recuperate from the flu. He'll be away about two months. • Moe Sanders of the local 20th Cen- tury-Fox exchange will return today from Lakewood. • Irving Barry has returned from the coast. . . . Cincinnati Sally Shearer, until recently night telephone operator at the RKO di- vision office, has joined the RKO ex- change as availability clerk. Dolores Duncan has been added to the RKO division office staff as secre- tary to E. V. Dinerman and Joe Goetz. Joan McGivern has been appointed relief cashier at the RKO downtown houses. This is a new position. . . . Denver Charles Diller ill with the flu. Ed Cole, mayor of Alamosa, Col., and owner of theatres there, was seen on the row as were George Luce Bayard, Neb. ; and these Coloradoans M. C. Korrell, Cheyenne Wells; C. A. Mulock, Rocky Ford; Thomas Paulos, Paonia; and C. A. Coulter Loveland. Buzz Briggs has a deer head and antlers mounted in his office as a trophy of a recent deer hunt. A. C Knox has just completed a tour of the Denver territory, as dis trict superintendent for Erpi. Carson Harris, local writer, and T. Z. Halm, Orpheum artist, have taken over the Bide-a-wee, a neighbor hood. • . . . Seattle Jay Hodge, Paramount's super visor of ad sales for the Western di vision, was a visitor at the Paramount exchange this week. Lloyd Lamb has joined the sales staff of Grand National. Grover Parsons, division manager for Republic, spent several days here last week, arriving from Los Angeles. Whiteman and Wings" High In St. Louis St. Louis, Mo., Feb. 14. — Paul Whiteman on the stage and "Wings of the Morning" on the screen gave the Ambassador another big week with a take of about $19,000, or $5,000 above average. "God's Country and the Woman" and "Sing Me a Love Song" at the Fox did the second highest business of the week, drawing a good $14,250, which was $1,250 above current aver- age. The transfer of Johnny Perkins to the master of ceremonies post at the St. Louis probably was just what that house needed, for in the past two weeks it has gone over big. In the week which closed February 11 the total business was some $9,000, or ,000 above average. The screen at- traction was a second run engagement of "College Holiday." Total first run business was $68,250. Average is $59,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 11 : "WINGS OF THE MORNING" (2»th-Fox) AMBASSADOR— (3,018), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Stage: Paul Whiteman and unit. Gross: $19,000. (Average, $14,000) "GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN" (W. B.) "SING ME A LOVE SONG" (W. B.) FOX — (5,038), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $14,250. (Average, $13,000) "YOU LIVE ONLY ONCE" (U. A.) "REMBRANDT" (U. A.) LOEWS — (3,162), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $14,000. (Average, $14,000) "THE WOMAN ALONE" (G. B.) "HOLY TERROR" (ZOth-Fox) MISSOURI— (3,514), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $11,000) "COLLEGE HOLIDAY" (Para.) ST. LOUIS — (4.000) , 25c-40c, 7 days. Stage: Johnny Perkins and vaudeville. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $7,000) "Champagne" Dual High in Milwaukee Milwaukee, Feb. 14. — "Champagne Waltz," topping a dual with "Bull- dog Drummond Escapes," at the Pal- ace turned in the best showing of the week, $6,500. This was $1,500 over normal. "On the Avenue" was $500 to the good on a take of $8,500 at the Wis- consin. It was dualled with "Crack- Up." Business for the most part was off. Total first run business was $25,600. Average is $24,500. Estimated takings : Week Ending Feb. 10: "BELOVED ENEMY" (U. A.) "THE FLYING HOSTESS" (Univ.) WARNER — (2,400), 25c-35c-50c, 7 davs Gross: $5,000. (Average, $5,000) Week Ending Feb. 11: "JOIN THE MARINES" (Republic) RIVERSIDE— (2,300), 20c-25c-30c. 7 days Stage: Milt Britton's Band. Gross: $4,100. (Average, $5,000) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) "MAN OF AFFAIRS" (G. B.) STRAND— (1,400), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $1,500. (Average, $1,500) Week Ending Feb. 12: "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ" (Para.) "BULLDOG DRUMMOND ESCAPES (Para.) PALACE— (2,400), 25c-35c-50c, 8 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $5,000) "ON THE AVENUE" (20th-Fox) "CRACK-UP" (20th-Fox) WISCONSIN— (3,200), 25c-35c-50c, 8 days >oss: $8,500. (Average, $8,000) "Lloyds" $11,300 Providence Smash Providence, Feb. 14. — "Lloyds of London" brought $11,300 to the Ma- jestic, ahead of other grosses and top- ping the house par by $4,300. Next in line was the Strand, where "More Than a Secretary" on a dual with "Hopalong Cassidy" took $9,200, over by $2,700. "The Great O'Malley" and the Texas Centennial Follies on the stage garnered $7,200 for Fays, up by $200. "Dangerous Number" and "Under Cover of Night" did only $7,500 at Loew's State. The usual take is $12,- 000. The RKO Albee was under its $7,000 par by $700 with "We Who Are About to Die" and "Join the Ma- rines." The weather was rainy and cold. Opposition came from pro hockey. Total first run business was $41,500. Average is $39,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 1 1 : "THE GREAT O'MALLEY" (W. B.) FAYS— (1,600), 15c-40c, 7 days. On stage: Texas Centennial Follies. Gross: $7,200. (Average, $7,000) "LLOYDS OF LONDON" (20th-Fox) MAJESTIC— (2,400), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $11,300. (Average, $7,000) "MORE THAN A SECRETARY" (Col.) "HOPALONG CASSIDY" (Para.) STRAND— (2,300), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $9,200. (Average, $6,500) "WE WHO ARE ABOUT TO DIE" (RKO) "JOIN THE MARINES" (Rep.) RKO ALBEE — (2,300), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,300. (Average, $7,000) "DANGEROUS NUMBER" (M-G-M) "UNDER COVER OF NIGHT" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE— (3,800), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $12,000) "Rainbow" Cracks Buffalo's Records Buffalo, Feb. 14. — -"Rainbow on the River" smashed all records at the Century, usually an average house. It pulled $12,000, more than doubling the $5,800 par. "Champagne Waltz," with Jesse Crawford, in person, drew $16,000 at the Buffalo, bettering normal by $4,000. "Great Guy," at the Lafayette, went to $10,000, also up by $4,000. The Great Lakes and the Hippo- drome, on the other hand, dropped under the line. "Black Legion," at the former, took the rap for $600 with a $6,700 take and "A Doctor's Diary" and "Mind Your Own Business," dualed at the latter, fell $200 short in a $7,300 house. Total first run business was $46,800. Average is $38,400. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 6: "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ" (Para.) BUFFALO— (3,000), 30c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $16,000. (Average, $12,000) "A DOCTOR'S DIARY" (Para.) "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS" (Para.) HIPPODROME— (2,500), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,100. (Average, $7,300) "BLACK LEGION" (W. B.) GREAT LAKES— (3,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,700. (Average, $7,300) "RAINBOW ON THE RIVER" (Radio) CENTURY— (3,000), 25c, 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $5,800) "GREAT GUY" (G. N.) LAFAYETTE— (3,300), 25c, 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $6,000) Named City Manager Denver, Feb. 14. — C. G. Doty, re- cently publicity manager for Civic Theatres, has been named city man- ager at Santa Fe, N. M., for the Gibraltar Enterprise houses, the Len- sic and Paris. "On Avenue" Philadelphia Pace-Setter Philadelphia, Feb. 14. — "On the Avenue" stepped out smartly in the first run parade by getting $18,500 at the Stanley, thereby topping par by $4,500. The only other attractions to get into the money were "You Only Live Once," which took $9,700 at the Aldine, over the line by $1,540, and "More Than a Secretary," which was good for $16,000 with a stage show at the Fox. This gross was up by $2,000. Elsewhere second runs and hold- overs couldn't make the grade. Total first run business was $79,050. Average is $78,630. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 11 : "YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE" (U. A.) ALDINE— (1,200), 40c-55c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $9,700. (Average, $8,160) "WINGS OF THE MORNING" (20th-Fox) (2nd run) "MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY" (Revival) ARCADIA— (600), 25c-40c-50c, 4 days. Gross: $650. Three days. Gross: $900. (Average, 7 days, $2,400) "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ" (Para.) BOYD— (2,400), 40c-55c, 5 days, 2nd week. Gross: $7,000. (Average, 7 days, $14,000) "BULLDOG DRUMMOND ESCAPES" (Para.) EARLE— (2,000), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Stage: Duncan Sisters, Paul Gerrits, Honey Family, Harry Reser and Cliquot Eskimos. Gross: $12,500. (Average, $14,000) "MORE THAN A SECRETARY" (Col.) FOX— (3,000), 40c-55c-65c, 7 days. Stage-. Ina Ray Hutton and her Melodears, Win- stead Trio, Jack Guilford. Gross: $16,000. (Average, $14,000) "MEN ARE NOT GODS" (U. A.) KARLTON— (1,000), 25c-35c-40c, 9 days. 2nd run. Gross: $3,700. (Average, 7 days, $4,000) "STOLEN HOLIDAY" (W. B.) KEITH'S— (2,000), 30c-40c-50c, 7 days, 2nd run. Gross: $3,100. (Average, $4,000) "ON THE AVENUE" (20th-Fox) STANLEY — (3,700), 40c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $18,500. (Average, $14,000) "BLACK LEGION" (W. B.) STANTON— (1,700), 30c-40c-55c, 7 Gross: $7,000. (Average, $7,000) days. Lloyds" on Dual New Haven Leader New Haven, Feb. 14. — "Lloyds of London" and "Woman in Distress" at the Poli led here with the aid of spe- cial group rates for three high schools. The gross was $9,300, over par by $2,300. "Black Legion" and "The Plot Thickens" at the Roger Sherman took $6,400, up by $1,700, chiefly on the strength of a fine opening and weekend. The Paramount, with "A Doctor's Dairy" and "Woman in Dis- tress" fell to $3,700. Total first run business was $21,400. Average is $19,400. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 12 : "WANTED— JANE TURNER" (RKO) "CAREER WOMAN" (ZOth-Fox) COLLEGE— (1,499), 25c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $2,000. (Average, $2,800) "A DOCTOR'S DIARY" (Para.) "THE COUNTRY GENTLEMAN" (Rep.) PARAMOUNT— (2,348), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $3,700. (Average, $4,900) "LLOYDS OF LONDON" (2ftth-Fox) "WOMAN IN DISTRESS" (Col.) POLI— (3,040), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $9,300. (Average, $7,000) "BLACK LEGION" (W. B.) "THE PLOT THICKENS" (RKO) ROGER SHERMAN— (2,200), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $6,400. (Average, $4,700) . i to oVetate .mount oC *er can ditec c. tre sound etnods ™ Pat*" v ^lU-l0i THE MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, February 15, 1937 "Lloyds" Dual Seattle High; Takes $9,300 Seattle, Feb. 14. — Moderate weath- er and the end of the maritime strike proved a help to grosses. "Lloyds of London," on a dual with "We're on the Jury," reached $9,300 at the Fifth Avenue. This topped par by $2,300. The dual was held. "Easy to Take," with a Major Bowe's amateur unit at the Palomar, grossed $5,200. This was above the line by $700. The show was held over. The "Monte Carlo Ballet" and the final symphony concert were the prin- cipal competition. Total first run business was $43,850. Average is $42,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 12 : "WINTERSET" (Radio) "WOMAN WISE" (2 a Million'* and "Lloyds of London"! OF YOUR FUTURE DICK POWELL and MADELEINE CARROLL in IRVING BERLIN'S "ON THE AVENUE" with ALICE FAYE, RITZ BROTHERS and GEORGE BARBiER, Alan Mowbray, Cora Witherspoon,Stepin Fetch it, Sig Rumann. Directed by Roy Del Ruth. Associate Producer Gene Markey. Screen play by Gene Markey and William Conselman. Music and lyrics by Irving Berliri. Dances staged by Seymour Felix. Darryl F.Zanuck in charge of production MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, February 17, 1937 RADIO F. C. C. Orders Hearings For 10 Air Pleas Washington, Feb. 16.— Hearings on 10 applications for permits for the construction of broadcasting stations today were ordered by the broadcast division of the F.C.C., as follows : Press-Union Publishing Co., day- time station at Atlantic City, N. J., to operate on 1,200 kilocycles with 100 watts power. Frank M. Stearns, daytime station at Salisbury, Md., to operate on 1,200 kilocycles with 250 watts power. G. Kenneth Miller, full-time station at Tulsa, Okla., to operate on 1,310 kilocycles with 100 watts power. Summit Radio Corp., full-time sta- tion at Akron, Ohio, to operate on 1,530 kilocycles with 1,000 watts power. Arlington Radio Service, Inc., day- time station at Arlington, Va., to operate on 850 kilocycles with 250 watts power. Clark Standiford and L. S. Coburn, full-time station at Fremont, Nebr., to operate on 1,420 kilocycles with 100 watts power. George W. Young, full-time station at St. Paul, Minn., to operate on 920 kilocycles with power of 1,000 watts at night and 5,000 watts during the day. John D. Hughes, daytime station at Phoenix City, Ala., to operate on 1,310 kilocycles with 100 watts power. Full Time Asked Philadelphia Radio Broadcasting Co., full-time station at Philadelphia to operate on 1,570 kilocycles with 1,000 watts power. Archie E. Everage, full-time station at Andalusia, Ala., to operate on 1,310 kilocycles with 100 watts power at night and 250 watts during the day. Hearings also were ordered on the applications of KTEM, Temple, Tex., for authority to change power to 100 watts at night and 250 watts during the day; KFXM, San Bernardino, Cal., to increase its day power from 100 tb 250 watts ; KGFJ, Los Angeles, to change its frequency from 1,200 to 1,170 kilocycles and to increase its power from 100 watts to 250 watts at night and 500 watts for daytime operation, and WHK, Cleveland, to increase its day power from 2,500 to 5,00 watts. The F.C.C. today refused to re- consider the application, previously de- nied, of KGB, San Diego, Cal., for an increase in day power from 1,000 to 5,000 watts. Award Confirmed The commission reaffirmed its order of July 2, 1936, which had been pro- tested, awarding a construction per- mit to O. Lee Stone for a new sta- tion at Florence, S. C, to operate daytime only on 1,200 kilocycles with a power of 100 watts and also granted to Albert Lea Broadcasting Corp., a permit for a new station to operate at Albert Lea, Minn., on 1,200 kilo- cycles with 100 watts power, daytime only. KHSL, Chico, Cal., was granted permission to change its frequency from 950 to 1,260 kilocycles and in- crease the time of its operation from daytime only to full-time. Construc- Crampton, Colwell Switch at Thompson J. Savington Crampton, assistant ac- count executive handling Lux at the J. Walter Thompson Co., and Rob- ert Colwell, general idea man at the agency's New York office as well as one of its chief executives on radio, have switched posts. Crampton will continue his activi- ties in Lux copy and the Lux Radio Theatre, in the development of which he has played a considerable part, but will gradually concentrate more of his time on radio. Colwell moves over to the copy department and will write under the rearrangement. WENR Asks a Permit On New Type Antenna Application for permission to erect a new type of vertical radiator an- tenna has been filed with the F. C. C. by WENR, Chicago outlet of the basic Blue NBC network. Meanwhile, construction of vertical antennas is now under way at two other NBC stations— WDAF, Kan- sas City, and WXYZ, Detroit. Addi- tionally, contracts for the erection of a fourth antenna at KOIL, Omaha, are to be let within a few days. Frank Dahm Sells Script Frank Dahm, former scripter for Blackett-Sample-Hummert, has sold a new script series entitled "Pretty Kitty Kelly" to Benton and Bowles, and it is understood the agency will use the script to replace "Renfrew of the Mounted," serial now heard three times weekly on the CBS net- work. The latter, sponsored by the Continental Baking Co., is understood to be fading from the air shortly. Whether Continental or a different sponsor will back "Kitty Kelly" is not known at the present moment. CBS-Knox Gelatine Review While the Federal Advertising Agency is withholding confirmation until Thursday, it has been learned on good authority that the CBS Knox Gelatine program, heard Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 :15 A. M., E.S.T., has been renewed for an additional period. The series stars East and Dumpke. Johnson Renews Series "Tom Powers Life Studies," broad- cast Sundays at 5:30 P. M., E.S.T. over WOR, has been renewed for 13 weeks beginning March 21. Series is sponsored by Johnson's Floor Wax and is placed through Needham, Louis and Brorby. tion of a new station was authorized to Winona Radio Service, Winona, Minn., daytime only, to operate on 1,200 kilocycles with 100 watts power. Other orders by the commission in- cluded construction permits to WBRC, Birmingham, Ala., to increase day power from 1,000 to 5,000 watts; KRRV, Sherman, Tex., to increase day power from 100 to 250 watts ; KGKB, Tyler, Tex., to increase day power from 100 to 250 watts and to WTAG, Worcester, Mass., to increase its power from 500 to 1,000 watts. Construction permits for relay broadcast stations to operate on low power were granted for Southeastern Broadcasting Co., Stromberg Carlson Telephone Mfg. Co., WSMB, Inc. and Allen T. Simmons. Report Benny Deal A well-founded report has it that one of radio's most elaborate long term contracts involving several million dol- lars is now being set up for Jack Benny and Mary Living- stone. The contract is now being whipped up, according to the report, by Lyons and Lyons, agents for Benny; General Foods, for which Benny is now broadcasting; and Young and Rubicam, agents handling the account. The details are expected to be made public in several weeks. Pearl Time Change Effective March 19 The time change in the Jack Pearl broadcasts, already reported in these columns, goes into effect Friday, March 19, and weekly thereafter on the NBC-Blue from 10 to 10 :30 P. M., E.S.T. The series, sponsored by the Brown Williamson Tobacco Corp., is now heard Mondays from 9 :30 to 10 P. M., E.S.T. on the Blue. The pres- ent time period concludes with the broadcast of March 8, and will be ab- sent from the air from that date until March 19. Unofficial reason for the change in time is that there will be a more na- tural division of the radio audience in the new period, with the Pearl show bucking the "First Nighter" on NBC- Red and the Philadelphia Orchestra on CBS. In its present niche it opposes the highly popular Lux Radio Theatre for the last half-hour. Extend "Nesbitt Parade" Hookup "John Nesbitt's Passing Parade," a popular NBC west coast feature, which recently gained for itself a net- work hookup as far east as Chicago, will be heard on the complete NBC- Red network under the sponsorship of the Duart Art Sales Co., Ltd., be- ginning March 1. The series will be heard Mondays and Tuesdays at 7 :45 E.S.T. The Monday show will be known as the "Passing Parade of Yesterday," and will concern itself with highlight events and characters of the previous week. The Tuesday broadcast will b( labeled as the "Passing Parade of To- day" and will offer current topics. To Air Bout Signing NBC will broadcast a description of the signing of the contract for the Joe Louis- Jim Braddock fight from the Hotel LaSalle, Chicago, this Friday at 1:30 P. M., E.S.T. on the Blue net- work. Louis and Braddock will talk on the air after the document has been signed. McCarthy for Louis-Brown Fight The Joe Louis-Nat Brown prize- fight in Kansas City tonight will be broadcast exclusively over the NBC- Blue beginning at 11 :10 P. M., E.S.T. Clem McCarthy will handle the mike assignment. McCann Back from Coast H. K. McCann, president of Mc- Cann-Erickson, is back in his New York office after spending several months in California. Several impor- tant radio deals are expected to mate- rialize out of his west coast survey. To Increase Weekly Time In Dominion Ottawa, Ont., Feb. 16. — An early jump in the time on the air by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. has been promised by Major Gladstone Murray, general manager, under a new policy of operation. The present schedule in each of the five time zones across the Dominion is 70 hours per week, but this is to be raised to 84 hours weekly. Speaking on the policy of the CBC, Murray offered a disturbing note, how- ever, when he declared that the corpo- ration "is entirely against the use of advertising in radio but present con- ditions force it to take a certain amount of it." He added the Govern- ment network was looking forward to the day when there would be no ad- vertising programs over Canadian sta- tions under the corporation's auspices. There would be no increase in com- mercial time in the enlarged schedule to become effective in the near future. One hindrance to be overcome in the expansion program was the cost of line charges which now amounted to $500,000 annually. It was hoped to get a reduction in these tolls. Canadian Pioneer Dies Vancouver, Feb. 16. — J. G. Mc- Murtrie, 57, radio pioneer of the Do- minion, died here after a short illness. He installed the first radio station of the Canadian National Railways and had established studios in both the east and west since 1924, becoming general manager of the technical department at the head office when the Canadian Radio Commission was created by the Federal Government to supervise all broadcasting. Flamm Must Submit To Probing by Hoy Justice Lloyd Church in N. Y. Supreme Court yesterday granted T. Benson Hoy permission to examine Donald Flamm, president of the Knickerbocker Broadcasting Co., Inc., before trial of Hoy's $50,000 damage suit against Knickerbocker. The plaintiff, a former ensign in the U. S. Navy Reserve Corps and now a com- mercial aviator, charges that on Aug. 18, 1935 the defendant broadcasted over WMCA a sketch which alleged- ly depicted an event in the plaintiff's life and was so presented as to hold Hoy up to public ridicule and con- tempt. The broadcast, the plaintiff said, was given without his permis- sion. To Change Name Later The firm name of Cecil, Warwick and Cecil will not be changed to Ce- cil, Warwick and Legler for at least another two months, a spokesman at the agency said yesterday. Henry Legler recently resigned his position at J. Walter Thompson to become vice-president of the first mentioned agency. He has been actively identi- fied at his new post for the past 10 days. More Radio — Page 11 MOTION PICTURE Wednesday, February 17, 1937 DAILY radio ii i Radio Personals ► DICK FISHELL, WMCA sports and special events head, back from Syracuse where he checked with sports authorities for special events broadcasts for the station . . . Don Davis, president of WHB, Kansas City station, in town to confer about Mutual programs with Fred Weber of that chain . . . Armand Tokatyan, Met. tenor, has been signed to an exclusive contract at WOR-Mutual . . . Robert L. Ripley, it is under- stood, has already been signed by an- other sponsor for a series in the fall . . . + Jack Arthur's Revue, heard on WOR, fades from the air March 1 . . . Johnny Johnston, press chief at Mu- tual, returns from Washington today . . . Radio artists are rallying to an- other great charity, the Warm Springs Foundation's Winter Sports Carnival at the Polo Grounds Feb. 20-22. Harry Sosnick, Kate Smith, George Hall, Lennie Hayton, Mary Small, are among those who have volunteered to date . . . WHN will broadcast ex- clusively the Steele-Risko champion- ship bout at the Garden Friday night beginning at 9:45 P. M. . . . + Harriet Hilliard makes her last ap- pearance on the "Baker's Broadcast" next Sunday, Feb. 21. A few days later she leaves for Hollywood and picture work . . . Benny Leonard, Stepin Fetchit, Suzanne Fisher and the Cabin Kids will be guest featured on the "Shell" show next Saturday night . . . Jimmy Melton returns for the second week as "em cee" on the Saturday night "Sealtest" program . . . Alice Frost is back in the cast of "Big Sister" after a Florida vaca- tion . . . Ray Sinatra this week cele- brates his third anniversary as a band- leader . . . Howard Barlow back as music director of "March of Time" after six weeks of illness . . . Networks Insisting U pon Good Programs (Continued from page 1) a current sponsor whose program may be different or downright bad may make way for a replacement but also to give a protective cloak to the periods immediately preceding and following. When the networks were develop- ing and filling in their available time, commercial programs said almost any- thing they wanted to say within the general tenets of good taste and the chains were not particularly concerned with the calibre of the shows. Now, however, they have turned discrim- inating as part of a general move in the described direction of maintained quality and reputation. Patterson Quits WCAE Pittsburgh, Feb. 16. — Pat Patter- son, publicity director of WCAE for the last two years, is leaving this weekend to join the news staff of the Washington Herald. He will be re- placed by James Murray, former Pittsburgh newspaperman and until recently the Sim-Telegraph Globe- Trotter on the Hearst station here. Murray was made head of the con- tinuity department at WCAE a short time ago. Montreal Station in Bingo Series on Air Montreal, Feb. 16. — Capitalizing on the current craze for Bingo, Keno, Lotto or Housie-Housie, Vickers and Benson Agency have adapted the game to the air. The 15-minute program, "Radio-Bingo," is heard over CKAC every Friday night and is sponsored by Les Pharmacies Leduc, local drug store chain. Usually two games can be completed in the 15-minute period. If none is completed, prizes are doubled for the following week. During the first week of the broad- cast 14,000 responses were recorded. On the second week 20,000 were noted and last week over 30,000 potential customers entered the 16 branches of the Leduc chain as a result of the pro- gram. Although the program is in French and on a French station, demand forced the repetition of the numbers in English for the benefit of English- speaking listeners. Henri Gonthier, of the Vickers and Benson staff, con- ceived the program. It is scheduled for 13 weeks with an option for 13 more. Ask Washington Ban On Sport Sponsoring Seattle, Feb. 16. — Commercial broadcasts of athletic events in which tax-supported educational institutions of the state of Washington have teams participating will be banned from the air, if a bill introduced this week in the state legislature in Olympia is passed. The bill is aimed primarily at the "sportcasts" of the Associated Oil Co. This sponsor pays the Pacific Coast Conference for the privilege of broadcasting the weekly college foot- ball games on the Pacific Coast. It is considered very probable that the bill will die in committee. Studebaker to Shift Time The Studebaker Champions, spon- sored by the Studebaker Corp., now broadcasting over the NBC-Red net- work Mondays at 9 :30 P. M., E.S.T., will shift to a new period beginning March 8, at which time they will be heard on Mondays at 10 P. M., E.S.T. on the Blue network. Roche, Williams & Cunnyngham is the agency. Signs for CBS Series J. B. Ford & Son of Wyandotte, Mich., have contracted for a new se- ries of programs to begin March 2. The details are still unsettled, but the series will be aired Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 2 to 2:15 P. M., E.S.T. on the CBS net- work. N. W. Ayer & Son is the agency. New Educational Series A series of 13 weekly educational programs dramatizing the struggle of the human race to win civil liber- ties and entitled "Let Freedom Ring" will be inaugurated over WABC- Columbia Feb. 22, from .10:30 to 11 :00 P. M., E.S.T., in co-operation with the Office of Education of the U. S. Dep't of Interior. Asks Power Increase Cleveland, Feb. 16. — WHK has ap- plied to the F. C. C. for modification of its license to permit an increase in its power from one to five kilowatts for night broadcasts. Name Gross, Sherman In Action by Agent Superior Radio Artists, Inc., Charles Sherman and Milton Gross are named defendants in a suit asking a total of $7,000 which was filed in N. Y. Supreme Court yesterday by Norman Miller. The plaintiff states that for many years he was Sherman's personal representative and that in April, 1936, Sherman and Gross wrote a script titled "But It's My Town." The following month, it is alleged, Miller persuaded Superior Radio Art- ists to dispose of the script for Sher- man and Gross and also to find em- ployment for the writers. Miller claims that he was to get half of what Superior got out of the proposition and 10 per cent of what Sherman and Gross realized. Superior, it is alleged, sold the Sherman-Gross script for $20,000 and got a $15,000 contract for the writers in addition. Therefore the plaintiff claims half of what Superior earned from these transactions, or $3,500. It is also charged that the negotiations netted $35,000 for Sherman and Gross so that the plaintiff should get S3, 500 from them. Today, the plaintiff will ask Justice Aaron J. Levy for permission to examine Robert Goldstein, president of Superior Radio Artists, before trial of the action. Goldenkamp in New Series Goldenkamp Stores, Inc., will spon- sor a new detective series over a split Pacific coast NBC-Blue network be- ginning March 5. Stations KGO, KECA, KERN, KWG and KM J will carrv the program, which will be aired from 7 to 7:30 P. M., P.S.T. Long Advertising Service, San Francisco, is the agency. Begin Discussion on Empire Union Merger (Continued from page 1) would be required for the development of specific terms of a possible agree- ment, similar to that recently con- cluded between Local 306 and the Al- lied Union, which has ceased to exist, its members all having been absorbed into Local 306. The absorption became final with no possibility of a break when Justice Rosenman in N. Y. Supreme Court denied an injunction, sought by Harry Harris, circuit operator, to restrain the I. T. O. A. from interfering with the employment of Allied men by Har- ris theatres. Condor Offers First Common Stock Issue (Continued from page 1) per share. The net proceeds of the issue will be used as working capital. The company has only one class of stock and on the completion of this financing there will be outstanding 591,069 shares of SI par value com- mon of an authorized issue of 1,000,- 000 shares, and in addition 408,930 shares will be reserved for issuance upon the exercise of stock purchase warrants. There is no funded debt. Through its wholly owned subsidiary. Schuyler Securities Corp., Condor owns 50 per cent of the outstanding Class A stock of the Van Beuren Co., which is deposited under a voting trust agreement together with RKO, holder of the remaining 50 per cent. Plan Communication For Flood Emergency New Orleans, Feb. 16.— WDSU, has been granted permission by the F. C. C. to organize an emergency flood communication system, between New Orleans and Memphis, Tennessee, comprising 19 amateur radio stations in the Mississippi Valley. It is understood that this system will not be put into effect unless an emergency arises. In the meantime, WDSU is bending every effort to have a complete communication sys- tem should an emergency arise. All of the stations will be keyed through local New Orleans amateur radio sta- tion W5FPO, owned by Jean Tread- away and Alfred Thomas. The local amateur station is linked to the WDSU studios in the Monteleone Hotel through the use of local tele- phone wires, so that transmission and reception may be conducted from WDSU's main studios. Several tests already have been made. The entire plan is being organized by Joseph H. Uhalt, president of WDSU under the jurisdiction of Adjutant General Ray Fleming of the U. S. National Guard. Group Will Attack Alien Measure Today (Continued from page 1) pected to make the major presenta- tion ; Jean Hersholt, Robert Rubin, M-G-M vice-president, and Joseph Seidelman, foreign head for Columbia. For the radio industry, a long list of witnesses is scheduled, headed by Walter Damrosch, who is expected to present the situation from the artists' point of view, and including a num- ber of attorneys and executives of the major networks, and Sidney Kay copyright expert. Leave for Hearings Gabriel L. Hess and Sidney Schrei- ber of the M.P.P.D.A. legal depart- ment and Joseph Seidelman, Columbia foreign manager, left for Washington yesterday where they will attend com- mittee hearings today on the Dickstein alien actor bill, jean Hersholt is expected to testify at the hearing to- morrow and other industry representa- tives may be called also. Radio broad- casters are also sending representatives to the hearings to protest against the measure in its present form. Skouras Takes Over 2 Westchester Spots (Continued from page 1) run single features, will be continued for the time being, it was stated yes- terday at the Skouras office. Manage- ment of the houses changed hands last Sunday. On Feb. 6, Motion Picture Daily exclusively reported the deal was un- der way. Rogers to Come East Charles R. Rogers, Universal vice- president in charge of production, leaves the coast next Monday for a week or 10 days of conferences at the home office. James R. Grainger, gen- eral sales manager, arrives today from the studio. J. Cheever Cowdin, Uni- versal chairman, is due here Monday on the Queen Mary following an ex- tended European business trip. TAKE TIME OUT E.W. Hammons AND HIS IN FUN'S FUN Produced by Al Christie "THE SPICE OF THE PROGRAM" Distributed in U.S.A. by 20th Century-Fox Film Corporation The Leading Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert. Intelligent the In in All Branches VOL. 41. NO. 41 NEW YORK, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1937 TEN CENTS Para Expected To Call in All 6% Debentures Turning in of One-Third By Holders Predicted The calling in of all of Paramount's outstanding six per cent debentures and the placing of the company's com- mon stock on a dividend basis for this year is anticipated in financial quar- ters as a direct result of the issuance by the company of $15,000,000 of new 3J4 Per cent convertible debentures for exchange, it was learned yesterday. Financial sources estimate that ap- proximately one-third of the outstand- ing $22,500,000 of six per cent deben- tures due in 1955 will be presented by holders for exchange on a bond-for- bond basis for the new 3J4 per cent debentures, due in 1947 and convert- ible into common stock of the com- pany at $33 1/3. The remaining one- third of the new debentures, or $7,- 500,000 of face amount, could be sold by the company and the proceeds ap- plied to calling in the $7,500,000 of six per cent debentures which it is estimated, would be outstanding on March 9 when the exchange right expires. This procedure ultimately (Continued on page 5) Figure Para. Quarter Earnings 4 Million Paramount's net for the last quarter of 1936 is estimated in downtown financial quarters at approximately $4,000,000. The report for the quarter will be ready for submission to the company's board of directors at the monthly meeting next Thursday. If the Wall St. reports are accurate, a 1936 profit of approximately $6,000,- 000 is indicated for Paramount, taking into account certain year-end adjust- ments. Profit for the first three quart- ers amounted to approximately $2,250,- 000. The 1936 figures, however, re- flect the benefit of a special inventory reserve of $2,500,00 set up out of 1935 earnings. The company's profit for the current quarter is estimated to be continuing at an average of about $1,000,000 per month. Alien Talent Ban Is Hit by Screen, Stage Lambs Club Delegation Only Ones in Favor Balaban Is Expected To Enter St. Louis St. Louis, Feb. 17. — Indications arc that Balaban Theatres, recently or- ganized by Jules Rubens, Sam -Mey- ers, Fred Bartman and Arthur Greene of Chicago, will definitely en- ter the local theatre field. Following a meeting with Harry C. (Continued on page 5) By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, Feb. 17. — Screen, stage and music interests today pre- sented a united front of opposition to the Dickstein alien actor bill as hear- ings on the measure opened before the House Immigration Committee. Of the dozen or more witnesses who testified during the day, only the rep- resentatives of the Lambs Club urged enactment of the measure. Witnesses were called in a haphazard manner by Chairman Dickstein, who exhibited belligerent opposition whenever a wit- ness attacked the bill, contending that it would not keep out any star talent, but was directed at second string ac- tors of whom, he said, Hollywood last year imported 1,100. Dickstein's statement was chal- lenged by Representative Kramer of California, who asserted that the eight large producers last year gave contracts to only 534 aliens and only 61 foreign actors are now working in their studios. With considerable in- dustry talent awaiting an opportunity to be heard, the only film witness called today was Ed Kuykendall, (Continued on page 11) Omaha Mayor Seeks Bank Night Action Omaha, Feb. 17. — Mayor Dan But- ler today called upon the City Coun- cil to consider again the problem of Bank Night in. Omaha. He declared some of the theatre men themselves are anxious to drop the plan. "It looks like a syndicate having a copyright on Bank Night is getting all the gravy," he said. "Some of the theatre men tell me it is actually hurt- ing their business on all days except Wednesdays, and they would like to get out from under." Just recently City Attorney Sey- mour Smith's ruling that Bank Night (Continued on page 10) Will Test Australia Gift Night in Court By CLIFF HOLT Sydney, Jan. 26. (By Air Mail Via London) — The Distributors' Ass'n here has decided to test the legality of Gift Nights in the courts. The action has arisen out of the refusal on the part of some exhibitors to abide by (Continued on page 10) Argentine Subsidy Buenos Aires, Feb. 17. — The President of Argentina granted an audience yester- day to a group of local pro- ducers for a discussion rela- tive to the Government pro- posal for a subsidy for Ar- gentine production. No specific action was indicated as a result of the meeting. Elek Ludvigh Dies; 111 for Long Time Elek J. Ludvigh, former general counsel of Paramount and prominent in the company's legal and financial affairs for more than 20 years, died early yesterday of bronchial pneu- monia at his residence, 300 Park Ave. He was 68 years old. Ludvigh is survived by his wife, Rene Ludvigh. There are no children. Funeral arrangements had not been completed at a late hour yesterday afternoon. Ludvigh had been in ill health for more than a year and his condition had been regarded as critical since last September, when he suffered an attack of cerebral thrombosis. A na- tive of New York, he was a practicing attorney and from 1910 to 1912 was a N. Y. State Civil Service commis- sioner. With the formation of Famous Players Corp. in 1912, Ludvigh began to handle legal work for Adolph (Continued on page 5) RKO Hearings Will Get Started Today Initial hearings on the RKO reor- ganization plan are scheduled to get under way today at a creditors' meet- ing before Federal Judge William Bondy. The hearing will be the first since the filing of the plan with the Federal court last November. Indications are that a variety of legal matters related to the plan and the RKO reorganization may be heard by Judge Bondy first, which may de- fer actual hearing of creditors on the plan itself until a later date. Re- gardless of how much progress is (Continued on page 10) Conspiracy Action Names 7 Companies Atlanta, Feb. 17. — Charging seven of the larger producers and two in- dividuals with price discrimination among Florida film distributors, B. E. Gore and Mrs. Gore, owners and op- erators of a Tampa theatre, have filed (Continued on page 5) Local Boards Set Back by Law Outlook Congress' Action Might Scrap New Plan The prospect of new Federal legis- lation for the regulation of industry, together with opposing distributor views on the functions and mainte- nance of the local conciliation boards proposed under the M. P. T. O. A. 10-point trade practice program, threatens the collapse of at least the major portion of the M. P. T. O. A.'s year-old effort to set up machinery for the internal settlement of trade prac- tice problems, it was admitted in of- ficial quarters yesterday. Efforts to establish four or five local conciliation boards for trial purposes already appear to have been stalemated by divergent distributor attitudes, on the one hand, and inertia on the other. Moreover, even the champions of the local boards within M. P. T. O. A. and distribution ranks view the present legislative outlook as unfavorable for a launching of the conciliation machin- ery through which the national ex- hibitor organization hoped that seven- tenths of its trade practice program might be accomplished. These sources believe that President Roosevelt's proposals for the reform of the judiciary will be culminated suc- cessfully within the next few weeks (Continued on page 5) Independents Adopt New 2,000-Ft. Reel Independent distributors such as Re- public, Grand National and G. B., are adopting the new standard 2,000-foot reel and new releases from the com- panies are being received at exchange centers on the larger spools, Arthur Dickinson of the M.P.P.D.A., who' returned recently from a tour of southern and middle western ex- changes, said yesterday. Dickinson reported that official noti- fication has been received from the (Continued on page 5) Fox Case Postponed Until Wed., Feb. 24 Atlantic City, Feb. 17. — Exami- nation of witnesses in the $9,535,000 William Fox bankruptcy, scheduled to resume today before Federal Referee Robert E. Steedle, again has been (Continued on page 2) Radio — Pages 8-9 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, February 18, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 February 18, 1937. No. 41 Labor Play Good in Parts, But Generally Loses Out Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A, CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; CoMn Brown. vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave nue at Eockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubeo. New York." All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- cation: MOTION PICTURE HERALD, BETTER THEATRES, TEATRO AL DIA, INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Sts. ; Boone Mancall, Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave., C. B. O'Neill. Manager. WASHINGTON. Albee Building, Bertram F. Linz. Representative. AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan 5; Philip de Schaep, Representative. BERLIN : Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest II; Endre Hevesi, Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientes 2495; N. Bruski, Representative. HELSINKI: Fredriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszlo. Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square, W. 1; Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address. Quigpubeo, Lon- don. MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings. 191 Collins St.; Cliff Holt, Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart, Representative. MONTEVIDEO: P. O. Box 664; Paul Bodo, Rep- resentative. MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern, Rep- resentative. PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre, Repre- sentative. PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1; Harry Knopf, Representative. RIO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 3358; A. Weiss- man, Representative. ROME : Viale Gorizia; Vittorio Malpassuti, Rep- resentative. SHANGHAI : Rooms 38-41. Capital Theatre Build- ing, 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler, Repre- TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka. Ichikawa-shi, Cchiba-Ken; sentative. H. Tominaca, Representative. VIENNA: Neustiftgasse, 55, Vienna VII; Hans Lorant. Representative. WARSAW : Sienna 32; R. Sillel, Representative. Entered as second class matter, January 4, 1926, at the Post O . . ce at New York City, N. Y. . under Act of March 3. 1879. Subscription rates per year $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Schenck Going South For a Vacation Trip Joseph M. Schenck, chairman of the 20th Century-Fox board, will leave the coast the end of the month on a two and a half month vacation dur- ing which time he will visit his brother Nicholas M., in Miami and then sail on his yacht, Carolina II, for a cruise to the Bahamas and then to the coast. Schenck is due in Miami on March 1 to spend a week with his brother. His yacht is now in Florida waters. In addition to the Bahamas, Schenck will cruise to the West Indies and through the Panama Canal. He will not visit New York. ITOA Moves to Get Members* Loan Fund Leon Rosenblatt, Abram Cohen and S. Traversi yesterday were named by the I. T. O. A. at a meeting at the Astor as a committee to raise a spe- cial fund for local exhibitors who may have to apply for loans to pay increased wages for operators. The increases in projectionists' sal- aries were brought about with the merger of Allied and Local 306. The committee will meet immediately and study all requests for loans. By PLAYBOY Four stories closer to a Heaven to which he probably was appealing for justice, in the archaic reaches of the Bayes Theatre John Howard Law- son last night let loose an indignant play. He described his handiwork with the title, "Marching Song" and re- lieved the righteous steam from his chest with a plea for the workers of America to unite. By this time, Lawson has made his allegiance clear. For years, his plays have aligned him on the side of the brawny-armed and their union. He makes his stage and their characters parade and stomp with speeches and endeavors to populate his cast with a fine and uplifting courage against industrial oppressors and machine gun rule. We are for it ; an ennobling idea and laudable purpose in the theatre. Yet not quite enough. One of the difficulties about others of Lawson's plays and again evident in his newest is the manner in which his emotional ism gets in the way of his playwright ing. Emotionalism has a rather disturbing habit of not usually being synonymous with rationalism. Throw in a propaganda effort and the conse- quences not only become one-sided, but lop-sided to boot. In "Marching Song," the subject matter concerns itself with a strike in an automobile town. In point of progressive action, the play is virtua- ally static. Lawson centers the im- pact of the walkout and its results on a handful of characters and proceeds to show how each is affected. They fight a losing battle against imported gang- sters plentifully provided with artillery and tear gas and the curtain finally falls to the rat-tat-tat of machine guns and an observation that the streets are crowded with people and "people are power." Resentment Dominates This is no personalized drama. All the workers in one way or another obviously feel the pinch and reflect a sullen and rising tide of resentment, but the interest of the spectator, of necessity therefore, spreads itself com- pletely over the crowded stage. It occurs that, had Lawson been less con- tent with his undeniably powerful background and more intent on mak- ing his principal characters vital, his play would have been better. His "Marching Song," likewise, makes the error usual with propa- ganda endeavor. All of his labor char- acters are to be sympathized with; all of his representatives of capitalism are heels. But such heels ! His po- lice inspector, for instance, becomes entirely far-fetched to a point com- pletely unbelievable and somewhat silly as well. Shadings are lacking. This is a one-set show, the scene the interior of an abandoned factory. Anthony Brown's setting for it is dramatic in the extreme. Of the large cast, Rex Ingram, the colored per- former who played De Lawd in "Green Pastures," and Curt Conway, who was flogged in Texas for walking with a Negro and shot in Imperial Valley, impressed this reviewer as the best. The regret of the evening was that this Theatre Union endeavor was not better. The chance was present, if Lawson's play was not. Gold a Grandpappy Movietone News, first in everything else, so they say, now claims a first on which it expects no dispute by its competitors. Movietone News claims the first newsreel cameraman to become a grandfather. Al Gold is the lensman to give his reel its new honor. His daughter, Mrs. Milton Goichman, has just become a mother at the Royal Hospital, New York. St. Louis Building Code Views Sought St. Louis, Feb. 17. — Unions and theatre owners here have been asked to submit their views relative to a model theatre safety ordinance, follow- ing a conference today on theatre safety called by the mayor at the city hall. The views will be submitted to Associate City Counsel Louis Mc Keown for final study. From the reports McKeown plans to draft a theatre measure to be in- cluded in the new city building safety code now in the process of develop- ment. Attending today's meetings were Fred Wehrenberg, Clarence Kaimann, Leo Hill, Harold W. Evens and Louis Ansell for the theatre own- ers, and John Nick and Clyde Weston for the unions. Also present were Di- rector of Public Safety George W. Chadsey and Building Commissioner Charles A. Welsch. Fox Case Postponed Until Wed., Feb. 24 (Continued from page 1) postponed. This time the tentative date set is next Wednesday, Feb. 24. It has been learned that the delay is the result of a desire on the part of both counsel to wait until some of the network of related Fox court actions, at least two of which are be- ing carried to the U. S. Supreme Court, are settled. Additionally, there has as yet been no decision on whether Mrs. Eva Fox, wife of the bankrupt, and Her- bert Leitsteen, Fox family book- keeper, are in contempt of court for refusing to answer questions during the examination which was held here recently. Present Foreign Awards Hollywood, Feb. 17.— Members of the Foreign Press Society of Holly- wood presented awards to winners of "1936 Bests," selected by poll, at a luncheon today. The correspondents voted "Fury" the best picture, Luise Rainer the best actress in "The Great Ziegfeld," and Paul Muni the best actor for "The Story of Louis Pas- teur." Rouben Mamoulian's direction of "The Gay Desperado" received an award for the best direction. Grainger Gets Back J. R. Grainger, general manager of Universal's distribution, arrived from the coast yesterday where he attended conferences on next year's product. The conferences will continue in New York with R. H. Cochrane and Charles R. Rogers in attendance. Advance Alabama Tax Montgomery, Ala., Feb. 17. — The Alabama House today accepted Senate changes in the proposed two per cent sales tax bill and it has been sent to Governor Graves for signature. Files Picketing Bill Albany, Feb. 17. — Under the pro- visions of a bill introduced by Assem- blyman Stephen J. Joy of Rochester and referred to Codes Committee, picketing will not be disorderly con- duct unless accompanied by acts of violence or breach of the peace. Commission Decision Reserved Decision was reserved yesterday by Justice Aaron J. Levy, in N. Y. Supreme Court, on a motion made by Norman Miller to examine Robert Goldstein, president of Superior Radio Artists, Inc., before trial, in a suit which he asks for $7,000 from Super- ior, Charles Sherman and Milton Gross. Miller charges that the de- fendants failed to pay him commission agreed upon for his services in selling a script produced by Sherman and Gross and for finding them employ- ment. The company allegedly was a party to the negotiations. Voteur Ruling Delayed Justice Aaron J. Levy in N. Y. Supreme Court reserved decision yes- terday on a motion made by Ferdinand Voteur, a writer, for permission to examine before trial officers of Colum- bia Pictures Corp. and Warner Bros. Enterprises, Inc. Voteur has sued Columbia for $1,000,000 and Warners and Intrastate Theatres Corp. for $250,000, alleging that he wrote a play entitled "Resurrection Morning," sub- mitted it to the defendants and that after each company rejected it, they produced pictures which presented the same plots and characterizations con- tained in the plaintiff's work. RKO Restores Shows At K. C. Mainstreet Kansas City, Feb. 17.— The RKO Mainstreet will return to stage shows Feb. 20, with Ethel Waters and her troupe. The change coincides with dissolution of the Fox Midwest first run pool which included the Fox Up- town, the Fox Tower, the B. & K Newman and the Mainstreet. The lat- ter two houses will continue under a pool arrangement of their own, al- though it is considered unlikely that RKO will open the Orpheum with a film policy. David Loew Outlines Plans to RKO Force David L. Loew, independent pro- ducer for RKO, yesterday outlined plans for the second Joe E. Brown picture to eastern branch managers of the company meeting at the Astor. Prior to his talk he screened "When's Your Birthday?" at the Astor. Numerous home office executives spoke to the sales force on liquidation of contracts and unsold situations. The two-day sessions are expected to be concluded today. Something to start your female patronage palpitating and your marquee mazdas glowing with a great new name! He's here fresh from Continental honors — very fresh — and voili, such a lover! (50 million Frenchwomen can't be wrong)! You'll get what we mean when you get in THE KING AND THE CHORUS GIRL" By Groucho Marx and Norman Krasna with JOAN BLONDELL • EDW. EVERETT HORTON • Alan Mowbray • Mary Nash Jane Wyman • Kenny Baker • Luis Alberni The songs 'For You' and 'On the Rue de la Paix', by Werner R. Heymann and Ted Koehler First of the MERVYN LEROY PRODUCTIONS for EARNER BROS MOTION PICTURt DAILY Thursday, February 18, 1937 Wings" Tops Los Angeles' Gross Pickup Los Angeles, Feb. 17. — "Wings of the Morning" led a general improve- ment of grosses last week by getting $5,778 in the 900-seat 4 Star and top- ping par by $2,528. "Sea Devils" and "Criminal Law- yer," dualled at the Hillstreet and Pantages, took $10,000 up by $2,000, at the former and $8,500, over the line by 500, at the latter. "On the Avenue" and "Under Cover of Night" were strong at both the Chinese and Loew's State. "God"s Country and the Woman" and "Two Wise Maids" pulled well at Warners Downtown. Total first run business was $115,- 545. Average is $107,950. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 17 : "THE GOOD EARTH" (M-G-M) CARTHAY CIRCLE— (1,518), 50c-$1.50, 7 days. 3rd week. Gross: $17,500. (Average, $17'.000) , „ „ "ON THE AVENUE" (20th-Fox) "UNDER COVER OF NIGHT" (M-G-M) -CHINESE— (2.500), 30c-55c, 7 days. Gross: »U56. (Average, $12,500) "WINGS OF THE MORNING" (20th-Fox) 4 STAR— (900), 30c-55c. 7 days. Gross: ' $5,778. (Average. S3,250) "THE YELLOW CRUISE" (French) GRAND INTERXAT'L. — (750), 35c-40c, 7 davs. Gross: $2,300. (Average, $1,200) "SEA DEVILS" (RKO) "CRIMINAL LAWYER" (RKO) HILLSTREET— (2.700), 30c-65c. 7 days. Gross: S10.000. (Average. $8,000) "ON THE AVENUE" (2Qth-Fox) "UNDER COVER OF NIGHT" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE— (2.500), 30c-55c. 7 days. Gross: S15.611. (Average, $14,003) "SEA DEVILS" (RKO) "CRIMINAL LAWYER" (RKO) PANTAGES — (3,000), 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $8,500. (Average, SS.00G) "DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND" (Col.) "CLARENCE" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (3.595). 30c-55c, 7 days. Stager Rube Wolf and orchestra, F. & M. revue. Gross: $12,500. (Average. $18,000; "GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN" (W.B.) "TWO WISE MAIDS" (Republic) WARNER BROS. (HOLLYWOOD) — (3,000). 30c-65c. 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $14,000) "GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN" (W.B.) "TWO WISE MAIDS" (Republic) WARNER BROS. (DOWNTOWN) — (3.400). 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $14,000 (Average. $12,000) Unit Names Law Group New Haven, Feb. 17. — Allied The- atres of Connecticut appointed a spe- cial legislative committee at its meet- ing here, consisting of Maurice Bailey, Dr. J. B. Fishman, and Ralph Pasho. This committee will meet with the Connecticut M. P. T. O. committee on legislation, headed by Irving Jacocks, and including Edward G. Levy, Ar- thur Lockwood, Samuel Weiss and Edwin Raffile. A special meeting of exhibitors of both organizations has also been planned for Feb. 25, at the Hotel Bond, Hartford, preceding the first hearing by the Judiciary Commit- tee of bills affecting the industry. To Reproduce 52nd St. Hollywood, Feb. 17. • — Walter Wanger will reproduce 52nd St. from 5th to 6th Ayes, in a forthcoming musical called "52nd St." In the pic- ture, Wanger will introduce the night club personalities on the street. Gene Towne and Graham Baker will write the screenplay. The idea was suggested by Hal Home. Censor Revenge Seattle, Feb. 17.— Theatre censors here, relegated to last row gallery seats by Mrs. Cecilia Schultz, theatre manager, have retaliated by demanding private previews of all pictures exhibited bv Mrs. Schultz. The law requires "proper" seats for censors. To Mrs. Schultz this meant rear row. "Rainbow" Dual 2d Week Buffalo Lead Buffalo, Feb. 17. — -"Rainbow on the River" and "Without Orders," held for a second week at the Century, con- tinued to do the best business down- town. They grossed $10,000, bettering average by $4,200. "God's Country and the Woman," at the Great Lakes, took $9,700, "North of Nome" and "The Lady from Nowhere," dualled at the Lafayette, grossed $8,300. Both were over $2,000 above normal. A return engagement of "One in a Million" at the Hippodrome held up with a take of $8,200, over the line by $900. Total first run business was $47,200. Average is $38,400. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 13 : "STOLEN HOLIDAY" (W. B.) BUFFALO— (3.000), 30c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $12,000) "ONE IN A MILLION" (20th-Fox) HIPPODROME— (2,500), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,200. (Average, S7.300) "GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN" (W. B.) GREAT LAKES— (3.000). 25c -40c, 7 davs. Gross: $9,700. (Average. $7,300) "RAINBOW ON THE RIVER" (Radio) "WITHOUT ORDERS" (Radio) CENTURY— (3.000), 25c, 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $5,800) "NORTH OF NOME" (Col.) "THE LADY FROM NOWHERE" (Col.) LAFAYETTE— (3.300), 25c, 7 davs. Gross: $8,300. (Average, $6,000) "Million" Reaches $5,300 at Spokane Spokane, Feb. 17. — Moderating weather was the biggest factor last week in keeping grosses above par. "One in a Million" grossed $5,300 in eight days at the State, $500 over par. "Three Smart Girls" and "Man of Affairs" pulled a strong $5,000 in six davs at the Fox. Average is about $4,500. Two duals at the Orpheum were close to par. "Jungle Princess" and "Wanted : Jane Turner" grossed $2,400 in four days, $200 over par, and "Once a Doctor" and "Sinner Takes All" took $1,000 in three days. Total first run business was $13,700. Average is $12,500. Estimated takings : Week Ending Feb. 4: "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) "MAN OF AFFAIRS" (G.B.) FOX— (2,300), 25c-40c, 6 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $4,500) "ONE IN A MILLION" (20th-Fox) STATE— (1.000), 30c-40c, 8 days. Gross: $5,300. (Average, $4,800) "JUNGLE PRINCESS" (Para.) "WANTED: JANE TURNER" (Radio) ORPHEUM— (1,200), 20c-30c, 4 days. Gross: $2,400. (Average. $2,200) "ONCE A DOCTOR" (F.N.) "SINNER TAKES ALL" (M-G-M) ORPHEUM— (1.200), 20c-30c. 3 days. Gross: $1,000. (Average, $1,000) "Lloyds" Only Good Grosser San Francisco >an Francisco, Feb. 17. — Business has failed to respond to the ending of the maritime strike. "Lloyds of Lon- don" was the only downtown first run to make a showing and this was not impressive. The gross at the War- field was $14,000. Normal is $13,000. "More Than a Secretary'/' with "The Mighty Treve," at the Orpheum went $700 over the line on a take of $10,200, and "Criminal Lawyer" at the Golden Gate managed to get $300 into the profit column on a take of 16,300, but business elsewhere lagged. Total first run business was $83,400. Average is $85,000. Estimated takings : Week Ending Feb. 9: "FORBIDDEN ADVENTURE" (Roadshow Att.) EMBASSY— (1,400), 15c-30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $4,200. (Average, $4,500) "CRIMINAL LAWYER" (Radio) GOLDEN GATE— (2,850), 15c-30c-35c-40c- 55c, 7 days. Stage: Vaudeville. Gross: $16,300. (Average. $16,000) Week Ending Feb. 10: "GREAT O'MALLEY" (W. B.) "DANGEROUS NUMBER" (M-G-M) FOX— (5,000). 15c-30c-35c-40c-55c-75c, 7 davs. Gross: $16,200. (Average, $16,000) "MORE THAN A SECRETARY" (Col.) "MIGHTY TREVE" (Univ.) ORPHEUM— (2,440), 15c-30c-35c-40c, 7 davs. Gross: $10,200. (Average, 59,500) "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ" (Para.) "CAREER WOMAN" (20th-Fox) PARAMOUNT— (2,740), 15c-30c-35c-40c- 55c-75c, 7 davs. 2nd week. Gross: $12,600. (Average. $13,000) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) "HATS OFF" (G. N.) ST. FRANCIS— (1.400), 15c-30c-35c-40c. 7 days, 5th downtown week. Gross: $5,600. (Average. $6,000) "GARDEN OF ALLAH" (U. A.) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,200), 15c-30c-35c- 40c-65c, 7 days. 4th week. Gross: $4,200. (Average. $6,000) Week Ending Feb. 11: "LLOYDS OF LONDON" (20th-Fox) "OFF TO THE RACES" (20th-Fox) WARFIELD— (2.680), 15c-30c-35c-40c-55c- 75c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $14,000. (Av- erage, $13,000) Week Ending Feb. 12: "SKI CHASE" (Kraska) CLAY— (400), 15c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $1,500. (Average, $1,000) East Heads Film Board Seattle, Feb. 17. — Neal East, man- ager of the local Paramount exchange, was re-elected president of the North- west Film Board of Trade at the an- nual meeting here this week. Al Ox- toby, Warner branch manager, was re-elected vice-president. New trustees chosen were : J. T. Sheffield of Sheffield Exchange Sys- tem, Neal Walton of Columbia Pic- tures, and Butch Wingham of M-G-M. Korson in GP Deal The General Pictures franchise for the eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia and Virginia territories has been sold to Louis N. Korson of Masterpiece Film Attrac- tions. Mack D. Weinberger, general sales manager, negotiated for General Pictures. Van Praag Gets Third Morton Van Praag, head of the Arlibar Corp., has acquired the Hast- ings, Hastings, N. Y., third in his rap- idly growing local circuit. Plough" and Ritz Brothers Chicago High Chicago, Feb. 17. — "The Plough and the Stars" at the Palace, with the considerable aid of the Ritz Brothers on the stage, brought the house $26,- 400, $7,400 over average to lead the Loop houses. "Camille," in its second week at the United Artists, went $3,800 over par to gross $18,800. "Champagne Waltz" at the Chicago took $35,500 to beat average by $3,500. Vaudeville with "More Than a Secretary" at the Ori- ental gave the house $19,300 against a par of $15,000,vand "Lady From No- where," also aided by vaudeville, grossed a strong $16,600 against an average of $13,000. Rain, sleet and cold weather hurt during the first of the week while the last days of the week were warm and spring-like. Several conventions in town helped Loop business generally. Total first run business was $139,- 900. Average is $118,000. Estimated takings : Week Ending Feb. 9: "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,700) 35c-55c-75c. 7 days. 2nd week. Gross: $18,800. (Aver- age, $15,000) "THE BLACK LEGION" (W.B.) ROOSEVELT— (1,591) 35c-55c-75c. 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $11,000") Week Ending Feb. 11: "THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS" (RKO) PALACE— (2,509) 35c-55c-75c. 7 days. Stage: Ritz Brothers and revue. Gross: $26,400. (Average, $19,000) "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ" (Para.) CHICAGO^(4,000) 35c-55c-75c. 7 days. 2nd week. Stage: Veloz and Yolanda in person and revue. Gross: $35,500. (Aver- age, $32,000) "MORE THAN A SECRETARY" (Col.) ORIENTAL— (3,490 ) 35c-55c. 7 days. Stage: Vaudeville revue. Gross: $19,300. (Average, $15,000) "REMBRANDT" (U.A.) APOLLO— (1.400) 35c-55c-75c. 7 days. 2nd week. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $6,500) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) GARRICK— (900) ~35c-55c-75c. 7 days. 6th loop week. Gross: $6,800. (Average, $6;500) Week Ending Feb. 12: "LADY FROM NOWHERE" (Col.) STATE-LAKE— (2,776) 20c-35c-40c. 7 days. Vaudeville Revue. Gross: $16,600. (Average. $13,000) Hummel Due Friday Joseph S. Hummel, foreign general sales manager for Warners, is due tomorrow from Vancouver following a seven-month tour of the company's Far East exchanges. He arrived at Vancouver on the Empress of Canada on Atonday and is now en route here. Offices visited by Hummel included those in the Philippines, Japan, China, Singapore, Java, Australia and New Zealand. Seek Censor Fee Jump Columbus, Feb. 17. — House Bill No. 218 seeks to repeal the present $3 per reel censorship fee, and im- pose a tax of two cents per foot for ever}' foot of film shown in Ohio. This, it is estimated, would raise approxi- mately $1,200,000 towards the $20,- 000,000 needed for flood relief and re- habilitation. House bill No. 238 seeks to increase censorship fees from $3 to $5 per reel. Thursday, February 18, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Local Boards Set Back by Law Outlook (Continued from page 1) and, in addition, anticipate the intro- duction and passage of new Federal legislation for the regulation of in- dustry shortly thereafter. The new legislation, it is believed, would em- power Federal agencies to regulate trade practices, among other things, which would bring about enforceable trade codes for all industries. The ad- ministration and enforcement bodies within industries probably would be comparable to the former NRA code boards, it is assumed, and hence would require the immediate scrapping of whatever local conciliation boards might be set up by this industry within the next few months. Delays Asked The fact that 'the Administration's aims with respect to industrial legis- lation may be known within the next two months or less is being advanced in several exhibition as well as dis- tribution quarters as an argument against the setting up of even the four or five trial 'conciliation boards which were contemplated. The boards were to be established in Philadelphia, Kan- sas City, Dallas or Seattle, and Char- lotte. The first of these was to have been at Philadelphia, with the U. M. P. T. O. and branch managers agree- ing upon a slate of conciliators as soon as Paramount, the last of the major distributors cooperating with the M. P. T. O. A. program, had formally approved the local boards. Para- mount's reply was given on Feb. 6 and estimates were made in official quar- ters that home offices would authorize their Philadelphia branch managers immediately to participate in the selec- tion of a slate of conciliators and that a board would be in existence there within seven days thereafter. Distributors Still Aloof It was ascertained officially yester- day that not only has no authorization been issued by a major distributor for the participation of its branch man- agers in the setting up of the local boards, but that home offices them- selves are far from agreement on such vital matters as the nature of com- plaints which the boards may hear and the procedure to be followed, without which it is inconceivable that any board could begin to function. Several distribution companies state outright that unless and until the com- plaints to be handled by the boards have;,lbeen listed and the procedure clearly understood they will take no part Jin their establishment. Others assert that unless provision is made for exhibitors to bear a part of the cost of maintaining the boards they will not participate in their activities. From the current welter of disagree- ment, apart from the general attitude of inertia and disinterestedness in the boards by other companies, it is appar- ent that weeks of discussion would be necessary before any definite organ- izing step can be taken. In the mean- time, the Administration's legislative program would be nearer to comple- tion, further discouraging the setting up of trial boards. The M. P. T. O. A. trade practice program was conceived by the organ- 4 Purely Personal ► JOE POLLAK entertained about 25 of his friends at an Essex House luncheon yesterday to mark his safe return to New York following his accident near Budapest some months ago. Film men present included Frank C. Walker, Colvin Brown, Herman Robbins, Hal Young, Paul Benja- min, David J. Chatkin and E. M. Fay. • David L. Loew, who leaves for Hollywood today, played host to home office RKO executives and many local exhibitors yesterday morning at a special screening of his first picture, "When's Your Birthday?" at the Astor. • Bob Wolff of the local RKO ex- change wants it known that he most certainly will do some fishing in Miami. He leaves tomorrow for the Florida resort where he hopes to land a couple of record-breakers. • Ruth Chatterton, who returned from Europe Tuesday night on the He dc France, will leave tonight for the coast via American Airlines. • Herman Becker of the Rugoff & Becker circuit is in Miami. Edward Rugoff will head for the same resort next month. • Bernard Sholtz, Photophone sales executive, has returned with his family from a three-week tour of Florida. • Will Morrissey, musical comedy and vaudeville writer, left yesterday for Universal City. • Helen Sheridan of NBC will fly to Washington Saturday for the week- end. • J. Edward Bromberg arrived here yesterday for a three-week vacation. Independents Adopt New 2,000-Ft. Reel (Continued from page 1) Commissioner of Public Safety of Massachusetts that regulations per- mitting the use of the 2,000-foot reel in that state had been adopted. The Massachusetts action removed the last official obstacle in the way of na- tional adoption of the new reel by the industry, it was stated. Definite interest in the large reel on the part of the British film in- dustry's bureau of standards, which has been evidenced by requests for detailed information on the change- over received here, indicates that the 2,000-foot reel may be adopted by the British industry at some future date, Dickinson said. Joins Lehman Bros. Waddill Catchings, member of the board of directors of Warner Bros. Pictures, will become associated with Lehman Bros., banking house, it was reported in financial quarters yester- day. Catchings was formerly a part- ner in Goldman, Sachs & Co. and more recently headed several invest- ment subsidiaries of Atlas Corp. MILT KUSSELL, Paramount dis- trict manager and eastern drive head for the Zukor Jubilee, will leave tonight for Atlanta, Jacksonville, New Orleans, Charlotte, Memphis, Dallas, Oklahoma City and San An- tonio. He will make the entire trip by plane, as usual. Sam E. Morris, head of the Warners foreign activities, will sail next month on his semi-annual trip abroad. Harry M. Warner, president, may accompany him. Michael Bartlett is en route to the coast to appear in a Grand Na- tional picture under Victor Schert- zinger's direction. Martin Gosch, handling Warners radio publicity, will leave for Holly- wood the early part of next week. • Willard McKay of Universal is expected back here tomorrow from a brief vacation at his Miami home. • Ed Kuykendall, M.P.T.O.A. presi- dent, is due here tomorrow from Washington. • Harry Conn, former script writer for Jack Benny, left via American Airlines for the coast last night. • John Hay Whitney will fly to the coast tonight. It's one of his periodic trips. • D. A. Dor an of Columbia's edito- rial force, will leave Sunday by train for the coast. Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., will not leave for the coast for another few days. • Claude Ezell has delayed his ar- rival from Miami. Para Expected To Call in All 6% Debentures Elek Ludvigh Dies; Was III Long Time (Continued from page 1) Zukor, president, whom he met through Zukor's partner, Daniel Frohman. In 1924 he was made gen- eral counsel of Paramount, devoting his entire time to the post. He re- signed in January, 1932, and reentered private law practice. Fred F. Creswell Dead Atlanta, Feb. 17. — Fred F. Cres- well, 52, died here Feb. 12. For the past three years he had been with United Artists as salesman in north Georgia and eastern Tennessee. Previously he had been district super- visor for Southern Enterprises. ization's board of directors a year ago, was first broached to distributors last May and acknowledged only this month by the last of seven major dis- tributors. George Hassell Passes Hollywood, Feb. 17. — George Has- sell, 56, died suddenly today in an automobile en route to the Chatsworth location of "Wee Willie Winkie," Shirley Temple picture. Hassell is survived by a daughter, Virginia, an actress. (Continued from page 1) would result in fully retiring the six per cent debentures whether the vol- ume of exchange is greater or less than that estimated. The six per cent debentures are callable by the com- pany at par plus accrued interest at any time on reasonable notice. Placing the company's common on a dividend basis is looked for in order to make the conversion of the new debentures into common attractive. This is regarded as particularly likely in view of the fact that the new deb- entures are convertible into common at $33 1/3, whereas the common is now selling at slightly more than $26. The new debentures are also call- able by the company at par and ac- crued interest at any time with notice. Their ultimate conversion and retire- ment would effect annual interest sav- ings of $1,350,000 for the company. An interest saving of approximately $635,000 is made possible immedi- ately. Stroke Kills Paul Graetz Hollywood, Feb. 17. — Paul Graetz, German film actor, is dead following a stroke. Graetz was 47 and had been cast for a part in "Madame Walew- ska," Garbo's next. Balaban Is Expected To Enter St. Louis (Continued from page 1) Arthur of F. & M., some time ago the Chicago group is said to have made tentative arrangements to asso- ciate with Louis K. and Joseph C. Ansell, operators of the Ritz and Em- press in this city, and the Varsity, University City, Mo. The Chicago syndicate, in which A. J. Balaban is said to be interested, has purchased a site at Hodiamont and Easton Aves. for the construction of a large theatre. However, no definite action will be taken until Balaban returns from Switzerland and Greene from South America. The Ansell Brothers- have another meeting scheduled with ' the Windy City interests for March 1. Conspiracy Action Names 7 Companies (Continued from page 1) a petition for a preliminary injunction in U. S. District Court here. Judge Bascom S. Beaver has taken the peti- tion under advisement. The Gores, stockholders of Broad- way Theatre, Inc., allege that the de- fendants have "combined and conspired to create a monopoly in interstate com- merce in the rental and the use of films, in behalf of the Sparks chain and against the independents" in viola- tion of the Sherman anti-trust law and Clayton act. The defendants are United Thea- tres, Inc., Florida circuit operated by E. J. Sparks and Frank Rogers of Jacksonville, Vitagraph, Inc., 20th Century-Fox, Paramount, M-G-M, United Artists, Universal and RKO. Defense counsel Augustine Sams of Atlanta said the Gores contend only one company, Vitagraph, Inc., furnish them films and that those are second run, which had previously been shown in other Tampa theatres. Judge Gober of Tampa and Whitaker and Whit- aker, also of Tampa, are associated with Sams in the defense. Note : If Leo's roar should be extra loud please remem- ber he's just a bit purled up about "Camille", "After The Thin Man" and other hits, topped off by the sensational success of his newest road- show "The Good Earth" in Los Angeles and New York. HER BRILLIANT o4H-Star It's Bigger and Better, Faster and Funnier, than M-G-M's Previous HIT BY M-G-W! oflHw Hit, "Libeled Lady"! POWELL JUWFORD y|ONTGOMERV^M°*° Starts FRIDAY at JESSIE ralph"'-" nigel bruci A Metro GoUwyn Mdyer Picture Directed by «tay under Hecker H-0 sponsorship, will show up as a comic strip shortly ... An Eskimo, Moo-Soo-Nuk, will be featured on the Iodent "Dress Re- hearsal" to be broadcast Sunday . . . + Poppy Cannon, who authors the commercials heard on the Heinz "Ma- gazine of the Air," returned to her desk at Maxon, Inc. yesterday after visiting the Heinz officials in Pitts- burgh . . . George Mulroy, produc- tion manager at Maxon, now en route to California for a two-week vacation . . . WPA Federal Theatre Players, via WHN, will present a dramatiza- tion based on Washington's life Feb. 22 at 5:15 P. M. . . . Major Charles E. Russell, New Jersey State Police criminologist, will broadcast on the CBS Philip Morris show this Satur- day . . . + Chester Bowles, executive of Ben- ton & Bowles, is home abed, ill . . . Two more members of the original screen cast have been added to the cast of the "Lux Radio Theatre" pro- duction of "Captain Blood," to be broadcast next Monday. They are Basil Rathbone and Henry Stephen- son, who join Errol Flynn and Olivia De Havilland . . . Arthur Vinton, of "Frederika," will be interviewed over WMCA next Tuesday at 1 :45 P. M. by Charlotte Buchwald . . . George M. Cohan, Albert Spalding, Eddie Duchin, Frederick Jagel, will be guest starred on Sunday's "Magic Key" program . . . Jean Arthur is a last minute ad- dition to tomorrow night's Rudy Val- lee guest cast . . . NBC Daytime Income Sets January Mark XBC's weekday daytime revenue last month amounted to $961,866, an increase of 94 per cent over the same month last year and above all previous January daytime figures. The Sunday daytime gross for Jan- uary was $297,577, an increase of 78 per cent over January '36. Father Coughlin on WMCA WMCA will carry the Father Coughlin talks for the duration of the air priest's contract, beginning this Sunday, Feb. 21, from 3 to 4 P. M., E.S.T. The Mutual network will feed the talks to WMCA. To Give "Penrod" Series The "Big Brother" series, heard coast-to-coast on Mutual, will present excerpts from "Penrod and Sam" for three successive Sundays, beginning Feb. 21. The excerpts will be given in two 10-minute periods. NBC-"Strike" Half Renewed NBC half of the two-network Lucky Strike "Hit Parade" series has been renewed for 13-weeks beginning March 10. Series is heard Wednes days at 10 P. M., E.S.T. on the Red. Lord and Thomas is the agency. Re-Sign "Recitals" "Fireside Recitals," aired Sundays at 7:30 P. M., E.S.T. has been re- newed for 13 weeks, effective as of March 14. The program, sponsored by the American Radiator Co., is a network oldster. Blaker Advertising Co. is the agency. NBC to Handle This Year's Derby Airing The May 8 running of the Kentucky Derby, for the past two years broad- cast exclusively over the CBS net- work, this season will be aired by NBC for a commercial client whose identity has not yet been revealed. The past two Derby races over CBS were sponsored by the Brown and William- son Tobacco Corp., which is currently sponsoring the Jack Pearl series on NBC. Batten, Barton, Durstine and Osborn, agency for Brown and Wil- liamson, were unable to state whether their client was the firm signed for this year's Derby sponsorship. Socony to Broadcast Yale Football Games Sponsorship of the Yankee Network broadcasts of the Yale University football games for the 1937 season has again been contracted for by the Socony-Yacuum Co., starting over WICC, Bridgeport and New Haven, and Yankee network stations Satur- day, Oct. 2. The complete broadcast schedule will include the games with Maine, Oct. 2 ; Pennsvlvania, Oct. 9 ; Army, Oct. 16; Cornell, Oct. 23; Dartmouth, Oct. 30; Brown, Nov. 6; and Prince- ton, Nov. 13. Arrange Hawaii Salute Hawaii will salute President Roose- velt on the NBC-Blue network Feb. 24, from 10 to 10:30 P. M., E.S.T. All leading Hawaiian musical organi- zations, including the U. S. Army, Navy, and Marine Bands stationed there, will participate. The program was arranged by Lor- rin P. Thurston, president of the Hazvaii Advertiser, and owner of KGU, NBC station in Hawaii. Confer on Quinine Program Harry B. Goldsmith, president of the Bromo Quinine Co., and J. R. De Saxe, assistant to the president, are now in New York visiting at Stack- Goble, agency handling the account. Bromo Quinine's last air series featured Gabriel Heatter on WOR. Self-Sponsored NBC will sponsor itself in a new series of institutional programs, according to an authentic report. Details are expected to be made public in a few days. The programs will prob- ably be variety in nature and will feature, according to the report, topflight NBC artists. The series, of course, is intended to sell NBC to the listeners. General Foods Gets Option Upon Ripley Robert L. "Believe It or Not" Rip- ley, present feature on the Fleisch- mann sponsored "Bakers' Broadcast," is now under option to General Foods Corp. for a new fall program, it was admitted by Benton and Bowles yes- terday. Ripley's Fleischmann contract runs out in June, at which time the "Bakers' Broadcasts" fade from the air for the summer months. Get "Sidewalk" Repeats Stack-Goble Agency has secured a weekly half-hour repeat period on the Pacific Coast NBC-Red network for the "Sidewalk Interviews" series beginning March 8. The repeat broad- casts will be aired 12:30 to 1 A. M., E.S.T. Odd part of the setup is that the repeat broadcasts will be aired a day earlier than the regular program, which is heard Tuesdays at 9 P. M., E.S.T. Prepare New Series For Luxembourg Use C. O. Langlois Returns C. O. Langlois, president of Lang- lois and Wentworth, production and transcription agency, returned to New York yesterday from Toronto, where he attended the Canadian Ass'n of Broadcasters convention. Atlanta Radio Club Elects Atlanta, Feb. 17. — The Atlanta Radio Club has elected Henry Reid as president. Other officers are : Harry Cole, vice-president, and R. H. Bewick, secretary-treasurer. Crosley Stations Reopened Cincinnati, Feb. 17. — The main plant of Crosley Radio Corp., dam- aged in a fire during the flood, has been reopened. WLYV and WSAI programs have been broadcast through the Crosley downtown studio since the fire. New Shows on the Air Rector Starts Series George Rector, famous restauran- teur, opened in a new 15-minute se- ries yesterday at 1 :30 P. M., E.S.T., in an innocuous little program which should win an immediate audience with the housewives of America who, to judge by the calibre of the morn- ing and afternoon programs which are regularly and successfully fed them, are none too finicky about their air entertainment. Main features of the series, judging by the opening broadcast, are the high- geared and lengthy commercials in be- half of Phillips Delicious Soups and the recipe contest in which the best recipe received by the company will win a $10 award. A wrapper torn from a can of Phillips Soups must, of course, accompany the recipe. The few bright moments were sup- plied when Rector broadcast a resume of a typical meal ordered by Diamond Jim Brady, to wit : two or three dozen oysters, a dozen crabs, four hard-shell lobsters, a double order of porter house steak and the usual dessert trimmings. The series will be presented thrice weekly — Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. BANNER Production on a new transcribed series for Procter and Gamble, to be broadcast over Radio Luxembourg in the Duchy of Luxembourg is now nearing completion at the RCA tran- scription studios. Erwin W'asey & Co. is the agency. The first four platters will be shipped March 3. The series stars the Four Ink Spots, Juano Hern- andez and Ed Matthews. That Procter and Gamble have found this new foreign market profit- able is evidenced by the fact that Morton Downey, who recently finished 13 platters for Luxembourg broad- casts, has been renewed by the soap company for a second series. Renewed also by Procter and Gamble are Car- son Robinson and his Buckaroos, whose platters in Luxembourg have been popular for some time past. All the above platters are aired from the powerful Radio Luxembourg and are easily heard in England, where the BBC does not allow commercially sponsored shows to be broadcast. Radio Luxembourg is believed to be controlled by the Ostrers of Gaumont British. Standard of Indiana To Have CBS Series Standard Oil of Indiana, through McCann-Erickson, will sponsor a variety series, probably Over the CBS network in the near future, accord- ing to authoritative word received by Motion Picture Daily. The show will be a 30-minute affair, with prob- ably a Chicago point of origin. Standard Oil of Indiana's last net- work program, about a year ago featured Jack Hylton's band on a split CBS network which did not reach the east. Four Announcers Are Honored as Speakers San Francisco, Feb. 17. — Four radio announcers appear on Prof. Ger- ald E. Marsh's list of the 10 best pub- lic speakers of 1936. Marsh is in- structor in public speaking at Univer- sity of California. Hugh Conrad, March of Time an- nouncer ; Conrad Nagel, California House master of ceremonies ; David Ross and Milton Cross, were the four network men named. Others on the list were Edward VIII, President Roosevelt and Presi- dent Robert Gordon Sproul of the University of California. Philco's Injunction Plea Heard by Court Wilmington, Feb. 17. — Argument was started before Chancellor Josiah O. Wolcott in Chancery Court here to- day on the injunction plea filed by Philadelphia Storage Battery Co., parent company of Philco Radio and Television Corp., to prevent Radio Corp. of America from terminating the licensing agreement involving < the RCA-owned basic patents in the radio industry. Argument is expected to be completed tomorrow. In the suit heard last September, (Continued on page 10) More Radio — Page 10 10 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, February 18, 1937 RKO Hearings Will Get Started Today (Continued from page 1) made on the accumulated motions and petitions relating to the reorganization, however, today's session will be the first legal move toward the advance- ment of the RKO plan for the court's consideration. Among the matters which may be heard and disposed of in advance of the hearing on the plan is a petition by Irving Trust Co., RKO trustee, for permission to retire by a cash pay- ment, the approximately $650,000 of RKO gold notes now outstanding. Provision for treatment of the notes is included in the reorganization plan and, for this reason, the trustee's peti- tion will be opposed by the proponents of the plan and leading creditors. In addition, there are three motions before the court attacking the reor- ganization plan and the status of the present RKO common stock which were brought by holders of the old RKO Class A stock ; a petition by the preferred stockholders of Orpheum Circuit for leave to intervene in the RKO reorganization, and the presen- tation of orders to Referee Oscar W. Ehrhorn for signing in connection with his recent decision accepting RKO's $700,000 cash bid for Orpheum as- sets. Indications are that all of these mat- ters may be heard or disposed of be- fore the court actually turns its at- tention to the reorganization plan. Op- position to the plan probably will be headed by the general creditors com- mittee and an independent committee of RKO stockholders. Allows RKO Claim Appeal Federal Judge Robert P. Patterson yesterday signed an order permitting the Hippodrome Co. of Ohio to appeal from an order reducing its $888,666 claim against RKO to $88,666. A hearing on the appeal was set for March 12. The claim is for rent on the Hippodrome, Cleveland, which RKO leased in July, 1930, and aban- doned in Feb., 1933. The Hippodrome Co. stated that it would be willing to accept $451,666 in settlement of its claim. U. A. Dates "History" United Artists has day-and-dated "History Is Made at Night" in more than 200 situations, starting April 2, it was stated at the company's home office yesterday. Monroe Greenthal will add a num- ber of field exploitation men to cover some of the openings. There will be a series of national radio broadcasts on the picture in addition to the place- ment of serializations in a number of newspapers. Caplan III Again Lakeland, Fla., Feb. 17. — M. J. Caplan, Detroit industrial film pro- ducer, has been rushed to Johns Hop- kins Hospital, Baltimore, by 'plane for an emergency operation. Ill for some time, it was only a few days ago that his condition was reported improved. Central Policy Shifts The Central on Broadway will take over the first run policy formerly oper- ated by the Globe on Feb. 27. The Globe has been taken by Columbia for the two-a-day run of "Lost Horizon," which opens March 3. MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Her Husband's Secretary" ( Warners) Hollywood, Feb. 17. — The triangle theme of husband-wife-secretary again serves as the story basis here. Only the addition of a forest fire sequence brings novelty to the familiar situations. Jean Muir, the efficient office aid to Addison Richards, resigns to marry Warren Hull, a steel worker. When Hull is suddenly transformed into a building tycoon, Beverly Roberts, Miss Muir's best friend, be- comes Hull's secretary. Clara Blandick, an aunt, resents Beverly's feminine appeal and attempts to foment trouble between husband and wife. Miss Muir, having herself been a secretary, refuses to credit the aunt's suspicions until she finds Hull and Miss Roberts alone in a hunting lodge while supposedly on a business trip. The forest fire, through the medium of some poor stock shots, is then introduced to extricate the characters from the embarrassing situation and bring about a happy ending. Frank McDonald's direction would suggest that his main desire was to finish the picture as quickly as possible. Nor does the Lillian Hay- ward screenplay offer much refreshing dialogue. The supporting cast includes Joseph Crehan, Minerva Urecal and Harry Davenport. The film is suitable only as a supporting feature and will appeal principally to women. Production Code Seal No. 2,930. Running time, 60 minutes. "G." Honor Harry Hunter At Washington Party Washington, Feb. 17. — More than 150 members of the Variety Club, ex- changemen and exhibitors gathered last night in the small ballroom of the Willard to pay tribute to Harry Hunter, newly appointed managing director of Paramount in Australia and New Zealand. Out-of-town Paramount executives who came in for the dinner included : Vice-president John W. Hicks, in charge of the foreign department ; Vice-president Neil F. Agnew, general sales manager ; Eastern Division Manager Joseph J. Unger ; Philadel- phia Branch Manager Earle Sweigert, and Cincinnati Branch Manager Jo- seph J. Oulahan, once a salesman here. Representatives of major circuits, independent operators, drama critics of Washington, the trade press, Hor- lacher Delivery Service, as well as agents of associated businesses, were present. Brylawski Toastmaster Rudolph Berger, chairman of the committee, was assisted by John J. Payette, A. Julian Brylawski, Charles Kranz, W. Vincent Dougherty, Sam A. Galanty, Frank H. Durkee and Lawrence Schanberger. Carter T. Bar- ron introduced Brylawski, who acted as toastmaster. Hunter was presented a trunk and two traveling bags and a scroll signed by all present. Entertainment was fur- nished by acts from the Earle and Loew's. Capitol. Among the guests were : Frank H. Durkee, Herman A. Blum, Norman Goldstein, Morris Mechanic, Walter Pacy, Charles Nolte, Jr., J. Louis Rome, William K. Saxton, Isador Rappaport, Hunter Perry, H. Graham Barbee, William S. Wilder, John Bachman, William J. Clark, Jay Emanuel, Nathan A. Stiefel, Samuel Bendheim, Jr., A. Frank O'Brien, Morton G. Thalheimer, Elmore Heins, Lee Insley, George A. Crouch, Rob- ert H. Denton, James B. Fitzgerald, Hardie Meakin, Harry E. Lohmeyer, Abraham M. Tolkins, Samuel N. Wheeler, William E. S. Wilcox, Guy Wonders and W. B. Hines. The proceedings were recorded by electrical transcription and presented to Hunter. Hunter leaves shortly for New York, thence to his home in Seattle, and to Hollywood. He will sail from Vancouver about March 17. Will Test Australia Gift Night in Court (Continued from page 1) the Film Board of Trade's edict that gifts must cease. What action trie distributors will take to end the policy if the court finds against them is a matter for conjecture at this stage. The Board of Trade's ban on Gift Nights has been extended to prizes which theatres might promote for ex- ploitation competitions. The Mel- bourne Regent promoted an automobile at no cost as a prize, but the manage- ment was told that the stunt offended the spirit of the ban and it was dropped. * * * Film writers here have formed the Film Critics Guild of Australia with one of its objects to "maintain and develop harmonious relationships be- tween the picture industry and the press." The guild will make annual awards for the best imported picture of the year and the best Australian- produced film in that period. Omaha Mayor Seeks Bank Night Action (Continued from page 1) is conducted legally here stifled an- other City Council attack on Bank Night, which was started mainly by the opposition of a group of ministers and declarations by the city fire and police commissioners that fire hazards were being created. Boleslawski Left $18,675 Los Angeles, Feb. 17. — The estate of Richard Boleslawski, filed here for probate, amounts to $18,675. Philco's Injunction Plea Heard in Court (Continued from page 9) P. S. B. seeks to have RCA en- joined from terminating an agree- ment whereby it is licensed to use RCA patents in the manufacture of radios. RCA contends that the com- plainant has violated the agreement by sharing the patents rights with Phil- co. P. S. B. claims that it has paid more than the due amount of royal- ties to RCA while RCA insists that it has not been adequately compen- sated. The suit involves the basis on which royalties should be computed. In this consideration, the question of the in- dependence of Philco is a major fac- tor. Lawyers for RCA include John W. Davis, Manton Davis, Porter R. Chandler, Robert D. Callghan of New York and Clarence Southerland of Wilmington. Representing the plain- tiff are C. J. Hepburn, Charles S. Norris, Jr., Philip Deckert of New York and Robert H. Richards and Caleb S. Layton of Wilmington. Patent Suit Ruling Upheld Philadelphia, Feb. 17. — A ruling has been handed down by the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals which in effect says the court has no power to compel patent pool syndicates to issue licenses. The ruling upheld dis- missal by U. S. District Judge John P. Nields of a suit of F.A.D. Andrea, Inc., against RCA. The Andrea company had charged RCA with violating both the Sherman anti-trust law and the Clayton act through a monopoly of radio patents. Amis on Baltimore Deal Lew Amis, radio production chief of Erwin Wasey, left for Baltimore yesterday to discuss radio program possibilities with the heads of the Gunther Beer Co. for a local series. Wall Street Columbia, Paramount Best Board Gains Net High Low Close Change Columbia 3754 37 3754 + 54 Columbia, pfd .... 45% 45% 45% +1% Consolidated 4% 4% 4% Consolidated, pfd.. 16% 16% 16% — % Eastman Kodak ..17354 172 173 + 54 Eastman, pfd 161 16054 16054 — 54 Gen. T. Equip 32 3154 3154 — 54 Loew's, Inc 7554 74 7554 + 54 Paramount 2754 25% 26% + % Paramount 1 pfd.. 18754 181% 186 +554 Paramount 2 pfd.. 2454 23 2354 + 54 Pathe Film 954 9% 954 + % rko s% m 9% +% 20th Century-Fox. 36% 35% 36 — 54 20th Century, pfd.. 4554 44% 4554 + % Universal, pfd. ...103 103 103 Warner Bros 16 15% 15% + % Curb Rises Slightly Net High Low Close Change Grand National . . 354 3% 354 + % Sonotone 256 2 256 + 5-6 Technicolor 19% 1956 195-6 + 56 Trans-Lux 454 454 454 RKO Leads Bond Increases Net High Low Close Change Loew's 354s '46.... 10054 99% 10054 + % Paramount B'way 3s '55 7454 7454 7454 — % Paramount Pict. 6s '55 104 10254 103 RKO 6s '41 pp.... 123 12154 123 +2 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 98% 98 98% + % (Quotations at close of Feb. 17) Thursday, February 18, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 1 1 Overseas Previews "Elephant Boy" {London-United Artists) London, Feb. 9. — This Robert Flaherty production, with which Zoltan Korda is associated as joint director, has been two years in the making and all the scenes that matter are against authentic Indian backgrounds. The fidelity of setting is equalled by a praiseworthy respect for the literary original, Kipling's "Toomai of the Elephants," the film, like the story, being a straightforward narrative of an Indian boy's achievement* of his ambition to be recognized as a mighty hunter. There is no woman part and the appeal is that of a nature film, plus the boy's dramatic story. The outstanding assets are the personality of the boy Sabu, discovered by Flaherty, the equally impressive individuality of Kolonai, giant elephant which he tends, and the many scenes of elephant herds, culmi- nating in a giant drive of the mammoths, after Sabu's discovery of their mountain retreat, where he witnesses the fabled "elephant dance." The death of Sabu's father at the claws of a tiger, his feud with the cruel new keeper of Kolonai and the boy's flight into the jungle with the elephant to prevent its being shot for attacking its enemy provide story continuity for the predominantly spectacular values of the picture. Of outstanding realism are the scenes showing the big elephant running amok after its ill treatment and its submission to its boy master and the gathering of the trumpeting herds of elephants into the com- pound, although one seems to recognize among these untamed giants a sportive cub seen earlier in a tame herd. Of wide appeal also will be scenes showing the boy sleeping safely in the jungle beside his huge friend and the many others illustrating the affection and sagacity of the elephant. The sound effects certainly do convince that the trumpeting of a herd of a hundred is a lot of noise; when music is used it is fortissimo. The white parts do not matter greatly. The only one of importance is that of the hunter, presented as a very typical British "Sahib" by Walter Hudd, who enables Sabu to realize his dreams by taking him along on the elephant hunt, which the boy ultimately turns from failure to success. The beautifully formed and engaging Sabu should make it a picture for women, and its merits as a study of wild nature will recommend it to men. The great big certainty is that those of school age will eat it. Running time, 100 minutes. "G." Allan. ["Elephant Boy" was reviewed briefly by cable on Feb. 9] Alien Talent Ban Is Hit by Screen, Stage (Continued from page 1) president of the M.P.T.O.A., who ex- pressed fear of the effect on exhibi- tors of the enactment of the bill. "A bill of this kind," he told the committee, "would bring about re- taliatory measures by theatres of for- eign countries and by the Governments themselves, and in so doing, would preclude the showing in foreign coun- tries of hundreds of American-made films, thereby increasing the negative cost of the American exhibitors be- cause of the lack of revenue the pro- ducers would receive by loss of this foreign patronage. Therefore, at the very beginning, it would tend to in- crease the cost of films to American exhibitors." Called Unworkable The proposed law, Kuykendall con- tended, would be unworkable, since admission of an alien would depend upon the similarity of his professional qualifications with those of American artists, which can actually be tested only by public performance. "We know that the importation of foreign stars into this country does not have a detrimental effect upon our own American citizens because the studios are frantically searching for new talent all the time throughout the country and are spending fortunes an- nually in giving potential stars and artists screen tests to determine their ability," he said. "The only proponents I have heard for this bill have been mainly people who have had their trial and failed. American-made pictures are supreme the world over. Ameri- can-made films have done more to sell American goods in Europe and to make Europe American- minded than any other one factor. This would be adversely affected by this bill because it would hurt the dis- tribution of American pictures in for- eign countries." Asks New Talent The theatres today are getting the best pictures in the history of the in- dustry, largely because of the unham- pered flow of new talent to the studios, Kuykendall said, adding that restric- tion upon the importation of talent would curtail progress. "There is no question in our minds but that this bill would seriously ham- per the spirit for improved business and increased employment that now prevails among the theatre owners of this country," he concluded. "Every possible encouragement should be given the producers of pictures that they may not be hampered in making a product that will draw patrons to the theatres of this country. New art, personalities and faces are vital in this respect." The early part of the day-long hearing was enlivened by frequent clashes between members of the com- mittee as witnesses criticized the measure, but as the day wore on the monotony of the opposition quieted their objections to statements that the measure was impracticable and that aliens had not displaced domestic talent in any of the arts. Led by Lawrence Tibbett and Wal- ter Damrosch, the musical organiza- tions of the country attacked the bill as being more harmful than beneficial to Americans, Damrosch suggesting that it would be as sensible to require foreign countries to play an American composition for every performance here of the works of Wagner, Brahms or other great composers as to require a reciprocal exchange of artistic tal- ent. Proponents Heard On the other hand, E. J. Blunkill and John Seager of the Lambs' Club, New York, urged enactment, the for- mer asserting that 789 legitimate actors are on the WPA rolls in New York City alone although he admitted that the employment of aliens probably had little to do with this situation. Segar urged that every possible job be conserved for Ameri- cans and presented figures to show that, while in the 1927-28 season, 80 theatres operated in New York there are only 34 now open. Suggesting that the final outcome of the legislation might well be to trade Katharine Cornell for two Swiss yodelers or ship manufactured goods to Norway and take in return two actors, a musician and a conduc- tor, Representative Celler of New York, in a stormy appearance, sub- mitted a report of the State Dep't which, he said, demonstrated that no barriers are placed in the way of Eng- lish appearances of American actors. American orchestras, he admitted, were given a less favorable reception, but he read a letter from the British Ministry of Labor in which it was pointed out that the United States excluded British bands and the sug- gestion was made that if our law was abandoned our musical organizations would be permitted to appear. Reading from the London Times, Celler declared two weeks ago Ameri- can pictures were showing in 12 of London's 19 theatres and asked : "How long do you think we would be able to pre-empt British theatres with our films if you pass a bill of this kind?" Giving the real lowdown on the legiti- mate stage situation, Gilbert Miller, noted New York and London pro- ducer, who is now running "Victoria Regina" and "Tovarich" in New York, declared that in the 26 plays running in that city at the beginning of the month, employing 1,121 actors, only 52, or 4.7 per cent, were aliens. Miller asserted free entry of talent was needed because the film companies "snatched" promising actors as soon as they appeared. Further he declared, there is no need for the bill since Equity, with its rules and assessments on foreign actors, adequately protects American talent. Theatre Managers Oppose New York theatre managers are. united in opposition to the bill, it was declared by William R. Wein- berger of the League of New York Theatres, because they have been seri- ously handicapped by pictures and fear that the legislation would make it still more difficult to cast plays. When Hollywood makes a picture for the British Empire, which is an Variety Club Kansas City Kansas City, Feb. 17. — Variety Club will have a George Washington jubilee party at the clubrooms Febru- ary 20, with an orchestra and danc- ing. Douglas Desch, booker for G. B., is in charge of ticket sales, and Homer Blackwell, Independent Poster Ex- change, is handling arrangements. Checking up on results of the recent Variety Club-Film Row annual char- ity ball Feb. 12, Arthur Cole, general chairman discovered that the profit each year for the past four years has differed less than $5 each year. Variety Club has let the contract for remodeling 108 W. 18th St. into the new clubrooms to Larry Larsen, theatre architect and builder. Out of town exhibitors are expected to take an interest with the clubrooms where they can use them through non- resident memberships. Japanese Exhibitors Attacking Tax Plans By TETSUYA MORI Tokyo, Jan. 25. (Via Air Mail) — Japanese exhibitors at a meeting here took steps to strengthen their united protest against the proposed new taxes on amusements which are expected to be presented to the Japanese Diet in the near future. An initial session was held several months ago. Petitions are being prepared for presentation to the Government, and there is some indication that the op- position will result in the dropping of the proposed taxation program. The meeting was attended by about 50 of the country's leading exhibitors, headed by K. Yamamoto, chairman of the committee of exhibitors which has been formed to lead the opposition. Asks Epidemic Closings London, Feb. 9. — The Worsley, Lancashire, education committee is to make representations to the Govern- ment departments concerned in the closing of schools during influenza epidemics, suggesting that it shall be illegal for children of school age to attend theatres while schools are so closed. C. V. Hake Promoted Clarence V. Hake, 20th Century- Fox foreign sales official, has been ap- pointed assistant to Walter J. Hutch- inson, foreign manager. Hake was formerly manager of the company's Japan office. To Build at Sunny side A theatre is to be erected at Queens Blvd. and 43rd St., Sunnyside, by the Greater New York Management Corp. Stores and an apartment house also will be erected on the property. important market, it cannot be sold if it is an English story, without hav- ing a certain number of English ac- tors, the committee was told by Sydney Howard of the Dramatists' Guild. Foreign parts must be played by foreign actors if they are to be adequately portrayed, he added. The committee on Thursday will hear the representatives of the film industry and then give time to the witnesses from the broadcasting group. irsi mi trick but vue can do \t_ For seventeen years (come Springtime) we've been standing on our heads ... rushing around... turning somersaults, if need be ... to find better ways . . . faster ways . . . showmen's ways ... to give you "help- where -you -need -it". .. (in the box- office, of course) ... And to prove that we like it . . . come see us some Friday ... or Tuesday or Thursday and watch us go into action to give you National Screen Trailers . . . only "sure-shot" screen advertising . . . plus the service that has made NATIONAL SCREEN SERVICE . . . prize baby of the Industry! The Leading Motloi Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, Intelligent the in All Branches VOL. 41. NO. 42 NEW YORK, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1937 TEN CENTS Erpi Planned Revamping of Industry: FCC Congress Gets Agency's Report on Inquiry By CLARENCE LINZ Washington, Feb. 18. — The finan- cial influence of the Bell System in the film industry had become so per- vasive by the end of 1932 that the Erpi management initiated plans for a directed reorganization of the in- dustry, it was asserted today by the Federal Communications Commission in a three-volume report submitted to Congress. The report covered that phase of commission's investigation of the A. T. & T. devoted to Erpi's film operations. The plans developed for reorganiza- tion, it was said, were carried on with Chase National Bank, a large factor in the industry, the report said, and called for a "horizontal" reorganiza- tion : the separation of the artistic and promotional activities of the producer from the actual physical operations of studios which were to be operated on a service basis ; separate organization {Continued on page 7) Fox Theatre Claim Allowances Filed Special Master Courtland Palmer in the Fox Theatres receivership filed his second temporary report in Fed- eral Court yesterday as follows : In the claim of Halsey, Stuart & Co. for $1,000,000 he recommended settlement in the amount of $200,000 which the company agreed to accept. This claim was based on two prom- issory notes for $500,000 each dated Sept. 1, 1930, in favor of Halsey, {Continued on page 7) Poster Men Discuss Warner Rental Move Members of the executive commit- tee of the National Poster Service Protective Ass'n met yesterday at the Lincoln to discuss plans for counter- acting Warners' recent decision to rent accessories. Attending the session were Simon Libros, president, and George Aarons, secretary, of Philadelphia, and Louis Weinzimmer, Edward Behrens and Harry Schlit. A meeting of all members will be held in New York, probably at the New Yorker Hotel, on March 12-14. Radio — Pages 14-15 Negotiations Start On Para,-Blank Deal Negotiations on a new operating agreement for the A. H. Blank circuit were begun by Paramount yesterday, with conferences getting under way between Blank and Y. Frank Free- man, Paramount vnce-president in the Paramount home office. Efforts are being made to effect an agreement to replace the present oper- ating partnership deal which expires March 6 in time to present the new agreement to the Paramount board for approval at its monthly meeting next Thursday. Paramount's present operating deal with Blank is the only one which retains a provision under which the company may repurchase the operator's half interest in the circuit. Condor Names Four Firms on Finances RKO, M-G-M, Grand National and 20th Century-Fox have contractual agreements to advance funds to Con- dor Pictures for production purposes and to distribute certain portions of the company's output, it is stated in a prospectus distributed by Condor in connection with the offering of its new securities. A detailed statement included in the {Continued on page 13) Lou Berman Resigns Imperial Sales Post Lou Berman has resigned as general manager of Imperial Pictures. E. J. Smith, sales manager, is on a trip to the midwest. William Pizor, president of the com- pany, will assume Berman's duties. Set for release are 12 features and 24 shorts. Nine More Fined for Chicago Bank Nights Chicago, Feb. 18. — Nine new con- victions for violations of the Chicago ordinance prohibiting the holding of Bank Night and other prize award games were added to the local court record today. Municipal Judge Sonsteby levied fines of $15 each against the owners of the Ridge, New Drake, Illington, Elmo, Tiffin, West, Logan, Lawndale and Harvard. Additional cases are scheduled to be tried Feb. 26. Assistant Corporation Counsel Wil- liam V. Daly represented the city at today's hearings, after his return from Springfield where he opposed theatre owners' applications for injunctions {Continued on page 13) Loew to Make Three Browns Next Season David L. Loew will produce three Joe E. Brown pictures next year for release through RKO, he stated yes- terday. The deal with RKO is for two years. The tentative title for Brown's next is "All Is Confusion." The third will be "Flirting With Fate." The first, "When's Your Birthday?," is now ready for distribution. Illinois Corporation Sues MGM on Sound Los Angeles, Feb. 18. — Suit against M-G-M was filed in Federal Court here today by Sound Pictures Patents Co., an Illinois corporation, which is claiming infringement of two recording patents and asking an accounting of profits and royalties as well as dam- ages. The patents in question involve the {Continued on page 2) Dickstein Alien Actor Bill Is Scored by Gabriel Hess By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, Feb. 18. — Flat oppo- sition of the film industry to any leg- islation restricting the entry of alien actors was voiced today by Gabriel L. Hess, counsel for the M. P. P. D. A., who told members of the House Immigration Committee that the Dickstein bill would result in sharp restriction of the foreign mar- ket for American films and the coun- try would lose more than it would gain. Hess presented figures showing that out of a total of 534 contract players only 61 were aliens admitted under visas or quotas. Further, he said, 90 per cent of the 22,000 extras employed last year were American citizens. The use of foreign actors in parts in which they are required has con- tributed materially to the success of our pictures abroad, he told the com- mittee. "Today," he pointed out, "in most countries into which pictures are imported, American films by far exceed the number of pictures of any other country." From 30 to 40 per cent of the gross of the industry comes from foreign {Continued on page 13) Holders Make Attack Upon RKO's Stock Court Indicates Ruling Prior to March 18 Attacks on the validity of the out- standing RKO common stock and its position in the company's reorganiza- tion, together with the pressing of a petition having a bearing on the secured position of the RKO deben- tures, marked the first RKO credi- tors' hearing in connection with the reorganization of the company before Federal Judge William Bondy yes- terday. Arguments on the status of the common stock and other motions per- taining to the reorganization precluded discussion of the RKO reorganization plan itself, so the court set March 18 for the first hearing on the plan and indicated that the preliminary motions argued yesterday would be disposed of at that time or shortly before. The attack on the status of the RKO common stock was led by Er- nest R. Stirn of Milwaukee, holder of 1,264 shares of the old RKO Class A stock, which under a recapitaliza- tion plan adopted in Dec, 1931, was {Continued on page 12) Lincoln's Birthday Tips Broadway Takes Lincoln's birthday perked up busi- ness along Broadway last week. The Music Hall on the second week of "On the Avenue" garnered $85,000, or approximately $3,000 less than the first week. "Champagne Waltz" in its second week at the Paramount tallied $39,000. The Roxy took in $45,300 for the first seven days of "Head {Continued on page 7) Grand National Ups Production Budgets Hollywood, Feb. 18. — A third pro- duction budget increase has been ap- proved by Edward L. Alperson, presi- dent of Grand National, here for stu- dio conferences. An increase in the budget on "Hot Oil," starring James {Continued on page 8) No Paper Monday Motion Picture Daily will not publish Monday, Feb. 22, which is Washington's Birth- day and a legal holiday. MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, February 19, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 February 19, 1937 No. 42 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager m Play of Yesterday Is Only Quaint Today; Music Helps See Extra Session On Ohio Tax Bills Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany Inc., Martin Quigley, president, Colvio Brown, vice-president and "publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave nue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: '•Quigpubco. New York '' All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc. Address iu TOP*}- ehce to the New York Off ice Other Quigley publi- cations: MOTION PICTURE HERALD. BEIIER THEATRES, TEATRO AL DIA, INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Sts. ; Boone Mancall, Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave., C. B. O Nelll, WASHINGTON. Albee Building. Bertram F. Lin/.. Representative. _. ,„„ . AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan 5: Philip de Schaup, Representative. T«.J^« BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2. Berlin W. 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative. _ . BUDAPEST: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest II; Endre Hevesl, Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientes 2495; N. Bruskl. HELSINKI: Fredriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszlo. Representative ^ , LONDON: 4 Golden Square. W. 1; Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address, Quigpubco, Lon- MELBOUBNE: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins St.: Cliff Holt, Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart, Representative. ' _ _ „ , „ MONTEVIDEO: P. O. Box 664; Paul Bodo, Rep- MOSCOw"epetrov8kl Per 8; Beatrice Stern. Rep- PARIs'at29e Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre, Repre- PRAGUe!' Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1; Harry Knopf. Representative. _ , . „, . RIO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 3358; A. Weiss- man, Representative. ROME: Viale Gorizia; Vittorlo Malpassuti, Rep- SHANGHAI: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Build- ing, 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler, Repre- sentative. „ STOCKHOLM: Kungsgatan 36; Ragnar AUberg, Representative. TOK¥0: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shl. Chiba-Ken; H Tominaga, Representative. VIENNA: Neustiftgasse, 55, Vienna VII; Hans Lorant, Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Sillei. Representative. Entered as second class matter, January 4, 1926, at the Post 0..ce at New York City. N. Y., under Act of March 3. 1879. Subscription rates per year $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copieB: 10 cents. London Films Plans 8 Specials for Year London Films will make eight big films next season, Stephen Pallos, gen- eral manager, stated yesterday. The number may be increased to 10, but this will not be determined until Pal- los holds conferences with Alexander Korda on his return to England. Pallos will sail tomorrow on the He de France. He said he talked to Korda yesterday over the transatlan- tic telephone on "Elephant Boy," the first print of which has just arrived from the other side. Korda may visit here again after he completes "I, Claudius," which has just been started. Pallos' wife is still in Hollywood and is due back the end of March. By PLAYBOY A small portion of the comedy of yesterday dropped into today last night at the newly repainted Vander- bilt, where the odor of fresh paint was still strongly discernible as the cur- tain went up. The play was "London Assurance, done at the age of 17 by Dion Bouci- cault, first produced in London in the 1840's, last revived in New York in 1911 or thereabouts by the Yale Dramatic Society, and re-revived last night in an adapted form — and with lyrics by Ethel Barrymore Colt. To record that it is a drawing room comedy of the last century, which means about 100 years ago, and that it contains its full quota of "Yoicks," Poltroon" and the like, should tell its own story. However, we missed an "Odds Bodkins" or two. The lyrics, in the fashion, almost, of Gilbert and Sullivan, are enter- taining, the play on the whole a nos- talgic bit of now ancient theatre quaint and with moments of charm, amusement and general good-humored foolery. But of the latest of the Barrymores, toothsome Ethel Colt, unfortunately, the same cannot be said. She tries hard to look coy and en- ticing, struggles valiantly to sing light-hearted lyrics, but she is not too successful. Supporting Players Good The cast otherwise is excellent. One young miss, Dorothy Hinkley by name, is "Pert" in the cast and pert in ap- pearance and performance. Another able and enticing bit of work came from Ellen Love, who might have given the play more than it has had she been in the role essayed by Miss Colt. The story is one of a roue father, a similar son, a week in the country and the son's double-crossing of his daddy. The son steals the girl, while Miss Love, a galloping, horse-loving lady, assists by keeping daddy occu pied. It happened long before the screen was born, which describes its adapt ability thereto perfectly. It will have its revivified day or two on Broadway, then lose itself — perhaps for another 25 years. Phyllis Flanagan did the inciden- tal music, Robert Bell staged it, the painted backdrops and antique furni ture were part of Louis Kennel's set tings, and it was a presentation of Barbara Robbins. Maurice Nitke, we are told, conducted the unseen or chestra. Ludvigh Services Held Private services for Elek J. Lud- vigh, former Paramount general coun- sel, who died of bronchial pneumonia at his home here on Wednesday, were held yesterday at 1:30 P.M. at the Universal Funeral Chapel, 597 Lex- ington Ave. Only members of the family and close friends were in at- tendance. Burial was at Woodlawn Cemetery. Join Reel Federation London, Feb. 9. — The Ass'n of Cine-Technicians, through its news- reel section, has affiliated with the Union Internationale de la Presse Filmee, a federation of those profes sionally engaged in newsreel photog raphy, which has been formed in Paris. Try New Hartford Show Hartford, Feb. 18. — The Cameo vaudeville spot, will change policy in about 10 days. Jean Bedini will produce units using permanent line girls and added acts probably to be booked for two-week stands. From Cash to Cows Tampa, Feb. 18.— Ramon Diaz, one of five bandits who carted the 2,000-pound safe of the Ritz into the woods and emptied it, and who was paroled after 19 months of a five-year sentence, is at it again. This time he stole a cow, and was removing it from the premises of a negro farmer when the latter caught up with him. Diaz was stopped in his tracks by a well-directed load of bird- shot. Schwartz Elected by Exhibitors in Ohio Cleveland, Feb. 18. — Ernest Schwartz, for the third successive year, today was reelected by acclama- tion as president of the Cleveland M. P. Exhibitors' Assn. All present officers were reelected as follows : Vice-President, Albert E. Ptak ; treas- urer, John D. Kalafat ; secretary, G. W. Erdmann. The board of directors comprises Henry Greenberger, P. E. Essick, Frank Gross, L. G. Baldwin, Frank Poroznyski and Morris Bero- witz. The association unanimously voted to show the Shirley Temple Red Cross film during the Red Cross membership drive at every local independent the- atre. Columbus, Feb. 18. — With many bills having been tossed into the legis- lative hopper after the deadline last Friday, establishing an all-time record of 1,036, or 68 more than the previous high, a plan is being advocated to speed up the legislative machinery and dispose of all other matters as quickly as possible, leaving the various taxa- tion problems for a special session strictly limited to that subject. A special committee would be created to propose a tax program for the special session. Governor Davey is said to be pre- paring a message to the General As- sembly in which he is expected to de- tail his ideas on fiscal legislation, and the advocacy of new taxes, many of which will affect the film industry. Asks Kansas Tax Action Kansas City, Feb. 18. — Governor Huxman went to the Kansas legisla- ture with a special message yesterday to get action on taxation. He recom- mended a one per cent sales tax ear- marked for social security, which, it is said, would produce around $5,000,- 000 each year ; a two and one-half per cent gross production tax on oil and gas, which would bring in about $1,500,000; increases in the personal in- come tax to make it two per cent on the first $1,000 to six per cent on ,000, which would produce around $1,300,000, and an increase in the cor- poration tax to five per cent, which would raise $950,000. Nothing was said about the 10 per cent tax on amusements, which has been suggested, and which, it is esti- mated, would bring in $500,000 a year. Illinois Corporation Sues MGM on Sound (Continued from page^ 1) application of magnetic light beams and the synchronization of sound upon film. The plaintiff lays claim to the first patent, issued to the late Henry C. Bullis, Mar. 13, 1920, and the sec- ond, issued to Bullis Dec. 15, 1915. The plaintiff asserts that these patents were acquired from the Bullis estate. Shearer Buys Slipper Los Angeles, Feb. 18. — The B. F. Shearer Co. has purchased the busi- ness of J. Slipper & Co., supply deal- ers. Guy Slipper, head of the latter company, is retiring, with his son, Glenn Slipper, remaining to be assis- tant to C. Frank Harris, head of the local Shearer office. Forum to Hold Benefit Consolidated Amusements' Forum in the Bronx will hold a benefit to- night for the Red Cross flood relief fund. A net of approximately $2,000 is expected. Among the stars scheduled to ap- pear are Bob Hope, Harry Hershfield, half of Borrah Minevitch's band, Ben Nelson and his band, the Three Little Sachs, Vaughn de Leath, Mitzi Green and Baby Rose Marie. Pep Club Dances Tonight The Paramount Pep Club will hold their first annual informal dinner and dance tonight at the Hotel Astor. Massachusetts Bills Beaten Boston, Feb. 18. — The House Com- mittee on Taxation has turned in a report of "no action necessary" on Representative Albert Rubin's bill to apply a 10 per cent tax to theatre admissions, and has given Assembly- man Charles Hiller leave to with- draw his bill to classify all prize games as lotteries. Seek Nebraska Ticket Tax Lincoln, Neb., Feb. 18. — Senator Tracy Frost has introduced into the Nebraska unicameral legislature a bill calling for a 10 per cent tax on gross income from film rentals, and a 10 per cent tax on admissions. The two levies are seen as having a potential cost to the industry of $600,000. Wanted: Film Bd. Head Chicago, Feb. 18. — The Chicago Film Board of Trade, which elected Allan Usher, Paramount branch man- ager, as its president several weeks ago, is in the market for a new chief executive. Usher's promotion this week to district manager for Para- mount here, automatically disqualifies him for the Film Board post, as dis- trict managers are barred from mem- bership on the boards. Australian Plans Trip Melbourne, Jan. 28. (By Air Mail Via London.) — His first trip since taking office, Cresswell O'Reilly, chief Australian censor, will leave for Lon- don on Feb. 19. He will later visit the United States and call in on Holly- wood for a brief stay. Stanley S. Crick, managing director in this mar- ket for 20th-century Fox, will leave on a world tour a week later. DON s'eP out f0 in a laugh-sparking, sky-larfcing, kiss-and-run romance! Tyrone of "Lloyds of London fame, and lovely Loretta are "that way . . . with dashing Don Ameche, radio and screen favorite, as the third that makes a crowd. Every merry minute is good news for the good old ticket-machine ! ORETTA DON OUNG • AMECHE VE IS NEWS with •X SLIM SUMMER VILLE • DUDLEY DIGGES ^LTER C^LETT • GEORGE SANDERS \ J^EpARWELL • STEPIN FETCHIT x i \ PAULINE MOORE Directed by Tay Garnett Associate Producers Earl Carroll and Harold Wilson • Screen play by Harry Tugend and Jack Yellen • Story by William R. Lipman and Frederick Stepbani » » Darryl F. Zanuck in Charge of Production ft In on (But , .of**'"6 . sl W> ^ "Love U Ne«» i a corned8 1 , eUa *°ttl * best ^" Pnwet, ^ «. „re re 0f this year." THE KEYSTONE OF YOUR FUTURE MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, February 19, 1937 Erpi Planned Revamping of Industry: FCC (Continued from page 1) of distribution facilities and theatre properties. The reorganization plans were not carried out as indicated by the Erpi management, the report declared, be- cause of the reluctance of the Bell System to support such a program. More than 80 per cent of the total revenue of $152,029,326 derived by Erpi from all activities from Jan. 1, 1927, to Dec. 31, 1935, was obtained from the film industry, the report de- clared. The high spots of the company's' in- come for the nine-year period were $91,737,098 obtained from sound re- producing, $24,058,476 from royalties, $19,733,428 from export sales and $11,510,830 from sound recording. Since its formation in 1926, Erpi has been the leading Bell System agency for the exploitation of non-utility products, Congress was told by the commission. While Erpi's activities yielded but a small part of A. T. & T. revenue, it was pointed out, the posi- tion of the Bell System in the film industry has been one of dominance. Bell Called Leader "Within the field," it was declared, "the Bell System leads in the supply of equipment both to producers for recording sound films and to the ex- hibitors for reproduction. Further, as a result of operations in the field, the Bell System achieved a powerful financial influence in the industry." The report discussed at length the licensing and cross-licensing agree- ments which have featured Erpi opera- tions, asserting that as a result of such agreements, A. T. & T. has strength- ened its position in certain fields. "The outstanding example of direct exploi- tation of by-products for profit is that of the sound film equipment sup- ply activities of Erpi," the report com- mented. "In this field \he Bell System has refrained from licensing others under its patents (except for licenses to RCA under the cross-licensing agreements) in the interests of pro- tecting its own direct exploitation of the field. There is an evident reluct- ance to license independent manufac- turers not only in the sound film field, but in other fields also where the Bell System considers that it may itself wish to exploit the patent rights directly at some future time. Prestige a Factor "In the direct exploitation of sound film equipment, the prestige and finan- cial stability of the Bell System has been used in the promotion of its non-utility business. This was empha- sized at the time of the signing of the recording license contracts with the major producers and, as is shown in sales letters quoted, the Bell System prestige and reputation has been re- counted to prospective buyers of the- atrical sound equipment. "The financial resources of the Bell System have been used to advance its interest in the industry, and the patent strength of the system has been a valued factor in meeting the com- petition of independent manufactur- ers." The report attacked the claims of Gets Detroit Chill Detroit, Feb. 18.— This town is fed up on Black Legion. Before the picture "The Black Legion" opened at the Madison it was shown in the jail where the convicted Black Legion prisoners are held and the stunt received columns of space. At the end of the first week the gross was about 25 per cent below average, and "After the Thin Man" was booked in although it had played three weeks at the U. A. the company that the cross-license agreements were needed to relieve a patent deadlock situation hampering progress, asserting that "they do not constitute a free exchange of licenses which permit each party the use of the patents of the other," but are so limited as to amount, in effect, to a division of fields between the various parties. Erpi Reluctant to License "In the field of theatrical sound picture equipment Erpi's chief field of operation," it was declared, "an unbending policy of refusal to license has prevailed both before and after since the Government suit. In a few other fields, such as public address, non-theatrical sound picture equip- ment and diathermic equipment, a more liberal policy has been followed. "The major share, over 80 per cent, of the total revenue of Erpi has come from the industry, the exploitation of the business was first carried on by the Bell System through an exclusive licensee, the Vitaphone Corp., since the Bell System, as a matter of policy, did not want to carry on direct exploi- tation. By an agreement of April 20, 1926, an exclusive license was granted to Vitaphone for the recording and reproduction of sound, the Vitaphone Corp. agreeing to sub-license other producers. Show Bell Film Activities The commission pointed out that the Bell System has acquired finan- cial interests in the industry "for the purpose of exercising influence and control to protect and expand its hold on the apparatus market. The interest acquired was once considered by the Erpi management to be sufficient to control the conduct of the industry. The use of financial power and influ- ence is illustrated by the activities of the Bell System in connection with the acquisition of studios, in the financing of pictures, in the loan of $15,000,000 to the Fox companies and in the influence exerted in connection with the reorganization of Paramount- Publix Corp. "As a result of a creditor relation- ship arising out of dealings with re- cording licensees, and bv the consid- ered use of pressure possible by reason of this creditor position, Erpi directed the organization and ultimately ac- auired control of General Service Studios, Inc.. operating studios on the coast. The acquisition was con- trary to the announced Bell System policy of restricting itself to the sup- ply of apparatus. It was undertaken originally to provide facilities for the promotion of the educational and in- dustrial fields, but subseouently the studios were used to provide produc- tion facilities to handle independent productions and to induce the record- ing of these productions on Erpi equipment, in order to divert royalty revenues from competitors to Erpi. In similar vein the commission out- lined other activities of Erpi in pro- duction, reporting that total advances for financing made by the company and subsidiaries to the end of 1935 amounted to $3,571,918, of which $850,401 was then outstanding. The report outlined the financial re- lations of the Bell System with Will- iam Fox and the Fox companies, un- dertaken, it declared, "to produce friendly relations with those interests which were expanding their properties and actively promoting the new sound film art." Total revenues of Erpi from the film industry during the nine-year period were $123,331,117, of which exhibition accounted for $94,851,215. or 50 per cent of all receipts from all sources, and production for $28,479,- 902, or 33 per cent. Total profits from all sources were $28,112,880. The company had 25 foreign subsidiaries, it was shown. Fox Theatre Claim Allowance Filed (Continued from pane 1) Stuart & Co., and signed by Fox The- atres Corp. In the claim of the Theatre Realty Corp. for $1,074,028 for rent due on a theatre leased in St. Louis by Fox Theatres dated Oct. 1, 1927, he recom- mended the sum of $773,300, which the realty company accepted. The claim of Joseph Laton for $16,387 was disallowed, having been withdrawn. The Trust Company of Georgia's claim for $1,053,646 was allowed, but for the amount of $400,000, which was accepted. This was for damages for breaking a lease dated Jan. 19. 1928. between Yaarub Temnle Bldg. Co. and Fox for 21 years at $100,000 a year. Hoffman Claim Dismissed He recommended that -the claim of S. Fenimore Hoffman for $500,000 b° dismissed because the complainant did not submit sufficient proof. The claim of Clark Robinson for $20,500 was allowed and recommended in a pre- vious report. The claim of Adolnhus M. Bur- roughs and Louis M. Rnas for $2,304,184 was disallowed. This was for a breach of two contracts for a lease on a group of 13 theatres with the Fox Northeastern Playhouses, and was disallowed on the ground that these leases were made directlv with the Northeastern company and had no connection with the fact that this company was a subsidiary of Fox. Seven smaller claims amounting to $4,500 were also dismissed. Lincoln's Birthday Tips Broadway Takes (Continued from pane 1) Over Heels in Love" and the seventh and final week of "Great Guv" ended last night at the Criterion with $7,000. "Love is News" will go into the Roxy on March 5, and "Wings of the Morning" is set to open at the Music Hall on March 11. Sunday Shows Banned Atlanta, Feb. 18. — Sunday films for charity were banned in College Park at a recent meeting of the City Council. 7 Says Mexico Films Must Please Public By JAMES LOCKHART Mexico City, Feb. 8. — Catering to the public is the only effective means of protecting the national industry, Cosme Hinojosa, mayor, told the Mexican Film Producers Union in answering their plea that the municipal Government compel theatres to ex- hibit more domestically-made pictures. The union also asked reductions in municipal taxes, arguing that the domestic industry pays proportionately heavier imposts than does the foreign. Mayor Hinojosa's letter to the union said in part : "In the opinion of the civic govern- ment, if the national production of film is to succeed, much more than the installation of studios and labora- tories and the acquisition of good equipment are necessary. Above all, original talent must be found for the presentation of sound and worthwhile plots ; there must be directors and players of good taste and artistic temperament and who act on their own initiative without aping foreign producers. Positive and practical pro- tection of the industry is not in the province of the municipal Government. Such protection, matters concerned mostly with import duties, fiscal, in- come and other taxes, is the affair of the Federal Government, which has direct supervision over the entire in- dustry." E. M. Loew Expanding Boston, Feb. 18. — E. M. Loew has taken over the Opera House in Hol- yoke and is remodeling it for an early opening. Western Massachusetts The- atres, Inc., has two theatres in the city. Loew is also reported to be about to open in Springfield where the latter circuit has three houses and its headquarters. This lends credence to the reports that Loew has an ex- pansion contest on with Nathan and Samuel Goldstein. The trouble is said to have started when the Gold- steins bought up a building in which Loew was operating a theatre. Wall Street GTE Shows Best Board Gam Net High Low Close Chansre Consolidated . VA 454 444 - 14 ronsolidated, pfd. . 16$i 1654 1654 - Vs Eastman Kodak . 17454 17354 17354 + 54 Eastman, pfd. . . . 160 160 160 -54 Gen. T. Equip. . . . 33 2154 32?£ +m Loew's, Inc 75*A 75 75 -Va, 2654 26Si Paramount 1 pfd.. 190 185*4 18554 - 54 Paramount 2 pfd. 2454 2354 23*4 + 54 Pathe Film m 9 9 — U. RKO w 9 — H 20th Century-Fox. 361$ 36 365* + Yt Universal, pfd. . . 101 101 —2 Warner Bros. . . . 15% 1554 1554 -14 Curb Off Net High Low Close Change Grand National . .. 354 3*6 .. 254 2 2 -14 Technicolor .. 1954 19 19*4 -Vs .. 454 454 454 Universal Pict. . ...16 16 16 RKO Bonds Drop 3 Points Net High Low Cose Change Loew's 354s '46. ...100 100 100 — 54 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 10354 10254 103 RKO 63 '41 pp.... 12254 120 120 —3 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 98% 9854 9854 + X (Quotations at close of Feb. 18) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, February 19, 1937 Belgian Unit Fights Burden of Taxation By PIERRE AUTRE Antwerp, Belgium, Feb. 8. — The Belgian industry, through the Union Nationale Cinematographique Beige, has registered a strong protest with the Belgian prime minister against the excessive taxes which are claimed to be a heavy burden on the industry in Belgium. The protest was sent de- spite the recent action of the Govern- ment in granting a reduction in taxes on admissions. The industry organi- zation contends that the reduction was not sufficient to relieve the indus- try of its burden, since it amounted only to about two or three per cent less than the previous scale. The U.N.C.B., which includes prac- tically all Belgian companies and ex- hibitors, has declared that the indus- try has been subject to burdensome taxation since 1920. It was pointed out that the industry is taxed by the various municipalities in addition to the Federal Government, and that special taxes on the screen have been maintained, despite the elimination of taxes on the legitimate theatre and variety shows. The U.N.C.B. warned that the in- dustry stands ready to cease activities if necessary if a satisfactory answer is not forthcoming. Opens Foreign House Boston, Feb. 18. — Moe Goldman, New York foreign picture theatre owner, has opened the International for foreign films. The house was for- merly the Columbia, a subsequent run. It is owned by Loew's, landlords of George Kraska's Fine Arts, operating on a somewhat similar policy for sev- eral years. Company Changes Name Dover, Del., Feb. 18.— Liberty Na- tional Pictures, Inc., a Delaware corporation, has changed its name to Autotherm Corp., New York. The Corporation Trust Co. is agent for the corporation. FROM STUDIO TO SCREEN THE VERY SAME DAY... Easy — When you use THE ONLY NATION-WIDE AIR EXPRESS More producers and exhibitors than you think beat the town through super- speed Air Express. Hard not to, when 1 . Nation-wide Air Express makes day and night deliveries direct to 216 key cities in the United States, to Honolulu, Manila, and 32 Latin-American countries. 2. Connects at hundreds of junc- tion points with fast Railway Express trains. if. Picks up and delivers, door-to- door, promptly, without extra charge, in all cities and princi- pal towns. One organization. One respon- sibility. One waybill. For service or information, phone any Railway Express office. MR EXPRESS DIVISION Railway Express Agency i Purely Personal ► JACK BROWER, Warner West Coast district manager with head- quarters in Los Angeles, and Leo Blanke, midwest district head with offices in Chicago, are in town for a few days. They will attend the com- pany's annual ball at the Waldorf to- morrow night. • Harry Gold, eastern division sales manager for U. A., returns today from a six-week tour of eastern and south- ern exchanges in behalf of the Schaef- er drive. Arthur Kay, whose voice is heard behind Terry Toons, Max Fleis- cher's shorts, and others, is the voice behind the marionettes at the Rainbow Room. • Max Richter, president of Con- solidated Amusements, local inde- pendent circuit, is vacationing on the coast. • Fred Schwartz has named the new arrival Robert Allen Schwartz. Mother and baby will leave the hos- pital in another week or so. • Gilbert Golden of Warners adver- tising staff yesterday took his brother, who has been ill for some time, home from the hospital. • Sig Wittman has switched his office from the local "U" exchange to the home office until Frank Mc- Carthy returns from Miami. • Nick Spanos, who formerly oper- ated the Louis, Bronx, is back from Greece and looking around for an- other theatre. • Jack Connolly, producer of Pathe News, plans to sail for England in April to attend the Coronation on May 12. • Tom DeVane, formerly with the RKO studios on the coast, is now edi- tor of Movie Story, a Fawcett publi- cation. • Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., left yes- terday on the Century for the coast to star work in David O. Selznick's "Prisoner of Zenda." • Ralph Daigh has been named man- aging editor of the New York office of Fawcett Publications by H. W. Fawcett. • Jack Partington will return from St. Louis tomorrow. He was due yes- terday but stayed over. • George J. Schaefer, vice-president of U. A., will return Saturday night from a two-week vacation in Florida. • Henry Siegel, managing director of the Little Carnegie Playhouse, returns today from two weeks in Florida. • John D. Clark is due back from a Miami vacation the end of the month. • Cresson E. Smith is planning a vacation at Nassau. Dave Loew has delayed his depar- ture for the coast until today. Percival C. Wren's "The Spur of Pride" has been acquired by M-G-M. LOUIS K. SIDNEY breathed a deeper sigh of relief yesterday when word came from the coast that his son, George, who underwent an emergency appendectomy at the Santa Monica Hospital Monday night is showing steady improvement. Mrs. Louis K. flew to her son's bedside. • Rod La Roque and his wife, Vilma Banky, are due on the Manhattan today. • Dorothy Modisett has joined Samuel Goldwyn as eastern story as- sistant to Beatrice Kaufman. • Kay Kamen left yesterday for Miami. He arrived from the coast a week ago. . . . Denver Robert Garland has been added to the 20th Century-Fox exchange staff as booker for the southern district. Paul Hoppen has bought the real estate where his Palace is located here. Edward Auger, Phototone assistant sales manager, is spending some time in Idaho Springs, Colo. Henry Westerfield, of Trinidad, Colo., succeeds Vern Fletcher as manager at Las Vegas, N. M., for F. W. C. Fletcher has been made city manager at Caldwell, Idaho. L. E. Kennedy, Erpi district sales representative, has been visiting Se- attle. Ed Sonney has leased the Chief in Pueblo, Colo. Quits Building Fight London, Ont., Feb. 16. — The suburban theatre building war here, in which three projects were under way within several hundred yards, has been eased by the retirement of one promoter from the race, announce- ment being made that the proposed Mayfair would not be built. Two other theatres are actually under way, however, at the edge of the city where the population is sparse. Will Honor Moloney Pittsburgh, Feb. 18. — Arrange- ments are being made here to honor John J. Maloney, M-G-M exchange manager, at a testimonial dinner March 1 commemorating his comple- tion of 15 years with the company here. It will be held in the Urban Room of the William Penn hotel. John H. Harris is general chairman of the affair and several home office executives from New York are ex- pected to attend. No Ohio Censor Cuts Columbus, Feb. 18. — For the first time in several months the censors did not order a single elimination during any one week, when 89 reels were re- viewed for the month ending Feb. 11. However, "Spain in Flames" was re- jected and banned from showing in Ohio. Plan Boston Film Dance Boston, Feb. 18. — A film district ball, sponsored by the Cinema Club, is to be held March 16 at the Statler. Charles Repec, Jack Rice, Dan Selet- sky, Walter Silverman, Paul Brod- erick and James Connolly compose the committee. Grand National Ups Production Budgets (Continued from page 1) Cagney, of more than $50,000 has been authorized by Alperson. Budget increases also have been ordered on "Something to Sing About," "Grand Canyon," color film, and B. F. Zeidman's "Sweetheart of the Navy." Edward Finney plans similar action on the remaining five Tex Ritter westerns scheduled. Berkowitz Leaves G.N. Los Angeles, Feb. 18. — Sam Berko- witz, who sold out his Far West Ex- changes to Grand National and be- came G.N. branch manager, has been compelled to relinquish his branch manager duties to devote his entire time to selling the 16 Far West pic- tures remaining on this season's schedule. These include releases from Ambassador- Conn and Television Pic- tures. Shift Carolina Managers Charlotte, Feb. 18. — Eugene W. Street, manager of the Carolina, Im- perial and State, will be transferred to Knoxville, Tenn., where he will manage six theatres, according to H. F. Kincey, president of North Caro- lina Theatres, Inc. Emil Bernstecker, manager of the Carolina, Greensboro, will be trans- ferred to Charlotte to manage the Carolina, Imperial and State. Frank H. Burns is being moved from the National, Greensboro, to the Caro- lina there. Grayson Poats is being transferred from the Granada, Bluefield, W. Va., to the assistant managership of the National, Greensboro, succeeding Spencer Wester, who has been pro- moted to the managership of the Caro- lina, Wilson, N. C. Transfer John O. Hooley Pittsburgh, Feb. 18. — A fixture in the East Liberty district for more than 20 years, John O. Hooley, thea- tre manager, is being transferred to the South Hills section by the Harris Amusement Cot where he will be placed in charge of the Mt. Oliver house. His successor at the Liberty is to be Sam DeFazio, who moves out there from the Mt. Oliver. The Harris outfit has also an- nounced the promotion of Ed Salomon from assistant manager of the Palace, downtown, to the managership of the Beechview. Talk 2,000-Foot Reel London, Feb. 9. — F. W. Allport of the Hays office here, has conferred, at the British Standards Institution, with the special committee representative of trade and public bodies which has been considering the 2,000-foot reel. An official statement speaks of "valuable information" which he provided which, it is stated, has assured the Institution of the "cordial sympathy and support of the Americans" in any decision ar- rived at. Allport goes to the Con- tinent shortly to engage in similar dis- cussions. Rifkin, Davis at N. H. New Haven, Feb. 18.— Julian Rif- kin and Jack Davis of Boston are at the Republic offices in the absence of Robert Cobe, manager, who is on his honeymoon in Florida. Filni Prize j Nominations Announced Motion Picture Acad- emy Submits Lists— Winners_Named. 8<": iion KS'-tue A»'w,?*f* j Five ,j"y3)ice \v 011 - ^EKJ' i |i| t*|^{|»s\?OVU' «• *s" •** j*,?-; i*jj.Uiw and i'1, "' tvV an 3Cici h* ii i:My Man Godfrey ,^ ^ DClrc^ m ; «My Han Godfrey"; ti c "•0c eluded, however, is a deduction of a profit of $333,534 realized on the sale of a British subsidiary to the C. M. Woolf interests in connection with Universal's new distribution arrange- ments in Great Britain. The letter states that the report also {Continued on page 4) G. B. Chairmanship To Isidore Ostrer London, Feb. 22. — Isidore Ostrer will rejoin the directorate of Gaumont British as chairman of the board, the company stated officially today. Mark Ostrer's position under the new ar- rangement will be that of managing director. The G. B. statement mentioned heavy losses said to have been sus- tained by the company's distributors. Commenting on this angle of the case, the Financial News today said : "It has been obvious for some time that a drastic capital reconstruction scheme {Continued on page 4) American Market Is Open, Says Pallos "The American market is more open today for British pictures than ever before," Stephen Pallos general manager of London Films, told Mo- tion Picture Daily Saturday just before he sailed on the lie de France after a four-months visit here. "Grosses on English pictures today are more than they have ever been," he said. "As soon as we release {Continued on page 4) Stabilization or Abolition Is Moss Objective Following a meeting of major cir- cuit representatives at License Com- missioner Paul Moss's office, moves are under way either to abolish or to stabilize the operation of games in local theatres, it was learned over the weekend. The meeting was held at the request of the commissioner who had received a complaint from Weisman, Quinn, Allen & Spett, attorneys for the I.T.O.A. At the meeting Melvin Albert protested the manner in which Loew's and RKO were conducting Bank Night and Screeno, stating these circuits were operating games in viola- tion of a decision handed down at Albany some time ago. Albert further charged that in order to participate in the monster games as conducted by the two major cir- cuits, patrons had to buy tickets. This was denied. Loew's was represented by C. C. Moskowitz and I. Frey; RKO by William England, and three district managers, including Charles MacDon- ald. These representatives assured Moss that the circuits would discon- tinue games provided the others {Continued on page 9) Honored Winter Park, Fla., Feb. 22. — Harry M. Warner today was given an honorary degree of doctor of the hu- manities at the Founders' Day convo- cation of Rollins College which last year gave a similar degree to Presi- dent Roosevelt. Today's ceremony marked one of the few times such a degree had been extended to the head of any film com- pany by an American college. The degree was conferred by Ham- ilton Holt, president of Rollins, who described Warner as "a man of will and vision in the development of a young and vital art ; an executive genius, a practical idealist and a bene- factor of many philanthropies." In citing Warner for the honor, {Continued on page 9) Artco Seen Staying in Roxy; Fight Looms on Fox, Detroit Minority bondholders of the Col- wood Co , which owns the Fox, De- troit, will protest the plan of reor- ganization when Federal Judge Ernest A. O'Brien sets a date for the hear- ing, it was stated yesterday by David Muss of McCarthy & Muss, law firm representing more than $1,000,000 of the outstanding $6,193,000 bonds. A hearing on the plan submitted by the Colwood company was held be- fore Special Master George A. Mar- ston in Detroit on Feb. 9. According to the plan, Fox Michigan Corp., wholly owned subsidiary of National Theatres, would lease the theatre for 15 years under terms providing for a guarantee of $125,000 a year as against 12]4 per cent of the gross when play- ing vaudeville and 15 per cent of the intake if the theatre is on a straight picture policy. National Theatres, it was stated, would give Fox Michigan $50,000 as {Continued on page 4) Despite conflicting reports current for some time, operation of the Roxy probably will be continued by Artco when 20th Century-Fox takes it over on, or after, March 5, it was learned yesterday from official sources. George Skouras, brother of Spyros, who is executive vice-president of Na- tional Theatres, which operates all Fox units, had been reported angling for the house, but this is emphatically denied. Under the Artco arrangement, Harry C. Arthur. Jack Partington and Irving Lesser are expected to get a long-term management contract. How long this contract will run is to be determined at meetings to be held by Sidney R. Kent, W. C. Michel and Arthur. Artco has been operating the Roxy under a management and percentage- of-the-profits deal with Howard S. Cullman, trustee, for almost four {Continued on page 4) Moves Put Up To Companies By Kuykendall Comments on Objections Offered to Boards The responsibility for further action on the M.P.T.O.A. trade practice pro- gram rests with the seven distribution companies which committed them- selves to supporting it, Ed Kuyken- dall, M.P.T.O.A. president, said yes- terday in commenting on the failure of the distributors thus far to author- ize branch managers to participate in the setting up of the local conciliation boards through which the exhibitor organization hopes that seven-tenths of its trade practice program might be realized. Motion Picture Daily last week disclosed after inquiries among major distributors that a majority of the companies which replied to the M.P.T.O.A. program have definite ob- jections to taking any immediate action on the local boards. Foremost among these are the insistence of some of the companies on a defined jurisdiction and procedure for the boards, the feeling that exhibitors as well as distributors should share the cost of maintaining the boards and the opinion that the likelihood of new Federal legislation affecting industry, which may extend to the enforcement of trade practice codes, makes the {Continued on page 9) Haines, Warners' Eastern Sales Head Roy H. Haines, eastern district manager for Warners, has been pro- moted to eastern sales manager with supervision over the company's east- ern and Canadian branches, Gradwell L. Sears, general sales manager, an- nounced over the weekend. He as- sumes his new duties today when he (Continued on page 9) Loew's Planning Two More Foreign Houses Plans are now being drafted for new Loew theatres in San Paulo, Brazil, and in Amsterdam, Holland, William Melniker, head of the com- pany's foreign theatre division, stated over the weekend. Loew's has been talking about building in Brazil for some time and (Continued on page 9) Radio— Pages 10-11 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, February 23, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 February 23, 1937 No. 44 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published dally except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc., Martin Quigley, president: Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at Rockefeller Center. New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- cations: MOTION PICTURE HERALD, BETTER THEATRES, TEATRO At, DIA. INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building, "Vine and Yucca Sts. ; Boone Mancall. Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave., C. B. O'Neill, Manager. WASHINGTON. Albee Building. Bertram F. Linz. Representative. AMSTERDAM: Zulder Amstellaan 5; Philip de Schaap, Representative. BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 K&plar-u, Budapest II; Endre Hevesi, Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientes 2495; N. Bruski, Representative. HELSINKI : Fredriksgatan 19C: Charlotte Laszlo, Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square, W. 1; Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address, Quigpubco, Lon- MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins St.; Cliff Holt. Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart, Representative. _ MONTEVIDEO: P. O. Box 664; Paul Bodo, Rep- MOSCOW: Petrovskl Per 8; Beatrice Stern, Rep- PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre, Repre PRAGUE:' Uhelny trh 2. Prague 1; Harry Knopf Representative. RIO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 3358; A. Weiss- man, Representative. ROME: Viale Gorizia; Vittorio Malpassuti, Rep- SHANGHAI: Rooms 38-41. Capital Theatre Build- ing, 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler. Repre- STOCKHOLM: Kungsgatan 36; Ragnar Allberg. Representative. TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken; H. Tominaga, Representative. VIENNA: Neustiftgasse, 55, Vienna VII; Hans Lorant. Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Sillei. Representative. Entered as second class matter, January 4, 1926, at the Post 0..ce at New York City. N. Y., under Act of March 3. 1879. Subscription rates per year $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "U" Merges Serial, Action Departments Hollywood, Feb. 22. — Universal has combined its serial and action pic- ture departments because of the addi- tion of four action films to the current schedule. The new unit will be known as the action-melodrama de- partment. The first picture under the new arrangement will be "West Coast Limited." Ben Koenig and Henry MacRae will produce with Koenig and Barney Sarecky handling the pro- duction reins on the second, "Night Patrol." MITCHELL MAY, Jr. CO., INC. • INSURANCE Specialists To The Motion Picture Industry 75 Maiden Lane, N. Y. City 510 W. 6th St., Los Angeles, Cal. "Lost Horizon" {Columbia) Hollywood, Feb. 22. — So fantastic in theme as to challenge credulity, Columbia offers in "Lost Horizon" one of the most radical departures from orthodox formula ever to be presented on the screen. It is finely produced, acted and directed. There is evidence that money, time, dili- gence were not stinted in its making. The film is a monument to the courage and vision of its sponsors. It is as different from any screen trend as day is from night. The successful commercial presentation of the film leading to the full realization of the producer's hopes demands showmen's efforts comparable with the thought and resourcefulness that were put into its creation. The picture tells a bizarre story. In it audiences are asked to believe in an improbable adventure- existent only in vivid imagination. The elements of romance, drama, comedy, thrills, and idyllic spectacle blend in that manner when fate hurls a little group of civilized people beyond a mental, timeless horizon. It is necessarily heavily laden with dialogue in order to bring the theme within the realm of general understanding. The film has stirring action which erupts dynamically in the sequences depicting Chinese revolutionary fury, the suspense of a flight over desert and mountains, and awe-inspiring avalanches. Embellishing the film's artistic quality are the backgrounds, the gardens and palaces of the mystic Shangri La where time stops and only peace reigns. Ronald Colman, Edward Everett Horton, John Howard, Thomas Mitchell and Isabell Jewell, refugees escaping the fury of a Chinese uprising, are carried to the Eden-like land that is unknown to mortal mind and which is under the theosophical guidance of H. B. Warner, a Lama, and Sam Jaffe. its head Lama. Colman finds heavenly peace and falls in love with Jane Wyatt, the flower of Shangri La. Spiritual and mental reeeneration come to Horton. Mitchell and the hard street girl, Miss Tewell. Howard, although under the spell of the passionate affection of Margo, is a similarly alien inhabitant of the mystic garden and. convincing Colman that all is unreal, prevails upon him to escaoe. Mareo, asrinar, dies as the trio is deserted bv guides. Howard, driven mad, commits suicide. Colman tryinsr to beat his wav back, is found bv nomads of the wilderness England, after thrilline to the news that the brilliant missing dinlomat is found, never sees him. for after telling his weird story he flees back to Shaneri La and Miss Wvatt. The directorial techninue of Frank Canra stens off anv beaten track. Crediting audiences with intelligence and the abilitv to understand and annreciate the fantastic concept, his efforts are nainstnkinelv thnroueh. The nualitv of the acting bv the entire cast in assavinp- the difficult, imaginative interpretations, should win critical audience favor. Like- wise, the fine presentation of the film will not pd unrecognized. Tt is based on the novel bv Tames Hilton. Robert Riskin wrote the screennlav Tt calls for acute exhibitor understanding, analvsis and wholehearted selline effort. The camera work bv Tosenh Walker pnd his ascnn'prpa the music accomnaniment arranged bv Dimitri Tiomkin and directed bv Max Steiner add much to the picture. The fantastic dramatic tone and the extreme novel tv are the dominating selline- angles. Production Code Seal No. 2,061. Running time, 135 minutes. "A." 'Decency in Motion Pictures" Consolidated Shares Argued in Delaware Wilmington, Feb. 22. — Argument was heard before the State Supreme Court at Dover in the case of Con- solidated Films, Inc., in which the question of stocks and dividends pay- able were main issues. Decision was reserved and the court adjourned until March 19. The case is similar to one heard several weeks ago in which the right to change the par value of stocks was argued. The outcome was reported to have an important bearing on numer- ous Delaware charters. Becker Resigns Washington, Feb. 22. — Samuel Becker has resigned his post as special counsel for the F. C. C. in the A. T. & T. investigation. Rites for Mrs. Levin Chicago, Feb. 22. — Funeral services for Mrs. Gussie Balaban Levin, mother of the Balaban brothers, will be held at the residence of Barney Balaban at 3400 Sheridan Road, here, on Tuesdav. Mrs. Levin died in Miami, Fla., Feb. 19. following a stroke. Barnev, Tohn, Harry. David and Elmer Balaban. sons of Mrs. Levin, who were at the bedside at the time of her death, arrived from Miami ves- terday. Another son, A. J. Balaban, is in Europe. Allows Burnett Appeal _ Federal Judge Francis G. Caff ey signed an order on Saturday in the RKO reorganization proceedings per- mitting W. Gordon Burnett to appeal to the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals from an order signed by Judge Wil- liam Bondy on Jan. 25, 1937, which disallowed his claim for $41,172. The origin of the screen's responsi- bility toward the public, the causes which led to the necessity of an in- ternal regulation which would make the screen free of criticism on the score of indecency, and the manner of achieving that objective are discussed calmly and with an intelligent under- standing of every phase of the prob- lem of the modern film by Martin Quigley, in "Decency in Motion Pictures," published by Macmillan. "The screen can perform for the benefit of humanity a service mighty in proportions and far-reaching in effects," the writer declares in a fore- word. The maintenance of the screen's healthy influence upon a mass audi- ence is seen by Quigley as essential "to the nation's welfare and to the continued prosperity of the industry of motion pictures." Traces History of Code In successive chapters Quigley, who himself played an important part in the formulation and final acceptance of the Production Code, discusses dis- passionately the obligations of the screen, the origins of the problem, provocations of criticism, efforts at correction, the code itself and prob- lems related to that which forms the theme of his small but significant book. "The function of art is to ennoble," he declares, detailing the inherent responsibility in an art-entertainment form which reaches millions virtually simultaneously. "The failures of the screen to adjust its moral influences focussed world opinion upon it," he says. "Its successes have latterly amounted to the outstanding moral accomplishment of the modern world." Political censorship Quigley sees as having demonstrated itself to be an "unworkable scheme." Cited is the industry commitment voiced by Will H. Hays when he became head of the M.P.P.D.A., to maintain the highest possible moral and artistic standards of production. Cites Objectionable Films Briefly the author gives attention to certain films which he classed as "typical of wrong standards." Efforts at remedies began with the resolution adopted by the M.P.P.D.A. in 1927, which Quigley calls not wholly inef- fective but falling short of the needs. Then is recounted the development of the Production Code, ratified by the M.P.P.D.A. on March 31, 1930. There are discussed the problems of applica- tion and tribute paid to the wise ad- ministration of the code. Attention is paid to the growth of the Legion of Decency, and the subsequent forma- tion of the Production Code Adminis- tration, headed by Joseph I. Breen. Related problems, such as block book- ing, double billing, theatre classifica- tion and foreign film are discussed. The purpose of the treatise, Quigley declares, is to make the philosophy and the method of handling the prob- lem better understood. The industry itself, and equally importantly, those whose interests purport to touch upon the industry, may well read this work, finding there understanding and much of signifi- cance. Aaronson. i Lit iiHm PRODUCTION Re/eased thru UNITED ARTISTS m MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, February 23, 1937 i Purely Personal ► Charles R. Rogers and William Pierce left the Universal studio for New York last night. They are expected here Thursday. • D. A. Doran will arrive in Holly- wood tomorrow. He will stay there a few weeks conferring with Harry Cohn, then return to New York and later sail for England to organ- ize Columbia's editorial department abroad. • Sol Edwards, Grand National's eastern sales manager, leaves today on a tour of the exchanges. He'll visit Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, Detroit, Buffalo and Albany. • Jack Brower, Warner coast district manager, left by plane for Los An- geles on Saturday. Leo Blank, mid- west district sales head, returned the same day to Chicago. • Wilma Kroeger, Viennese singer now appearing in "Naughty Marietta" at the American Music Hall, tomor- row will marry James P. Davis, press agent. William K. Howard, the director, sailed Saturday on the He de France. He may do another picture for Lon- don Films. Buddy Rogers was listed on the same boat. • Robert Coyle, Charleroi, Pa., ex- hibitor, is in town for a few days. He spent Saturday night at the Warner ball at the Waldorf as guest of Roy H. Haines. • Zasu Pitts arrived yesterday on the Queen Mary. Marielle Chantol, French film and opera star, also ar rived on that boat. • Marguerite Churchill withdraws from the cast of "And Now Good bye" tonight and returns to Holly wood. Will H. Hays arrives from the coast today after a stopover in Chicago yesterday. Harry C. Arthur and Jack Part- ington are due today from St. Louis. • George J. Schaeter has returned from a fishing trip to Bimini, Fla. • Joe Horn stein returns today from a trip to Havana and Miami. The Tavern MEETING PLACE of the INDUSTRY MAKE THIS YOUR LUNCHEON — DINNER — SUPPER CLUB 158 W. 48th St. Toots Shor Artco Seen Staying in Roxy; Fight Looms on Fox, Detroit (Continued from page 1) security under the lease and National agrees to provide a five-year 20th Century-Fox franchise. According to Muss, a syndicate headed by Joseph Plunkett, who re- cently joined Columbia, offered a bet- ter plan, but couldn't produce a pic- ture franchise without a lease. Muss said yesterday that he will oppose the Colwood plan as "unfair and unreasonable." For the year ended Aug. 31, 1936, the theatre grossed $1,040,000 and since Wood- ward Ave. has been widened the take has increased. Since Christmas, he said, the weekly gross averaged $28,- 000. Under the terms of the proposed lease with Fox Michigan, the gross will not provide for any money for the bondholders after taxes are paid. The theatre is now assessed at $2,000,- 000 and it is hoped the assessment value will be increased in time to the original $6,000,000, it was pointed out. Muss said he has recommended taking sealed bids for the leasing of the Fox and in that way outside bid- ders may come into the picture. As it stands now, he stated, Fox Michi- gan has made it known that they have the inside track and as a result have discouraged other bids. Muss further states his group has enough bonds to block the present plan. Fox Theatres the Owner All stock in Colwood is owned by Fox Theatres of which Milton C. Weisman is receiver. The bondhold- ers protective committee, it was said, is headed by Halsey, Stuart men. This company underwrote the original bond issue on the Fox, Detroit. Under the reorganization plan, hold- ers of $1,000 bonds would receive 10 shares of $3 preferred stock and 10 shares of common in the new company. David M. Idzal is managing director of the theatre and Union Guardian Trust Co. of Detroit is receiver. Muss plans to personally protest the reorganization plan at the court hear- ing. Revisions in the reorganization plan now being sent out by the bondholders have been made to bring up to Jan. 7 the operating figures of the theatre. Previously, the financial operations had been recorded as of Dec. 17. Legion Approves 9 Of Latest Pictures Nine new pictures reviewed by the National Legion of Decency during the week ended Feb. 20 were found un- objectionable either for general pat- ronage or for adults. One was found "objectionable in part." Following are the ratings accorded the newly reviewed pictures : Class A, Section I — Unobjectionable for Gen- eral Patronage: "Borderland," Para- mount ; "The Devil Diamond," Am- bassador - Conn - Melody ; "Ein Fal- scher Fuffziger" (German), Albo ; "Land Beyond the Law," Warners ; "Naszut Felaron" (Hungarian), Lux; "Sea Devils," RKO, and "Wings of the Morning," 20th Century-Fox. Class A, Section II — Unobjectionable for Adults : "Her Husband's Secre- tary," First National, and "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney," M-G-M. (Continued from page 1) years. At the time this company stepped in the weekly gross was down to less than $7,000 a week. Average weekly business for the last year has been better than $50,000. With the theatre to be known as 20th Century-Fox's show window, the distributing company will play an im- portant part in its operation. Na- tional Theatres will be more or less in the background. Arthur is due next Tuesday from St. Louis and will most likely confer with Michel before returning to the Mound City. American Market Is Open, Says Pallos (Continued from page 1) 'Knight Without Armour,' we expect to gross more than double the take of 'King Henry VIII' in the Ameri- can market." Pallos estimated that the picture will garner $1,500,000 in this market, "something we never dreamed of before." He pointed to the cast, direc- tor and story as the reasons. Within the past three months, the general manager of London Films has been studying audience reaction in various parts of the country. He said he even visited Wichita, Kan., to get an idea of what the public wanted. He has also ben studying exploitation angles, he said. Asked to comment on his findings, Pallos asserted the best way to ex- plain that was to say "I know what the public does not want." "We, in London," he added, "must take a great interest in the American market." He said he disagreed with other prominent British producers that the American market was limited and unprofitable for English-made films. Upon his return to England, Pallos said he will make every attempt to get Alexander Korda to come over shortly. G. B. Chairmanship To Isidore Ostrer (Continued from page 1) is inevitable. The sooner this is brought forward the better, not only for the company's shareholders but for British industry generally." The financial publication states fur- ther that the G. B. board should now know how much capital has been lost, and, commenting on the company's cash position, doubts that reserves are adequate to cover the heavy production losses. Drops Studio Holdings London, Feb. 11. — British National Films has disposed of its holdings in Pinewood Studios, and John Corfield, managing director of B.N., has re- signed from the Pinewood board. It is understood J. A. Rank, who re- cently resigned from B.N., has taken over the major part of its Pinewood holdings. B.N. recently contracted to make a series of pictures for A.B.P., and will probably use the latter's B.I.P. studio at Elstree. "U's" Loss for '36 Placed at $1,835,419 (Continued from page 1) reflects the adoption of a new prac- tice of closing the accounts of foreign subsidiaries, other than Canadian, one or two fiscal months earlier than the New York closing date in order to make possible earlier reports to stock- holders than heretofore. Inasmuch as the new accounting policy was adopted during the fiscal year reported on, the letter points out, the current report reflects the operations of foreign sub- sidiaries for only 10 or 11 months, whereas subsequent annual reports will cover a full year's operations of such subsidiaries. The combined loss of the foreign subsidiaries would have been approximately $175,000 less had their reports covered the full 52-week period, the letter says. Pointing out that control of the company changed during the year, the letter states that the company's credit has been strengthened, an even flow of pictures is assured and the new man- agement is confident that the company has been enabled "to participate to a greater degree in the improved earn- ings of the motion picture industry." Merger Being Considered The letter also states that consider- ation is being given to a merger of. Universal Pictures Co., Inc., and Universal Corp. The latter holds all of the second preferred and 90 per cent of the common stock of Univer- sal Pictures. The company's profit and loss state- ment shows income from film rentals and sales of companies operating in the U. S. amounting to $14,264,466. Sales of accessories aggregated $375,- 844. Amortization of film costs and other expenses totaled $11,716,572, leaving a gross profit of $2,944,742. Sales and distribution costs amounted to $3,393,151, and general and admin- istrative expenses were $907,829. Loss before write-downs of investments in certain foreign subsidiaries and pro- vision for losses of subsidiaries operat- ing in foreign territories was $1,394,- 615. Operating deficit on Nov. 2, 1935, amounted to $699,719, which with the loss for the 52 weeks ended Oct. 31, 1936, left a consolidated operating de- ficit of $2,535,139, as of that date. The report lists total current and working assets of $7,985,836, and total current liabilities of $3,486,090. Ban "Spain in Flames" Philadelphia, Feb. 22. — An order to prohibit the showing of "Spain in Flames" has been issued to Pennsyl- vania censors by Governor Earle, who, after attending a preview at censor headquarters, stated : "This picture is pure Communistic propaganda dressed up as a plea for Democrarcy." Two Plays Close "London Assurance," which opened at the Vanderbilt Thursday night, closed Saturday after four perform- ances. "Tide Rising," which opened at the Forty-fourth St. Theatre Jan. 24, also closed that evening. JULES VERNE'S DAUNTLESS HERO, THE MIGHTY COURIER OF THE CZAR, LEAPS TO LIFE IN A STUPENDOUS PRESENTATION OF THE BOLD ROMANCE THAT FLAMED ACROSS SIBERIA'S PLAINS IN THE STIRRING DAYS OF IMPERIAL RUSSIA In the tents of the Tartars!— Savage chieftains come to revel in the big! show of the dancing girls, and other barbarian pleasures and splendors. [ TEN THOUSAND PLUNGING HORSEMEN ON THE SCREEN AT ONE TIME! . . . Two great armies clashing before your startled eyes!... astounding scenes of marvelous spectacle and fiery romance sweeping the screen as Strogoff bat- ,~^~tles on! One woman whose love meant more than life... another whose kiss meant dishonor and death! . . . Heart-throbs pounding thrill upon thrill as this thundering drama rolls on to a crashing climax! MICHAEL STROGOFF with ANTON WALBROOK The screen's new dangerous lover, as the hero who fights through the lash of armies to a crimson goal. ELIZABETH ALLAN as Nadia, the beautiful girl who dared to travel alone in a seething land of armies on the march. MARGOT GRAHAME as Zangarra, the most dangerous woman in Russia . . . dar- ing, deceitful, delightful ... in the pay of the cruel Ogaref f . AKIM TAMIROFF as Ogareff, traitor to the Throne, and the sinister power behind the terror of the Tartar hordes. ERIC BLORE as Cyril Blount, British war correspondent, helpless in the midst of raiding barbarians! FAY BAINTER former stage star, as Strogoff's mother, who braved barbarian torture to conceal her son. A PANBRO S. BERMAN PRODUCTION ..Directed GEORGE NICHOLLS, JR. Tuesday, February 23, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Start Planning For Control of Theatre Games (Continued from page 1) would do likewise. When this was put up to Albert, he said he could not talk for the I.T.O.A. and that any statement would have to come from Harry Brandt. The head of the independent exhibitor organization is vacationing at Miami Beach and is due back in a few days. However, on Jan. 20, members of the organiza- tion flatly refused to drop games unless RKO and Loew's increased ad- missions. The contention of the inde- pendent operators is that they cannot compete with major circuits unless there is a marked difference in prices. No further meetings are scheduled at Moss's office, although the com- missioner told the men he would hold himself in readiness. Commenting on the game situation, Moss told Motion Picture Daily that "it is disgraceful. It has become a dog-eat-dog affair." "The idea started with theatres giving away $10. It rapidly grew to $3,500," he said, "and pretty soon this will be increased to $5,000. The next thing you know," he added, "they will be giving the theatres away." Moss also stated there were com- plaints by a number of children from the ages of 12 to 16. He said that the children are charged adult prices and because of crowded theatres cannot sit in the special sections reserved for them. Within the past few days, Loew's has been juggling dates on games. Haines, Warner 's Eastern Sales Head (Continued from page 1) moves from the local exchange to the home office. A successor to the eastern district post will not be named for the present. Haines started with the company as First National branch manager in Cincinnati in 1919, then was trans- ferred to Pittsburgh in a similar capa- city. After a term in Pittsburgh, he was made central district manager, then switched to New York as Metro- politan district sales head. Last year he was elevated to eastern district manager with Charles Rich, formerly Albany exchange head, succeeding in the Metropolitan post. Shathin W. B. Japan Head Michael Shathin, formerly with Loew's for many years, has been made manager of Warners' activities in Japan, Joe Hummel, foreign general sales manager for the company, stated following his return from a seven- month tour of foreign countries. "Conditions are very good all over," Hummel asserted. "Ridiculous" — Goldwyn Hollywood, Feb. 22.— Samuel Gold- wyn, commenting on the Dickstein Bill, which is being discussed in Washington and which aims to limit the inflow of foreign talent, today termed the proposed legislative meas- ure "ridiculous." Summer Camp Play Amuse® Mostly; Has Limited Appeal By PLAYBOY The business of the summer camp, including its communion with nature, the descent of the female on the matri- monial weaknesses of the male, has its story told with amusing and something less results in "Having Wonderful Time," new play by Arthur Kober which opened at the Lyceum Saturday night. In the first act, the fun is furious and it also moves. In the second and third, the playwright either (1) tired or (2) simply could not maintain the pace and his handiwork shows it. However, as it stands, this play may embrace enough moments to carry it along the paths of an appeal largely limited to a segment of the Jewish clientele from which it draws breath. In plot, there is not much to "Hav- ing Wonderful Time," telling as it does of romance, the real thing, and petting, the synthetic. However, Kath- arine Locke, as the shy girl whose insides seem to dictate a longing for better things, forgets her broken off engagement for marriage with Jules Garfield, young lawyer sans a job. Romantic Leads Competent The cast is well nigh perfect in types and performance, led off by Miss Locke, who is touching and appealing to her insight into the frustrations of the stenographer from the Bronx and by Garfield who ranks well up among the younger actors along Broadway for earnestness and forthright inter- pretation. They, more than the others, impart a poignancy which lifts the proceedings far above the routine and claptrap which otherwise might have prevailed. Hollywood? Not as this stands. To transfer to celluloid and to keep its current flavor would make the play largely beyond the ken of the average person's understanding. However, treatment is susceptible of easy appli- cation and with it, "Having Wonder- ful Time" might have a chance. H. M. Warner Cited By Rollins College (Continued from page 1) Richard Burton, professor of English literature at Rollins, said : "Mr. War- ner was brought to this country by his parents at the age of seven. He was educated in our public schools and, from an early age, devoted his energy and his vision to a phase of the the- atre then in its pioneer stage, rapidly bringing it to its present estate. His career reads like a romance. Warner Brothers, through Vitaphone, were the first producers to sponsor sound films. They also were the early experi- menters in color on the screen and have been conspicuous in utilizing the finest literature of the world for pic- ture purposes. Their productions in- clude such film masterpieces as "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "An- thony Adverse," "Green Pastures" and "The Story of Louis Pasteur." Mr. Warner's business sagacity has ena- bled him to carry out ambitious plans at a time when many similar organ- izations suffered from the financial depression." In reply, Warner said : "I am deeply Cowdin Finds Trade Improving in Europe Completing a survey of conditions in Europe, J. Cheever Cowdin, chair- man of Universal, yesterday stated on his return on the Queen Mary that in all of the 11 countries he visited during the last two months the in- dustry was making rapid strides as the result of better pictures and im- proved economic and political condi- tions. While in Paris he discussed the film business with President Albert Le- brun of France. Lebrun was a close friend of Cowdin's uncle, the late Rob- ert Bacon, former American Ambas- sador to France. Cowdin completed negotiations for the services of Danielle Darrieux, Parisian comedy and dramatic star. Films are a popular institution in Russia and the Soviet industry is making great strides, Cowdin found during his stay in Moscow as the guest of the American ambassador, Joseph Davies. Cowdin conferred with Soviet Minister of Films Schumiatsky. Met by Cochrane His homecoming was saddened when he received a radiogram notifying him of the death of his brother-in-law, Charles Morgan. Cowdin rushed off the pier, but was met by P. D. Coch- rane, Charles Paine and Charles Ford, the latter arriving yesterday from In- diana where he attended the funeral of his aunt. Thomas Dodds, chairman of Atlan- tic Films, arrived on the same boat and will confer today or tomorrow with Columbia executives on "Thfln- der in the City." He will remain here until March 10 conferring with Joan du Guerny and Joe Fliesler, rep- resentatives, and sail on that date on the Queen Mary. He said his company plans three pictures next season. Zasu Pitts returned from England after making two films, "Wanted" and "Mary Goes to Town" for Embassy Films. Marielle Chantal arrived for a three- week vacation during which she plans to take in the shows. Having finished one picture for G. B. last November, the French player will appear in an- other for the same company starting in June. Plan Child Player Law London, Feb. 11. — Legislation is expected to make possible the em- ployment of child players in British films free of existing restrictions, which seriously hamper producers. Strong representations have recently been made to the Government by the F.B.I. Film Group, and Capt. Richard Norton, of B.&D. and Pinewood, ad- dressed a meeting of members of Parliament on the subject. honored by the degree Rollins College has bestowed upon me and I hope and pray the screen will continue to play a great part in preserving American- ism and in giving the youth of to- morrow the opportunities it gave us of yesterday." Moves Put Up To Companies By Kuykendall (Continued from page 1) establishment of the local boards un- wise at this time. Kuykendall said that no further meetings with distributors were planned by the M.P.T.O.A. now and emphasized that it was squarely up to the distributors to carry out their commitments in respect to the pro- gram from this point on. Kuykendall plans to leave here today to attend the resumed hearings on the Dickstein alien actor bill in Washing- ton tomorrow. He testified at the hearings last week and reported that opposition to the measure appeared to be of sufficient proportions to bar passage of the bill at least in its present form. Kuykendall completed arrangements with Edgar Hoover, chief of the Fed- eral Bureau of Investigation, to ad- dress the M.P.T.O.A. national con- vention at Miami, March 16 to 18, and will invite other Government officials to participate in the program. Loew's Planning Two More Foreign Houses (Continued from page 1) only recently acquired a site. The Amsterdam plot was bought by Arthur Loew on his recent trip to that country. Ground is ready to be broken for a new theatre in Bombay. Loew archi- tects have just completed plans for this house. The Brisbane, Australia, and Durban, South Africa, structures are expected to be ready for opening this summer. All theatres will be of the de luxe type. THEATRE ACCOUNTING by WILLIAM F. MORRIS (Certified Public Accountant) Tells all the facta about your business each week. • Payroll data for Social Security Taxes. • Profit at a glance — Daily or Weekly. • All expenses deducted — In- cluding Rent, Taxes and Depreciation. • Complete record of ad- vance bookings. • Itemized Schedule of All Assets and Equipment with Table of Depreciation Rates. • Does not require a book- keeper to handle it. $3 ENOUGH FOR A FULL YEAR'S BOOKKEEPING QUIGLEY BOOKSHOP ROCKEFELLER CENTER NEW YORK 10 RADIO MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, February 23, 1937 i Radio Personals ► JOHN E McMILLAN, head of the Comptois Agency, leaves early this week on a client contact trip. . . . Bill Thomas of Young and Rubi- cam hopped off for Virginia over the holiday weekend. . . . Hilaire Belloc, English author, will be on the Vallee hour for his first air interview Thurs- day. . . . Anna Held's daughter will be George Rector's guest on the lat- ter's new CBS series Feb. 25. . . . Walter Hampden will offer a scene from "An Enemy of the People" on the "Bandwagon" the same eve- ning. . . . + Dorothy Allen has been named to assist Evelyn Gardiner on the "Home Forum" broadcasts over KDKA. . . . Yasha Dadsko's band will replace Bill Landau's orchestra on the WHN "Sunrise Hour" beginning Thursday. . . . "Time to Relax" is the title of a new series beginning on WOR to- morrow at 1 :45 P. M., sponsored by E. P. Reed & Co. . . . The Saints and Sinners meeting tomorrow, broadcast over WMCA and the Inter-City net- work, will feature Stoopnagle & Budd. . . . Wilma Kroeger, actress now ap- pearing in "Naughty Naught" and Jimmy Davis, local press agent, will be married today. . . . + New York officials LaGuardia, Levy and Meaney will broadcast over WHN Feb. 24 at 4:30 P. M. on the occasion of the formal luncheon for Nathan Straus. . . . Pick and Pat complete their Florida vacation March 1, at which time they return to their "Pipe Smoking Time" series. At this date also, Ed Roecker, baritone, per- manently joins the "Pipe Smoking Time" cast. . . . Estelle Taylor, who was to have been interviewed on the WOR "Varieties" program Sunday, was unable to appear, due to a con- flicting vaudeville date. Accordingly, Lucile Ryman, talent scout for Uni- versal Pictures, was heard in her place. . . . Republic Signs Clauser Des Moines, Feb. 22. — Al Clauser and his Oklahoma Outlaws, radio cow- boy band, who have been members of the WHO staff here for the past three years, have contracted with Republic, to appear in a western starring Gene Autry. Accompanied by Irving H. Grossman, manager of the WHO Artists bureau, they will leave Feb. 28 for Hollywood. Two songs by Al Clauser and Tex Hoepner, "Trail of the Mountain Rose," and "Little Black Bronc" will be featured. While in Hollywood, Clauser and his Oklahoma Outlaws will also make a series of transcriptions and phono- graph recordings. Manier Talks Rotary Hollywood, Feb. 22.— Will R. Manier, Jr., of Nashville, president of Rotary International, broadcast to- day on the subject, "Rotary in a Chaotic World," from KHJ and the Mutual network, from 2:00 to 2:15 P. M., P.S.T. Cagney in Kraft Show Hollywood, Feb. 22. — James Cag- ney has been set for a spot on the Kraft show Feb. 25. FTC Moves Against Television Schools Washington, Feb. 22. — Initiation of a campaign against television cor- respondence schools which mislead prospective pupils was indicated here by the announcement of the Federal Trade Commission that it had issued a complaint charging violation of Sec- tion 5 of the Federal Trade Commis- sion Act against the American Tele- vision Institute, Inc., Chicago. The school is alleged to have ad- vertised that several young men are to be selected and trained for tele- vision positions at its expense until actually employed; that a 70-lesson course is offered, collection of the tuition fee being deferred until a job is obtained for the student at $125 a month or more; that the institute op- erated a widespread employment agency through which students are placed in paying positions upon graduation ; that there is a shortage of television operators ; that the institute owns a huge laboratory in which equipment is manufactured in great quantities ; that it operates television broadcasting stations in which pupils are given opportunity for graduate residence study, and that certain indi- vidual respondents are engineers for certain radio stations. The commission charges that these representations are exaggerated, mis- leading and untrue, and have had a tendency to mislead a substantial por- tion of the student public into errone- ous belief regarding the respondents' course and to have caused them to enroll as students on account of such beliefs. Kelvinator to Have New Program Mar. 6 "Professor Quiz," present sustain- ing series heard Sundays at 7 P. M., E.S.T., will be sponsored by the Nash- Kelvinator Corp. beginning March 6, at which time it will be presented weekly from 8 to 8:30 P. M., E.S.T. over the same network. Geyer- Cornell & Newell is the agency. The commercials will be in behalf of Kelvinator refrigerators. An elaborate contest will usher in the program under the Nash-Kelvina- tor sponsorship, the details of which are available at the moment. With the signing of the new series, Nash-Kelvinator will have two pro- grams on CBS, both on Saturday night. "The Speedshow," heard from 9 to 9 :30 P. M., E. S. T., is broadcast in behalf of the company's automobiles, Nash-Lafayette. The company would have liked to have had the programs follow immediately after each other, but this has been made impossible by the new 8:30 to 9 P. M., E.S.T., series sponsored by Philip Morris, "Johnnie Presents." "Touche" Listed as First Los Angeles, Feb. 22.— "Touche," James Madison Bloodworth's original radio play, was billed as the first of the new offerings broadcast from KHJ, Los Angeles, and the Mutual- Don Lee hook-up Sunday from 6.30 to 7.00 P. M., P.S.T. KSO Starts New Feature Des Moines, Feb. 22. — "Everything Stops for Tea" is the title of a new full-hour variety series to be presented Sundays through Fridays over KSO. The program will be cooperatively sponsored. New Shows On the Air "Laugh Parade" The initial offering of "Laugh Pa- rade" failed to provide many laughs, but with tighter production and a more discriminate selection of contestants the series should ultimately build into a lively feature. With the amateur vogue rapidly wearing threadbare, Harry Hershfield doped up this laugh wrinkle on an old idea for WMCA and Inter-City net- work presentation. The basic idea is to afford an opportunity for ambitious amateur comedians and gag writers in the hope that a potential Benny or a Harry Conn thus will be unearthed. The main trouble with the opening show was that practically all the con- testants obviously clipped gag mate- rial from old scripts and gag books. Many of our comedy pros have been accused of lifting old material, but none would have dared to use the Methuselahs that were offered last Friday on "Laugh Parade." Withal, however, the basic idea be- hind "Laugh Parade" is a good one and there's no question but that Hersh- field may be expected to tighten up on the contestants in future broadcasts. When and if that happens, "Laugh Parade" will offer stiff competition to the Friday night network features. Banner Censor Board Would Have Three Members Olympia, Wash., Feb. 22. — A radio censor board composed of the secre- tary of state, the state auditor and one member to be named by the Gov- ernor at a salary of $6,000 a year high- lights a bill seeking such a purpose, introduced by Senator A. E. Edwards of Bellingham. The measure would provide for a two per cent tax on stations as well. The board, it is proposed, would "censor radio broadcasts originating within the state to the end that only moral, educational or amusing and harmless programs shall be placed on the air." A "service charge" of one-half of one per cent of the station's income received from local advertisers would go toward maintenance of the board. The two per cent occupational tax would become effective on April 1 of this year, and would raise the rate from one-half of one per cent on gross income as now assessed. "Pretty Kitty Kelly" Set Confirming Motion Picture Daily's exclusive report of last week, a new script series entitled "Pretty Kitty Kelly" will replace the current "Renfrew of the Mounted" on CBS beginning Monday, March 8. The series, sponsored by the Continental Baking Corp., will be aired Mondays through Fridays, from 6 :45 to 7 P. M., E.S.T. Benton & Bowles is the agency. Wade, Martin to Headline Bridgeport, Feb. 22. — Fred Wade and Rudy Martin's orchestra will headline a variety revue series, "The Hour of Cheer," over WICC begin- ning this week. The Hull Brewing Co. sponsors. Rolls Razor Making New Record Series The Rolls Razor Co., through Kim- bell, Hubbard & Powel, are now pro- ducing an elaborate transcribed series of 13 platters which will be spotted on important stations throughout the country. The recordings are being prepared in the Decca studios here. Artists who will appear on the series are Glenn Darwin, Jean Ellington, the Three Marshalls, Doris Hare and Al and Lee Reiser. The transcriptions will be completed and on the air March 15. "Jury Trials" Renewed "Famous Jury Trials," air serial which won a preferred spot in the popularity poll recently conducted by Motion Picture Daily, has been re- newed for an additional period on a split Mutual network, effective April 12. The Mennen Co. sponsors; the H. M. Kiesewetter Co. is the agency. The episodes are presented over WOR, New York; WLW, Cincin- nati; WGN, Chicago, and WAAB, Boston. Howards Signed in Nash Willie and Eugene Howard, and Prof. Walter B. Pitkin have been signed by J. Walter Thompson to guest appear on the Nash "Speed- show" Saturday, Feb. 27. In their last regular series on the air the Howards clicked heavily, but were compelled to leave the program because of a prior claim to their serv- ices held by George White, "Scandals" producer. Winninger May Join Lux The Lux "Radio Theatre" presenta- tion March 1 probably will be "Cappy Ricks," with Charles Winninger play- ing the lead, and possibly George Ban- croft in a supporting role. If the deal is completed, it will mark the first air appearance of Winninger in almost two years. For many seasons he was "Captain Henry" on "Show- boat." Scatterby Joins WOR E. E. Scatterday this week joined the engineering staff of WOR. Previ- ously he was with WCAE in Pitts- burgh and WFIL, Philadelphia. Prior to that he served for five years with A. T. & T. in Pittsburgh. Stephens Subs for Ripley Hartford, Feb. 22. — Jack Stephens WMAS, Springfield sports announcer, is subbing for Joe Ripley, announcer on WTIC, who is recuperating at the Travelers' Sanitarium at West Suf- field from a recent auto accident. Renew on Cozzi, Stopak The Allegheny Steel Co., sponsors of the Friday 7 :15 P. M., E.S.T., pro- gram on the NBC-Blue network, have renewed Mario Cozzi and Joseph Stopak's orchestra for an additional 13-week period effective immediately. Bray Gets New Deal Cincinnati, Feb. 22. — Dick Bray, WKRC sports commentator, has been signed for a one-year contract, effec- tive March 1, by the L. T. Patterson Co., local distributors for Chrysler and Plymouth. His sportscast will be aired at 5 :45 P. M. seven days a week. Tuesday, February 23, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY RADIO Two Orchestras for Paramount Program "Paramount Parade," which bows in over the NBC-Red March 14, from 12 to 12:30 P. M., E.S.T., will feature two orchestras instead of one,_ as was originally announced. One will be a symphonic orchestra and the other will play popular music. All phases of picture making will be explained by a different film player each week as he takes a visitor on a tour of the studio. All actors and actresses on the Paramount contract list as well as the entire personnel of the music department will take part in the series. Hollywood, Feb. 22. — Lynne Over- man will be the studio guide through- out the entire series of "Paramount on Parade." To Resume Jail Broadcasts Bridgeport, Feb. 22. — Station WICC resumed its Sunday afternoon broad- casts from the Fairfield County jail yesterday. The program, which has been absent for several weeks, is broadcast from the jail dining hall with the prisoners supplying the talent. Guides, Pages on Air With awards of a week's vacation for the outstanding performance, guides and pages at NBC will present a "Brass Button Review" on the Red network, Saturday, Feb. 27, at 4 P. M., E.S.T. The revue will be written, produced, directed and acted by the guides and pages. Letters from the radio audi- ence will determine the winner. Building Broadcast Trailer Columbus, Feb. 22. — The United Broadcasting Co. is having a complete studio built in a trailer for use by WHKC, local station, WKBC, Youngstown, and WHK and WJAY, Cleveland. A shortwave transmitter, generat- ing its own power, a receiving set and piano will be installed. The trailer, which will be in charge of Robert French, production manager, and Larry Roller, director of special events, will be used to cover spot news. WBT Places 4 Accounts Charlotte, Feb. 22. — WBT has placed the following accounts : Nehi, Inc., beverage concern, will sponsor a 30-minute program weekly over WBT, starting March 19, in be- half of Royal Crown Cola. The con- tract, by the James A. Green agency of Atlanta runs 13 weeks. Pendleton Distributing Co. has con- tracted for a 13-week series of pro- grams. The contract calls for six 10- minute spots daily. Welch Grape Juice Co., through the H. W. Kastor & Sons Agency, Chi- cago, has placed a contract calling for five one-minute transcriptions weekly. The morning spot will be used for 26 weeks. Albert Mills Groceries, Cincinnati, are using six 15-minute transcribed programs weekly over WBT, Char- lotte. Contract handled by Matteson, Fogarty, Jordan Co., Chicago, and runs two weeks. James Roosevelt to Talk Boston, Feb. 22. — James Roosevelt, eldest son and secretary to President Roosevelt, will speak on "The Child Labor Amendment" over WAAB and the Colonial . network from Gardner, Mass, tonight at 9 P. M., E. S. T. The program will be carried over the full Colonial network, and addi- tionally over the coast-to-coast Mutual web. Board Continues on Decline Net High Low Close Change Columbia 37 3654 3654 + 54 Consolidated Film. 4% 454 4M Consolidated, pfd.. 1654 1654 1654 — 54 Eastman Kodak. . 17154 17054 17054 — 154 General Theatre Equipment 32J4 3154 32J4 — 54 Loew's, Inc 7454 74 74 — 54 Paramount 2554 25 2554 — '/ Paramount 1 pfd.. 18054 18(H4 38054 —254 Paramount 2 pfd.. 2354 22% 2314 Pathe Film 8% 8% 87/$ RKO 9 854 VA — 54 20th Century -Fox. 35% 3554 355/j. — 54 Warner Bros 1554 1-554 1554 — 54 Warner Bros, pfd. 63 63 63 — % Curb Rises Slightly Net High Low Close Change Sonotone 2 2 2 Technicolor 1954 1 954 1954 + 54 Grand National... 334 354 354 —54 Trans Lux 454 454 454 +54 Little Bond Activity Net High Low Close Chang Paramount Pic- tures 6s '55 10154 10054 10054 —54 (Quotations at close of Feb. 20.) Berle to Open Theatre Hollywood, Feb. 22. — Milton Berle's Gillette sponsored community sing will open the Studio Theatre here as a radio house under a long- term CBS lease. The Al Jolson show will go in Feb. 28 and Joe Penner on March 2. CBS has dropped the Figueroa Playhouse in downtown Los Angeles, but has retained the Ebell Club. Sablon in Line for Series Jean Sablon, French singing discov ery who arrived here last Thursday may be signed for a commercial air series by J. Walter Thompson. He has been set for the Thompson agency's Rudy Vallee program next Thursday, and if his debut is suc- cessful he will receive a contract there, it is understood. Sablon is managed by the NBC artists service. Extend Heatter Program Gabriel Heatter's WOR news nro gram for the North American Acci dent Insurance Co. has been extended to include Mutual network outlets WGN, Chicago, and CKLW, Detroit- Windsor, effective Sunday at 9 :30 P. M, E. S. T. Jacks Forming Frisco Bureau San Francisco, Feb. 22. — Phil Jacks, manager of Consolidated Radio Artists, new nationwide booking organization, is organizing a local bureau. San Francisco manager will be Ellis Levy, well known booking agent formerly in charge of the Don Lee Artists' Service here. Levy will handle the six northwest states in addition to Northern California. Iowa Stations Get New Program Waterloo, la, Feb. 22.— "A Word to the Wives," by Libbie and Lindy, is a new program which started Feb. 16 and is heard Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from WMT at 10:15 A.M. and is picked up by WMT and KRNT, Des Moines. Libbie Vaughan and L. Von Linder of the WMT staff are Libbie and Lindy, and the program is sponsored by the mak- ers of Blue Barrel soap. McClintock Heads Continuity Seattle, Feb. 22. — Jack McClintock has been appointed head of the con- tinuity department of KOL, Colum- bia outlet in this city, by Archie Taft, manager. McClintock succeeds Mari Brattain, who resigned last week to head the radio department of Beaumont & Hoh- man, national advertising agency, local branch. Junior Heroes Get Awards Philadelphia, Feb. 22. — The Sears, Roebuck show on KYW, "Junior Thrillers," not only dramatizes youth- ful heroes in the Philadelphia area who have saved one or more lives dur- ing the past year, but adds further honors to the youngsters with a per- manent laurel. At intervals the air period is turned over for the presenta- tion of a certificate of valor and an engraved wrist watch to the junior heroes. The sponsor donates the awards and the last presentation had Mayor S. Davis Wilson paying his respects to the youngsters. St, Louis Stations Get Cardinal Games St. Louis, Feb. 22.— KWK, Mutual outlet, and KMOX, CBS, have signed contracts with the St. Louis Cardi- nals for broadcasting games at Sports- man Park with the exception of the Sunday and holiday bookings. Each station will pay the Cardinals $7,500, the same price paid last year. KWK and KMOX are also dicker- ing with the new owners of the St. Louis Browns to broadcast their games, but have been unable to get together on the price. General Mills will sponsor the KWK broadcasts of the Cardinal games with Johnny O'Hara as an- nouncer, while Kelloggs will sponsor the KMOX end of the arrangement. As usual, France Laux will be at the mike. Jane Grey in New Series Cincinnati, Feb. 22. — Jane Grey, whose "Radio Program Perfect" has been on local stations for the past five years, will begin a new twice- weekly series over WSAI this week. She will be heard at 12:15 P. M. Wednesdays and Fridays, on a pro- gram which will include organ music and words of inspiration, written and delivered by her. Cincy to Air Whole Opera Cincinnati, Feb. 22. — For the first time in local radio history a complete opera program will originate here, when WCPO broadcasts the Cincin- nati Symphony Orchestra's entire pro- duction of "Marriage of Figaro" from the stage of Music Hall. Listeners will be taken into the foyer and back stage between the acts. WKRC is cooperating by permit- ting use of the CBS equipment in- stalled in Music Hall for the opera pickup. St. Louis Has One News Station St. Louis. Feb. 22. — KSD, owned and operated by the St. Louis Post- Dispatch, is the onlv local station that would be affected if the bill of Chair- man Wheeler of the Senate Interstate Commerce Committee to make it un- lawful for newspapers to own broad- casting stations goes through. The St. Louis Star-Times, the second afternoon newspaper here, has an ap- plication pending for a short wave station to be placed in the Continental Bldg, but the Post-Dispatch has suc- ceeded in blocking that competition to date. Former Prisoner Aided Buchanan in Canada Post Ottawa, Ont, Feb. 22. — The son of a Canadian Senator, Donald W. Bu- chanan of Lethbridge, Alberta, has been appointed to the staff of the Government-owned Canadian Broad- casting Corp, by Major Gladstone Murray, general manager. Buchanan, who is a scholarship man at Oxford University, will have charge of the Talks and Addresses Dep't at Ottawa, with supervision over speeches to be delivered over the Canadian network. This is the first appointment under the reorganization plan of the new com- mission by the new general manager. Los Angeles, Feb. 22. — A released prisoner has been among those aided by Hal Styles' "Help thy neighbor" pro- grams over KHJ, Los Angeles. Herbert Franklin Schenck, who, according to his own statement, lately finished a one- year term at the Los Angeles County Jail, secured a job at Republic Studios, one of six offered him. He had made his plea on the Styles broadcast. Almost half a hundred men and women found work during and following last Sunday's broadcast. Heretofore the audience has been limited to aoDlicants. Under a new plan, Styles believes greater benefits will result, with employers being permitted to see as well as hear each applicant interviewed and either engaging the applicants during the broadcast or after personal meetings. WFIL Adds Seven Accounts Philadelphia, Feb. 22. — Seven ad- ditional accounts entered the WFIL Ledger this week. WFIL's Women's Club of the Air gets two new partici- pating sponsors, Bromo-Aspirin, set through Cox & Tanz Agency, and Tribune Laundry, through Oswald Agency, for an indefinite period. Others include Dodge Brothers Corp, through Ruthrauff and Ryan, Inc, one-minute spot announcements week- ly for 10 weeks; Leon & Jones Co, through Dorsey Agency, takes four spot announcements weekly for 26 weeks ; Italian-Swiss Wine Colony, through Harvey-Best & Co, three spot announcements weeklv for seven weeks ; American Seed Co, of Lan- caster, Pa, through Charles Blum Agency, one minute spot announce- ments weekly for 13 weeks, and Tan- pins Jewelry Stores, placed direct, 12 five-minute transcriptions weekly for 52 weeks. mi REG. U.S. PAT. OFF- SUPERIOR PANCHROMATIC NEGATIVE has Outstanding Advantages for Feature Industrial News Cinematography DuPont Film Manufacturing Corporation 35 WEST 45TH ST.. NEW YORK CITY PLANT . . . PARLIN, N. J SMITH & ALLER, LTD. 6656 SANTA MONICA BLVD.. HOLLYWOOD, CAL. The Leading Motio Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert. Intelligent the Industry in All Branches VOL. 41. NO. 45 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1937 TEN CENTS New Policy in MPTO Hinted By Kuykendall "More Drastic" Methods May Be Adopted Dissatisfaction with the responses of the seven distribution companies to the M.P.T.O.A. 10-point trade prac- tice program was expressed yesterday by Ed Kuykendall, president of the exhibitor organization, who indicated that the M.P.T.O.A. would be asked to adopt a new policy to govern its efforts to obtain trade practice con- cessions from distributors at the or- ganization's national meeting in Miami next month. Kuykendall pointed out that the M.P.- T.O.A. had pressed its trade practice program as far as it could in line with its present policies and said that he would ask his organization's board of directors to approve new policy recom- mendations which he would make or to propose a procedure of its own. While not disclosing the nature of the recommendations referred to, Kuy- kendall said they would involve a "more drastic" policy than that pur- sued by the organization heretofore. The M.P.T.O.A. president expressed particular disappointment over the re- sponses of the seven distributors on the subjects of increased and un- qualified cancellation and the elimina- tion of the score charge. He said that, in his opinion, concessions from distributors on these points were more (.Continued on page 12) Loew's Talking New Kansas City Lease Kansas City, Feb. 23. — The lease of Loew's Theatre and Realty Corp. on the first run Midland here is re- ported to be the subject of negotia- tions, inasmuch as the lease terminates Oct. 28, this year. It is considered likely that Loew's will renew. The lease expiring this year is for 10 years and includes the Midland Bldg., which is part of the structure in which the theatre is included. From financial circles it is reported (Continued on page 12) Ruling Reserved on Plea of Technicolor Los Angeles, Feb. 23. — An appli- cation of Technicolor for a temporary injunction restraining Tricolor from circularizing exhibitors was taken un- der advisement today by Federal Judge James after a hearing on a restricting order granted Feb. 12. This order was continued until later in the week. Union, Hoyts Deal to End December 31 Date Disclosed in Cable From Stuart Doyle The cancellation of the present op- erating combine between Greater Union Theatres and Hoyts, Australia's largest theatre organizations, is sched- uled to take effect next Dec. 31, in accordance with mutual notice already given, it was disclosed yesterday with the receipt here of a cablegram from Stuart F. Doyle, managing director of Greater Union. As a direct aftermath of the sep- aration, Doyle's cablegram said, Great- er Union plans to build or acquire 200 suburban and country theatres during 1938 in order to establish its rural operations on a basis compar- able with that of its metropolitan thea- tre holdings. The present General Theatres Corp. combine of Greater Union and Hoyts would be cancelled, directly affecting the amount of product used in Aus- tralia and the revenue derived there- from. Competitive bidding between the two circuits for the best first run product in each city appears inevitable. Doyle's cablegram was made public (Continued on page 4) C. I. O. Attacks Hollywood, Feb. 23.— C.I.O. leaflets attacking the I.A.T. S.E. and the Actors' Guild under the auspices of the Studio Employees' Protective League are being distributed on three lots. The literature bears no headquarters ad- dress or signature. British Lion Is Set To Resume Producing London, Feb. 15. — British Lion will resume production at the Beaconsfield studio shortly, when Maurice Elvey will begin the direction of "Melody and Romance," with Hughie Green. British Lion shut down the studio on the announcement of the plan for Korda production of 26 "B" pictures at Denham, for British Lion release, since abandoned. Circuits Increase Scale in the Bronx All theatres of the Loew, RKO and Skouras circuits in the Bronx in- creased their scales five cents during the week and 10 cents on Sundays beginning last weekend, and the house of Consolidated Amusements will in- stitute an increase of five cents throughout the week within a few days, it was learned yesterday. Concurrent with the price rise it was indicated that the circuits would drop Bank Night and Screeno in all their theatres in the borough. Skouras has eliminated Bank Night already, it is understood, Loew's has dropped plans for a continuation of the high- stake two-day Bank Night, and all circuit houses in the Bronx will have ended the chance games within two weeks, it is understood. It is anticipated that other houses in the borough will follow the lead with price increases and the elimina- tion of games. Flexible Wage And Hour Plan In the Making Voluntary Agreement the President's Aim Approval of Bingo Up in Connecticut Hartford, Feb. 23. — Following early hearings, the Judiciary Committee has reported it will take under further ad- visement two bills which would affect the interests of film men in the state, a measure to legalize Bingo for chari- table purposes, and one to tighten the anti-marathon statutes. Representa- tives of fraternal orders, including the (Continued on page 2) Ostrers Would Shut Plant; Maxwell Hits GB Dividend London, Feb. 23. — The decision to pay a Gaumont British dividend on the preference shares was reached by the narrow margin of a five to four vote by the directorate, it was re- vealed here today in a press state- ment by John Maxwell, who was among the directors who opposed the payment. Joining Maxwell in oppo- sition were D. Boardman, O. H. C. Balfour and Sidney R. Kent of 20th {Continued on page 4) By BRUCE ALLAN London, Feb. 23. — At a meeting today, the G.B. board discussed the future of the company's production. Although no official statement was issued, it was understood the meet- ing was adjourned, following a major split in opinion, the Ostrers desiring to close the Shepherd's Bush studio, and John Maxwell opposing such a move, declaring his belief that produc- (Continued on page 4) By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, Feb. 23. — A flexible program for industry control, under which minimum wages and maximum working hours would be fixed by the Government and the way paved for a broad system of voluntary agreements for the banning of unfair trade prac- tices, is under consideration by the President. The proposal contemplates the en- actment by Congress of a bill making it a violation of the fair trade laws for concerns engaged in interstate commerce to pay excessively low wages or work employes unduly long hours. Administration of the act would be turned over to the Federal Trade Commission, where a new board would be created to formulate wage and hour standards for each industry, much as the National Recovery Administration did during the code period. At the same time, legislation would be passed broadening the commission's authority with respect to fair trade agreements which, however, would still be voluntary, their adoption being en- couraged by giving them exemption from the application of the anti-trust laws. To a large extent, the proposal fol- lows the line adopted by the NRA in formulating the codes, but it is claimed to be free of the defects which resulted in the National Recovery Act being declared invalid by the courts. Minnesota Bill Bans Producers9 Theatres Minneapolis, Feb. 23. — Producers and distributors would be barred from ownership and operation of theatres under a bill now being proposed by five members of the House. Penalty for violation of the pro- {Continued on page 12) B'way Takes Rocket On Holiday Weekend Broadway houses tallied their best weekend business since the Christmas- New Year's week, with the aid of the Washington's Birthday holiday on Monday. Beginning with last Friday {Continued on page 12) Radio — pages 13-15 MOTION PICTUWt DAILY Wednesday, February 24, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 February 24, 1937 No. 45 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON. Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc.. Martin Quigley. president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and "publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York " All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- oatfons: MOTION PICTURE HERALD BETTER THEATRES, TEATRO AL DLA. INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Sts. ; Boone Mancall. Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave., C. B. O Ncill, WASHINGTON: Albee Building. Bertram V. Llnz, Representative. . AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan 5; Philip de Schaap, Representative. . „ , .< BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2. Berlin W. 3o; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 Kiplar-u. Budapest II: Endre Hevesi, Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientes 2495; N. Bruski, Representative. HELSINKI: Predriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszlo, Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square, W. 1; Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address, Quigpubco, Lon- MELBOURNE : Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins St.; Cliff Holt. Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart, MONTEVIDEO6;' P. 0. Box 664; Paul Bodo. Rep- resentative. MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern, Rep- PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre, Repre- sentative. PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1; Harry Knopf, Representative. RIO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 3358; A. Weiss- man, Representative. ROME: Viale Gorizia; Vittorio Malpassutl, Rep- resentative. SHANGHAI: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Build- ing, 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler, Repre- STOCKHOLM: Kungsgatan 36; Ragnar Allberg, Representative. TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chtba-Ken; H. Tomlnaga, Representative. VIENNA: Nuestiftgasse, 55; Vienna VII; Hans Lorant, Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Sillel. Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Baker Heading New Kansas Association Kansas City, Feb. 23. — George Baker of the Electric has been elected to head the Kansas City, Kan., The- atre Operators' A'ssn, newly formed. Charles Vaughan of the Art is vice- president. The group includes 12 theatres. In addition to those mentioned, they are the Fox Granada, W. D. Fulton's State, Ed Burgan's Gauntier, Tenth St. and Home; W. D. Fite's Kan- sas, Harry Horrocks' Midway, R. R. Biechele's Osage, and A. L. Dare's Rosedale. The purpose of the organization is to promote the interests of Kansas City, Kan., exhibitors. Heretofore, the I. T. O. has included both Kan- sas City, Mo., and Kansas City, Kan., theatre owners, but from the view- point of geography, politics and pat ronage the problems of exhibitors in the two cities differ, although sepa- rated only by a river and a state line Observe Anniversary Hyman Rosenberg and Mrs. Rosen berg, parents of Moe Rosenberg, cir cuit operator in New York and New Jersey and brother-in-law of Albert Warner, will celebrate their 57th wed- ding anniversary tomorrow. Every Night But Show Night By RED KANN TAKE that theatre in the Bronx, for instance. On Tuesday, Thursday and Satur- day, it runs Lucky. Wednesday and Friday, it's dishes. Satur- day calls for free radios and Monday, "Country Store." When the kids come in Saturday after- noon, they get a special show and free toys. Also, there are pictures on the screen. Take that other house in Greater New York. Exchange- men wish they could. For this is the theatre that spends more on giveaways per seven days than on film rentals. And so what do you do for an exhibitor like that? Hollywood makes a "Good Earth," a "Romeo and Juliet" or a "Louis Pasteur." . . . T Take the Valencia, Loew de luxer in Jamaica. It held a drawing for an accumulated $3,500 Bank Night pot last night. Maybe, there were riots. This edition couldn't wait. Take the Loew circuit itself. It recently went in for an inter- city Bank Night with switch- boards hooked up on the stage of the Metropolitan, and, also, cash prizes running to $3,500. Next week, $4,500. Etc., etc., no doubt. Take the situation nationally. Bob McNeill in San Francisco and the Peninsula towns has given away a couple of hundred thousand dollars in cash in the last few years. Harry Huffman nearly tied up the supply of new Fords in Denver. Up and down the land, in big theatres con- trolled by interests from whom some leadership might reason- ably be expected and in smaller houses independently run, dol- lars and dishes, pots and gro- ceries, linens and whatnot are being piecemealed to a public that bought tickets with a defi- nite understanding it was cellu- loid entertainment, not grab- bags, it had purchased. . . . T Auction Night and Bank Night, Bankeeno and Beano, Bingo and Broadway Handicap, Bunko and Bull's Eye, Cash Night and Children's Alphabet Game. Cur- rency Award and a cute one called Housie-Housie, Lucky and Monte Carlo. Movie Races and Projecto, Prosperity Night and Quiz Quest. Don't go away. There are more. Race Night and Radio Night, ordinary Screeno, Giant and Triple Screeno, Sweepstakes and Ten-O-Win, Thrift Night and Treasure Night and who knows what other kind of night, but Show Night? The business of exhibi- tion is sinking into a morass called games of chance and chancing a game it will, in wholesale, regret one of these minutes. . . . T We know. It's the competi- tion. You don't like it, but there's nothing you can do. Our answer to that is applesauce, hooey, or both. A specious and phony argument which refuses to hold water, or sense. The Loew circuit is not double fea- turing its neighborhood runs of "After the Thin Man," is it? RKO did not, nor does it ever, double bill "Swing Time" or any of the Astaire-Rogers musi- cals, does it? You bet not. When the conviction is there you find backbone as well. The trouble, a widespread trouble, is the general lack of gumption and stamina stamping the decision- formulating processes of this in- dustry. Everybody will hem, haw and see-saw. The path marked by the least resistance is fol- lowed, as usual, and everyone rests on haunches, hoping for the best. . . . T Not this time can the develop- ment be pinned on the doorstep of the producer circuits. Not at all. This time, the smaller the- atre operator, lazily reclining on his think tank, got going and in getting going did the simple and obvious in generating steam with his circuit competition. The cir- cuits, the more fools they, fol- lowed; it was the "competition" and it could not be ignored. Multiply a given situation by thousands over the land and the result is what you find today. And as long as we've gone this far, we advance further by fixing the blame for the spread. . . . ▼ We say that, regardless of a type of competition over which they should tower, the major circuits were the groups to have called a halt. If Zilch down the street is packing them in with a game of chance, we say let him. We say the better grade the- atre should point the way in clean operation, in proper news- paper advertising, in dignity and atmosphere, and in show- manship fashioned to sell what is on the screen, which is an- other way of reminding it was for such a purpose the theatre was built in the first instance. . . . T We say the millions in cash paid out annually to the devices created by opportunists who are turning theatres into gambling parlors should be kept within this business. Spend them where and how you will, but motion Approval of Bingo Up in Connecticut (Continued from Page 1) Elks, Shriners and Knights of Co- \ lumbus upheld the Bingo bill, stating j that "some of our finest people" par- ticipated in this "clean, decent, upright recreation." A large Bridgeport contingent ob- jected to the summary banning of the game by prosecuting authorities re- j cently, whether conducted by outside 1 promoters or communal organizations, i The only opponent at the hearing was Hale Anderson, Hartford Federated j Council of Churches, who read a coun- < cil petition against "all gambling." Senator McDermott's bill on mara- thon and other endurance contests proposed an air-tight revision of the present prohibiting statute. Failure to enforce the law in West Haven be- cause of a loophole was pointed out, though many attending the hearing considered the existing law adequate. Portland Bans All Forms of Lotteries Portland, Feb. 23. — No more lot- teries of any kind is the decree now of the City Council, which means that theatres for the first time in weeks have no competition. A bill has passed the House at Salem abolishing all pinball games, punch boards and similar games of chance. Final decision rests with the Senate. Strong pressure is being brought to bear by owners of various games. It may be another week be- fore final decision is reached. Bank Night Ban Killed Boston, Feb. 23. — A bill to ban Bank Night in Massachusetts has been killed in legislative committee. Stage hands, musicians, and actors' unions favored the bill, which was opposed by the M.P.T.O. and Allied. A similar attempt to outlaw Bank Night also failed last year. Missouri Bills Killed Kansas City, Feb. 23. — Companion Senate and House bills in the Mis- souri legislature have been killed. They would have empowered cities, towns and villages under 30,000 popula- tion "to prohibit or suppress by ordinance" picture shows, theatrical or other exhibitions, shows and amuse- ments, gift enterprises, bill posters, circuses and shows, and the like. picture dollars they are and thus they should remain. . . . T We say games of chance are doing an irreparable harm to the community value built up by exhibitors over the years. We insist they are a cheapen- ing and derogatory influence which has developed, and will develop, legislative onslaughts and a rekindled contempt for an industry, which, by its boot- straps, has raised current stand- ards to a level never before known for it. We say it is about time that those whose stewardship it is should bestir themselves into immediate and forthright action. And there we rest. . . . 1 HORSE-SHOES? Another smashing VLG-M hit 'THE LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY" commands industry attention! (following "After the Thin Man", "Camille", "Born To Dance", "Libeled Lady" and many others.) The element of luck has no place in the M-G-M scheme of production. The true -and -tried producing personnel; the wealth of Star names and the boundless resources of the Greatest Studio in the World leave nothing to chance! There are no horse-shoes on the theatres of our 10,000 customers. They leave nothing to chance! The M-G-M name is the beacon of assurance to the patron for a swell show; to the exhibitor for a profitable engagement. THE LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY starring JOAN CRAWFORD * WILLIAM POWELL • ROBER MONTGOMERY with FRANK MORGAN • Jessie Ralph • Nigel Bruce * From the play by Frederick Lonsdah Directed by Richard Boleslawski • Produced by Lawrence Weingarten • A Metro-Goldwyn -Mayer Pictun MOTION PICTURE DAILY Ostrers Would Shut Plant; Maxwell Hits GB Dividend 4 G.B., Scribes, Circuits' Men See Army Film By J. M. JERAULD Fort Jay, N. Y., Feb. 23.— "You're in the Army Now" was screened here tonight after a trip by bus, ferry and bus from 1,600 Broadway in the pres- ence of officers, enlisted men, enlisted men's girl friends and invited exhibi- tors. It was a responsive audience — lots of applause, laughter, 'n' every- thin', but whether it was the exhibi- tors, the U. S. A. or the G. B. section of the audience that was furnishing the excitement couldn't be told in the dark. Fort Jay, by the way, is inside the three-mile limit. In fact, it's inside the one-mile limit. It lies sou' sou- east of the Aquarium, athwart the course of the Staten Island ferries. That's the reason for all the life pre- servers on the Army ferry boat. Those Staten Island ferries seem intent on getting to St. George regardless of whether George Weeks, Arthur Lee or Al Margolies, not to mention Peggy Goldberg, get to Governors Island. First the M.P.'s After Ed Kuykendall had shown his passport to a military policeman the visitors were allowed to tour long rows of barracks around the parade grounds to the Officers' Club. While the club bartender was mixing up a 21-gun salute Louis Frisch and Harold Rinzler looked out of the window at the Manhattan skyline and wondered why they had never thought of build- ing a theatre in that section. The colonels and majors showed the boys around and a charming host- ess showed the feminine contingent where to get the best view of the har- bor before dinner was served. The Army has solved the food question, too. It was just the right number of calories and nearly the correct quantity of vitamins — maybe one or two off — but near enough! After the cafe noir had drowned the vitamins the party marched over to the fort's theatre — a roomy place with military police as ushers. That's one place where the customers take their seats and like 'em. The ushers have revolvers on one hip and long sticks on the other. Military Picture, Too That G. B. title, "You're in the Army Now," refers to the British army, but that didn't seem to matter. The First Division infantry seemed to get the idea. Wallace Ford got himself enlisted and went through an assortment of funny situations that built into climax in China where the regiment finally rescued Anna Lee after an attack by Chinese bandits on the legation, or the hacienda, or whatever it was. This went on for 73 minutes. Raoul Walsh directed, and did a good job. Some of the officers wanted some of the visitors to stay until taps after the picture, but, not being sure what taps were, they wended their way slowly toward the ferry. Among those present were: Max Fullerman of RKO ; Matthew Fox of Skouras Theatres ; Louis Frisch, Har- old Rinzler, Irving Kaplan and Jack Birnbaum - of the Randf orce Circuit ; (Continued from page 1) Century-Fox, the last two represented by alternates. Maxwell declared: "The point at issue was whether it is permissible in estimating earnings to take into account the profits of subsidiary com- panies that had made profits and to leave out of the reckoning the losses of subsidiaries when they were sus- tained. I have referred the issue to our solicitors for counsel's opinion, as the other dissenting directors also have done, I understand." Maxwell also declared that the losses of subsidiaries amounted to £623,000 to Dec. 31, 1936. It is un- derstood the American interests represented by Kent, supported Max- well because the payment of the divi- dend will deplete the company's cash and depreciate the value of the 20th Century-Fox holdings. A still more important reason is understood to be the fear of being associated with an action believed to be illegal and sup- ported only by the Ostrer section of the board. The press is again critical of Gau- mont finances with the Daily Mail financial editor suggesting that film stocks valued in the balance sheet at £1,500,000 are actually worth half that, representing a loss of £725,000 against a reserve of only £500,000. He says the dividend should not have been paid and that the reserve should have been conserved. M. & B. Holdings Endangered If the preferred dividend had been passed, holders would have been enti- tled to vote six months later. The impression prevails here that Max- well wanted the preference default in order to use the preference votes to defeat the Ostrer-20th Century-Fox control through Metropolis & Brad- ford. This concern's G. B. holdings would no longer be a majority if the preferred shares had voting power. There was published here the cor- respondence between C. L. Nordon, lawyer representing dissatisfied ordi- nary shareholders, and the G. B. board. Nordon asks 18 questions and threatens the requisition of an extraor- dinary general meeting. Questions are asked on the details of theatre takings, the amount by which theatre valuations were in- creased for balance sheets, how much has been paid to 20th Century-Fox in the past five years, details of directors' drawings from the company and its subsidiaries, what William Fox paid for the G. B. shares and how the Os- trers obtained the shares sold to Fox. Nordon asserts Metropolis & Brad- ford is under foreign control and not entitled to vote. In reply, G. B. asserts that only one per cent of the shareholders are concerned and says that some informa- tion asked goes beyond any question of accounts and asks names and hold- ings of the protesting shareholders. Nordon's committee is seeking the support of other shareholders. Louis Notarius of Paramount ; A. Suchman of Consolidated Amuse- ments ; Al Reid of the Fabian The- atres; Irving. Wheeler, Harold Green- berg, Eugene Levy and Kuykendall. The G. B. representatives were: Lee, (Continued from pane 1) tion there would be profitable if the proper methods were used. The Ostrer plan is believed to be that the transfer of production is necessary under the contracts of the company with directors and players, and provides for Jessie Matthews go- ing to Pinewood, and C. M. Woolf taking over distribution through Gen- eral Film Distributors. Financial advances from Lord Por- tal and Woolf are seen as helping G.B. meet its contract obligations to Alfred Hitchcock, Sonnie Hale and Robert Stevenson, directors, and Miss Matthews, Ann Lee, Nova Pilbeam, Lilli Palmer, Oscar Homolka and Desmond Tester, players. It was indicated in informed quar- ters here today that a meeting has been set with Woolf and Herbert Wilcox for tomorrow, but the Max- well opposition may defeat the plan and force the Ostrers to face the cost of continued production without much money in the bank, which would inevitably hasten a major crisis in the affairs of G.B. The story of the possible stopping of production ap- pearing in the evening papers here, caused a slump in film shares. G.B. 10-shilling ordinary shares dropped to six shillings, three pence ; the "A" ordinaries to two shillings, six pence ; the preference shares to 12 shillings, six pence ; A.B.P. or- dinary shares dropped one shilling, three pence ; the half-pence B. & D. shares were off six pence, and British Lion was off the same amount. Wilcox Signs Walhrook London, Feb. 15. — Anton Wal- brook has been signed to play the prince consort in Herbert Wilcox's production of "Victoria the Great," with Anna Neagle. To Handle Reunion Films London, Feb. 15. — National Pro- vincial Film Distributors will in the future distribute the product of the John W. Gossage company, Reunion Films. Quits CEA Election Race London, Feb. 15. — J. R. Doverner has withdrawn as a candidate for the vice-presidency of the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Ass'n. Barham, Wife Injured Hamilton, O., Feb. 23. — Tracy Barham, general manager of Southio, and his wife were slightly injured when their automobile was crowded off the highway by another car near here yesterday. Three Griffith Men 111 Oklahoma City, Feb. 23. — Three Griffith Amusement Co. officers, H. R. Falls, assistant general manager, and C. B. Akers and C. O. Fulgham, divi- sion managers, have been ill with the flu. Weeks, Irving Gumberg, Margolies, Al Selig, Irving Landes, Charles Schwengeler, Charles B. Garrett and Miss Goldberg. A number of fan magazine and trade paper writers also were present. Wednesday. February 24, 1937 Union, Hoyts Deal to End December 31 (Continued from page 1) by Harold Auten, foreign manager for Greater Union, at his headquarters ' here. The message asserts that out of the total key city buying power of the present combine, Greater Union controls 67XA per cent and Hoyts 32*4 per cent. The following is Doyle's analysis of the key city situations. In Sydney, Greater Union has five first runs, Hoyts two, and each com- pany owns a half interest in an addi- tional first run. In Melbourne, Greater Union and Hoyts have four first runs each. In Adelaide, Greater Union has three first runs and Hoyts one. In Brisbane, Greater Union has four first runs and Hoyts one. In Perth, Hoyts has four first runs and each company owns a half interest in an additional first run. In Newcastle, Greater Union has four first runs and Hoyts none. In Tasmania, Greater Union has six first runs and Hoyts none. Greater Union 27; Hoyts 13 "Thus, out of a total of 40 first run theatres in the General Theatre com- bine," Doyle states, "Greater Union owns or controls 27, and Hoyts 13." It is also stated that "backed by strong financial resources" Greater Union plans to extend its interests in suburban and country territories where Hoyts is already "independently numerically strong." It was reported from Australia re- cently that Sidney R. Kent and Walter J. Hutchinson of 20th Century-Fox, which owns a controlling interest in Hoyts, would go to Sydney next sum- mer in an effort to effect an agree- ment on continuation of the operating combine. Whether the "mutually given" notice of cancellation referred to in Doyle's cablegram will alter this plan could not be learned yesterday. Kent is in Florida and Hutchinson could not be reached for comment. The effective date of cancellation was decided upon at Greater Union's suggestion, according to Doyle's mes- sage. Britton Quits Imperial Boston, Feb. 23. — Leo Britton re- signed today as local manager for Imperial Pictures, and has been re- placed by Elmer Turnquist, former office manager. Britton will return to independent exchange operation. E. J. Smith, national sales manager for Imperial, will arrive here today from New York for a week's business trip. Buys Exchange Branch Oklahoma City, Feb. 23. — The A. & M. Film Exchanges, Inc., has purchased the Oklahoma City branch of the Sack Amusement Co. of San Antonio, leaving Sack only one office, that in San Antonio. A. & M. has a branch in San Antonio. Ralph Br anion on Coast Hollywood, Feb. 23.- — Ralph Bran- ton, district manager for Tri-States in Iowa, arrived here Friday to look over the current product. His first day was spent in looking over coming M-G-M releases. NOT SITTING DOWN IN DETROIT UNITED ARTISTS! WARNER BROS, arranged it that way with the glorious new sensation by the author of 'Magnificent Obsession'! ERROL FLYNN and ANITA LOUISE ^^^Vi In Their First Modern Roles Together Green Light with V ~J MARGARET LINDSAY • Sir CEDRIC HARDWICKE • Walter Abel • Henry O'Neill A FRANK BORZAGE PRODUCTION • Music by Max Steiner • A COSMOPOLITAN PRODUCTION ■ A First National Picture HELD OVER IN NEW YORK AND MIAMI! AND SRO IN FRISCO, ALBANY, HARTFORD, NEW HAVEN, MILWAUKEE OPENINGS! 6 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, February 24, 1937 'Sea Devils,'9 Murray Loop's Best Grossers Chicago, Feb. 23. — The Palace took the lead in the Loop with "Sea Devils" on the screen and Ken Murray and Oswald on the stage. The com- bination grossed $25,500, $6,500 above average. At the State-Lake the Duncan Sisters in a new revue proved a strong attraction, coupled with "She's Dan- gerous" on the screen. The take there was $17,300. Other attractions drawing well were "Man of The People" at the Oriental and "Sing Me A Love Song" at the Apollo. At the Roosevelt "You Only Live Once" was hard hit. Too many underworld pictures in the house of late are given as the cause for the poor business. "Stolen Holiday" at the Chicago was under par. The weather was unsettled. Rain and snow kept many away from the Loop, although the temperature was well above zero. Total first run business was $126,- 300. Average is $118,000. Estimated takings : Week Ending Feb. 18: "SEA DEVILS" (RKO) PALACE — (2,509) , 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Ken Murray and Oswald with revue. Gross: $25,500. (Average, $19,000) "STOLEN HOLIDAY" (W.B.) CHICAGO— (4,000), 35c-55c-7Sc, 7 days. Stage: "Valentine Fantasy" and revue with Bemis Twins. Gross: $28,500. (Average, $32,000) "MAN OF THE PEOPLE" (M-G-M) ORIENTAL— (3,490), 35c-55c, 7 days. Stage: Benny Davis and revue. Gross: $17,300. (Average, $15,000) "SING ME A LOVE SONG" (W.B.) APOLLO— (1,400), 35c-55c-75c, 6 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $6,500) "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ" (Para.) GARRICK— (900), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days, 3rd Loop week. Gross: $5,800. (Average, $6,500) Week Ending Feb. 19: "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS— (2,700), 35c-55c-75c, 10 days, 3rd week. Gross: $16,000. (Aver- age, $15,000) "YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE" (U.A.) ROOSEVELT — (1,591), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $9,200. (Average, $11,000) "SHE'S DANGEROUS" (Univ.) STATE-LAKE — (2,776), 20c-35c-40c, 7 days. Stage: Duncan Sisters in "Topsy and Eva of 1937." Gross: $17,500. (Aver- age, $13,000) Trotta Picks Aides On the Ampa Awards Vincent Trotta, chairman of the Ampa committee on awards, has com- pleted lining up members who will work with him on the annual event. Efforts are being made to secure sev- eral outstanding personalities in the advertising world to act as judges. A meeting of Trotta's committee will take place Thursday night at the Edison. Those who are scheduled to attend are Barret McCormick, S. Charles Einfeld, John C. Flinn, Paul Gulick, Al Selig, Hyatt Daab, Paul Benjamin, Milton Weiss, Tess Michaels, Herbert Berg and Al Sher- man. Savini Gets Tyler Films R. M. Savini has closed a deal with W. Ray Johnston Enterprises for re- issue of eight Tom Tyler westerns by Astor Pictures in the United States and Canada. Bit Complicated Hollywood, Feb. 23.— Peter Lorre is having trouble with internationalism. He's an Hungarian. In "Think Fast, Mr. Moto," in which he is working for 20th Century-Fox, he is cast as a Japanese detective who dis- guises himself as an Armeni- an rug dealer. Plagiarism Charge On 'Dead End' Heard The trial of the $2,000,000 plagi- arism suit of Edna Buckler against Sidney Kingsley, Norman Bel Geddes and Random House started yesterday before Federal Judge John M. Wool- sey. The plaintiff charges that her play "Money" was plagiarized by Kingsley when he wrote "Dead End." She testified that she submitted "Money" in January, 1935, to Joseph F. Bickerton, Jr., theatrical attorney and producer, who, in turn, submitted it to Kingsley for a review. Kingsley, on the other hand, testified that he had the same idea for a play dealing with slums and its effects on children prior to 1935. The following witnesses testified on Kingsley's behalf substantiating his testimony: Dr. Lawrence Shapiro, formerly connected with Bellevue ; Edward Blatt, who was described as a Paramount producer, Mrs. Nathan Strauss, Jr., Eleanor Phellps, a radio artist, and Martin Lowenthal, an architect who is the central figure in "Dead End." Samuel Goldwyn, who purchased the screen rights to "Dead End," was also named as a defendant but was not served. The testimony was com- pleted yesterday and Judge Woolsey said he will hear the defendants argue a motion to dismiss the complaint this morning. Denies Fox Claim Plea Federal Judge Martin T. Manton yesterday denied a motion made by the U. S. Fidelity and Guarantee Co. for permission to file its claim for $11,802 in the Fox Theatres receiver- ship. The plaintiff claims it obtained a judgment in December, 1935, against William Fox for that amount. The court in denying the motion ruled that the plaintiff delayed too long in filing its claim, since the first steps in the litigation had already been com- pleted. Approve Censor Measure Indianapolis, Feb. 23. — Despite the protests of W. C. Carpenter, field rep- resentative of the Associated Theatre Owners of Indiana, the bill calling for a state censor board was approved yesterday by the Committee on County and Township Business, and returned to the House for a second reading. Carpenter contended the bill's assess- ment of $3 per reel for censor ex- penses would be borne by the ex- hibitors rather than the producers, as specified in the bill. He estimated the bill would cost the 426 independent houses in the state $370 each annually. He declared that the exhibitors would be forced to pay the fees despite the bill's provision for producer payment, because of distribution contracts which provide that exhibitors pay all fees, taxes and other state charges. Sullivan, Long on Stage, Dies at 63 Daniel J. Sullivan, 63, actor on the legitimate stage and for a time on the screen, and long associated with Eddie Dowling, producer, died early yesterday at the Medical Arts Hos- pital of a heart ailment. He had been ill for several years. Most important of the films in which he appeared was "Cecelia of the Pink Roses" with Marion Davies. He played on the stage with Dowling in "Sally, Irene and Mary." Sullivan was born in Marlboro, Mass. At the time of his death he was associated with Dowling in "Richard II." Fu- neral services will be held at St. Malachy's Church Friday morning, with burial in Mt. Kisco. He is sur- vived by his widow, Rebecca Sullivan, and one son, Marshall. Jeanette Lowrie Dies Hollywood, Feb. 23. — Jeanette Lowrie, veteran stage actress, died here yesterday of a heart attack. She was active for many years on the Broadway stage. Becker Will Return To Private Practice Washington, Feb. 23. — Samuel Becker, who has resigned as special counsel for the F. C. C. in its A. T. & T. investigation, plans to return to the private practice of law in Wis- consin. He broke into the headlines with the opening of the probe by his bitter at- tack upon telephone company witnesses and his digging out of much previ- ously concealed information as to how the company operated, both in regard to its telephone business and its activi- ties in other lines. His tactics resulted in a great deal of criticism of the manner in which the commission was conducting the investigation. MPPDA Meet March 29 The annual meeting of the M.P.P. DA. is scheduled for March 29, at which time the annual reports on the organization's activities will be sub- mitted to directors. Will H. Hays arrived in New York yesterday following a seven-week stay in Hollywood. Selznick in Pathe Plant Hollwood, Feb. 23. — Selznick In- ternational has completed plans for the rearrangement of the Pathe studios which the company took over today. Improvements are expected to cost $100,000. Selznick Names Leavitt Hollywood, Feb. 23. — Harry Leavitt, formerly superintendent for Thomas Ince, has been appointed stu- dio manager for Selznick Interna- tional by Harry Ginsberg, general manager. W anger Hits Actor Bill Hollywood, Feb. 23. — Declaring that "the importance of American films as ambassadors abroad is enor- mous," Walter Wanger has wired Representative Charles Kramer, urg- ing defeat of the Dickstein bill "to save the jobs of thousands of Ameri- cans who would not have their jobs if the relatively few foreign stars in Hollywood were forced to make their pictures outside this country." "Million" Is Kansas City's 3rd Week Top Kansas City, Feb. 23. — "One in a Million" took $5,500 its third week here at the Fox Uptown in Kansas City and was held for a fourth, the first time this has happened here since Will Rogers was at his peak. It played the Mainstreet a week, was moved to the Newman, and then went to the Uptown after a two-week inter- val. The take was $1,500 over the line. "Woman Wise" and a stage show at the Fox Tower was the only other first run that beat par. It took $7,400, $400 over the line. "Women of Gla- mour" and "Dangerous Number" gave the Midland $9,000, but this was $2,500 under average. "Black Legion" pulled $6,500 for the Newman, where $7,000 is good. "Jane Eyre" with Katharine Hep- burn at the Municipal Auditorium pulled 10,000 in three days, and the Natie Brown-Joe Louis scrap at the same place pulled another 10,000. Total first run business was $34,900. Average is $37,500. Estimated takings : Week Ending Feb. 18: "STOLEN HOLIDAY" (W.B.) MAINSTREET— (3,100), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $8,000) "WOMEN OF GLAMOUR" (Col.) "DANGEROUS NUMBER" (M-G-M) MIDLAND— (4,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $11,500) "BLACK LEGION" (W.B.) NEWMAN — (1,900), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $7,000) "WOMAN WISE" (2 Carthay Circle 83-1.10-1.65) — 'G> week). Aidedj hi* only week, 'Last of (UA), nice $3,500. Strand (Wilby-Kincey ) (800; 25)— 'Reunion' (20th). Dionne quins get- ting the bally, but not the dough; $2,000, just fair. Last week, 'White Hunter' (20th), because of Gail Patrick, Birmingham girl, got $2,300, moderate. Galax (Acme) (500; 25)— 'Give Your Heart" (WB). Second week- .town; $1,600, fair. Last week, " (Col) <4th ;wk), $1,200, l»t Runs on Broadway (Subject to Change) Lent a Bust in Record $14,500; 000, Blah Roxy Love* (< Strand — 'Green LighT (2d week). Week of F)eb. J« Astor— ^*\d y Earth' (4th wj Capl ney1 •Live WeeKT - — -^^mw^ Gods' (UA\ grabbed $3,au0" davs, prettyweak. Hollvwood (WB) (2.756; 30-40-55- 65^'God's Country' (WB) and 'Two Wise Maids' (R' ning slichtly . mate (Down to should be oke, Song' (FN) ai (FN), got so-so Orphenm (Bd 40) — 'Arizona I 'Happy Go Luc| and vaudeville draw custome spot and be; 5C0. not pr era! Spa " Lndies1 Pan 4S-a Lav- spot with Looks like $7, 'Lloyds' (20th) was $10,800. RKO Albee (2.300; 15-25-40)- Only Once' (UA) and 'Mighty Treve' (RKO). Just so-so; maybe S6"" Last week, 'About to Die' (Rfil 'Join Marines* (Rep) was' mild combo at $6,300. .Strand (Ipdie) (2,200; 15- ^ulldog Dfummond' (Par) a ' Diary' (Par). Start " $6,400 for the we;, ■eek, 'More Than S| "and 'Hopalong Cass; $9,300. ! Pittsburgh, Feb. 16. Old Lent bugaboo growing less less potent every year until to- ' .bs are willing to admit that " le or no effect on biz, il us t rated pretty thor« [veek, with takes gen- Trade and no drop in, ';sible to naked eye. nesday, in the past a r, is no longer the de- used to be for the film 're saying all over that is now the only Lenten a Zanuck Zephyr along , with 'Lloyds' and 'On playing side by side at i Fulton respectively. Snow- Id blizzard on Sunday didn't fther of these, and 'Lloyds' neaamg for a new house record, | with 'Avenue' threatening to crack Fulton's previous mark, too. ain for both of them and yet to say, a third neculation. ipots arly Weism3 Hippodi 15-25-35-40 yer' (RKO) Band on stage, week 'Great Guy1 profit at $13,000. Keith's (Schanberge! 25-30-35-40-55) — 'Doctors Diary* (Par). Opened Saturday night at supper show with John Trent mak- ing p.a. both Saturday, and Sunday- looks, o.k.. $5,000/ Last week 'Man of Affairs' (G.B. ), $4,000. fair; ■ New- (Mechanic) (0400; 15-25-30' 35-40-55) — 'On Avenue* (20tlT| Opened ," Wednesday (10)i and \ buxom $9,006 means holdover, has week 'Lloyds' (UA) did better thai o SljQ&P^fcM^^r day3 added to sqH nent Jj|PWU *V "HONJA RESUhES PORT, _ ^HWipflG 8G 2D WKl MS I.1SG 40)— Estimate^ Alvin (Harris) (2.000; 25T 'Lloyds* (20th). Cracked opening day (Thursday) mark and also Saturday record, and practically a cinch to set a new house figure for straight pix on the week. Looks like $14,500 on opening stanza and sticks. Manage- ment sees a potent factor f tag- -of Scripps-Howar." month menti e Fax into* the till, nasn't encountered dough like this since 'My Man Godfrey' last September. Holds for second stanza . . and third isn't unlikely. Last week shy on marquee names 'Men Not Gods* (UA) and 'Laughing 5-35-50) ave no* quarter oo, but qutlch* hile biz blv he* I of hit- if that. ;ek col* out. . LaS (Par), pier ter than e: RKO <2C.'n: 3| (RKO) -and (RKO), dual. week3>. and profit. ' Last (20th) and *V THE KEYSTONE OF YOUR FUTURE Now more than ever! out of this act run spot and plenty of prey mille" (MG>^» (20th), fared able. Dwl will arrive" France. He wil untitled play by Ma Joyds'Votfi Dual Iven Leader New Haven, Feb. 14. — "Lloyds of London" and "Woman in Distress" at the Poli led here with the aid of spe- cial group rates for three high schools. T)ie gross was $9,300, over par by $.?,300. "Black Legion" and "The Plot Tlrrkens" at the Roger Sherman took $6,400. up by $1,700, chiefly on the strength of a fine opening and weekend The Paramount, with "A Doctor's Dairy" and "Woman in Dis- tress" fell to $3,700. 514.2 ..LCj igeles' GrossPickupl tr.K. 17 — "Wings of Los A^^l/fJneral "nproye- the Monung led a ge g ment of g™55^ '"at 4 Star and top- $5,778 in the 90CH eat ping par by fjj^ ..Criminal Lav,' "Sea Devi s ana HiUstreet ar yer," dualled at th^H>l fe $2,oo ., Censor Revenge Seattle, Feb. last row gaiierj "Million"Jleaches "ft Spokane SanFranciscoj „ Vt-h 17 —Business San Francisco, heb. of has" failed to respond to the^e ^ g^ the maritime str Ke first run don" was the only not » make a showing and this v | Impressive The gro»* fa field was ?HC™)- Secretary," with "More Than a a <= Orpheum "The Mighty Treve, a _tne u " ^ tf^&gWBA SpO*-*1"'"' I went $700 over the lme^ ™wyer" at MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, February 24, 1937 "Camilla" 2nd Run Leads in Philadelphia Philadelphia, Feb. 23. — In a gen- erally quiet week, the best compara- tive business was scored by "Camille" in a second run at the Arcadia. It grossed $4,000 and was held a second week. Booked in for only a week, "Lloyds of London" ran out 11 days at the Boyd to the better-than-average tune of $23,000. "The Plough and the Stars," with a stage show, topped the Fox aver- age with $14,500, though it fell short of expectations. "On the Avenue" got a good $13,000 for its second Stanley week. The season's first snow storm of any proportions cut into the grosses for one day. Total first run business was $83,600. Average is $89,560. Estimated takings for the week end ing Feb. 18: "YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE" (U.A.) ALDINE — (1,300), 40c-55c-65c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $8,160) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) (2nd run) ARCADIA— (600), 25c-40c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $4,009. (Average, $2,400) "LLOYD'S OF LONDON" (ZOth-Fox) BOYD— (2,400), 40c-55c, 11 days. .Gross: $23,000. (Average, 7 days, $14,000) "THE GREAT O'MALLEY" (W.B.) EARLE — (2,000), 25c -40c -55c, 7 days. Stage: "Radio Headline Parade" with Neila Goodelle, Three X Sisters, Ben Grauer, Honeyboy and Sassafras, Arlene Harris. Gross: $14,000. (Average, $14,000) "PLOUGH AND THE STARS" (RKO) FOX— (3,000), 40c-55c-65c, 7 days. Stage: The Bredwins, George Beatty, Roy Camp- bell's Royalists. Gross: $14,500. (Average, $14,000) "MORE THAN A SECRETARY" (Col). (2nd run) KARLTON— (1,000), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $2,500. (Average, $4,000) "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ" (Para.) (2nd run) KEITH'S— (2,000), 30c-40c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $2,800. (Average, $4,000) "ON THE AVENUE" (20th-Fox) STANLEY— (3,700), 40c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $14,000) "MAN OF THE PEOPLE" (M-G-M) STANTON— (1,700), 30c-40c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $5,300. (Average, $7,000) Seattle Fund $1,832.79 Seattle, Feb. 23. — A final checkup on the Red Cross flood relief fund raised in the recent one-day solicita- tion in Seattle theatres showed a total of $1,832.79. Dust Hits Western Spots Kansas City, Feb. 23. — The Dust Bowl is on the rampage again, reports from western Kansas, the Panhandle and northern Texas indicate. Swirl- ing clouds of silt swept northeastward out of Texas early in the week, reach- ing Topeka, and eastward. At Hugo- ton, Kan., all public gatherings were banned. At other points theatres were reported doing little business or closed. Heading Swedish Unit Stockholm, Feb. 23. — Dr. Paul Fejos, film director, formerly of Hollywood and until recently active in Copenhagen, has been signed as the leader of a film expedition to Siam and New Guinea sponsored by the Svensk Filmindustri. The ex- pedition will leave Sweden the end of this month, and is expected to be gone for two years. Overseas Previews "LesBas-Fonds" ("The Underworld") (Films Albatros) Paris, Feb. 16. — The action of this film, which is based on "Na-dnie. a novel by the Russian author, Maxim Gorki, is set in the underworld of a large Russian city. Although in many parts a trifle sordid, it is often touched with pathos and real humor, and there is a sight of the sun shining through the clouds of misery and depravity. The story deals with a receiver of stolen goods, Kostylev, who keeps a workhouse for Pepel, a thief, the lover of Kostylev's wife, Wassilissa; a third rate actor who is drinking himself to death, and others of the same calibre. Wassilissa has a young and beautiful sister, Natacha, who is in love with Pepel and who hopes to convert him. Pepel, who breaks into the house of a Baron, with the intention of robbing him, finds a cynical man, overwhelmed with debts and who is on the point of being turned out of his home. The two become friends, the Baron saves Pepel from prison and later, having lost all his worldly possessions, joins Pepel at the awful workhouse kept by Kostylev. Wassilissa, realizing that Pepel has never loved her, but wishing to keep him from her sister, en- courages the attentions of, and tries to force her into marrying a police inspector who threatens to arrest Kostylev on the charge of receiving stolen goods. As Natacha refuses, Wassilissa and Kotylev try to beat her into submission. Pepel arrives on the scene, saves Natacha and chases Kostylev out into the open where he is beaten to death by Pepel and the men of the workhouse, whom he has cheated. Pepel is arrested but Natacha waits for him, and together they leave to start a new life. The film is skilfully directed by Jean Renoir, and can be really con- sidered as one of the best and most important French pictures produced in 1936. It has received the "Prix Louis Delluc," granted for the first time this year by the Young Independent Film Critics. It is brilliantly acted and the whole cast is excellent. The photography is good. The quality of this film, and its unusual type, may surely attract American patrons who are interested in foreign pictures. Running time, 90 minutes. "A." "Courrier Sud" ("Southern Mail") (Pan Cine — Solar Film) Paris, Feb. 16. — Adapted from a novel by Antoine de Saint Exupery, the author of "Night Flight," this ambitious film aims at showing the lives of the pilots of the French Air Line, from Casablanca, Morocco, to Dakar, Senegal, in the days when the line was created, about 10 years ago. In itself, the subject is very interesting and could have made an out- standing film, glorifying the pioneers of this air line, who had to fly 2,000 miles over the deserts of Mauretania and of whom many were killed by the bullets of rebel natives. The film has been hurt by a sentimental love story which has taken the main part of the action. Instead of being a forceful film, it has be- come a melodrama dealing with a pilot returning to France on leave, called by his childhood sweetheart, married to a man in the diplomatic corps she does not love. The pilot and his friend run away together, but called by his duty he has to leave her. He is finally killed by the Moors in the desert. The outdoor scenes are excellent. The photography is splendid. Pierre Billon's direction is rather uneven, as is the screenplay, which lacks unity. Nearly all the scenes dealing with the lives and the adventures of the pilots are thrilling, although not developed enough, while the love inter- est is of less value. The cast includes Pierre Richard Wilm, whose acting is not up to his usual standard and Jany Holt who is not natural. Charles Vanel is best in the role of the husband. It is difficult to forsee what this film will do in foreign speaking countries. In France it is considered a big picture. Hollywood producers may be interested in remaking it, using the Afri- can scenes. Running time, 100 minutes. "A." Autre « Moonlight Sonata (Pall Mall-United Artists) London, Feb. 15. — This one is a bit of a problem. Its big star is Paderewski, world famous pianist and ex-Premier of Poland, and its big asset is, of course, his playing. It starts with a full 25 minutes' recital by the maestro, playing Rach- maninoff, Lizt and Beethoven. How he plays goes without saying, but {Continued on page 10) "Wings" and Show Detroit Top $26,400 Detroit, Feb. 23. — Top honors for the week went to "Wings of the Morning," with a stage show headed by the Mills Brothers at the Fox. The gross was $26,400, over normal by $4,600, "Maid of Salem" made a good showing at the Michigan with a vaude- ville program headed by Enrico Ca- ruso, Jr., by grossing $23,200. This was $3,200 to the good. "Camille" held up to $10,500 in its second week at the United Artists. Total first run business was 77,- 500. Average is $70,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 18: "DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND" (Col.) "LAUGHING AT TROUBLE" (20th-Fox) ADAMS— (1,770), 10c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,100. (Average, $5,000) "WINGS OF THE MORNING" (20th -Fox) FOX— (5,100), 15c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Mills Bros., Helene Denizon, Stewart & Martin, Lazy Bill Huggins, Pickard and Mickey, Urban Models, Maidie & Ray, Jeanne, Philestes. Gross: $26,400. (Aver- age, $20,000) "MAID OF SALEM" (Para.) MICHIGAN— (4,100), 15c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Enrico Caruso, Jr., Joe Cook, Jr., Eddie Foy, Jr., Eddie Leonard, Jr., Joe Dorris, Jr., June Carroll, Ruth Howard, Frank Tinney, Jr., Lois Lait. Gross: $23,- 200. (Average, $20,000) "SINNER TAKE ALL" (M-G-M) "NIGHT WAITRESS" (RKO) STATE— (3,000), 10c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,800. (Average, $5,000) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS— (2,070), 15c-65c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $10,500. (Aver- age, $10,000) "A MAN OF AFFAIRS" (G. B.) MADISON— (2,000), 15c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $8,500. (Average, $10,000) "Champagne" Dual Best Spokane Draw Spokane, Feb. 23. — "Champagne Waltz" and "Smart Blonde" pulled $4,900 in six days on a dual at the Fox to lead the town. "Camille" grossed $4,900 in seven days at the State, about $100 above par. Total first run business was $13,000. Average is $12,500. Estimated takings : Week Ending Feb. 18: "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ" (Para.) "SMART BLONDE" (W.B.) FOX— (2,300), 25c-40c, 6 days. Gross: $4,900. (Average, $4,500) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) STATE— (1,000), 30c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,900. (Average, $4,800) "GREAT O'MALLEY" (W.B.) "THANK YOU, JEEVES" (20th-Fox) ORPHEUM— (1,300,) 20c-30c, 4 days. Gross: $2,200. (Average, $2,200) "DANGEROUS NUMBER" (M-G-M) "LAUGHING AT TROUBLE" (20th-Fox) ORPHEUM— (1,300), 20c-30c, 3 days. Gross: $1,000. (Average, $1,000) Ray Aims to Produce Hollywood, Feb. 23. — Charles Ray is said to plan a comeback as an in- dependent producer. In association with Reginald Burns and Edyth H. Landier, he has set a $5,000,000 mark for_ world-wide operation, with the initial step the obtaining of a permit from the California Commissioner of Corporations to Charles Ray Publica- tions to sell 1,000 shares of stock at $5,000 per share. Ray's Hollywood Digest will be an adjunct to the new enterprise. CURRENT RELEASES SINS of CHILDREN with Eric Linden and Cecilia Parker DEVIL ON HORSEBACK with Lili Damiia (Mrs. Errol Flynn) in color WHITE "LEGION with Tola Birell and Ian Keith YELLOW CARGO with Conrad Nagel and Eleanor Hunt CAPT. CALAMITY with George Houston and Moviia, Gable's lead in "Mutiny on the Bounty" in color HATS OFF with Mae Clark, John Payne & Helen Lynd • James Cagney in GREAT GUY WE'RE IN THE LEGION NOW with Reginald Denny and Esther Ralston in color SCOTLAND YARD COMMANDS with Clive Brook TEX RITTER Musical Westerns BIG Iffahck ATTRACTIONS FROM GRAND NATIONAL '2314 HOURS LEAVE" with JAMES ELLISON and TERRY WALKER The picture that skyrocketed Douglas MacLean to fame now produced by Douglas MacLean. From Mary Roberts Rinehart's brilliant Satevepost story. 1 1 GIRL LOVES BOY featuring ERIC LINDEN and CECILIA PARKER A Bennie F. Zeidman production. The sweethearts of "Ah, Wilderness!" and "Sins of Children" in a new romance of young love. ii NAVY SPY starring CONRAD NAGEL and ELEANOR HUNT Federal Agent Series. Produced by George A. Hirliman. Matching wits with spies selling navy secrets to foreign powers. ii ROMANCE and RICHES with CARY GRANT and MARY BRIAN From the novel by E. Phillips Oppenheim. A fast-moving comedy of a rich young man's quest for happiness. KILLERS the SEA" featuring CAPT. WALLACE CASWELL, Jr. Dialogue by LOWELL THOMAS A Raymond Friedgen Production. Exploitation sensation of 1937 with Capt. Caswell fighting the man-eaters of the deep. SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT • A Victor Schertzinger Prodn. Written and directed by the man who gave you "One Night of Love" THE THOUSAND DOLLAR BILL • A Zion Myers Produc- tion. . . . Based on the Cosmopolitan magazine story of the same title. DYNAMITE, starring James Cagney • Based on the story "Hot Oil". Produced by Richard A. Rowland. The red-headed dynamo of the screen in another great Cagney entertainment. Different — thrilling — timely. 10 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, February 24, 1937 ' Jury," Ethel Waters Show Hit in Frisco San Francisco, Feb. 23. — "We're on the Jury," with Ethel Waters and a colored revue on the stage at the Golden Gate, went to $20,500 on the week, by far the best showing among the first runs. The take topped par by $4,500. "Maid of Salem" and "Holy Terror" turned in a snappy $19,000, up by $3,000, at the Fox. "Beloved Enemy" was in the money with $7,600 at the United Artists, but elsewhere there was no box-office excitement. Total first-run business was $89,- 000. Average is $85,000. Estimated takings : Week Ending Feb. 16: "NOW AND FOREVER" (Para.) "HORSE FEATHERS" (Para.) EMBASSY — (1,400), 15c-2Sc-35c, 7 days. Gross: $3,200. (Average, $4,500) "WE'RE ON THE JURY" (RKO) GOLDEN GATE — (2,850), 15c-30c-35c-40c- 55c, 7 days. Stage: Ethel Waters and colored revue. Gross: $20,500. (Average, $16,000; Week Ending Feb. 17: "MAID OF SALEM" (Para.) "HOLY TERROR" (ZOth-Fox) FOX — (5,000), 15c-30c-35c-40c-55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $19,000. (Average, $16,000) "MORE THAN A SECRETARY" (Col.) "MIGHTY TREVE" (Univ.) ORPHEUM — (2,440), 15c-30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $7,200. (Average, $9 500) "ON THE AVENUE" (20th-Fox) "WOMAN ALONE" (G.B.) PARAMOUNT— (2,740), 15c-30c-35c-40c- 55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $13,400. (Average, $13,000) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) "HATS OFF" (G.N.) ST. FRANCIS— (1,400), 15c-30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 5th downtown week. Gross: $4,800. (Average, $6,000) "BELOVED ENEMY" (U.A.) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,200), 15c-30c-35c- 40c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $7,600. (Average, $6,000) Week Ending Feb. 18: "LLOYDS OF LONDON" (20th-Fox) "OFF TO THE RACES" (ZOth-Fox) WARFIELD — (2,680), 15c-30c-35c-4Oc-55c- 75c, 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $12,500. (Average, $13,000) Week Ending Feb. 19: "SKI CHASE" (Kraska) CLAY — (400), 15c-35c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $1,100. (Average, $1,000) Davey to Speak on Ohio Relief Needs Columbus, O., Feb. 23. — Governor Davey will deliver personally a mes- sage on poor and flood relief to a joint session of the Legislature at 10:15 next Tuesday night. The mes- sage will be broadcast over a state- wide hookup. He has estimated the relief load for the current two years will be $40,000,- 000. Several weeks ago he said $10,- 000,000 a year would be necessary for these requirements. A suggestion as to the type of new tax levies to raise the additional reve- nues is expected in the Governor's message. Plan Lapland Picture Stockholm, Feb. 23. — George Schneevoigt, Danish director, will head a location unit of Nordisk Tone- film and Svensk Filmindustri, which are cooperating in production, into Lapland for exterior scenes on "Laila," which was made originally about eight years ago as a silent. Overseas Preview ft Moonlight Sonata (Continued from page 8) it's a lot of classical music in one helping for that part of any audience which hasn't come to hear music but to see a picture. It's true the concert hall setting is effective, that the camera angle shifts efficiently, that Paderewski is a fine, venerably imposing screen figure. Remains the fact, it's a piano recital, and a high-class one at that. The story develops that Paderewski, seen welcomed at the end by a young couple and their child, was the means of bringing about the mar- riage years before. He tells the story, which is that a plane accident made him an enforced guest at a Swedish country house, that an un- sophisticated girl there fell in love with an adventurer, that Paderewski's playing of "The Moonlight Sonata," which had originally brought to- gether her father and mother, reconciled her to her true lover. All this is affective enough sentimentally. There is a pretty scene where Paderewski plays his minuet to the dancing of school children. The production is a mixture of crudity and artistry ; some scenes charm- ing, some mawkish. The acting is uneven. Paderewski himself is a genuine screen personality, Marie Tempest, most famous of British stage comediennes, gets over all her charm and finish. There is a brilliant adventurer study from Eric Portman, a clever bit of comedy by Queenie Leonard. The juveniles, Charles Farrell and Barbara Greene, are from stock; the closeups of the latter should be cut. This is a first class offering in any theatre which can hope to attract the musical public, and the story has woman appeal, but it certainly calls for special methods. The recording is worthy of the magnificent playing. Running time, 90 minutes. "G." Allan MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Dead Yesterday" (20th Century-Fox) Hollywood, Feb. 23. — This is a mystery-drama that has enough creepy sequences to satisfy those who seek this form of entertainment. The action takes place entirely in a hospital following an early sequence in which George Walcott grapples with a gunman and seeks refuge. Walcott's sister, Sally Blane, a nurse, contrives with Howard Phillips to have it appear that Walcott has died. The gangsters, however, follow him into the hospital and in the ensuing complications suspicion falls on Sig Rumann, the chief surgeon. Jane Darwell, as the night superintendent, beats Wade Boteler, a detective, to the solution of the crime, again showing up the cops as poor guessers. The direction by James Tinling relieves the tension with comedy that is played by Joan Davis and manages to sustain the suspense. Thomas Beck, who is romantically linked with Miss Blane, does good work as a staff surgeon. Bess Meredyth, William Conselman and Jerry Cady wrote the screenplay from the story by Mignon Eberhart. The picture will find its greatest appeal in the neighborhood houses but should also be well received generally. Production Code Seal No. 3,086. Running time, 60 minutes. "G." 'The King and the Chorus Girl" (Le Roy-Warners) Hollywood, Feb. 23. — With enough appeal for key cities to cross- roads, Mervyn LeRoy's initial production under his own set-up for Warners seems headed for certain box-office championship. Smart showmanship is evident in every foot. Fernand Gravet, making his American debut, should become an immediate and general favorite. He has looks, personality and the ability to capture a following from both sexes. The story by Norman Krasna and Groucho Marx is light in theme and is ideal for getting the utmost from the star's talents. Gravet is a dethroned monarch living in exile with a retinue of servants and two loyal followers, Edward Everett Horton and Mary Nash. Until he discovers Joan Blondell in a chorus he leads a life of inebriated boredom, rising after sunset and retiring before dawn. Coached by Miss Nash and Horton, Miss Blondell leads Gravet a merry (Continued on page 11) Short Subjects "Magician Mickey" (Disney-U.A.) Mickey offers some of the finest magic ever demonstrated and performs the most amazing transformations on the heckling Donald. Foiling Donald at every turn he changes him suc- cessively into a kangaroo, sea lion, ape, etc. The hilarity is continuous and mounts to a state that will leave audiences limp and gasping. How- ever, Donald finally gets his inning with a magic pistol and with all the tints that Technicolor can create the fireworks go off. Donald, later, gets his due. Production Code Seal No. 2,494. Running time, 8 mins. "G." "Kick Me Again" ( Vitaphone) Joe Palooka's engagements take him to France in this latest adventure. Surprise at the French footwork in the ring which he overcomes and the difficulties Shemp Howard, as Knobby Walsh, encounters as he tries to elude a hero's decoration which a beavered official is trying to pin on him for res- cuing Lee Weber from a faked up rescue provide the merriment. The element of comedy, of the low-brow and slapstick type, is ever present and should please most audiences. Pro- duction Code Seal No. 01,366. Run- ning time, 21 mins. "G." "Don Donald" (Disney-U.A.) Disney's duck goes a-courting be- low the Rio Grande, to colorful Span- ish rhythms, riding a cute burro. The object of his romantic pursuit, Donna, gives him screech for screech and her explosive indignation is marvelous. Synchronized to the stirring music they enact their precarious and hair- raising courtship in a glaring road- ster that careens through the desert and which finally and noisily gives up the ghost. Donna rides her mono- cycle home and Donald gets the razz from the young jackass. It is quite unnecessary to mention that it's ter- rific, a wow, etc. Production Code Seal No. 2,342. Running time, 8 mins. "G." "Where Snow Is King" (Paramount) Interesting camera work catching winter sports in Zermatt, at the foot of the Matterhorn in Switzerland. The various cold weather activities are well presented and the film closes with exciting and spectacular shots of a downhill slalom race. It is a timely item that should appeal to the up-and-coming ski enthusiasts. Pro- duction Code Seal No. 01,429. Run- ning time, 9 mins. "G." 'Moose Hunters' (Disney-U.A.) A grand take-off on Mickey's hunt- ing prowess. Starting with the usual lure business, the piece with ingen- ious execution offers a highly amus- ing account of the amorous habits of moose. Donald and the Goof imper- sonate a female of the species. When they are uncovered the animal's fury is let loose, accounting for a few moments of such whirlwind action that even the ground trembles. Mickey and his assistants are able to get away in the skeleton of their canoe. Production Code Seal No. 2,781. Run- ning time, 8 mins. "G." Wednesday, February 24, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY t i Mills Joins Company With Master Records Irving Mills has closed a deal for the affiliation of his new phonograph recording company with Master Records, Inc., which will be the name of the merged company, with Mills as managing director. Two groups of records will be offered, Master records and Variety records. The negetiations were conducted with Herbert J. Yates, who heads American Record Co. New studios have been constructed at 1776 Broad- way. The first releases of the new company will appear on April 1, by which time Mills expects there will be 200 items in the new catalogue. Universal District Heads End Meeting Universal's district managers con- cluded a two-day meeting yesterday at which were discussed selling plans for "Top of the Town," the remaining pictures on the company's current schedule and preliminary plans for the 1937-38 season. James R. Grain- ger, general sales manager, was at the helm. At the conclusion of the sessions last night, he reported the meetings had been marked by enthusi- asm. Flash Previews "Marked Woman" — Research into the lives of cabaret hostesses, this tells the tale of five girls who eventu- ally overcame the machinations of an underworld boss. "House of Secrets" — Routine comic- mystery fare produced in the atmos- phere of an old English castle and Scotland Yard. These films will be reviewed in full in a coming issue of Motion Picture Daily. Warner Opening Set Philadelphia, Feb. 23. — Warners will open the new Center on Market St. on March 5. The house will be under the jurisdiction of Leonard Schlesinger, in charge of Warner Philadelphia neighborhood theatres, and Paul Castello, district manager. Take Pittsburgh House Pittsburgh, Feb. 23.— The Beacon Amusement Co., headed by M. W. Korach, has taken over the Princess in Squirrel Hill and will change the name of the house to the Beacon. It is planned to remodel the house com- pletely and install new equipment. The B'way Reopening The Broadway becomes the Cine Teatro Roma Saturday with its first picture, "Loyalty of Love" with Marta Abba, Italian actress now ap- pearing in "Tovarich", stage play at the Plymouth. Lam in Hospital Rome, Ga., Feb. 23.— Oscar C. Lam, head of the theatre company bearing his name, is still confined to the McCall Hospital, suffering from arthritis. St. Louis Fund $21,500 St. Louis, Feb. 23.— The flood fund raised by theatres here reached $21,- 500, according to a report from Clar- ence D. Bill of Columbia, who was treasurer. Loew to Poll New Haven, Dec. 23.— It's no longer simply Poli on the houses that S. Z. Poli built. Loew's-Poli is the new of- ficial name. British Board Firm On Sacred Figures London, Feb. 15. — The British Board of Film Censors, through a statement from its secretary, J. Brooke Wilkinson, intimates that there has been no change in its attitude toward films in which sacred figures are in- troduced. Where the figure of Christ is shown the board does not issue a certificate and the special condi- tions imposed by the London County Council and other licensing bodies permitting such films — that the film should be shown silent, no smoking be permitted and a special musical accompaniment be used — are approved by the censor board. In regard to "The Green Pastures," the board says that "the problem does not arise in the same way . . . the board is prepared to issue certificates whenever religious susceptibilities are not offended." U. S. Films Leading In Czechoslovakia Washington, Feb. 23. — American films maintained the strong position in Czechoslovakia in 1936 that has been gained in the preceding year after an absence of approximately two and one-half years from the market, ac- cording to a report to the U. S. Dep't of Commerce from Acting Com- mercial Attache J. B. Smith, in Prague. Imports of sound pictures into Czechoslovakia during 1936 totalled 277 as compared with 290 and 184 in 1935 and 1934, respectively. Of the 193 total, American films accounted for 130; German, 78; Austrian, 22; French, 17; British, 12, and Russian 9, the report states. Domestic pro- duction of sound features in Czecho- slovakia declined in 1936 to 31, com- pared with 34 in 1935, it was stated. Cooper Children's Host Lincoln, Feb. 23. — J. H. Cooper, head of Lincoln Theatres Corp. here, held the annual free theatre party for Lincoln youngsters last Saturday. He turned over all five of his theatres to the morning matinee, in celebration of the birthday of his son, Joseph, Jr. The party has become an annual in- stitutional event, theatres and news- papers cooperating. Quality Clause Is Urged in Australia Canberra, Australia, Feb. 23. — Cresswell O'Reilly, film censor of the Commonwealth, urged in his annual report that if the quota legislation on British films is reenacted, it should include a clause stipulating the quality of the quota films, similar to recent legislation passed in New South Wales, in an effort to improve the quality of British product. British pictures vary in quality between great- er extremes than those of other na- tions, O'Reilly declared. The best "British" films are made in America, he said. The percentage of rejections on features for 1936 was : British 2.9 ; American, 1.4, com- pared with 6.5 and 3.1 in 1935. Of 453 features imported into Australia in 1936, 348 were American and 103 British, the report stated. Of 1,084 films of all types imported, the United States accounted for nearly two-thirds. Japan Produced 496 Films During 1936 Washington, Feb. 23. — The extent of Japan's domestic production is in- dicated in a report to the U. S. Dep't of Commerce from Assistant Trade Commissioner C. H. Boehringer in Tokyo. A total of 496 domestic films were passed by the official censor during 1936, of which 262 were talking, 107 with sound effects, and 127 silent, the report shows. The latest available figures cover- ing the number of theatres in Japan show that at the end of October, 1936, the total for Japan proper was 1,767, of which 1,469 were wired for sound. The corresponding total for Japanese colonies was 104, of which 86 were wired for sound, according to the re- port. Domestic Pictures Show Gain in India Washington, Feb. 23. — Films pro- duced in India are offering steadily increasing competition to the foreign product in that country, according to a report to the U. S. Dep't of Com- merce from Trade Commissioner C. Grant Isaacs, in Calcutta. The suc- cessful exhibition of foreign films is being more and more confined to the larger centers of India. Approximately 300 pictures form the annual output of Indian studios at the present time. It is estimated that out of 650 theatres in the coun- try, 450 are today showing domestic films. A recent convention of domes- tic film interests held at Madras de- cided again to petition the Govern- ment to abolish the duty on raw film and machinery imported into India, it was stated. Henry King Re-Signed Hollywood, Feb. 23. — Henry King, director, who has just finished Simone Simon's "Seventh Heaven" for 20th Century-Fox, has been signed to a straight five-year contract by that company. New Seats Installed Oklahoma City, Feb. 23. — Stand- ard Theatres has installed new seats in the Liberty here, which will in- crease the seating capacity of the house to 1,350. MOTION PICTURE DAILYS HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "The King and the Chorus Girl" {Continued from page 10) chase until love inevitably becomes genuine. Then, in a series of novel and genuinely amusing gags, the courtship ends in marriage. Le Roy's, direction tops his producing effort and proper restraint is nicely balanced by clever directorial touches. Supporting players include Luis Alberni, Alan Mowbray and Adrian Roseley, who score in individual scenes. Two musical numbers written by Werner Heymann and Ted Koehler are sung by Kenny Baker and nicely staged by Bobby Connolly. It is well worth preferred playing time and the picture should show golden returns. Production Code Seal No. 2,873. Running time, 95 minutes. "G". "Women of Glamour" {Columbia) Hollywood, Feb. 23. — Telling the story of an artist's love affairs, this picture does so in an arty way. Principally appealing to women, the film does not seem to be of the character that will create any great general audience enthusiasm. Basically the tale follows the dual theme of a man's mental and a woman's moral regeneration. As it unfolds it takes on the atmosphere of a problem play and, while there is a modicum of comedy, the prevailing tone is serious drama. Artist Melvyn Douglas, never satisfied with his work, aspires to greater things. Although engaged to aristocratic Leona Maricle, he finds little inspiration in the association. Meeting Virginia Bruce, cafe entertainer, outwardly a woman of the world, but inwardly sweetly sin- cere, Douglas engages her as a model. During the time they are working together, they fall in love, a situation not at all pleasant to Miss Maricle or his father, Thurston Hall. Although Douglas sees in Miss Bruce an honesty of character not revealed to anyone else and seeks to educate her to the more noble things in life, she, in deference to Miss Maricle, poses as being infatuated with Reginald Denny. In the climax, however, Miss Bruce foregoes a philandering world tour with Denny to return to Douglas. The work of the principals is consistently good and their efforts are strengthened by the contributions of Miss Bruce's crisply brittle com- panion, Pert Kelton. An original screen play by Lynn Starling and Mary McCall, Jr., the picture was directed by Gordon Wiles. Production Code Seal No. 2,819. Running time, 70 minutes. "G". 12 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, February 24, 1937 New Policy in MPTO Hinted By Kuykendall (Continued from page 1) important to the greatest number of exhibitors than the establishment of local conciliation boards, and for that reason he is not greatly disturbed, he said, over the apparent distributor inaction in setting up the local boards. Kuykendall plans to leave here to- day for Washington and will return to his home at Columbus, Miss., from there. He will go to Miami about March 13 for the opening there, March 16, of the M.P.T.O.A. na- tional convention. Convention Plans Progress The M.P.T.O.A. reported further progress on the completion of its con- vention program with Col. Carl Byoir, public relations counsel, sched- uled to address the March 17 busi- ness session, which will deal with in- creasing attendance and better theatre management. The advertising and publicity directors of the eight major distribution companies have also been invited to address this session, among them Hy Daab, Columbia ; Robert Gillham, Paramount ; Charles E. Mc- Carty, 20th Century-Fox ; S. Barret McCormick, RKO Radio; Si Seadler, Loew's ; Paul Gulick, Universal ; Mon- roe Greenthal, United Artists, and S. Charles Einfeld, Warners. Talks by the following have also been scheduled : Roy L. Smart, Wilby- Kincey Theatres ; M. A. Lightman, Malco Theatres ; Brownie Akers, Griffith Amusement Co. ; Stanley Sumner, Cambridge, Mass. ; Percy Phillipson, president, Automaticket, Ltd., London; Morgan Walsh, San Francisco, and Henry Anderson, Para- mount. Gets Extortion Threat Meridian, Miss., Feb. 23. — H. Yeomans, wealthy former theatre owner, sent his family to another part of the state last week after reporting to the police that he had received an extortion threat for $1,000. Yeomans recently sold theatres in Meridian and Natchez for a purported $200,000. ★ ★ ★ *- SLEEP OVERWEATHER TO CALIFORNIA Fly OVERNIGHT to Los Angeles on the lower-level all-year Southern Transcontinental Route. In NEW 14-berth Flag- ship Sleepers. The largest, quietest, most luxurious planes. Phone VAnderbilt 3-2580 or your travel agent Ticket Office — 45 Vanderbill Ave. AMERICAN AIRLINES inc. i Purely Personal ► JOSEPH M. SCHENCK leaves «J Hollywood in a few days for Miami where he will board his yacht and return to the coast via the Canal. • Thalia Sabanieeva, currently the feminine lead in the Ukrainian film, "The Girl from Poltava," has been signed by Avramenko Films for two features. Oscar Serlin, Selznick Interna- tional talent scout, will spend the next four to six weeks here searching for talent. • Si Seadler, M-G-M, and Monroe Greenthal, United Artists, will head for the coast this week, but not nec- essarily together. • Norman H. Moray, in charge of Vitaphone sales, arrives in Pittsburgh today. His next stop will be Cincin- nati. • Arthur Greenblatt, G. B. eastern district manager, who was stricken with the flu in Washington last week, is recuperating at his home. • Mac D. Weinberger, general sales manager of General Pictures, leaves today for a swing around the ex- changes. • Lowell Thomas has been signed by Grand National to do the narra- tive on a picture dealing with fight- ing fish. • Ben Piermont, formerly with Vita- phone and Erpi, has joined the 20th Century-Fox eastern talent depart- ment under Joe Pincus. • Billy Curtis, host of the Piccadilly bar, has been signed by Mentone for a role in a new musical featuring Niela Goodelle. • Harry and Mrs. Ritz and Jimmy Rrrz are in from the coast and at the Warwick. • George J. Schaefer is back from Florida and goes to the coast Mon- day. • Harry Ross, in southern parts these days, has gone from Daytona to Miami. • Arthur W. Kelly left London yes- terday on the Berengaria. • Mitchell Klupt is down with the grip again. • . . . Seattle Ben Fish, formerly manager of the M-G-M exchange in this city and now western district manager for U. A., renewing friendships on Film Row. Loren E. Kennedy, successor to J. M. Ridge with Erpi, here on his first business visit. His territory will in- clude everything west of the city of Denver. Charles Code and Mrs. Code, oper- ators of the Dream, Nome, Alaska, visiting this city for the first time in many months. Loew's Talking New Kansas City Lease {Continued from page 1) that the Midland bonds have recently shown considerable strength. In March, 1936, the original $2,500,000 issue of six per cent bonds was $2,002,000. The issue probably will not need financing until 1940, when $1,507,000 falls due. The bonds this week were quoted at 56 bid and none offered. Minnesota Bill Bars Producers' Theatres (Continued from page 1) posal is a $10,000 fine, a year in jail or both. The purpose of the bill is to prevent unfair competition. Allied is sponsoring similar meas- ures in several States. Kansas Has 2% Tax Bill Kansas City, Feb. 23. — A two per cent tax on gross receipts of theatres, games, athletic events, and other places of amusements is provided in a bill introduced by Representative Reed. Apparently the bill is the farmers' answer to the general sales tax which has been advocated as a chief source of the state's needed additional reve- nue. Revenue from the taxation would go for social security. The Senate has had a ticket tax bill since Feb. 18. It provides for a tax of one cent for each 20 cents or frac- tion thereof. Alabama Tax Signed Montgomery, Ala., Feb. 23. — Ala- bama's two per cent sales tax became law today when Gov. Graves signed the measure, which includes a levy on all retail sales and amusement ad- missions. The new law repeals the state's V/2 per cent gross receipts tax law, and will go into effect March 1. The state tax commission will issue brass and aluminum tokens to facilitate the payment of the tax by the con- sumer. The law expires on Sept. 30, 1939. Ask 3% Wisconsin Tax Madison, Wis., Feb. 23.— The Bal- zer bill in the Assembly provides for an amusement tax of three per cent on gross receipts of theatres. Revenue from the tax would go into the state general fund for old age assistance. The bill exempts athletic contests of grammar and high schools and amuse- ments sponsored by religious or char- itable organizations. Act on Alabama Tax Bill Montgomery, Ala., Feb. 23. — Rep- resentative Miller's bill to permit film theatres to absorb the gross receipts tax and to deduct the amount of licenses from their tax payments was passed by the House, Feb. 19. Sunday Bill Up in Maine Augusta, Me., Feb. 23. — A second Sunday bill has been filed in Maine in an effort to get Sunday shows. Another Play Closing "And Now Goodbye," which opened at the John Golden Feb. 2, closed last night. B'way Takes Rocket On Holiday Weekend (Continued from page 1) night, seats were at a premium in all theatres up to late Monday night. With advanced admission scales pre- vailing for three consecutive days and unsettled weather conditions prevail- ing over Sunday, grosses were boost- ed to record proportions. The Music Hall did $64,000 in the four days through Monday with "When You're in Love," indicating a gross of better than $90,000 for the week. The picture will hold a second week. The Roxy grossed $32,000 for the four-day period with "Head Over Heels in Love," with a gross of $41,- 000 expected for the week, or about $4,300 less than the first week's gross. The Paramount garnered close to $30,000 on the weekend. "John Meade's Woman" is current, with Guy Lombardo and his orchestra on the stage. The Strand counted $24,000 with "Green Light" for the four-day period covering the picture's second weekend on Broadway. The Rivoli, with "The Man Who Could Work Miracles," did $16,000 for the three days begin- ning Saturday. The Capitol took $26,000 with "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney." The Criterion counted $5,200 with "Man of Affairs." N. O. Leading Contest New Orleans is leading in the sec- ond week of Republic's liquidation contest, which extends to May 1. The southern division is leading the other groups, trailed by western, eastern and central in that order. Portland heads the western unit, Boston and New Haven the eastern and St. Louis the central. Chodorov a Father Hollywood, Feb. 23. — Edward Cho- dorov, Columbia Producer, was pass- ing out the cigars here Saturday in celebration of the birth of a young daughter, six and a half pounds. The baby was born in the Cedars of Leba- non Hospital. Wall Street Board Off; Para. 1st pfd. 12% Pts. Net High Low Close Change Columbia 3654 36 36 — 56 Columbia, pfd 45 4454 4454 — 54 Consolidated 454 454 454 Consolidated, pfd.. 1656 1654 1654 — Vs Gen. T. Equip. ... 32 31 31 — 154 Loew's, Inc 7VA 72 72 —2 Paramount 2556 2356 24 — 156 Paramount 1 pfd.. 176 168 168 —1256 Paramount 2 pfd.. 22 22 22 —VA Pathe Film 9 854 854 — 56 RKO 9 VA 854 — 56 20th Century-Fox. 35Ji 3454 3454 — VA 20th Century, pfd.. 4354 4354 4354 —1 Warner Bros 1556 1454 "54 — H Little Curb Change Net High Low Close Change Grand National . . . 356 &A 354 — Yi Sonotone 256 2 2 Technicolor 2056 1954 1954 — 56 Trans-Lux 4% 454 VA + Vs Bonds Decline Net High Low Close Change Keith B. F. 6s '46. 9856 9856 9854 + 56 Loew's 354s '46. . . . 99^6 9954 9954 — 56 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 10156 10054 10054 — 54 RKO 6s '41 pp.... 119 119 119 —2 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 99 9854 9854 — 54 (Quotations at close of Feb. 23) RADIO Wednesday, February 24, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY FCC Hearing Ordered for Six Stations Survey Shows Adult Serials Led Summer Daytime Hours Washington, Feb. 23. — The F.C.C. today ordered hearings on applica- tions for six new stations, as follows : Clarence A. Berger and Saul B. Freeman, Coeur dAlene, Idaho, for daytime station on 1,200 kilocycles, 100 watts power ; F. W. Berton, Coral Gables, Fla., unlimited time on 1,420 kilocycles, 100 watts ; C. P. Sud- weeks, Spokane, Wash., unlimited time on 950 kilocycles, 500 watts night power, 1,000 watts day; Galesburg Printing and Publishing Co., 111., day- time only on 1,500 kilocycles, 250 watts ; W. W. Luce, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., limited time on 1,050 kilocycles, 100 watts; Dan B. Shields, Provo, Utah, unlimited time on 1,200 kilo- cycles, 100 watts. Hearings also were ordered on the application of the Northwest Research Foundation, Inc., Seattle, for a new special broadcasting station on 1,530 kilocycles, 1,000 watts originally filed in the name of Ward Walker, and on the request of station KUOA, Siloam Springs, Ark., for authority to change frequency from 1,250 to 620 kilocycles and increase power from 2,500 watts to 5,000 watts. To Consider Westinghouse Shift Date for a hearing will be set in the near future on the application of the Westinghouse Mfg. Co., Boston, to move the transmitter of station WBZA from Boston to Agawam, Mass., and the studio from Boston to Springfield, change frequency from 990 to 550 kilocycles and operate on unlimited time. At its weekly meeting today the broadcast division of the commission authorized station WTRC. Elkhart, Ind., to operate unlimited hours in- stead of sharing night time with sta- tion WLBC. Operating licenses were granted, covering construction permits, to WFOY, St. Augustine, Fla., 1,210 kilocycles, 100 watts, unlimited time; WJAC, Johnstown, Pa., 1,310 kilo- cycles, 100 watts power night, 250 watts day, share time with WFBG, and WDWS Champaign, 111., 1,370 kilocycles, 100 watts, day time. Renewals Granted Renewal of license for six months was granted to stations WPEN, Philadelphia ; WRDO, Augusta, Me.; KWKH, Shreveport, La.; WMCA, New York; WHBI, New- ark; KFDM, Beaumont, Tex.; KGKO, Wichita Falls, Tex. ; KFUO, Clayton, Mo., and KSEI, Pocatello, Idaho. Temporary extension of 30 to 60 days, pending action on applications for renewal, were ordered in the cases of stations WLAK, Lakeland, Fla. ; KFQD, Anchorage, Alaska ; WWJ, Detroit; KFYO, Amarillo, Tex.; KGNC, Amarillo, ' Tex.; KGFX, Pierre, S. Dak.; WPRO, Providence; KOAC, Corvallis, Ore.; WRAX, Philadelphia; KGFG, Okla- homa City, and WPRP, Ponce, P. R. Acting on examiner's reports, the commission denied the applications of WSBT, South Bend, Ind., for change of frequency and increase of power, The adult serial drama during day- time network hours, May to Septem- ber, 1936, was the most popular type of entertainment on the air and oc- cupied one-half of the commercial net- work time before 6 P. M., a check-up, issued by the Cooperative Analysis of Broadcasting (the Crosley report) reveals. The report is based on information supplied by over 161,000 radio homes located in 33 leading cities in the United States. The C. A. B. govern- ing committee has released the find- ings to all subscribers. The report is entitled "Radio Audi- ences— May to September, 1936," and gives detailed information on over 800 hours of commercial network broadcasting time. Over 160 spon- sored programs are analyzed accord- ing to 24 types, four income levels, four geographical sections, and length of broadcast. The popularity ratings of evening programs in the eastern time zone for the time period covered are based on findings gathered in 14 leading eastern cities. These are New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Bal- timore, Detroit, Cleveland, Cincin- nati, Hartford, Providence, Harris- burgh, Syracuse, Rochester, and Washington. The evening network programs, in the order of their favor with the listeners, are as follows : Major Bowes, Jack Benny, Rudy Vallee's Variety Hour, Burns and Allen, Lux Radio Theatre, Hollywood Mutual Ends 5-Week Contest on Racing Mutual's racing contest, in which the listeners handicapped the horse races from Hialeah Park, closed last Saturday, its fifth week, with William J. Mitchell of Hartford, Conn., the winner. Mitchell and his wife will be the guests of Mutual and the Hialeah Jockey Club for the weekend of March 4. According to Mutual, 43,639 listen- ers participated in the contest, 10,434 of whom were women. As a result of this showing, Mutual expects to se- cure a sponsor for the Hialeah broad- casts next season. Signs 3 Oakie Shows Hollywood, Feb. 23. — Judy Gar- land has been signed for the vocal spot for three Jack Oakie College shows over CBS. Her initial appear- ance was today. A 13-week contract is being held for the young singer pending an audience reaction from the three Camel programs. Jessie Matthews on "Key" Jessie Matthews will be heard from London via short-wave on the RCA "Magic Key" program this Sunday. Others on the program will be Maurice Evans, Bidu Sayao and Henri Deering. and Dr. F. P. Cerniglia, Monroe, La., for a new station. WRC, a local NBC station, was granted authority to operate a port- able transmitter for 30 days to make a survey for a new transmitter site. Old Favorites Show Hollywood, Feb. 23.— Such favorites of yesteryear as Alice Lake, Helen Chadwick, Dot Farley, WHliam Des- mond, Creighton Hale, Lee De Cordova, Joseph de Grasso, and, possibly, too, Maurice Costello, will revive old melodramas in a special KMTR Artists' Bureau broad- cast. The test featured "Rags to Riches," or "The Drunk- ard's Sister." Burton King directed, in the manner of two decades ago, the old play adapted for Radio by Eric Heath. J. Charles Davis, 2d, was the producer. Hotel, Packard Hour, and Bing Cros- by's Music Hall series. The midwest popularity of the eve- ning programs were determined on findings gleaned in Chicago, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Kansas City, St. Paul, Omaha, and Minneapolis. The re- sults : Major Bowes, Lux Radio Theatre, General Motors Concerts, Maxwell House Showboat and Town Hall To- night tied for fourth place, Jack Ben- ny, Burns and Allen, Baker's Broad- casts, Rudy Vallee program and the Packard Hour tied for eighth place, {Continued on page 14) Chase and Sanborn Keeps Actor Series Chase and Sanborn, through the Hollywood office of J. Walter Thomp- son, have renewed Haven MacQuar- rie's "Do You Want to Be an Actor ?" program for an additional 13 weeks, effective next week. This series re- placed the "Good-Will Court" sev- eral months ago. Philadelphia Gas to Try Radio Programs Philadelphia, Feb. 23.— The Phila- delphia Gas Co. turns to radio for the first time as a public relations measure. Heretofore, the utility has limited it- self to newspaper advertising in ac- quainting consumers with its various services. Beatrice Cole Wagner, home service director for the gas company, conducts a weekly quarter hour per- iod over WDAS. The same pro- gram is handled by the station's for- eign language announcers to reach Polish, Italian and Jewish audiences. Omaha Utility, Another Omaha, Feb. 23.— The "Northern Naturals," sponsored by the Northern Natural Gas Co., has been started over WOW at 3 P. M. Sunday. The program runs 30 minutes. Bozell & Jacobs, Omaha advertising agency, placed the program ; Harry D. Burke, WOW's program director, arranged it; Madge West conducts the all- string ensemble, and Louise Seidl, harpist, and Eleanor Thatcher, for- merly on the Kraft Music Hall, are featured soloists. Canada Radios Pass Million, Says Checkup Ottawa, Feb. 23. — More than 1,- 000,000 receiving sets have been regis- tered during the present fiscal year under the Dominion Government's li- cense system, according to depart- mental sources. This is the first time that the total of licensed sets has ex- ceeded the million mark. The total for last year was 862,109, but this is no absolute indication that the pur- chases of instruments have taken a sudden jump because of good times. One answer is that the Canadian Mounties are getting their men by the wholesale — meaning that, for many weeks, the force has taken time off from more risky duties to scour the big and little towns for a roundup of delinquent radio license buyers at $2 per receiver, this being the annual li- cense fee. The mounties have been making a house-to-house call in a wide checkup and they don't take "No" for an answer because they take a look around for unlicensed sets. Indignant householders have regis- tered complaints because the man in uniform insists on seeing the actual license certificate and sometimes they're hard to find when the slip of paper has been put away for months. The license year terminates March 31 and then the roundup will start all over again. Columbia Buys WIP Time for "Horizon" Philadelphia, Feb. 23. — Columbia Pictures has bought spot announce- ments on WIP to plug the roadshow- ing of "Lost Horizon" at the Chestnut St., starting March 7. This is one of the very few instances where film exploitation over the radio in- volved an actual cash outlay. The general practice in local radio has been for the exhibitor to get picture mentions in return for passes. Columbia has taken an announce- ment daily for eight days, through the Biow Co., New York. Knox Gelatine Air Program Is Renewed The Knox Gelatine program, broad- cast Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:15 to 11:30 P. M., E.S.T. was renewed yesterday for a period that will carry the series well into the summer months. The present con- tract expires late in March. The Federal Advertising Agency handles the account. Meanwhile, the proposed new series for Sinclair Oil, also handled by Fed- eral, still is in a highly nebulous state. Air time has been contracted for, and Babe Ruth is under option to be featured in the series, but beyond that nothing has been set. Start Nat'l Music Week May 2 National Music Week will be ushered in for the 14th consecutive year the first Sunday of May. David Sarnoff, president of RCA, is chairman of the National Music Week Committee. 14 RADIO MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, February 24, 1937 New Shows On the Air "Strathmore Serenade" "The Strathmore Serenade," spon- sored by Leavitt & Sons in the inter- ests of a suburban real estate develop- ment has little to recommend it. Its obvious intent is to sell lots, and not to entertain. This, of course, is not the fault of the entertainers. Bert Rogan pos- sesses an acceptable baritone voice and John Monday's orchestra is an efficient combination of tunicians. The artists, however, never seem to be able to get started properly, due to the incessant bombardment from the announcer who, poor fellow, must certainly experience a feeling of guilt as he reads what the sponsor has set down for him to parrot. Leavett & Sons lots may be all the sponsor says they are, but a bit more finesse, and a bit less of the bludgeon, would seem to be the better sales- manship. Rogan did a fine job of vocalizing "The Song of the Open Road" and "Under Your Spell," while the or- chestra more than held its own with its rendition of "The Year's Kisses" and another number whose title es- capes us at the moment. "Strathmore Serenade" is offered on WOR Sundays at 11 P. M., E.S.T. "Lady Esther" The "Lady Esther" serenades, fea- turing the waltz music of Wayne King's orchestra, invariably call for superlatives when referring to the music and brickbats when referring to the wordy commercials. There is little hope that this re- view will cut any ice with the spon- sor, for similar reviews have been written by the hundreds, without any appreciable shrinking in the size of the commercials. We tuned in Washington's Birth- day eve at 10 P. M., E.S.T., on the CBS network, the occasion being the beginning of the umpteenth renewal of the series. As a purveyor of dreamy waltz melodies, King is in a class by himself. In particular his interpretation of the Brahms waltz was an aural delight. However, just when the listener begins to glow with good feeling for the sponsor for mak- ing a series like this possible, in come the offensively high-powered com- mercials and up bubbles the resent- ment. The system just doesn't make "Three Little Funsters" In the light of the "Three Little Funsters" record on the air — 5,000 broadcasts under the one sponsor- ship— it seems rather fatuous to re- port that it is a good air show. It is almost like reporting now that "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" is a good film or that "Gone with the Wind" is a good novel. Nevertheless, the fact remains that "The Three Little Funsters" is a substantially entertaining series, well meriting the esteem in which it is so obviously held by its sponsor and its listeners. We tuned in last Saturday night and listened to the 4,998th broadcast Survey Shows Adult Serials Led Summer Daytime Hours (Continued from page 13) Kraft Music Hall, and Hollywood Hotel. The south, based on findings in Lou- isville, Memphis, Atlanta, New Or- leans, Dallas, Houston, and Oklahoma City: Major Bowes, Kraft Music Hall, Ben Bernie, Town Hall Tonight, Maxwell House Showboat, Hollywood Hotel, Hit Parade on Wednesdays, Burns and Allen and Ed Wynn tied for eighth place, and Manhattan Merry- Go-Round. The Pacific coast, based on reports made in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, and Spokane: Major Bowes, Showboat, Town Hall Tonight, Kraft Music Hall, Death Valley Days and National Barn Dance, tied for fifth place, Amos 'n' Andy, One Man's Family, Holly- wood Hotel and March of Time tied for eighth place, Shell Chateau, and Lum 'n' Abner. The daytime programs in the order of their popularity in the east : Today's Children, Story of Mary Marlin, Ma Perkins and Vic and Sade tied for third place, Romance of Helen Trent, Just Plain Bill, Betty & Bob, the Goldbergs all tied for fourth place, and Magic Key of RCA and The O'Neill's tied for fifth. Midwest daytime program prefer- ences were : Today's Children, Betty and Bob, Story of Mary Marlin, Ma Perkins, and The O'Neill's. Southern listeners voted for : To- day's Children, Ma Perkins, Betty and Bob, Vic and Sade, and The O'Neill's. The toplight Pacific Coast daytime programs were: Magic Key of RCA, The O'Neill's, Vic and Sade, Ma Perkins, Pepper Young's Family. The report indicates that during the summer months there is a de- cided trend toward lighter entertain- ment, more time being devoted to dance music and novelty shows than during the winter ; also a lesser amount of time for such serious types as classical and semi-classical music, and dramas. Based on the complete report, the C. A. B. breakdown shows that the number of daytime and evening pro- grams decreased about 15 per cent during the summer, compared with the winter. However, the average evening program had a summer audi- ence only three-quarters of winter listeners, while the average daytime program lost only about one-seventh of its listeners in summer. Substantially, the same programs were leaders in the summer as in the previous winter. However, the vaca- tions of headliners such as Jack Ben- ny, Fred Allen, and Phil Baker, dur- ing this period enabled several lower ranking shows to win a place in the table of summer leaders. The members of the governing com- mittee of the C. A. B. are D. P. Smelser, Procter & Gamble Co., chair- man ; George Gallup, Young and Rubi- cam, treasurer ; C. H. Lang, General Electric Co. ; George W. Vos, the Texas Co., ; L. D. H. Weld, McCann- Erickson, Inc. ; and A. W. Lehman, manager. in the series. We liked the program for simple, informal style, for its refreshing lack of pretentiousness. The "Funsters," Messrs. Bill Han- son, Vincent Howard and Jim Bren- nan may not be sensational perform- ers, but they know they have a job to do and set about their task in an efficient, businesslike fashion. Among the tunes they offered were "Take Your Girlie to the Movies," "Yes- terday" and a medley of "Pretty Kitty Kelly," "There's a Long, Long Trail" and "I'd Love to Fall Asleep and Wake Up in My Mammy's Arms." Sponsored by the Sachs Furniture Co., the "Funsters" broadcast over WMCA except Mondays at 9:30 P. M., E.S.T., and twice on Sun- days. "Hawaiian Serenade" "Hawaiian Serenade" is in interna- tional exchange feature of the Cana- dian Broadcasting Company and the Mutual network, presented Saturday nights from the studio of KGMB, Mutual affiliate in Honolulu. The Hawaiian Girls Glee Club, the Singing Surf Riders, and a string orchestra combine efforts in this 30- minute weekly series, and offer the plaintive songs of the islands in de- lightful fashion. Somewhat annoy- ing, however, is the poetic and flow- ery phraseology of the narrator and announcer. The series offers little likelihood of eventual sponsorship. Banner Mutual Plans News Series from London A series of bi-monthly news broad- casts from London is now being planned for Mutual network presenta- tion, it was learned yesterday. The details are not yet available, but it is known that John Steele, Mutual's foreign representative, is now work- ing on the set-up. The current schedule calls for a half-hour period every other Sunday about 8:30 P. M., E.S.T., with Steele acting as the commentator. The start- ing date will be set shortly, it is understood. Debut for New Music Los Angeles, Feb. 23. — Radio pre- mieres of two modern symphonic works, Steiner's "Rhapsodic Poem" and "Chindia" of Mihalovici, were broadcast during the "Sinfonietta" half-hour by KHJ and other Mutual stations from 7:00 to 7:30 P.M., P. S. T. In both offerings Milton Katims, viola virtuoso, was heard with the support of the concert or- chestra. Haydn and Tschaikowsky numbers completed the program. Indiana License Bill Killed Indianapolis, Feb. 23. — A bill for the licensing of circuses, tent shows, carnival and radio acts, charging a daily fee of $100, $50, and $25, re- spectively, has been killed by an in- definite postponement in the House of Representatives here. i Radio Personals ► LESTER GOTTLIEB, Mutual's publicity coordinator, leaves on an extended trip next week to visit Mutual publicity offices throughout the country . . . Gar Wood of NBC's trade news division on sick leave . . . WOR's Schaefer Beer program this Sunday will feature Bert Lahr in the guest role . . . Sally Eilers and Dick Arlen added to the Lux Radio Theatre cast for "Cappy Ricks," which will start Charles Winninger . . . Johnnie, the call boy on the Philip Morris, off the programs be- cause of illness, now recovered and will be heard on subsequent broad- casts . . . + Don Shaw, assistant to the presi- dent at McCann-Erickson, left town yesterday for a trip to Chicago in- volving an agency deal. He will re- turn in a week . . . Lew Amis, radio director at Erwin Wasey, back at his desk after a week away contacting clients . . . Ditto Fred Smith, publicity chief at Batten, Barton, Durstine and Osborn, who returned yesterday from Minneapolis . . . Arnold Eidus, 12- year-old violinist, will be Joseph Cherniavsky's guest on the Interna- tional Silver program this Sunday . . . Mae Singhi Breen birthdays today . . . Adolph Menjou will be Ben Bernie's guest star March 9. Deal was set by the Herman Bernie office. Radio commentators Edwin C. Hill, H. V. Kaltenborn, Boake Carter, Gabriel Heatter and Lowell Thomas will be speakers at the luncheon of the Advertising Club of New York from which WOR will broadcast to- morrow at 1:15 P.M., E.S.T. . . . Arch Oboler, author of the radio series "Lights Out," was married to Eleanor Helfand, U. of Chicago co-ed this past weekend . . . Ed Wynn's guest March 6 will be Frederick Jagel, while Carlos Salzedo will guest on Wynn's program March 13 . . . J. Edward Bromberg, vacationing in New York from Hollywood, will be Bide Dudley's guest over WOR this Friday at 1 :15 P.M., E.S.T. . . . Kay St. Germaine, who has been sing- ing on Chicago network programs for the past several seasons, may be signed for a singing role in the new Ken Murray show . . . Dorothy Kir- sten and Emile Renan, of the WINS staff, are now Bermuda bound . . . 'The Movie Man," a new program of movieland gossip, made its debut on WINS last night at 9:45 P.M., E.S.T. It will be heard Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays . . . Mrs. Franklin Delano Roosevelt will be the principal speaker on the Zionist program this Thursday at 10 :30 P.M., E.S.T., on the NBC-Blue network . . . Lillian Malone Marries Pittsburgh, Feb. 23. — Lillian Ma- lone, known as Polly Malone to radio fans and who has a virtual monopoly on all women's programs over the Hearst station, WCAE, became the bride of Frank J. Lonergan of Pitts- burgh over the weekend. Miss Malone is the "Woman's Voice" of the Sun-Telegraph, after- noon newspaper that controls WCAE. MOTION PICTURE DAILY Radio Playing Vital Role In Drama of War in Spain Wednesday, February 24, 1937 Studio Broadcasts Delayed to Mar. 14 Hollywood, Feb. 23. — The General Mills broadcasts, directly from the sound stages of major lots here, has been postponed until March 14. This is the deal closed by Bagley, Horton and Hoyt, Chicago agency. So far, detail of personalities and programs is somewhat hazy. A prob- lem to be cleared away is the schedule by which the programs from the vari- ous studios will be governed. Origi- nally, the initial show was to be "Love Is New," 20th Century-Fox attrac- tion, but the picture has been com- pleted, indicating the first from the Zanuck lot will be another attraction. Seek Bellingham Station Bellingham, Wash., Feb. 23. — The Bellingham Publishing Co. has asked the F. C. C. for permission to con- struct and operate on unlimited time a 100-watt station. The publishing company states that there are inade- quate broadcasting facilities in this town and a new station will not con- flict with the local KVOS. WCOP Wants Wave Increase Boston, Feb. 23. — Gerard Slattery, manager of WCOP, has just returned from a three day trip to Washington and New York. While in Washington Slattery asked for an increase in the wave length for WCOP from 1,120 to 1,130 kilocycles. The F. C. C. now has the request and will make de- cision upon the request in the near future. Ed Lush Goes to Carrier New Haven, Feb. 23. — Following a permanent appointment to WELI as announcer 10 days ago, Ed Lush re- signed to enter the advertising depart- ment of the Carrier Air Conditioning Co., Newark. Ralph Kanna, whom Lush replaced, also took an advertising position with Chase Brass & Copper Co. Film Names for Dodge Hollywood, Feb. 23. — The Dodge transcriptions which are being pro- duced by Eddie Dunham of the New York office of Ruthrauff and Ryan will have Frank Morgan in the top spot as master of ceremonies. Frances Langford has been set for three of the recordings with Ruby Keeler spotted prominently in the first one. Carleton Cadell will announce the transcriptions which will run 15 minutes. Fischer on Twice Weekly Hollywood, Feb. 23. — George Fischer's "Hollywood Whispers," a studio gossip program, will be pre- sented twice a week over KHJ and the Don Lee Network in the future. Fischer will be on the air from 7:00 to 7:15 P.M., P.S.T., on Mondays and Thursdays instead of the usual weekly airing. "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" is the top ranking film, according to a lis- teners' poll based on the Academy nominations, which is a feature of the program. Wants Courtroom Ban Trenton, N. J., Feb. 23.— A bill to ban all picture-taking and radio broad- casting devices from New Jersey court rooms has been introduced in State legislature by Senator Hendrick- son. Radio has played an increasingly important part in the activities of both factions during the seven-month course of the Spanish rebellion, for the dis- semination of news, information with regard to missing persons and, above all, for propaganda, according to pri- vate advices from Spain to Motion Picture Daily. It is pointed out that American- type DC and AC receivers will bring to the listener all of the Spanish short-wave and most of the broadcast stations, the majority of the European stations in both categories, and some American stations. Practically all stations broadcast in several lan- guages, particularly with news and propaganda material. Also stressed is the importance of the fact that virtu- ally all European stations are under the direct control of the respective governments. Short Wave New Development In Spain, outside of Madrid's Union Radio, prior to the war, there were no short-wave stations of any importance. Since the war began, all amateur transmitters have been requisitioned, and many other stations have been set up, until now there is at least one in practically every city of importance in the country. In addition, there are mobile and temporary stations oper- ated on the various fronts. Apart from the news, propaganda and entertainment features broadcast from these stations by either party, de- pending upon the control of the city in which the stations are located, the pro- grams are often interrupted with broadcasts designed to locate and ob- tain news of missing friends and rela- tives in other cities. The transmitting stations in the cities involved in these broadcasts suspend "hostilities" dur- ing the announcements, which are of vital importance, in view of the fact that there are no other means of com- munication. Strongly partisan feeling governs the broadcasting from all stations. Frequently broadcasts take the form of messages designed to goad an enemy station into heated reply, in which offensive references to the original speaker's party, its leaders, their families and antecedents consti- tute fierce aerial battles of words. Nothing is sacred, intimate or confi- dential, and no verbal holds are barred. News of atrocities, disasters, loss of life and the like are interspersed with records and all kinds of music. Used Even in Trenches Public address systems have been used to spread propaganda from one set of trenches to the other on numer- ous occasions. The stations operated by the Popular Front Government are very numerous as every political party that originally was in the Gov- ernment coalition operates its own station. All are united in common opposition to Fascism, but each retains its original doctrines, as reflected in the broadcasts. An interesting example of the gen- eral use of the radio during a situation such as that prevailing in Spain oc- curred early in the present uprising. The military forces in Barcelona were in charge of General Goded. Late one History Revamped Philadelphia, Feb. 23.— The monthly visual meeting of the WFIL Women's Club falling between St. Valen- tine's Day and Washington's Birthday, the station had to pull history's leg a bit to have the program in keeping with the holiday spirit. Hon- oring Washington as the father of our country, WFIL continuity writers made Mr. Cupid the vice-president in that first administration. day his voice was heard on the air ad- vising that he had surrendered and was notifying his followers in order to avoid unnecessary loss of life. Gen- eral Goded later was executed. Renew "Shopping with Abbey" The Crowell Publishing Co., through Geyer, Cornell & Newell, renews "Shopping with Jean Abbey" on WOR beginning March 9. The program is heard Tuesdays from 9:15 to 9:30 P. M., E.S.T. Gardiner Joining WAIR Donald S. Gardiner, NBC guide, leaves for Winston-Salem March 1 to join the announcing staff of WAIR. Gardiner won the post in an an- nouncer's class conducted by P. J. Kelly, head of NBC's announcer de- partment. "Happy Homes" Starts March 1 Los Angeles, Feb. 23. — Norma Young, for 12 years popular with feminine listeners, is to inaugurate a new series over KHJ, Don Lee sta- tion, beginning March 1, styled a "Happy Homes" program. Russell Shailer Joins WDRC Hartford, Feb. 23.— WDRC has appointed Russell C. Shailer assistant commercial manager working under William F. Malo. Shailer has been in Providence selling field for the past 14 years. "Thrills" Goes to Honolulu Hollywood, Feb. 23. — The Union Oil program, "Thrills," an NBC-Red coast network program, has been to Honolulu. The show was short- waved over RCA and re-broadcast by the Honolulu station, KGU. Unite for KSO Program Des Moines, Feb. 23. — All artists of KSO and KRNT are participating in a new variety show "Everything Stops For Tea," over KSO. The hour long program, sponsored by sev- eral local business firms, is given each weekday and Sunday at 2 P. M. Two Join Agencies Milwaukee, Wis., Feb. 23. — How- ard L. Peck, former WISN sports an- nouncer, has been named radio di- rector for Hoffman & York, local ad- vertising agency. Fred Schnake, formerly associated with WISN here, will handle radio merchandising for the Morrison Ad- vertising Agency. RADIO WFWs News Bureau Has City Room Aura Philadelphia, Feb. 23. — The WFIL news bureau has taken on an atmosphere of a newspaper office. A morgue is being set up for the teletype tape fed by I.N.S. and U.P. < to serve as material in dramatizing im- portant events of the week. A direct line from the control room to the news desk is being installed, enabling the station to cut in on sustaining shows with news scoops as they are being flashed on the machines. Sound of a high speed oscillator signaling "here's a WFIL news flash" precedes and follows each dispatch. In addi- tion to the five daily news periods aired under sponsorship of Tydol Oil and Adams Clothes, the station is adding a sustaining period for the afternoon. Reorganization was di- rected by Donald Withycomb, WFIL general manager, with Joe Connelly in charge. Receiver Prices Cut London, Feb. 15. — Following the adoption of the E.M.I, system ex- clusively for television transmission by the BBC, drastic cuts were made in the prices of television receiving sets. E.M.L. offers a set at £63 against a previous low of £89. Its com- bined television and all-world radio receiver is reduced from £126 to £84. General Electric and Baird are ex- pected to announce cuts immediately and Scophony forecast a standard price of £50 within the year. Using the extra studio space avail- able at the Alexandra Palace through the scrapping of duplicate transmis- sion facilities, the BBC will shortly inaugurate an extra daily hour of television. Sunday transmissions are expected this summer. New Program on KLO Salt Lake City, Feb. 23.— KLO of Ogden has started the Iodent Dress Rehearsal program starring Joe Rines and his band, Mable Albertson, Pinky Lee, comedian, and Morton Bowe, tenor, at 9 :30 A. M. every Sunday. Joan Kay, Chicago radio star, is here writing and was featured on the Fair Trade Practice Laws meeting. Bennet Larson, former Salt Lake radio staff man and now with Ruth- rauff and Ryan of New York, is visit- ing his mother, Mrs. Ardell B. Welch. Williams to WMCA Philadelphia, Feb. 23. — Alun Wil- liams is the newest WIP recruit to the WMCA announcing staff, taking up his new post last Monday. No re- placement at WIP has been made as yet. When you build an Electrical Tran- scription in our Stu- dios, you are guaran- teed PRIVACY, plus expert recording. UNITED ARTISTS and GAUMONT BRITISH and many others use this famous service. RADIO & FILM METHODS 101 Park Ave. - New York CAledonia 5-7530 , FUN S FUN . . • and it's good business, too J These new one and two-reel featurettes pack a big laugh for everybody, especially for the showman who exploits Educational*: combina- tion of big names and big fun to make big extra profits. BUSTER KEATON "JAIL BAIT" and "DITTO" PAT ROONEY Jr. and HERMAN TIMBERG Jr. "HOLD IT" Coming Watch for these in March BERT LAHR • BUSTER WEST and TOM PATRICOLA • NIELA GOODELLE JEFFERSON MACHAMER and his "Gags and Gals" in "FUN'S FUN Presented by E. W. HAMMONS "THESPICE OFTHE PROGRAM" Reg. U. S. Pat. Off. DISTRIBUTED in U. S. A. BY 20™ CENTURY-FOX FILM CORPORATION "SISTERS OF THE SKILLET" 'PRACTICALLY PERFECT" TERRY-TOONS • Song and Comedy Hits PUDDY THE PUP in THE BOOK SHOP FARMER AL FALFA in THE BIG GAME HUNT • KIKO THE KANGAROO in RED HOT MUSIC "SEE UNCLE SOL' with Eddie Lambert and four big specialty acts "DENTAL FOLLIES' with Pinky Lee presenting a variety of song and dance hits The Leading Motio Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY Alert, Intelligent the in All Branches VOL. 41. NO. 46 NEW YORK, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1937 TEN CENTS May Ask Writ To Forestall G.B. Dividend Maxwell Plans Action If Illegality Shown By BRUCE ALLAN London, Feb. 24. — It is understood that John Maxwell and other mem- bers of the board of directors of Gau- mont British who voted against the payment of a preference dividend will seek an injunction restraining the board from paying the dividend, in the event that the legal advice which they have sought indicates the payment of the dividend is illegal. Dissenting mem- bers were outvoted by five to four. It is the general belief here that all the events of the moment in the board split are part of the Maxwell fight with the Ostrers for control of the company, with the odds at the moment on the former. In an official statement issued today by Gaumont British it was declared that the board of directors recognizes the public interest in the future of the (Continued on page 3) Order Court Review On Sale of Orpheum An order providing for a review of Referee Oscar W. Ehrhorn's order authorizing Marcus Heiman, trustee in bankruptcy for Orpheum Circuit, to accept RKO's $700,000 cash offer for uncontested title to Orpheum's assets, was obtained from Federal Judge Francis G. Caffey in U. S. District Court here yesterday by the preferred stockholders' committee of Orpheum Circuit. The order restrains Stadium The- atres Corp., wholly owned RKO subsidiary, from disposing of the Orpheum assets acquired subsequent to Referee Ehrhorn's order and re- strains Heiman from disbursing the (Continued on page 3) Loew Drops Games Here; RKO Action Is National Daily's Stand Commended Motion Picture Daily's editorial calling for the immediate eradi- cation of all games of chance in the nation's theatres brought a num- ber of telephone calls yesterday. The following letters, one from C. C. Moskowitz, executive in charge of the Loew theatres in Greater New York, and the other from Nate J. Blumberg, general manager of the RKO circuit, were delivered by messenger : Mr. Maurice Kann, Motion Picture Daily, New York City. Dear Red: We read with a great deal of interest, your article on Bank Nights and other audience games in today's issue. We want to congratulate you in the most enthusiastic terms, and immediately go on record as being in complete sympathy with you. Loew's Theatres in New York were among the last to go in for Bank Nights, Screeno and similar games. Now in line with your article, we want to be the first to aban- don them — all games will be elimi- nated from Loew's Theatres — permanentely, or, until such a time as the public indicates, without a shadow of a doubt, that they will not patronize our theatres unless we do have the games. However, (Continued on page 6) Mr. Maurice Kann, Motion Picture Daily, New York, N. Y. Dear Red : I have just read your editorial entitled "Every Night But Show Night," in today's Motion Pic- ture Daily. You surely hit the nail right on the head in pointing out the folly of the theatres in exerting effort and spending money to sell games of chance to their community when they should be selling screen entertainment. There is no question but that it is a vicious practice for any exhib- itor to base his appeal for patron- age on the proposition that the patron may get "something for nothing." Here at RKO we have never been in sympathy with Bank Night, Screeno or other similar games of chance. We were the (Continued on page 6) Heart Attack Kills Sir Guy Standing Hollywood, Feb. 24. — Sir Guy Standing, seized with a heart attack in motor warerooms here today, died en route to the hospital. He was 63. Funeral plans have not been made. A brother and a son are the only known survivors of the deceased. Adolph Zukor, deeply grieved by (Continued on page 2) Radio — Pages 14-15 'Tis an American Art, Sez Minsky; Needs Protection By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, Feb. 24. — Alien artists will have no opportunity to un- dress for the entertainment of the American burlesque fan, members of the House Immigration Committee were told today by Herbert Kay Min- sky, New York impresario, as the cur- rent week's version of the Alien Actor Bill hearings opened for a one-day performance. "Stripping is definitely an American art," Minsky said, as he explained the technique of the strip tease to an in- terested committee. Burlesque today offers the only op- portunity for thousands of vaudeville performers whose stages were wiped out by motion pictures, he explained and the popularity of burlesque is growing to such an extent that be- tween 100 and 150 houses are now operating throughout the country. Foreigners brought in by film pro- ducers and others, and unable to find work, have sought employment as strip tease artistes, he declared indig- nantly, but receive no welcome in the 10 Minsky houses. American art is American art and must be protected from foreign in- fluences, it seems. Burlesque, Minsky asserted, is now the only school for talent for films (Continued on page 6) Decisions Lend Impetus To Growing Movement To End Giveaways The growing movement for the com- plete elimination of Bank Night, Screeno and similar chance games, es- pecially in the New York area, re- ceived a powerful impetus yesterday with the definite decision by Loew's to drop all games in Greater New York and by the RKO circuit to discard all games nationally. Beginning next Monday, Loew's will commence the abandonment of chance games, completing the opera- tion by March 8, by which time ap- proximately $15,000 in accrued Bank Night awards and Screeno prizes will be distributed to patrons, it was stated in a letter to Motion Picture Daily yesterday from C. C. Moskowitz, in charge of all Loew's theatres in Greater New York. "This will com- pletely wind up the games as far as our theatres are concerned," Mosko- witz said. Pointing out that Loew's theatres were among the last to adopt the games and declaring a desire to be the first to abandon them, Moskowitz said, "All games will be eliminated from Loew theatres permanently or until such time as the public indicates without a shadow of a doubt that they will not patronize our theatres unless we do have the games." A similar letter was received by Motion Picture Daily yesterday from Nate Blumberg, general manager of the RKO circuit, who declared that within the next two weeks the circuit will discontinue all cash giveaways. Blumberg said in part, "We at RKO have never been in sympathy with (Continued on page 6) Pettengill Insists Bill to Be Pressed By CLARENCE LINZ Washington, Feb. 24. — Flatly de- nying that he would seek to take care of the block booking problem by amendment of pending legislation deal- ing with the Federal Trade Commis- sion, Representative Samuel B. Pet- tengill of Indiana tonight declared thai- he would ask Chairman Lea of the House Interstate and Foreign Com- merce Committee for hearings on his film bill as soon as an opportunity offers. Pettengill's statement was prompted (Continued on page 6) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, February 25, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 February 25, 1937 No. 46 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc.. Martin Quigley. president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at Rockefeller Center. New York. Telephone Circle 7-31C0. Cable address: "Quigpubco. New York." All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- cations: MOTION PICTURE HERALD. BETTER THEATRES. TEATRO AL DIA, INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Sts. ; Boone Mancall. Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave., C. B. O'Neill. Manager. , m WASHINGTON: Albee Building, Bertram F. Linz, Representative. AMSTERDAM : Zuider Amstellaan 5; Philip de Schaap, Representative. BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2. Berlin W. 35: Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 Kaplar-u. Budapest II: Endre Hevesi. Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientes 2495; N. Bruski, Representative. HELSINKI: Fredriksgatan 19C: Charlotte Laszlo, Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square. W. 1: Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address, Quigpubco, Lon- don. MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre' Buildings, 191 Collins St.: Cliff Holt. Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart, Representative. MONTEVIDEO: P. O. Box 664; Paul Bodo. Rep- MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8: Beatrice Stern, Rep- resentative. PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre. Repre- sentative. PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1; Harry Knopf, Representative. RIO DE JANEIRO I Caixa Postal 3358; A. Weiss- man, Representative. ROME: Viale Gorizia; Vittorio Malpassuti, Rep- SHANGHAI: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Build- ing, 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler, Repre- sentative. STOCKHOLM: Kungsgatan 36; Ragnar Allberg, TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken; H. Tominaga, Representative. VIENNA: Nuestiftgasse, 55; Vienna VII; Hans Lorant, Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Heart Attack Kills Sir Guy Standing (Continued from page 1) the loss of the actor and friend, stated, "During his association with Paramount Sir Guy Standing had no written contract but always a mutual understanding that he would be with us as long as he lived. Sir Guy did sign a contract in 1913 but when England went into the war he asked my permission to enlist which I readily granted. He promised to come back at the end of the war and he did. During subsequent association there never was any question of a contract." Daly, Former Marine, Killed Hollywood, Feb. 24— George R. Daly, former Marine Corps gunner employed by Universal as a machine gun expert in the filming of "The Road Back," died today from a con- cussion resulting from the explosion of a paper bomb. Felix McManus Dead Vancouver, Feb. 24. — Felix Mc- Manus, manager of the Famous Players' Strand Theatre at Chilli- wack, B. C, dropped dead from a heart attack recently. 4 Purely Personal ► MILTON SCHWARZWALD threw a surprise party for his wife at Alfredo's last night. A good- ly crowd was there including Nate and Mrs. Blumberg, Herman and Mrs. Gluckman, Helen Gershenson, Joe Byrnes of Cleveland, William and Mrs. Rainey, Charles Prutzman, Rus- sell and Mrs. Emde, Mrs. Fred Mey- er, Mrs. Betty Schwartzchild, Jack Schaindlin, Edgar and Mrs. Zane, Mr and Mrs. Loeb of Zurich, Switzerland and Arnold Schwarzwald. • Belle Kanter, formerly with Uni- versal and Warners in Hollywood, has returned to New York and again is associated with Universal handling special feature work in cooperation with Beulah Livingstone on "The Top o' the Town." • Ed Kuykendall, M.P.T.O.A. pres ident, who had planned to leave for Washington yesterday, was confined at his hotel here with a cold. He ex- pects to leave New York today. • F. L. Harley, of the 20th Century Fox London office, John Gielgud, Frank Lawton, Evelyn Laye and Edmund Gwenn sailed on the Queen Mary yesterday. • Percy Phillipson, president of General Register, has gone to Canada, where he will make business visits to Montreal, Toronto and Quebec. • Frank Buck flew in from Holly- wood yesterday to supervise unloading of a cargo of wild animals from the Steel Scientist. • Oscar Straus, Viennese composer, who will write the score for the next Bobby Breen film, arrived on the Paris yesterday. • Joseph M. Schenck, Jay Taylor and Mrs. Taylor, and Lou Wer- theimer are at the Sherry-Nether- lands. • S. Charles Einfeld and Mrs. Einfeld leave for the coast this weekend, probably by boat. • Arthur A. Lee, G. B. vice-presi- dent, and Al Margolies, director of publicity, leave tonight for a business trip to Montreal. Larry Golob of the Warner home office advertising staff is in Phila- delphia today on business. • Clemence Dane is coming to New York for the opening of "Fire Over England" at the Music Hall March 4. • Charles Weeghman, former presi- dent of the Chicago Cubs, is now with the Stork Club. • Monroe Greenthal leaves for the coast tomorrow. • George Schaefer leaves for New Orleans Monday and goes to the coast from there. • Mrs. Grad Sears, Mrs. Carl Les- erman and Mrs. Cress Smith made Sit-Down Gets Play Sit-down strikes have the publicity boys steamed up. At Omaha Ted Emerson, publicity director for Tri- States, and Manager James Schlatter of the Omaha had two sit-downers on the curb for two days with signs read- ing: "We're on a sit-down strike until the Omaha plays "Maid of Salem'." At Willow Glen, Cal., a sit-downer stayed in the Grover for three days be- cause he hadn't won the Bank Night prize. At Hinsdale, 111., George Kruger, manager of the Hins- dale, put up this sign: "Only One Feature Picture : No Sit- Down Contest Here." up a threesome at the Tavern for lunch yesterday. • Barney Balaban is expected here from Chicago next Tuesday. • Milton Shubert and Edward An- thony arrive today on the Rex. • Alec Moss back from Miami. George Raft is at the Warwick. . . . Denver Sam Steinberg is in the territory making a study for National Screen Accessories, Inc., prior to contemplated opening of a Denver branch. J. J. Morgan, manager of National Theatre Supply here, is on business in Los Angeles. Harry Cohen, RKO western divi- sion manager, in town for conferences with J. H. Ashby, Denver manager. Jerry Safron, western division manager for Columbia, in Denver sev- eral days on business. Thin Man" January Top in Herald Poll M-G-M's "After the Thin Man" took top honors in the listing of Box- Office Champions for January, as pub- lished today in Motion Picture Her- ald. Six other pictures were listed for the month as follows, in the order of their ranking: "The Plainsman," Paramount; "College Holiday," Para- mount ; "One in a Million," 20th Cen- tury-Fox; "Sing Me a Love Song," Warners.; "That Girl from Paris," RKO Radio; "Three Smart Girls," Universal. Disney and RCA Sign Hollywood, Feb. 24.— A contract for the exclusive use of RCA High Fidelity sound recording has been signed by Walt Disney for Mickey Mouse, Silly Symphonies and all other productions for the next 10 years. Additionally, all Disney cartoons and dramatics will utilize RCA sound ap- paratus during the next decade. G.N. Signs for New Sound Grand National has completed nego- tiations with Erpi for the installation of the new sound equipment in the studios. Para. May Get Year End Reports Today Paramount's fourth quarter finan- cial report may be submitted to the board of directors at the monthly meeting scheduled for today. The report is expected to show a net of between $3,500,000 and $4,000,000. The company's annual report is not expected for another six weeks. It was not certain yesterday whether or not a quorum could be obtained for today's meeting, due to the absence from the city of Barney Balaban, president ; John D. Hertz and several other directors. If no quorum is obtained the meeting may be put over for another two weeks or a month. Temporary Deal May Be Made with Blank A temporary extension of the present operating agreement between A. H. Blank and Paramount for the Tri-States Circuit may be placed in effect pending completion of current negotiations for a new permanent operating agreement for the circuit, it was stated at Paramount yester- day. Efforts are being made to work out a new agreement under which Para- mount would relinquish its right to repurchase Blank's 50 per cent stock interest in the circuit and place the operation on a permanent basis under which both Paramount and Blank would retain a half interest. The negotiations were interrupted when Blank was called back to Des Moines, but will be renewed on his return here in the near future. If no agree- ment is reached by March 6, the ex- piration date for the current operat- ing agreement, it would be extended on its present temporary basis for the time being. Seek Withdrawal of Momand Boston Suit Boston, Feb. 24. — Major com- panies, which are defendants in the $100,000 anti-trust suit filed here by George S. Ryan, attorney, for Mrs. Loretta Momand, have filed a plea in the U. S. District Court asking that the case be withdrawn from the local court. Mrs. Momand is the mother of A. B. Momand, plaintiff in a simi- lar action for $5,000,000 filed in Okla- homa. Ryan is also attorney in that case. The defendants in this action, with the exception of RKO, contend that Boston is too far from the scene of the alleged cause of action, which is the Odeon in Shawnee, Okla. They claim trial of the case here would cause great inconvenience and expense in bringing witnesses here. Ryan an- swered that in matters of this sort the law reads that the defendants may be prosecuted where they do business or where they may be found or where they transact business. RKO's con- tention was that it does not have a place of business here. A hearing on the motion will be held shortly. Retitle "Skidding" Hollywood, Feb. 24.— "I Stand Ac- cused" will be the release title of M-G-M's "Skidding." Postpone Zukor Dinner The testimonial dinner to be given by theatre owners to Adolph Zukor has been postponed from March 27 to March 29 because March 27 is the second night of Passover. The place remains the same, the Waldorf- Astoria. Thursday, February 25, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY May Ask Writ To Forestall G.B. Dividend (Continued from page 1) corporation, but "their first duty must be to the shareholders. Any pre- mature statement must prejudice the delicate complex negotiations which have as their object the strengthening of the company's trading position." Continuing, the statement said, "All that can be said at this stage is that a proposal is under examination which would assure substantial revenue on the production side, while leaving the company free to develop its prosperous theatre interests." Conferences are being held today with C. M. Wolff relative to a dis- tributing affiliation with the latter. The G. B. board will meet formally tomorrow to consider the results of the conference. Order Court Review On Sale of Orpheum (Continued from pape 1) cash to creditors of Orpheum pend- ing the review. The Orpheum pre- ferred stockholders' committee made a competitive bid of $2,000,000 for the Orpheum assets which were acquired by RKO in consideration for the sub- ordinating of more than $3,000,000 in claims against Orpheum in addition to the $700,000 cash. No date for the review of Referee Ehrhorn's order was set by Judge Caffey. The Orpheum stockholders' com- mittee's petition claimed that it rep- resented 40 per cent of the non-vot- ing preferred stock of Orpheum, and charged that the entire proceedings and the sale of the assets "constituted steps in a scheme whereby the finan- cial interests who are reorganizing RKO will be enabled to get the Or- pheum assets at a fraction of their value and thus freeze out the non- voting stockholders." The petition also charged that the entire proceed- ings involving the purchase of the Orpheum assets constituted a "fraud at law." The Ceremony at Rollins Harry M. Warner with a group of international figures who received honorary degrees at Rollins College. Warner received the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. Left to right, Thomas J. Watson, Warner, Lord Davies, President Hamilton Holt of Rollins, Dr. Van Vlissingen, and Rev. Ralph W. Sockman. Urges Pennsylvania To Drop Ticket Tax Harrisburg, Feb. 24. — Abolition of the Pennsylvania amusement tax, which became effective July 1, 1935, as an emergency relief measure, was recommended by Governor George H. Earle, 3rd, in his budget message sub- mitted to the Legislature today. If the Legislature acts favorably, this tax will be discontinued as of July 1, next. The tax amounts to one cent on each 25 cents or fraction thereof paid for tickets to Film theatres or other places of amusement. The Governor estimates the tax has been yielding the state at the rate of $6,700,000 in the present biennium. The governor recommended the abolition of all the emergency taxes which total $31,450,000. Develop Fixing Process Washington, Feb. 24.- — Hauff A. G. of Feuerbach, Germany, according to the German press, has brought out a solution under the trade name of "Unigen" which is said to develop and fix photographic film in one proc- ess, according to a report to the U. S. Dept. of Commerce from Assistant Trade Commissioner Rolland Welch in Berlin. Invade Shanghai Theatre Shanghai, Feb. 24. — Italians, iden- tified as from a warship anchored here, invaded a theatre, routed the patrons and seized the Russian film dealing with the Italian conquest of Ethiopia. The interior of the theatre was wrecked. Sherman to Do Musical Hollywood, Feb. 24. — Harry Sher- man has outlined plans to depart from his usual western production and film a musical. The title will be "Miss Hollywood, Jr." Court Quashes Suit Over "Chango" Film Federal Judge Murray Hulbert yes- terday dismissed the action for an injunction and damages brought by the Davenport-Quigley Expeditions, Inc., against Century Products, Sam- uel Cummins, Empire Laboratories, Inc., Richard Fiedler and the Bob-Ed Theatres Corp. The plaintiff claimed infringement of copyright of their picture "Jango," also known as "Ubango" in the defendants' picture called "The Jungle Killer." Judge Hulbert in dismissing the complaint said that although he re- gretted that he was compelled to do this, it was necessary on a technical- ity, since it was clear that the de- fendants had purloined scenes from the plaintiff's picture. "Jango" was originally made by Daniel Davenport, who in March, 1929, sold it to Nathan Braunstein, but failed to include in the bill of sale the rights to the copy- right. Braunstein later sold the film to the plaintiff corporation and in- cluded the copyright. The court, however, held that the original fail- ure to include the copyright in Daven- port's bill of sale prevented the plaintiff from recovering a judgment. The judge also refused to allow court costs. Dismiss "Dead End" Case Federal Judge John M. Woolsey yesterday dismissed the complaint of Edna Buckler after trial of her $2,- 000,000 plagiarism suit against Nor- man Kingsley, Norman Bel Geddes and Random House. She charged plagiarism of her play "Money" in Kingsley's show, "Dead End." Gets Evergreen Post Seattle, Feb. 24. — Kenneth Schultz has been appointed purchasing de- partment head for Evergreen State Theatres by Frank L. Newman, gen- eral manager. He succeeds R. Bar- bour, who resigned recently to enter the wholesale drug business. Schultz was formerly in the Seattle office of the National Theatre Supply. Co. He has been succeeded in that position by William Stoebel. Ticket Tax Receipts Show Holiday Slump Washington, Feb. 24. — Holiday theatre attendance showed the usual slump, but was well over that of 1935, it was indicated by figures made pub- lic today by the Bureau of Internal Revenue. January collections from the admis- sion tax, representing the business of the preceding month, totaled $1,505,- 676, the bureau reported, compared with $2,194,585 in December and $1,459,694 in January, 1936. Total collections from all taxes amounted to $207,483,011, compared with $478,632,854 in December and $180,984,742 in January of last year. The heavy drop from December to January was due to the quarterly pay- ments in the previous month of corpo- ration and individual income taxes. Seattle to Get Showboat Seattle, Feb. 24. — Approval for the construction of a real showboat for Pacific Northwest has been grant- ed by WPA officials in Washington, according to word received here by George P. Weber, district director. The theatre will be built on a barge in Lake Union at a cost of $17,000. About $11,000 for labor will be fur- nished by the WPA and $6,000 for materials by the University of Wash- ington drama department. The show- boat will be towed around the Puget Sound region, presenting plays by University of Washington players. New Enterprises The following film and theatre com- panies have been incorporated : At Albany: Dalescar Theatre Corp., New York City, exhibition, by Augusta Kessler, Bessie Goldenberg, Anne Nadelman. Deposit Theatres, Inc., Oneida, ex- hibition, by Myron J. Kallet, William T. MacNeilly, Alexander L. Saul. Rochester Palace Corp., New York City, exhibition, Malcolm Kingsberg, L. E. Thompson, Leon Goldberg. Garrett Klement Pictures, Ltd., dis- tribution, Otto Klement. Connecticut Bills Get Hearings Today Hartford, Feb. 24.— Several bills affecting the industry are scheduled for hearing tomorrow before the House Judiciary Committee. One extends the hours for film ex- hibition from 2 P.M.-10:30 P.M. to 2 P.M.-ll :30 P.M. Another retains the hours in the present law, but changes the words "motion picture" to "theatrical" exhibition. Still another authorizes Sunday vaudeville. There are two other bills affecting pro- jectors. A ticket tax bill aiming for a tax of one cent on each 10 cents or frac- tion thereof is scheduled for hearing before the Senate Finance Committee, March 4. Kill Indiana Censor Bill Indianapolis, Feb. 24. — The In- diana House today killed by indefinite postponement a bill which would have created a film censorship board and would have assessed a tax of $3 per reel on all film coming into the state. Representative Harry Muller of An- derson, who operates the State there, moved to postpone consideration in- definitely. The bill's author, Repre- sentative William E. Treadway of Spencer, sought to table this motion, but fewer than a dozen members voted with him. Will Discuss Ohio Bills Columbus, Feb. 24. — Directors of the Ohio L T. O. have been sum- moned by President Martin G. Smith to a luncheon meeting at the Deshler- Wallick on March 2 to discuss the organization's attitude toward 10 bills now pending in the Legislature. The bills range from a two-men-in- a-booth measure to one for the impo- sition of a 10 per cent tax on all ad- missions over 25 cents. To Do Standard Oil Film Hollywood, Feb. 24. — -Rafael G. Wolff, Inc., will produce a feature length commercial film for Standard Oil of Indiana with Robert Arm- strong, Peggy Shannon and Andy Clyde in the lead roles. The story is from, a Homer Croy original with screenplay by Huston Branch. Mar- shall Neilan will direct on the RKO- Pathe lot. Distribution will be through Standard's own organization for dealers and sales meetings, clubs and luncheons. Free exhibition in theatres is not contemplated. Dear Editors of the Trade Papers: We apologize for taking so words about our March musical honey But telling the trade about our fourfc wow-of-the-week, Errol Flynn and Anit^ has kept us so busy we just couldn't 1 Yessir, it's a grand sensati keep those superlatives flowing our we you're having as much pleasure reviewi Sears Drive sockos as all our exhibitor P.S. Better tune your typewriters for £ Fernand Gravet, that sensational 'find' The King and the Chorus Girl" is plenty ,o acknowledge your kind ?!adyV^illing)^nd AbleJJ, i February filEb* ilUfe the 'ise in "Green Ligftt"^ a syllable in sidewise> to watch you fellows I actually looks like ir steady succession of ,s have playing them ! for more bold-face type, 3ge of extra-heavy duty — Mervyn LeRoy's due soon in 5S» good copy ! READY, WILLING AKD ABL with RUBY KEELER DIXON Al len Jenkins Louise Fazenda Carol Hughes Ross Alexander Winifred Shaw Teddy Hart Hugh O'Connell Directed by Ray Enright THIS IS THE KEY SCENE of the unique "TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS" number. The 3 other swell tunes by Richard Whiting and Johnny Mercer are "HANDY WITH YOUR FEET" • "JUST A QUIET EVENING" SENTIMENTAL AND MELANCHOLY" MOTION PICTUR1 DAILY Thursday, February 25, 1937 American Art, Says Minsky of His Specialty (Continued from page 1) and the radio, and he cited among those who have graduated to other fields Bert Lahr, Jack Pearl, Eddie Cantor, Fannie Brice, Joe Penner, Bobby Clark and Gypsy Rose Lee. Miss Lee, he said, would have ap- peared at the hearing had not her $2,000 a week contract with 20th Century-Fox prevented. They'll be later hearings, however, and this art business requires thorough study. The native style of de-costum- ing may be threatened. Going from burlesque to melodrama, the committee heard as the second act the life history of Anthony Pesci, operatic tenor, who told of terrorism of opera singers by the New York "opera claque" started at the time of the late Enrico Caruso, he said, but now conducted by 20 musical Brook- lyn gangsters who want only 65 per cent of the artists' earnings. The gang, he said, "backs those it selects for the Metropolitan and shuts out those who won't contribute." Refusing to "kick in," he said, he has been driven from the operatic stage and his life has been repeatedly threatened. Passage of the bill, he told the com- mittee, would "starve the gang out" and provide opportunities for Ameri- can singers. "Claques" are an alien art that have flourished abroad for generations. Actor Asks Passage Support for the Dickstein bill was given by Stuart Beebe, actor, repre- senting the American Players' Ass'n. Beebe admitted he had not read the bill and also was ignorant of the fact that foreign actors cannot enter as such unless they have contracts. The legitimate theatre is gradually coming back to a healthy condition, he said, and by barring alien actors opportunities will be afforded for do- mestic talent. The final act was presented by Ni- kolai Sokoloff, director of the WPA Federal Music Project, which now has 13,600 musicians on its rolls and at its peak last August had 16,000, who charged that the advent of sound in the film industry had taken the jobs from 50,000 musicians. Sokoloff 's major complaint was that the leaders of three of the 12 leading orchestras of the country are aliens. He advocated closing the gates to all but the most outstanding talent in order that the United States might build up an artistic culture of its own. The next performance of the Dick- stein Varieties will be given March 3. Loew's, RKO Dropping All Chance Games RKO Acquires "Irene" Hollywood, Feb. 24. — Radio has acquired the rights to the Ziegfeld musical, "Irene," which will be a star- ring vehicle for Ginger Rogers. Pan- dro S. Berman will produce. Import Duty £178,000 London, Feb. 24. — Duty paid on imported film in the past year was approximately £178,000, according to an official statement. (Continued from page 1) Bank Night, Screeno or similar games of chance. We were the last theatre operators to resort to the use of these devices and did so only as a protec- tive measure." The Skouras circuit indicated yes- terday that although no specific action relative to the game situation has been planned the entire problem is being given close study with a pos- sible view to future action. ' At Warners it was said that there are very few situations in the national Warner circuit which are using chance games, and in those cases the policy was placed in effect purely for competitive reasons. Laurence S. Bolognino, head of Con- solidated Amusement Enterprises, which operates 20 New York theatres, declared yesterday that he is "heartily in sympathy" with the movement to abandon all chance games. He said, however, that he cannot see his way to their elimination in the houses of his circuit unless the theatres which follow his give evidence, at least, of willingness to do likewise. Bolognino Willing "I would be more than happy to go along with any movement for the elimination of games," he said. Bolognino, who is a member of the I.T.O.A., declared that he would be perfectly willing to lead the way among other members of the New York exhibitor association, if there was an indication of a desire on the part of the organization generally to bring about the elimination of games. The I.T.O.A. has insisted for some time, and the stand was reiterated yesterday by Melvin Albert, attorney for the organization, that the organiza- tion will not drop games in the city until the major circuits have increased prices to the extent where there will be a marked differential between the circuit prices and those of I.T.O.A. houses. Exactly what the differential should be in the organization view has never been specified. Harry Brandt, I.T.O.A. president, is in Flor- ida and will not return until March 3. Moskowitz declared yesterday, with reference to prices in New York and their relation to chance games that the circuits have been increasing their admissions "when and where they Caramba! Hollywood, Feb. 24.— Bill- owy women who worry about the tonnage have a new one for sipping during these evenings when smudge pots keep the orange groves from freezing. It's a "Teresa Car- reno." Just hot chocolate with a shot of gin. Some research expert dis- covered Mme. Carreno, con- cert pianist of 20 years ago who kept her figure until her death, used to use the stuff. deemed it good business. We, how- ever, will not be dictated to as to policy," he said. Questioned as to the willingness of Loew's to discuss the matter of prices with the I.T.O.A., or with Albert, Moskowitz said, "We have conferred a number of times and have gotten nowhere. However, if he has the au- thority to make a deal, we would be glad to talk again." Albert indicated at the conference last week on chance games in the office of Paul Moss, license commis- sioner of New York, that he could not act specifically in any such matter without the approval of Brandt. Blumberg, queried on the same mat- ter, indicated firmly that it was the position of RKO that it would operate its circuit as it believed proper, with- out regard to the attitude of the in- dependent theatre owners. The cir- cuit had made a specific decision to abandon all chance games, and in- tended holding to it, Blumberg indi- cated, whether or not the independents decided to take similar action. Jackson Ruling Stands Jackson, Miss., Feb. 24. — Attorney General Greek L. Rice has refused to amend his recent ruling that Bank Night drawings are illegal, saying a group of attorneys headed by J. H. Currie of Meridian had presented nothing to cause him to change his opinion. "There can be no compro- mise with a lottery," he said. Shift Mexican Censor Mexico City, Feb. 19. — The indus- try has been afforded a great break in censorship with the placing of the national board under jurisdiction of the recently established Federal Gov- ernment Publicity and Publications Dep't. Under the new method, review- ing costs the industry nothing. The department is holding conferences with producers with a view to aiding them. Daily's Stand Commended [Moscowitz Letter] (Continued from page 1) I do not feel that this is the feel- ing of the public now — or will be. Starting on Monday, March 1, and washing up completely on Monday, March 8, some $15,000 in accrued Bank Night awards and Screeno prizes will be dis- tributed to our patrons. This will completely wind up the games as far as our theatres are concerned. Sincerely yours, Charles C. Moskowitz [Blumberg Letter] (Continued from page 1) last theatre operators to resort to the use of these devices and did so only as a protective measure. We are very happy to say that within the next two weeks we will dis- continue the use of all cash give- aways, Screeno and other games of similar nature. Constructive editorials such as "Every Night But Show Night" are a definite force in helping the various interests in this industry 20th-Fox Silent on Australian Houses Comment on Stuart F. Doyle's state- ment that the operating combine be- tween Greater Union Theatres and Hoyts, Australia's largest theatre op- erating interests, would be cancelled next Dec. 31, was withheld at 20th Century- Fox yesterday pending receipt of additional information from Aus- tralia. Walter J. Hutchinson of 20th Cen- tury-Fox, which holds a controlling in- terest in Hoyts, cabled Australia yes- terday for additional information. Pending a reply, no decision has been made on whether or not the proposed Australian visit next summer of Sid- ney R. Kent and Hutchinson would be cancelled, it was said. Pettengill Insists Bill to Be Pressed (Continued from page 1) by reports, which he branded as false, that he has asked the Federal Trade Commission for a legal opinion as to whether its authority could be so ex- tended as to give it jurisdiction over controversies and practices in the film industry. No such method of dealing with the question has ever been under consid- eration, Pettengill said, and he has every intention of pressing his meas- ure, which was the subject of lengthy hearings last session, as soon as the committee disposes of more important legislation which is now before it. Walter Catlett Sued Los Angeles, Feb. 24. — Suit against Walter Catlett was filed in Superior Court here today by Joyce & Selznick, Ltd., alleging failure to fulfill condi- tions of an agency contract dated July 12, 1932, and running for five years. The agency charges that although Catlett has earned $35,000 from Feb. 14, 1933 to date, he has paid only $1,095 in commissions. A demand is made for $2,405 plus attorneys' fees of $1,000. Flash Preview "La Tendre Enemie" — A fantasy, novel, interesting and touched up with satirical Gallic humor. This film will be reviewed in full in a coming issue of Motion Pic- ture Daily. Hyman Passman Resigns Boston, Feb. 24. — Hyman Passman has resigned as manager of the Lib- erty. He has been succeeded by Ber- nard Phillips, assistant manager of the Codman Square. Bernard Lynch has been transferred from the Strand to Phillips' former position. W anger Signs Jones Hollywood, Feb. 24. — Walter Wanger has signed Grover Jones, vet- eran scenario writer, to a long term contract. to formulate sound policies of op- eration. We hope that you will continue the good work. Sincerely yours, N. J. Blumberg. The New Universal, which gave you "My Man Godfrey'9 and "Three Smart Girls ' ', again comes through with another world-wide winner, "Top of the Town" Thursday, February 25, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY "Lloyds" and "Avenue" Hit Pitt Records Pittsburgh, Feb. 24. — There was cause for celebration here by the 20th Century-Fox. At the Alvin and Ful- ton, practically next door to each v other, two of the Zanuck productions hung up new house records, "Lloyds of London" getting $12,750 at the Alvin to top by just a few dollars the previous high made by "The Country Doctor" and "On the Avenue" smash- ing through with $11,000 at the Ful- ton. Both were held for a second week and may even stay a third. Although weather conditions were ideal, the big business for these two pictures naturally had a sizeable effect on grosses elsewhere. "Stolen Holi- day" was a disappointment at the Stanley, where it did only $8,000, the lowest this house has hit in some time, but the Warner did. all right with "General Spanky" and "The Accusing Finger" at $5,400. Total first run grosses were $48,650. Average is $37,500. Estimated takings for the week ending Feb. 18: "LLOYDS OF LONDON" (20th-Fox) ALVIN — (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $12,750. (Average, $5,500) "ON THE AVENUE" (20th-Fox) FULTON— (1,750), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $4,500) "YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE" (U.A.) PENN— 3,300), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $11,500) "GENERAL SPANKY" (M-G-M) "ACCUSING FINGER" (Para.) WARNER — (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,400. (Average, $5,000) "STOLEN HOLIDAY" (F.N.) STANLEY — (3,600), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $11,500) "Black Cat," Show Oklahoma's Leader Oklahoma City, Feb. 24. — "The Case of the Black Cat" and a vau- deville bill were the only combination to make much of an impression here last week. The gross at the Liberty for four days was $2,400. Normal for seven days is $3,000. "Lloyds of London" took a par $5,000 at the Criterion. Total first run business $13,200. Average is $14,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 20: "LLOYDS OF LONDON" (ZOth-Fox) CRITERION-( 1,700), 10c-35c-55e, 7 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $5,000) "GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN" (W.B.) MIDWEST— (1,500), 10c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $3,700. (Average, $4,000) "PLOUGH AND THE STARS" (RKO) CAPITOL— (1,200), 10c-25c-40c, 7 days Gross: $1,500. (Average, $2,000) CASE OF THE BLACK CAT' (W.B.) LIBERTY-(1,500), 10c-25c-40c, 4 days Stage: Eight acts vaudeville. Gross: $2,400. (Average for week, $3,000) "DANCING PIRATE" (RKO) "THE PLOT THICKENS" (RKO) LIBERTY-(1,500), 10c-25c-35c, 3 days. Gross: $600. (Average, for week, $3,000) Building Foreign House Consolidated Amusement Enter- prises will enter the foreign exhibi- tion field with the erection of the Es- quire at 44th St. and 8th Ave., now under construction. Foreign films will play at the circuit's Ascot in the Bronx following the Esquire runs. "Secretary" Dual Tops in New Haven New Haven, Feb. 24. — "More Than A Secretary" and "Sinner Take All" at the College made the best first run showing, grossing $3,600, over the usual by $800. The higher-admission Poli, with "Dangerous Number" and "You Only Live Once," exceeded average $7,000 by $700. "Stolen Holiday" and "Mys- terious Crossing" at the Roger Sher- man dipped under the average $4,700 by $900; while "Outcast" and "Let's Make a Million" took the usual Para- mount gross of $4,900, down by $1,400. An exceptionally poor Ash Wednesday cut the week's business short. Total first run business was $18,600. Average is $19,400. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 21 : "MORE THAN A SECRETARY" (Col.) "SINNER TAKE ALL" (M-G-M) COLLEGE — (1,499), 25c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $3,600. (Average, $2,800) "OUTCAST" (Para.) "LET'S MAKE A MILLION" (Para.) PARAMOUNT — (2,348) , 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $3,500. (Average, $4,900) "YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE" (U.A.) "DANGEROUS NUMBER" (M-G-M) POLI— (3,040), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $7,700. (Average, $7,000) "STOLEN HOLIDAY" (F.N.) "MYSTERIOUS CROSSING" (Univ.) ROGER SHERMAN— (2,200), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $3,600. (Average, $4,700) "Breezing," Show Indianapolis Draw Indianapolis, Feb. 24.— "Breezing Home," coupled with an elaborate stage presentation, crashed through a quiet Lenten week to give $10,300 to the Lyric, $3,300 upstairs. The stage show was the main draw, presenting a special appearance of Molly O'Day in addition to the scheduled "Greenwich Village Scandals" of Frank Mitchell and Jack Durant. "Lloyds of London" held up well in its second and final week. The Apollo took $4,000 with it, which tied par. Competition included a six-day bicycle race at the Butler University field house. The weather was mild. Total first run business was $23,300. Average is $21,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 19 : "LLOYDS OF LONDON" (20th-Fox) APOLLO— (1,100), 25c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $4,000) "WE'RE ON THE JURY" (Radio) "OUTCAST" (Para.) CIRCLE — (2,800), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $4,000) "DANGEROUS NUMBER" (M-G-M) "DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND" (Col.) LOEWS— (2,800), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $6,000) "BREEZING HOME" (Univ.) LYRIC— (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Stage: "Greenwich Village Scandals" with Molly O'Day, Frank Mitchell and Jack Durant. Gross: $10,300. (Average, $7,000) "Avenue" Sets $16,500 Pace In Cleveland Cleveland, Feb. 24. — "On the Ave- nue" clicked with the local fans at Warners' Hippodrome in spite of Lent and bad weather. It grossed $16,500, topping average by $6,500. "The Great O'Malley" on the RKO Palace screen with the Ritz Brothers in person topping the vaudeville bill struck a high note with $23,000. This was $8,000 over par. "We Who Are About to Die" was $1,000 over the line at the Allen with $6,000. "Rembrandt" at Loew's State was weak at $8,500. Average is $15,000, and "Under Cover of Night" at Loew's Stillman was $2,000 shy of par with a take of $4,000. Total first run business was $58,000. Average is $51,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 19: "WE WHO ARE ABOUT TO DIE" (RKO) ALLEN— (3,300), 30c-35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,000. "REMBRANDT" (U.A.) LOEW'S STATE— (3,400), 30c-35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $8,500. (Average, $15,000) "UNDER COVER OF NIGHT" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STILLMAN— (1,900), 30c-35c- 42c, 7 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $6,000) "THE GREAT O'MALLEY" (W.B.) RKO PALACE— (3,100), 30c-42c-60c, 7 days. Stage: Ritz Brothers heading vaude- ville bill. Gross: $23,000. (Average, $15,000) "ON THE AVENUE" (ZOth-Fox) WARNERS' HIPPODROME — (3,800), 30c-3Sc-42c, 7 days. Gross: $16,500) (Aver- age, $10,000) Secure Red Bank Site A syndicate headed by Morris Jacks has acquired a site for a 1,500-seat theatre at Red Bank, N. J. It is lo- cated on East Front St. "Lloyds"High In Dull Week At the Capital Washington, Feb. 24. — "Lloyds of London" stepped out front in the Lenten slump here by getting $18,000 at Loew's Palace. This was $2,100 in the profit column. "Devil's Playground" took second honors with $6,300 at the Metropolitan, over the line by $2,000. The stage-screen houses were weak, the Earle taking $16,000 for "The Great O'Malley" and a near-nameless vaudeville show, and Loew's Fox get- ting $18,000 for "Under Cover of Night" and Stepin Fetchit and Clyde McCoy's orchestra. First is $2,400 under, the second $2,900 under their respective pars. A return engagement of "Cham- pagne Waltz" went $400 over par to a take of $4,000 at Loew's Columbia. Total first run business was $67,800. Average is $73,700. Estimated takings, exclusive of tax : 6 Days Ending Feb. 17: "MEN ARE NOT GODS" (UA) RKO-KEITH'S— (1,836), 25c-55c, 6 days. Gross: $5,500. (Average, 7 days, $10,600) Week Ending Feb. 18: "THE GREAT O'MALLEY" (W.B.) EARLE— (2,218), 25c-77c, 7 days. Stage: Cilly Feindt & Her Horse, Three Radio Ramblers, Lela Moore, Balabanow Revue. Gross: $16,000. (Average, $18,400) "UNDER COVER OF NIGHT" (M-G-M) LOEW'S CAPITOL— (3,434), 25c-66c, 7 days. Stage: Stepin Fetchit, Wally Ward, Arthur LeFleur, Clyde McCoy & Orchestra. Gross: $18,000. (Average, $20,900) "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ" (Para.) LOEW'S COLUMBIA— (1,243), 25c-40c, 7 days (return engagement). Gross: $4,000. (Average, first run, $3,600) "LLOYDS OF LONDON" (20th-Fox) LOEW'S PALACE— (2,370), 35c -55c, 7 days. Gross: $18,000. (Average, $15,900) "DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND" (Col.) METROPOLITAN — (1,591), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,300. (Average, $4,300) "Avenue" Dual Gets $17,100 In St. Louis St. Louis, Feb. 24. — "On the Ave- nue" and "Criminal Lawyer" at the Fox proved the best draw of the week with a take of $17,100, or about $4,100 above average. At the St. Louis, Johnny Perkins continued his popularity as a master of ceremonies and with a second run of "Three Smart Girls" socked the cash register for $10,000, the first time that this house has hit a five figure week since it was reopened some months ago. Average is $7,000. None of the other local first runs was able to attain par in comparison with its recent averages. Total first run business was $61,250. Average is $59,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 18: "STOLEN HOLIDAY" (W.B.) AMBASSADOR— (3,018), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Stage, specialty acts. Gross: $12,900. (Average, $14,000) "ON THE AVENUE" (20th-Fox) "CRIMINAL LAWYER" (RKO) FOX— (5,038), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $17,100. (Average, $13,000) "UNDER COVER OF NIGHT" (M-G-M) "MAMA STEPS OUT" (M-G-M) LOEW'S— (3,162), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $11,750. (Average, $14,000) "BLACK LEGION" (W.B.) "WE'RE ON THE JURY" (RKO) MISSOURI— (3,514), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $11,000) "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) ST. LOUIS — (4,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Stage: Johnny Perkins girls' chorus and vaudeville. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $7,000) "Counterfeit" Best Take in Milwaukee Milwaukee, Feb. 24. — "Counterfeit Lady" and a third anniversary week celebration stage show at E. J. Weis- feldt's Riverside was the week's leader with a $5,200 take, just $200 to the Second money went to "Rainbow on the River" and "Criminal Lawyer," which grossed $5,000 at the Warner for just average business. Any benefits which might have ac- crued from several conventions were offset by the Golden Gloves tourna- ment, which drew 16,000. Total first run business was $17,800. Average is $24,500. Estimated takings : Week Ending Feb. 16: "MAN OF THE PEOPLE" (M-G-M) "OFF TO THE RACES" (ZOth-Fox) WISCONSIN— (3,200), 25c-35c-50c, 4 days. Gross: $2,500. (Average, $8,000) Week Ending Feb. 17: "RAINBOW ON THE RIVER" (RKO) "CRIMINAL LAWYER" (RKO) WARNER— (2,400), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $4,800. (Average, $5,000) Week Ending Feb. 18: "SINS OF CHILDREN" (G.N.) "STRANGERS ON A HONEYMOON" (G.B.) PALACE— (2,400), 25c-35c-50c, 6 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $5,000) "COUNTERFEIT LADY" (Col.) RIVERSIDE— (2,300), 20c-25c-30c, 7 days. Stage: 12 Dorothy Hild Girls, Medley & Dupree, _ Frank Conville and Sunny Dale, The Dixie Four, Countess Emil Von Lozen, Howard Nicolls. Gross: $5,200. (Average, $5 000) "AFTER THE THIN MAN" (M-G-M) "MAN OF AFFAIRS" (G.B.) STRAND— (1,400), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $1,300. (Average, $1,500) !0 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, February 25, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILYS HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Marked Woman" {Warners) Hollywood, Feb. 23. — This melodrama delves deeply into the lives of demi-mondes, but offers little of entertainment value save thrills for the morbidly curious. There is no relief from grim tragedy. It is written and performed deftly, but whether there is a valid reason for its production will be questioned by many. Bette Davis, Lola Lane, Isabel Jewell, Rosalind Marquis and Mayo Methot, cabaret hostesses, work under the iron rule of Eduardo Cianelli, underworld boss. All obey orders and accept their plight until Jane Bryan, Bette Davis' sister, is caught in the web and murdered. One by one they turn on their ruthless master. Miss Davis is first. She is severely beaten. Finally, the others go to Humphrey Bogart, district attorney, and agree to testify. With evidence furnished by the girls, Bogart is able to obtain convictions and break the ring. The girls go off in a fog, their future uncertain.. Robert Rossen's and Abem Finels' original screenplay depicts the subject with such forbidding realism that it may defeat the picture as a commercial property. The direction by Lloyd Bacon allows no letdown in the hammering at the tragedy and permits only one comedy sequence, played by Allen Jenkins, which does little to relieve the ten- sion. Other performers include Ben Welden, John Litel and Ray- mond Hatton, who have been well cast for types. It is distinctly adult entertainment and exhibitors will have to han- dle the exploitation with extereme care. Production Code Seal No. 2,936. Running time, 98 minutes. "A." Looking 'Em Over "House of Secrets" (Chesterfield) There is little of consequence in "House of Secrets" to rate it other than as an item for the double bills. It is routine in the unfolding of its comic-mystery plot. Trite dialogue and seemingly indifferent act- ing do not lend enhancement. Leslie Fenton, heir to an old English castle, tries to take possession. He is warded off by a strange assortment of characters ranging from the Home Secretary to the chief of Scotland Yard. Each sally to the property results in further complications to Fenton. A detective friend, Sidney Blackmer, is likewise baffled. These situations tend to develop a romance between Fenton and Muriel Evans. After many rebuffs and painful encounters with the various interested parties Fenton begins to see his way clear. Blackmer gets a lead on the strange doings, and in a melodramatic finish the affair is cleared up. As an anti-climax pirate treasure is dug up. The supporting cast includes Noel Madison, Morgan Wallace, Holmes Herbert, Ian McLarnin, Jameson Thomas, Matty Fain, Sid Saylor and George Rosener. Roland D. Reed directed. The screenplay is by John W. Krafft. Production Code Seal No. 2,759. Running time, 65 minutes. "G." (Additional reviews on page 13) "Holiday" and Duchin Boston Top $26,000 Boston, Feb. 24. — Lent slightly affected local grosses while the weather remained fair and warm. "Stolen Holiday" and Eddie Duchin and his band at the Metropolitan grossed $26,000. Average is $22,000. "Beloved Enemy," with "Women of Glamour," also did well at Loew's Orpheum with a gross of $16,000, $4,000 over par. The same program grossed $13,000 at Loew's State. "You Only Live Once" drew $500 over average at the RKO Memorial with a gross of $12,500. "Black Legion," with "Holy Terror" at the Paramount, grossed §1,000 above par with $8,000. Total first run business was $100,- 000. Average is $88,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 17 : "BLACK LEGION" (W.B.) "HOLY TERROR" (20th-Fox) FENWAY — (1,392), 30c- 50c, 7 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $4,500) "BELOVED ENEMY" (U.A.) "WOMEN OF GLAMOUR" (Col.) ORPHEUM — (2,970) , 25c-45c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $16,000. (Average, $12,000) "BELOVED ENEMY" (U.A.) "WOMEN OF GLAMOUR" (Col.) STATE — (3,537), 25c-45c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $11,000) "YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE" (U.A.) RKO MEMORIAL — (2,907) , 25c-50c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $12,500. (Average, $12,000) "STOLEN HOLIDAY" (F.N.) METROPOLITAN— (4.332), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Eddie Duchin and band. Gross: $26,000. (Average, $22,000) "BLACK LEGION" (W.B.) "HOLY TERROR" (ZOth-Fox) PARAMOUNT— (1,793), 2Sc-50c, 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $7,000) "CONDEMNED ROW" (RKO) RKO BOSTON— (3,246), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Olsen & Johnson in "Fun Marches On." Gross: $19,500. (Average, $20,000) "Million" on Dual $8,900, Portland Portland, Feb. 24. — In its third week at the Paramount, "One in a Million" with a new partner, "Wo- man in Distress," grossed §8,900, over average by $3,900. "Green Light" at the United Art- ists took $7,000, over par by $2,000. "Theodora Goes Wild," on a dual, was held for its eighth downtown week at the Blue Mouse. Total first run business was $34,- 400. Average is $24,700. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 20: "LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY" (M-G-M) "DANGEROUS NUMBER" (M-G-M) BROADWAY— (1,912), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,000) "THEODORA GOES WILD" (Col.) "LADY FROM NOWHERE" (Col.) BLUE MOUSE— (1,700), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 8th downtown week. Gross: $2,500. (Average, $1,700) "CONDEMNED ROW" "LET'S MAKE A MILLION" (Para.) MAYFAIR— (1,700), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $3,000) "THAT GIRL FROM PARIS" (RKO) "CRACK-UP" (20th-Fox) ORPHEUM— (1,700), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,000) "ONE IN A MILLION" (20th-Fox) "WOMAN IN DISTRESS" (Col.) PARAMOUNT— (3,008), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $8,900. (Average, $5,000) "GREEN LIGHT" (W. B.) UNITED ARTISTS — (945) , 30c-35c-40, 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $5,000) Bissell Opens Branch Cleveland, Feb. 24. — Holbrook C. Bissell, former local Columbia branch manager, is president and general manager and C. Lenehan is secretary and treasurer of Imperial Pictures of Ohio, which has opened an office in the Film Building. Jessie Wiltshire has left Columbia to join the new Imperial organization as booker. Girardville House Burns Girardville, Pa., Feb. 24. — Flames swept through the Girard Opera House yesterday, causing a loss estimated at $100,000 by the owner, Frank Hol- lister. Only the sound apparatus was saved. Heads Dallas Operators Dallas, Feb. 24.— H. D. Hill has been elected president of the M. P. Machine Operators' organization here. Other new officers are Charles Har- cum, vice-president; C. E. Rupard, business representative; N. E. Hoyle- man, treasurer; P. W. Humphries, financial secretary. "Pastures" Run Begins London, Feb. 16. — "The Green Pas- tures," which is in its ninth week in the West End of London, is about to start out of town runs at the Cen- tral Cinema, Cambridge, followed by a run at Oxford on March 1. Short Subjects "I Only Have Eyes for You" (V itaphone) Following a rather routine plot, but well colored and scored, this tuneful cartoon should satisfy. It is the fam- iliar stuff concerning the crooner-mad girl, here portrayed by a bird, and her ardent but incapable-of-crooning swain who drives an ice-wagon. His attempt to deceive the girl with a ventriloquist is uncovered and he resignedly marries an old maid who cooks well. It is the usual light, pleasant fare. Production Code Seal No. 3,018. Running time, 8 mins. "G." "An Underwater Romance" (Paramount) A novel and entertaining subject, this pictures a courtship under diffi- culties supplied by a group of young girls, a visit to a "night club" and a "wedding," all under water. Taken in Florida, and, according to a fore- word, done without trickery, the re- sult is clever and often amusing. Some excellent swimming went into the making. Production Code Seal No. 01,383. Running time, 10 mins. "G." "Swing For Sale" (Vitaphone) A lavishly produced two-reel mu- sical that is replete with well-turned dance sequences, a light romantic in- terest and all the other necessities to make it delightfully entertaining. What story there is concerns Hal Le- roy's romantic interests. He is en- gaged to be married to a divorcee, but finally marries another at the last moment. Throughout it is clever stuff of highly pleasing calibre. Produc- tion Code Seal No. 01,310. Running time, 20 mins. "G." "Whoops! Vm an Indian" (Paramount) Wiffle Piffle, a new cartoon char- acter, is animated in a routine comedy affair which revolves around his desire to become a cowboy in order to attract Betty Boop. He goes out west and joins up with a school that puts him through a thorough course in range technique, fails on every count and hitch hikes a ride home in a squaw's rumble. A mediocre item. Production Code Seal No. 01,257. Running time, 7 mins. "G." Keith Houses Celebrate Boston, Feb. 24. — Keith's Memo- rial and the RKO Boston are celebrat- ing the 55th anniversary of RKO Keith's. Congratulatory telegrams have been received from Wallace Beery, Paul Muni, Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire, Miriam Hopkins, Irv- ing Berlin, Madeleine Carroll, and numerous political and civic person- ages by Division Manager Charles Koerner. Goodman Joins Filmack Cleveland, Feb. 24. — Mort Good- man, for the past eight years with the Warner publicity department here, has resigned to join Filmack Trailer Co. of Chicago. ■find that ± why he i Lack again in hh (fieatelt Pictute I THE POPtYEV MATADOR Here he is! With all the thrills and tunes of his great bull-Fighting mu- sical romance! Eddie loses his heart to the gorgeous Goldwyn Girls . . . while the bull loses his mind over the most side-splitting torero that ever stepped into an arena ! . . .Revel in the glittering, gay fiesta with its sweeping, breathless beauty! Hear radio's greatest musicomedian sing and gag as only HE can! SAMUEL GOLDWYN presents LYVA ROBERTI • ROBERT YOUNG TOBY WING • JOHN MILJAN • NOAH BEERY SIDNEY FRANKLIN (a merica's greatest matador) and the GORGEOUS GOLDWYN GIRLS Released thru UNITED ARTISTS National Release Date May 4th Thursday, February 25, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 13 MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Girl Overboard" {Universal) Hollywood, Feb. 24. — Although this film runs but 60 minutes so much extraneous matter has been worked in that the germ of a good motivating idea is only partially developed. Elements potentially prom- ising are included, but the mechanics of their application fall short. Because of this and because names presented are not overly strong, the picture can only be considered as a secondary attraction. Sidney Blackmer, stylist, unsuccessful in his efforts to impose his attentions upon Gloria Stuart, a model, is found dead at a dock after a steamer sails. Police radio an order for Mary's arrest. Fire breaks out on the boat as Miss Stuart's companion, Charlotte Wynters, pens a con- fession. She loses her life. Miss Stuart is rescued as she saves mother- less Billy Burrud. She is gowned in Miss Wynters' coat. District Attorney Walter Pidgeon, father of Billy, takes her to his home. Hobart Cavanaugh, a reporter, believes he has evidence implicating Miss Stuart in the killing. Situations combining to build romance and drama ensue. Pidgeon is suspected by the police of shielding the girl. In the climax, Pidgeon demonstrates that Miss Stuart is not the killer and there is romantic happiness all around. The film does not justify any intensive business building campaign, but it may suit as a companion piece to some more pretentious attraction. It is based on a story by Sarah Elizabeth Rodger. Tristram Tupper did the screenplay and Sidney Salkow directed. Production Code Seal No. 2,960. Running time, 60 minutes. "G." Overseas Previews "Les Hommes Nouveaux" ("New Men") (S. F. P. F.-Lauzin) Paris, Feb. 16. — This film, of which a silent version was made, was adapted from the novel of the well known French author, Claude Farrere. It possesses all the elements necessary to a great picture, as the subject is the birth of the French Empire in Morocco, and the work accomplished by Marshal Lyautey. "New Men" ought to have been, for France, a national film of importance. But, regrettably, the subject has not been used to its full advantage, and lacks unity. It was directed by Marcel L'Herbier. The film may be divided into two parts, the first set in 1912, during the time of the conquest of Morocco, featuring the work of the great French colonial figures of Lyautey, Mangin, Jounart. Eventually there appears on the screen the man around whom the story revolves, a workman, a strong, stubborn and brutal man, Bouron. The second part of the film shows the Morocco of about 10 years later. Pacified and organized by Marshal Lyautey, it is a country in the throes of development. Civilians have built new roads and towns. Bouron reappears and the remainder of the film is devoted to his unhappy love story. The subject of the film, which could have been used far more advantageously, falls to the level of ordinary romantic drama. This part of the film, however, is well directed, with moving scenes and good performances. All the exteriors were filmed in Morocco, resulting in excellent photography. The first part of the film, the historical recon- struction, is interesting, although it sometimes seems to be lacking in authenticity. Harry Baur adds to his many successes in the role of Bouron, Nathalie Paley is beautiful and moving, Signoret brings to life the portrait of Marshal Lyautey. Taken as a whole, the film is an important French production, which, in spite of its faults and of the long drawn out action, shows a real effort, although not always a successful one. Running time, 120 minutes. "A." Autre Pool Change Causes K. C. Scale Shifts Kansas City, Feb. 24. — With as- sumption of complete ownership of the Tower by Fox Midwest, which gives the circuit two first runs, and with a new RKO pool handling the Main- street and Newman, prices have been shifted both upward and downward. The Tower has gone to a new high evening price for its lower floor of 40 cents. The Newman, which instituted a policy of double bills Feb. 19, is go- ing to 25 cents on balcony seats at night, and the Mainstreet will do like- wise with its Feb. 26 show. The Tower has always sold its balcony for 25 cents and its lower floor, most of the time, at 35 cents. Fox Uptown went to the 25-cent balcony price for evenings with the opening of the new season last fall. Loew's Midland was the first to adopt the policy several years ago in order to meet increased competition of suburban theatres which were turning to 10-cent nights and double bills. This means that out of a total com- bined first run seating capacity of 13,200 seats, 5,825 balcony seats will now be sold at night for 25 cents, leaving 7,375 seats to go for 40 cents. This is exclusive of the Mainstreet's stage shows, a policy it resumed with the dissolution of the Fox Midwest pool that included Uptown, Tower, Newman and Mainstreet. Lawrence Fox Gets Set to Start Soon HollyW'OOd, Feb. 24. — Lawrence Fox., Jr., who resigned from Standard Capital recently to produce the "Crime Club" stories, is completing his organ- ization and will soon be ready to an- nounce the company through which he will release. Fox, through a deal with publishers Doubleday-Doran, has exclusive rights to the "Crime Club" trade mark for pictures, and has already secured rights to several books including "Five Million in Cash," by O. B. King; "Headed for a Hearse," by Jonathan Lederman, and "Murder in the Sur- gery," by Dr. James S. Andrews. British Technicians Ask Permit Refusal London, Feb. 24.— In a statement commenting upon the possible sus- pension of production by Gaumont British, the Ass'n of Cine Techni- cians today urged the withdrawal of labor permits for foreign technicians. The statement said more than 30 per cent of British technicians are unemployed and the factor of scarcity of skilled men no longer exists. Balanchine Ballet Signed by Goldwyn Hollywood, Feb. 24.— Samuel Gold- wyn has signed Georges Balanchine and his American ballet, with the Ritz Brothers, to appear in his forth- coming musical, "Goldwyn Follies." Goldwyn's idea, he says, is to present something new in the way of ballets, and the Ritz Brothers will be used "contrapuntally" in comedy numbers to be called "Belly Laughs in Ballet." SMPE Meets Tonight The Atlantic Coast Section of the Society of M. P. Engineers will hold a monthly meeting tonight at the home office of Fox Movietone News. H. I. Riskind of RCA Photophone will read an article on "Single- Channel Record- ing and Re-Recording Installation." Pick Dietrich Story Hollywood, Feb. 24. — William Le- Baron has picked a story tentatively titled "Midnight" as the next Para- mount effort for Marlene Dietrich after the completion of "Angel," which is to start soon. Franz Schulz is working on "Midnight." Variety Club Indianapolis Indianapolis, Feb. 24. — About 140 persons attended a dinner-dance of the Indianapolis Variety Club. Members who had parties at the affair included Marc Wolf and Harry Markun and, with their wives, Kenneth T. Collins, Burt Jolley, Floyd Brown, George Levey, Al Lachnit, Gail Black, Thomas McCleaster, Joe R. Neger, Sol Greenberg, Carl Niesse, Duff Newman, Claude Davis, Roy Harold, A. C. Zaring, Roy Church- ill, Stuart Tomlinson, Percy Barr, Martin Solomon, E. J. Barnard, Hadley Hall and Watts Rossiter. Members of the auxiliary held a bridge party the other afternoon in the club home with Mrs. Barney Bar- nard and Mrs. Burt Jolley in charge. Shows Back to Stanley Pittsburgh, Feb. 24.— After six weeks of straight pictures, the Stanley will resume stage shows March 5, with James Melton and Red Nichols' band as the attractions. The presentation policy, however, will not be per- manent, with Harry Kalmine, zone manager for Warners here, planning to play shows only when name talent is available. "Green Lighf' Pulls Well In its first week of release "Green Light" has set a fast pace, according to_ Warners. Reports have been re- ceived from Albany, New Haven, Hartford, Newark, Akron, Youngs- town, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Mil- waukee, Washington, Memphis, Bos- ton, Portland, Detroit and San Fran- cisco. Birdwell Pact Renewed Hollywood, Feb. 24. — Russell J. Birdwell, advertising and publicity di- rector for Selznick International, has had his contract with the producer renewed for one year. Wall Street Board Revives; Paramount Up 63A Points Net High Low Close Chancre . 3554 3554 3554 - 54 Columbia, pfd. . . . . 44M 443,4 4454 4% + 54 - % • 4J4 4% Consolidated, pfd. . 16% 15% 1654 Eastman Kodak .171 170 170 - 54 Eastman, pfd. . . . Gen. T. Equip... .160& 160 16054 + 54 . 3154 31 31 • 7454 72 7454 +254 .10754 107 107 - % • 2554 23% 255i +I5i Paramount 1 pfd..l74J4 169 17434 +6% Paramount 2 pfd. . 23 21 & 8S4 23 +1 • 9% 95i + H RKO ■ m 854 m + % 20th Century-Fox. 34J4 3354 34 -54 Warner Bros. . . . ■ ISM 14% 1534 + % Curb Has Light Increases Net High Low Close Change Grand National ..354 354 354 4- % Sonotone 2 2 2 Technicolor 19% 19% 19% + % Trans-Lux 4% 4%, 4% -f % RKO, Warner Bonds Off Net High Low Close Change Keith B. F. 6s '46. 98% 98% 9854 Loew's 354s '46... 100 99% 100 4- 54 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 101% 10054 10156 -1- % RKO 6s '41 pp.... 119 118 118 —1 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 9854 98 98 — 54 (Quotations at close of Feb. 24) MOTION PICTURI DAILY Lohr, NBC Head, Denies Radio-Film Talent Pact 14 RADIO Columbia Sets Wide Air Plugs For "Horizon" Columbia Pictures, in arrangement with its advertising agency, Biow & Co., has contracted for one of the most ambitious film-radio spot cam- paigns in air history. The film to be exploited via the air "plugs" is "Lost Horizon." The Biow agency now is lining up time buys on stations located in cities scheduled to show the picture during the coming months. The agency was unwilling to tell how many stations will be involved in the deal, but it is expected that the number will be sev- eral hundred at the outside. The platters calling attention to the picture's forthcoming arrival at a local theatre, will be aired daily for a week preceding the opening. Grosses will be studied carefully to determine the influence of the air "plugs" at the box- office. If the results warrant, the plan may be adopted for other Colum- bia specials, it is believed. The deal marks one of the few in- stances involving actual station time purchases by a film company. Here- tofore, the general practice has been for the exhibitor, acting independently of the producer, to get picture men- tions on the air in return for passes or straight promotional contests bene- fiting both exhibitor and station owner. Start Trailer Contest "The Gumps," air serial based on the cartoon character, institutes a trailer contest immediately, with an automobile trailer the award for the best letter telling why the applicant wants one of the houses on wheels. The series is aired Mondays through Fridays at noon, over the CBS net- work. Lennen and Mitchell, agents for Lehn and Fink, sponsors of the program, worked out the details of the contest. Buys Sound Recorder Cleveland, , Feb. 24. — Complete sound recording equipment is being installed in the United Broadcasting Co. stations WHK-WJAY, Cleve- land. Purchase has been made from Fairchild-Proctor Sound Recording Equipment. One use of the new equip- ment will be to record programs and also to record voices of announcers for critical purposes. Melton Gets Contract Jimmy Melton has been signed to contract with J. Walter Thompson making him the permanent master of ceremonies for the Sealtest "Saturday Night Party" series. Countess Albani Signed CouTitess Olga Albani, who guest appeared on the NBC Ford program last Friday, was signed as a perma- nent feature of the cast by N. W. Ayer and Son Tuesday. The con- tract is for an indefinite period. Powell Quits Ayer Post Edward Powell, head of the pub- licity department in the main office of N. W. Ayer & Son in Philadelphia, resigned yesterday. He has been suc- ceeded by A. A. Zweier, formerly his assistant. Lenox R. Lohr, president of NBC, who returned to New York yester- day after a cross-country trip which kept him in Hollywood for some weeks, denied emphatically that a film- radio compact, designed to regulate the appearances of motion picture players on the air during the best box- office hours, is now, or at any time was, in the making. Lohr's statement runs contrary to the general opinion in film and radio circles, and his statement, therefore, may be interpreted in one of two ways : 1. That his comment was intended as a screen to hide the real facts, or 2. That the negotiations to bring about an end or curtailment to the growing radio practice of presenting screen players on the air during peak box-office hours, have collapsed. Lohr said that he met with Will Hays, president of the M. P. P. D. A. several times during his stay in Holly- wood, and that the meetings were at all times cordial. At no time did Hays even hint that producers were dissat- isfied with conditions as they were, stated Lohr. He branded the report- ed encroachment of radio on film box- offices as a myth. Calls Radio "Ally" He said that if anything, radio was an ally, rather than an enemy, of the picture business. "Box-office records have been soar- ing of late," he said, attributing the rise to the increasing number of ap- pearances of picture players on the air and to the numerous picture re- enactments on radio programs. The current agitation, he charged, has been brought about by exhibi- tors, rather than by producers. When it was pointed out to him that Paramount Pictures, in coopera- tion with NBC, had signed to put on the air a new picture-radio program especially designed to be broadcast at noon on Sundays, in the East, ad- mittedly a non-competitive box-office hour, he stated that he knew nothing whatsoever about the intent of the deal. Chevrolet-WMCA in Deal The Chevrolet Motor Co. through Campbell-Ewald, has placed a contract for the reading of 84 spot announce- ments on WMCA, six times daily, effective immediately. An additional WMCA account, which began this week, is the elec- trically transcribed "Musical Grab Bag," placed through the Sterling Ad- vertising Agency. The contract is for 52 weeks. Platters will be spun Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10:30 to 10:45 A.M.; Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, 9:35 to 9 :50 A.M. J. B. Ford Series Set "A Page From Your Life," new script show sponsored by the J. B. Ford Co., whose product is Wyandotte cleaning products, will begin March 2, and be heard every Tuesday, Thurs- day and Saturday from 2 to 2:15 P. M. over CBS. The station setup is not yet complete, as new stations are expected to be added shortly. N. W. Ayer is the agency. Who Was It? Terre Haute, Ind., Feb. 24. — Few people could recall the name o f "America's Sweet- heart" in an audition contest sponsored over WBOW. Younger folks had no knowl- edge of the person in men- tion. One, however, said it was Joan Crawford. One eld- er contestant said, "I guess it is Mary Pickford." The question proved a stumbling block to most of the contest- ants. Toscanini to Direct 10 Concerts for RCA Meeting formally with the press yesterday afternoon at Radio City, David S. Sarnoff, president of RCA, revealed the terms of the RCA con- tract with Arturo Toscanini, who will begin a series of 10 broadcasts for NBC shortly after his arrival here from Italy in December. Toscanini will be paid $4,000 per broadcast. The price is net. RCA will pay all taxes on Toscanini's sal- ary. The present NBC symphony or- chestra, numbering about 45 musi- cians, will be augmented to full sym- phony strength, about 80 men, for the Toscanini-directed broadcasts. The maestro will make two public appearances at Carnegie Hall during his brief stay here, the proceeds of which will be turned over to chari- ties named by him. Time, night, or network are still un- decided. Sarnoff said the broadcasts would either be an hour or an hour and a half in length. The broadcasts will not conflict with those of the New York Philharmonic. Admission to the studios will be by invitation only. Present Deed Today Will Hays, Jesse H. Jones, Major L. E. Thompson of RKO, and Harold Rodner of Warners will broadcast over WMCA this afternoon, 3:45 to 4 P. M., E.S.T. from the Fox Movie- tone studios when the presentation of the deed for the Will Rogers Mem- orial Hospital at Saranac will be made in behalf of the film industry. Jones, president of the Will Rogers Memorial Commission, will receive the deed. Shell Holds Joe Cook Joe Cook, star of the "Chateau" series sponsored by Shell Gas Co. and handled by J. Walter Thompson agency, has been renewed for an addi- tional 13-week period effective five weeks hence, at which time his present contract runs out. Barnes to Talk on Film Howard Barnes, film critic of the New York Herald Tribune will re- veal "inside" details on the actual pro- duction of pictures this Saturday from 10:15 to 10:30 A.M. over WOR when he guests on the "Radio League" pro- gram. Thursday, February 25, 1937 "Koffee Club" Sales Campaign Is Planned Philadelphia, Feb. 24. — An elab- orate merchandising campaign has been arranged by the William Mont- gomery Co., makers of Montco coffee, in connection with their co-sponsor- ship of the "Koffee Club" show on the Mutual net. The plan has been mapped out with the WFIL sales pro- motion department, the program be- ing heard locally over that station. More than 150,000 window-stream- ers will be distributed to grocery stores in the WFIL coverage area. The company's house organ, with a circulation of 35,000, will have fan copy. Letters and every invoice will carry a sticker mentioning the pro- gram and station. Newspaper adver- tising will be used by both the Mont- gomery Co. and WFIL. Jayne Signs for New Announcement Series D. Jayne & Sons, Philadelphia, have signed for a new series of 15- minute spot announcements over the California Radio System, to begin immediately. The series totals 26. Additionally, Tom Wallace, the "Horsesense" Philosopher, will broad- cast a "live" program for D. Jayne & Sons over KEHE, Los Angeles ; KFBK, Sacramento; KYA, San Francisco ; KERN, Bakersfield ; KMJ, Fresno ; KWG, Stockton. The account was placed by Hearst Radio, national representatives for the above regional network, through the Carter-Thompson Agency, Philadel- phia. Kellogg and 20th-Fox Dicker Hollywood, Feb. 24. — The Kellogg Co. of Michigan is negotiating with 20th Century-Fox for a broadcast series based on "The Jones Family," using the studio cast in its entirety. Transcriptions have already been made by the Jack Gardner office, handlers of the deal. Strike conditions in Michigan are said to have prevented an earlier con- summation of the deal. Off on Derby Sponsorship C. E. Midgeley, radio production chief at Batten, Barton, Durstine and Osborn, left for Louisville, yesterday afternoon. The agency kept his mis- sion secret, but it is believed the trip is for the purpose of completing the deal for sponsorship of the Kentucky Derby broadcast by the Brown and Williamson Tobacco Corp. Film Reviews Broadcast Boston, Feb. 24.— "Show Time," a 15-minute review of films at local the- atres given three times weekly, Mon- day, Wednesday and Friday by Dor- othy Proctor over WLOR, has been acclaimed by local film fans. Miss Proctor reviews the shows and then offers her opening via the air on "Show Time." Helping the Correspondents CBS Artists Bureau will contribute radio talent to the White House Cor- respondents' dinner in Washington Saturday night. Among the artists who will appear are Jane Froman, Lanny Ross, Mark Warnow's orches- tra, and Al Pierce as "em cee." Pres- ident Roosevelt will attend. Thursday, February 25, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY RADIO .s WSPD and WRC File F. C. C. Applications Washington, Feb. 24. — The F.C.C. today announced the receipt of an application from WSPD, Toledo, for an increase in night power from 1,000 to 5,000 watts. An application also made public by the commission shows that WRC, Washington, an NBC station, plans to move its transmitter into nearby Maryland and increase its power from s 500 watts at night and 1,000 watts daytime to 1,000 watts at night and 5,000 watts for day operation. Also before the commission are applications from KRNR, Roseburg, Ore., for approval of a voluntary as- signment of license from Southern Oregon Publishing Co. to the News- Review Co., and from the South Bend Tribune, South Bend, Ind., for per- mission to construct and operate two high frequency and one low frequency relay broadcasting stations. A new application filed by George H. Payne, San Jose, Cal., calls for a new station operating on 1,440 kilo- cycles with power of 500 watts re- placing Payne's original request of I, 010 kilocycles with 1,000 watts. Two New KMTR Shows Los Angeles, Feb. 24.— Mary G. Roessler, authoress, is featured in in- formal chats, titled "The Kaleido- scope of Life" in a new weekly pro- gram, over KHTR, the initial release last Friday from 8:30 to 8:45 P. M., P. S. T. From the same studios, Wednesdays, 2:15 to 2:30 P. M., P. S. T., "sassiety doin's" are chattily related by a veiled woman reporter. Even the studio staff knows not who she is nor whence she comes. Benny Coming East for 3 Jack Benny and his entire Jello troupe shift from Hollywood to New York for three broadcasts. The first program to originate here will be heard Mar. 7. Andy Devine, film comic, is expected to accompany the troupe east. Prepare Salutes for WFEA WFEA, Manchester, N. H., which last fall signed a contract to become an optional member of NBC's Red and Blue networks, will be greeted as an active affiliate of NBC on Monday, Mar. 1. Salutes will be broadcast from both networks during the day. Philippine Diplomats at NBC Dr. Carlos P. Romulo, owner and publisher of a chain of newspapers in the Philippine Islands, and Senator Felipe Buencamino, both members of President Manuel Quezon's delegation now in the United States, visited NBC yesterday. General Foods Renews General Foods Corp. has renewed its Sunday afternoon series featuring Stoopnagle and Budd for an additional 13-week period. The program is heard at 5.30 P. M, E.S.T., on the NBC- Blue network in behalf of Minute Tapioca. The agency, Young & Ru- bicam. WTIC Gets Extension Hartford, Feb. 24.— WTIC, 50,000- watter, has been granted an extension to Aug. 1 of its special F.C.C. au- thority to operate on the 1040-kilo- cycle band, simultaneously with KRLD, Dallas. 4 Radio Personals ► JOE KEELY, publicity head of the N. W. Ayer office in New York, off to the main office of the agency in Philadelphia for a short trip . . . Fred Weber, general manager of Mu- tual, leaves for Texas this Sunday. Mutual has no station in Texas, there- fore the possibility that Weber may be planning to add an outlet . . . The "Strathmore Revue," which made its debut on WOR last Sunday, adds 15 minutes to its time beginning with this Sunday's broadcast . . . "Holly- wood Hotel" music tomorrow night will feature the score of Republic Picture's forthcoming release, "The Hit Parade" . . . + Ray Sinatra celebrates his 15th year in radio and third as conductor on his CBS "Five Star Revue" program March 1. His first 12 years were spent as arranger and pianist for Jacques Renard . . . Homer Fickett, March of Time director, is on sick leave . . . Jack Fulton and Franklyn MacCormack of "Poetic Melodies" be- ing set for vaudeville . . . Carole Lom- bard set for the Lucky Strike testi- monial appearance on "Hit Parade" March 6 . . . Emily Klein, mistress of ceremonies on WMCA's "Grandma's Night Out" now recovering from a long illness and will be back on the program within another week or so . . . + Roland Young will be the guest star of Radie Harris on the WHN "Movie Club" this Friday at 8 P.M. . . . Sam Taylor, radio screen commentator, re- turned to Hollywood last night . . . Frank Crumijt and Harry Salter's orchestra auditioning for a prospective sponsor this week . . . Phil Duey, heard on both Philip Morris programs has won two contract renewals . . . Starting March 1 "Pepper Young's Family" will add WICC, Bridgeport, to its hookup of stations . . . On the WICC sick list: Controlmen Ed Dayton and Angus Blow . . . + In the Quaker Town Philadelphia, Feb. 24. — After an absence of four months, Mac Parker, former Record feature writer, re- turns to WCAU as newscaster for Booth's ginger ale . . . Catherine Drinker Bowen, whose latest novel was the February choice of the Book- of-the-Month Club, will be heard over WFIL Feb. 27 . . . Dr. Leon Levy, WCAU president, was singled out as one of the 10 best-dressed men in Philadelphia . . . Harold Davis., WDAS program director, chatter col- umning for Radio Press under a Billy Penn, Jr., byline . . . Christine Mur- doch Kendrick, WIP songstress, an- nounces her engagement to Dr. Craig Wright Muckle . . . Bill Dyer, who will again do the baseball play-by- plays for Wheaties over WCAU, fol- lows the teams to their Southern training camps . . . Robert Davis, member of the Social Security Board, answers questions and discusses all phases of the law over WDAS. + Along Chicago's Radio Row Chicago, Feb. 24. — They are bet- ting on the rise and fall in Roy Shield's weight at the NBC these days. He's on a diet, but it's not doing so well. . . . The Maple City Four got Pooled Newsreel London, Feb. 16. — British newsreel companies have de- cided to pool resources to produce, as quickly as possi- ble, a coronation film giving a complete record of the procession and ceremonies. In conference with the gen- eral purposes committee of the Cinematograph Exhibi- tors Ass'n. plans are being shaped to rush prints for immediate display in a greater number of theatres than have ever previously been given express service. back from Hollywood in time to ap- pear on the National Barn Dance on schedule. . . . Perry Como of the Ted Weems band is listening to offers from film scouts. . . . Jack Fulton dropped his work on the "Swing With Strings" program to devote all his time to the "Poetic Melodies" broadcast. . . . Kay Brinker, who was starred in "The Night of January 16" here, is now on the "Modern Cinderella" program. . . . Frank Watanabe is here to act for NBC after many years broadcasting on the coast. . . . Fritz Blocki's wife, Louise, of the "Modern Cinderella" show has changed her radio name to Louise Barklie. . . . Neil Shaffner, after years of producing tent shows in the midwestern states, is now on the National Barn Dance as "Toby." . . . Karl Davis of the Cumberland Ridge Runners is the proud father of a daughter named Marilyn. Karl and his gang are now on WJJD. . . . J. Oren Weaver, who gave up the ministry to be a writer, is the new WBBM news editor. . . . Authoress Bess Flynn has sold her "We Are Four" show to Libby's. . . . Landee Hanson, NBC page has passed the government test and is now the recipient of a broadcast engineer's li- cense. . . . William Drips and Everett Mitchell are in Florida for a series of broadcasts. + Out Hollywood Way Hollywood, Feb. 24. — "Down Sports Lane," recalling high spots in arena and on diamond and girdiron and starting with the story of Bat- ting Nelson's first fight with the "Man-Eating Terror of the Ring," to be broadcast by "The Old Observer," Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 7 :30 P. M., P.S.T, from KNX. . . Poet-sol- dier, Joyce Kilmer, whose original manuscript of "Trees" was lately sold at public auction, subject of biograph- ical talk by Prof. Charles A. Mc- Quillen, of Loyola University on the "Radio University" program from KHJ and other Mutual-Dom Lee sta- tions, Tuesday night. . . . Ancient Negro spiritual "De Ol' Ark's a- Moverin" and standard Gospel hymns to be sung by the "Chapel Voices" over KHJ and Mutual-Don Lee net- work Wednesday from 11 :30 to 11 :45 A. M., P. S. T. . . . With Bob Elson at the mike, the "Golden Gloves" boxing tournament at the Chicago Stadium will be relayed through HKJ and Mutual Wednesday, 7:00 to 7:30 P. M., P.S.T., following similar broad- cast of the previous bouts. Television Prices Cut London, Feb. 16. — Baird Television today announced a cut in the price of its standard receiver to £57:15, which marks a new low. Plan to Fly Films Of Coronation Here London, Feb. 16. — Plans to fly negatives and prints of the coronoation film to New York are being perfected by Sir Gordon Craig, general manager of British Movietone News, on lines discussed with Truman Talley, Ameri- can chief, during his recent visit. The present plan is that the airship Hindenburg, due in New York on May 14, will carry negatives, but that earlier prints will be rushed by plane, or perhaps planes, piloted by Colonel Lindbergh, Amy Mollison or Beryl Markham. All are willing to cooper- ate, it is stated. The Lindbergh scheme for a transatlantic air service may be in operation at that date. Talent Search Set For WLOR Programs Boston, Feb. 24. — "A Search for Talent" program has been instituted by James K. Phelan, head of WLOR, which will run for 16 weeks, during which time, through the cooperation of local and suburban newspapers, talent will be selected to appear on the sta- tion's program. The finalists will be given a screen test by Al Lutringer, head of Screen Test Guild in Boston. The program is handled by Dor- othy Proctor, who selects and trains the leading contestants who appear on the weekly Saturday show. The re- sult of the screen tests will be for- warded to producers in Hollywood in search for new radio and film talent. Schneider Going to Camp Pittsburgh, Feb. 24. — Ray Schneid- er, WWSW announcer and the daily newsreeler for the morning Post-Ga- zette, has obtained a three-month leave of absence from the station and news- paper to attend the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Okla., until June 1. He's a second lieutenant in the re- serve corps. During Schneider's absence, his du- ties will be taken over by John J. Davis, a member of the Pittsburgh Playhouse company. It's a first time for him in radio. Power Company Has Another Salt Lake City, Feb. 24.— With the conclusion of the series of pro- grams starring Harriet Page, the Utah Power and Light Co. has begun a new three-a-week series, "The Laugh Parade," over KDYL. Young Broun, Woolcott on Air Philadelphia, Feb. 24. — Heywood Broun, Jr., and Joan Woolcott, neice of Alexander, will be in a Swarth- more College Dramatic Club sketch to be broadcast by WFIL Friday night. Nason Oldham to Return Columbus, Feb. 24. — "Hutton Cor- ners," will return to the air when "Simp" Hagle, played by Nason Old- ham, comes back from a hospital, re- covered from a throat infection. WHKC plans it for 1 P.M. daily. RADIO EVENTS, INC. AN INDEPENDENT PRODUCING GROUP SERVING ADVERTISING AGENCIES 535 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y. ^y&w? ^6cbifU lX chairman. BIGGEST DISPLAY VALUE EVER OFFERED! B Display Pieces in Full Color 1 ONE-SHEET • 5 STILLS 1 BILLING CARD 1 WINDOW STREAMER Designed to fit all standard equipment or to be used singly. Large imprint space on all pieces. ANOTHER EXCLUSIVE MARCH OF TIME PROMOTION! ORDER NOW FROM YOUR NEAREST RKO EXCHANGE 1-SHEET 27 x 41 THE Of I ■ with n^f^ibition. T M R K 9 crumDji»fe £ ing tne that lui 1 1 SfSfflSt'tS^ * THAT a profitable number of people in each theater's community want to see THE MARCH OF TIME, exhibitors admit. 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WIDE ORDER FROM THE NEAREST RKO EXCHANGE TODAY eeks J* THE MARCH OF TIME a Friday, February 26, 1937 MOTION PICTURJE DAILY Secretary," Revue Prove St. Paul Hit Minneapolis, Feb. 25. — "More Than A Secretary" with "Spices of 1937" playing the boards, grossed §10,- 000 at the St. Paul Orpheum where a . price jump helped smash a $4,000 par. "On The Avenue" at the Minnesota, where $10,000 is par, brought in §12,- 000 while "Champagne Waltz" moved into the Paramount after a week in .Minneapolis and scored $500 over the usual take of §5,500. A twin bill "Jungle Princess" and "The Longest Night," clipped off a $500 boost over a normal of $1,500 at the Tower. Spring-like weather for three days aided evening grosses in all houses. Total first run business in Min- neapolis was §28,000. Average is $28,500. Total first run business in St. Paul was $20,000. Average is $14,500. Estimated takings : Minneapolis : Week Ending Feb. 17: "CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA" (20th-Fox) "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS" (Para.) STATE— (2,400), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $5,500) Week Ending Feb. 18: "ON THE AVENUE" (20th-Fox) MIXX'ESOTA— (4,000), 25c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average. $10,000) "BLACK LEGION" (W.B.) ORPHEUM — (2,900), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $6,000) "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) WORLD — (400) , 25c-35c, 7 days, 7th week extended from Century. Gross: $2,000. (Average. $2,000) "LLOYDS OF LONDON" (20th-Fox) CEXTURY— (1,600), 25c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week extended from Minnesota. Gross: $5,300. (Average, $5,000) St. Paul: Week Ending Feb. 18: "MORE THAN A SECRETARY" (Col.) ORPHEUM — (2,000), 35c-55c, 7 days. Stage: Count Berni Vici and "Spices of 1937." Gross: $10,000. (Average, $4,000) "SINNER TAKE ALL" (M-G-M) 'CAN THIS BE DIXIE?" (ZOth-Fox) RIVIERA — (1,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $2,000. (Average, $3,500) "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (2,300), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,500) Week Ending Feb. 19: "THE LONGEST NIGHT" (M-G-M) "JUNGLE PRINCESS" (Para.) TOWER— (1,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $2,000. (Average, $1,500) Carl Reese Quits G. N. Omaha, Feb. 25. — Carl Reese, Grand National branch manager here since last fall, has resigned to return to his former job as salesman for 20th Century-Fox. Naming of his successor awaits the arrival of James Winn, western sales manager. Hymie Novitsky, 20th Century-Fox salesman for 10 years, has been ap- pointed manager of the Republic- Midwest exchange, replacing J. E. Judd. Judd returns to Des Moines to assist Elmer Tilton in the Republic exchanges of the two cities. Would Close St. Louis St. Louis, Feb. 25. — Alderman Nick Reidy has introduced an ordinance providing for a complete ban on Sun- day labor, except for absolute neces- sity and charity. If passed, it would close all theatres. Opposition is being marshalled. "Lloyds" $13,500 Cincinnati Leader Cincinnati, Feb. 25. — Although bookings still are more or less disar- ranged since theatres reopened follow- ing the flood, business continues to build nicely. "Lloyds of London," lead- er of last week's list, got $13,500 on an eight-day run at the RKO Palace, where average for seven days is $10,- 000. It was moved to the RKO Cap- itol. "Accused," plus "Scandals of 1937" on the RKO Shubert stage, upped par by §1,000 on a $13,000 take. "Cham- pagne Waltz" broke even with $12,- 000 at the RKO Albee, and was con- tinued at the RKO Grand. Total first run business was $56,200. Average is $58,700. Estimated takings : Week Ending Feb. 15: "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ" (Para.) RKO ALBEE — (3,300), 35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $12,000). Moved to RKO Grand. Week Ending Feb. 17: "LLOYDS OF LONDON" (ZOth-Fox) RKO PALACE— (2,700), 35c-42c, 8 days. Gross: $13,500. (Average, 7 days, $10,000). Moved to RKO Capitol. "ACCUSED" (U. A.) RKO SHUBERT— (2,150), 40c-60c, 7 days. Stage: "Scandals of 1937." Gross: $13,- 000. (Average, $12,000) "HOLY TERROR" (20th-Fox) RKO CAPITOL— (2,000), 35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $4,700. (Average, $6,500) "MORE THAN A SECRETARY" (Col.) RKO LYRIC— (1,400), 35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $6,500) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) RKO GRAND— (1,200), 25c-40c, 4 days, 3rd downtown week. Gross: $1,800. (Average, 7 days, $2,750) "GUNS OF THE PECOS" (F. N.) RKO FAMILY— (1,000), 15c-25c, 4 days. Gross: $1,200. (Average, $1,250) "NIGHT WAITRESS" (Republic) RKO FAMILY— (1,000), 15c-25c, 3 days. Gross: $1,000. (Average, $1,200) "A MAN OF AFFAIRS" (G. B.) KEITH'S— (1,500), 30c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $6,500) "Lloyds" Dual Big In Omaha, $9,300 Omaha, Feb. 25. — "Lloyds of Lon- don," on a double with "Career Woman," led the parade with a take of $9,300 at the Orpheum. Par is §7,200. "Three Smart Girls," which played the Orpheum some time ago with a stage bill, was brought back to the Omaha with "Dangerous Number" and had a big week, the gross of $7,400 topping average by $1,900. Only the Brandeis slipped, "Con- demned Row" and "We're on the Jury" dropping §400 below par. Mild winter weather prevailed, but the Golden Gloves boxing tournament sponsored by the Omaha World- Herald provided stiff outside attrac- tion. Total first run business was $20,300. Average is $16,700. Estimated takings : Week Ending Feb. 16: "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) (2nd Run) "DANGEROUS NUMBER" (M-G-M) OMAHA— (2,200), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,400. (Average, $5,500) Week Ending Feb. 17: "CONDEMNED ROW" (RKO) "WE'RE ON THE JURY" (RKO) BRANDEIS— (1.200). 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,600. (Average, $4,000) Week Ending Feb. 18: "LLOYDS OF LONDON" (20th-Fox) "CAREER WOMAN" (ZOth-Fox) ORPHEUM— (3,000). 25c-40c. 7 davs. Gross: $9,300. (Average, $7,200) Three Films with Revue Lincoln Top Lincoln, Feb. 25.— With a big boost from the A. B. Marcus show, "La Vie Paree" on the stage, the Orpheum with three films on seven days bounded to a new house record, §5,000, over par by $3,250. The pictures were "Oft to the Races," "August Week-end and "Criminal Lawyer." "Camille" sank after a good start. The finish was $100 below average at S3 000. The Lincoln had three— 'Hideaway Girl," "Jungle Princess" and "Valiant" for $2,700, $500 up. "A Midsummer Night's Dream" came out $650 ahead on a $1,750 take. Total first run business was $13,400. Average is $9,000. Estimated takings : Week Ending Feb. 17: "EMPTY SADDLES" (Univ.) "GLASS KEY" (Para.) "ARIZONA MAHONEY" (Para.) "MESSAGE TO GARCIA" (20th-Fox) LIBERTY— (1,200), 10c-15c, 7 days. Gross: $950. (Average, $850) Week Ending Feb. 18: "HIDEAWAY GIRL" (Para.) "JUNGLE PRINCESS" (Para.) "VALIANT IS THE WORD FOR CARRIE" (Para.) LINCOLN— (1,600), 10c-20c-25c, 7 days. Gross: $2,700. (Average. $2,200) "OFF TO THE RACES" (20th-Fox) "AUGUST WEEKEND" (Chesterfield) "CRIMINAL LAWYER" (Radio) ORPHEUM— (1,350), 10c-15c-20c-25c-35c- 40c-55c, 7 days. Stage: "La Vie Paree, the A. B. Marcus show, three days. Gross: $5,000. (Average. $1,750) "MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM" (W.B.) VARSITY— (1,100), 10c-20c-25c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $1,750. (Average, $1,100) Week Ending Feb. 19: "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) STUART— (2,000), 10c-25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $3,100) "Jury" and Vallee $21,000, Buffalo Buffalo, Feb. 25.— Despite a cool reception by the critics, Rudy Val- lee's unit, on the stage at the Buffalo, boosted "We're on the Jury" into top place. It grossed §21,000, beating average $9,000. "The Holy Terror" and "Charlie Chan at the Opera" paid heavy divi- dends at the Century with a $12,000 take, more than doubling the §5,800 par. "That Girl from Paris," playing the Great Lakes, pulled $9,000, over the line by $1,700. "Man of the People" and "Under Your Spell," dualed at the Hippo- drome and "Man of Affairs" and "Love Letters of a Star," at the Lafayette, just made the grade. They drew §7,500 and $6,000 respectively. The weather was fair and mild. Total first run business was $55,500. Average is $38,400. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 20 : "WE'RE ON THE JURY" (Para.) BUFFALO — (3,000), 30c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $21,000. (Average. $12,000) "MAN OF THE PEOPLE" (M-G-M) "UNDER YOUR SPELL" (20th-Fox) HIPPODROME— (2.500), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,500. (Average. $7,300) "THAT GIRL FROM PARIS" (RKO) GREAT LAKES— (3.000). 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $7,300) "THE HOLY TERROR" (20th-Fox) "CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA" (20th-Fox) CENTURY — (3,000), 25c, 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $5,800) "MAN OF AFFAIRS" (G.B.) "LOVE LETTERS OF A STAR" (Univ.) LAFAYETTE — (3.300), 25c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $6,000) 'Shakedown," Ellington Big Seattle Draw Seattle, Feb. 25. — "Shakedown," with Duke Ellington and his band, did four days of sensational business at the Palomar, the take going to $5,100. Normal for seven days is $4,500. For the last three days of the week "Love Letters of a Star" and a vaudeville show took §2,000. "On the Avenue" and "Crack-Up" rolled up $7,400 at the Music Hall, topping normal by $1,400. The com- bination was held. "Lloyds of Lon- don" and "We're On the Jury" held up to $7,200 in the second week at the Fifth Avenue and were moved to the Blue Mouse. Total first run business was $45,250. Average is $47,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 19 : "STOLEN HOLIDAY" (F. N.) "UNDER COVER OF NIGHT' (M-G-M) BLUE MOUSE— (950), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week, extended run from Paramount. Gross: $3,200. (Average, $4,000) "LLOYDS OF LONDON" (ZOth-Fox) "WE'RE ON THE JURY" (Para.) FIFTH AVENUE— (2,500), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $7,200. (Average, $7,000) "REMBRANDT" (U. A.) "COUNTERFEIT LADY" (Col.) LIBERTY— (1,800), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Gross. $4,400. (Average, $5,000) "ONE IN A MILLION" (20th-Fox) MUSIC BOX— (950), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days, 7th week, extended run from Orpheum. Gross: $3,950. (Average, $4,000) "ON THE AVENUE" (20th-Fox) "CRACK-UP" (ZOth-Fox) MUSIC HALL— (2,275), 25c-40c-5Sc, 7 days. Gross: $7,400. (Average, $6,000) "DANIEL BOONE" (RKO) "HATS OFF" (G.N.) ORPHEUM— (2,450), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Vaudeville headed by Ted & Al Waldman. Gross: $6,200. (Average, $6,000) "SHAKEDOWN" (Col.) PALOMAR — (1,500), 25c-35c, 4 days. Stage: Duke Ellington's Band. Gross: $5,100. (Average, 7 days, $4,500) "LOVE LETTERS OF A STAR" (Univ.) PALOMAR — (1,500), 25c-35c, 4 days. Stage: Vaudeville headed by Don Julian & Marjorie. Gross: $2,000. (Average, 7 days, $4,500) "BLACK LEGION" (W.B.) "MAMA STEPS OUT" (M-G-M) PARAMOUNT — (3.050), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,800. (Average, $6,000) Revive Plans for 3 Houses at Ontario Toronto, Feb. 25. — -They're still going to have three new theatres in one neighborhood on the outskirts of London, Ont. A few days ago the promoter of the Mayfair announced that he would not go ahead with the project, leaving the field to two other organizers. However, the King Construction Co. of Strathroy, Ont., has since taken out a permit for the erection of a third theatre in the London locality, the firm to operate the theatre after completion. All three theatres have an estimated cost of $40,000 each. Regina Molseed Moves Omaha, Feb. 25. — Regina Molseed secretary of the Film Board of Trade and manager of the M. P. Exhibitors' Ass'n, the organization of 27 the- atres co-operating in holding Bank Night here, has moved offices of both organizations to the City National Bank Bldg. 12 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, February 26, 1937 ii Purely Personal ► Broadway Admission Taxes Off $282,700 Hearing Set On New Pact For Orpheum (Continued from baye 1) are canceled under the proposed new agreement. The trustee's petition sets forth that the present value of Orpheum Circuit is estimated to be $2,800,000. Stadium last week acquired clear title to the Orpheum assets for $700,000 cash and the surbordination of more than $3,- 000,000 of claims against the circuit. The transfer was attacked by a com- mittee of Orpheum preferred stock- holders which had made a competitive bid of $2,000,000 cash for the assets and asked for a review of the pro- ceedings which gave title to Stadium. Federal Referee Oscar W. Ehr- horn yesterday filed reasons for ac- cepting the Stadium bid and declining to permit the preferred stockholders of Orpheum to intervene in the RKO reorganization proceedings for the purpose of opposing the RKO reor- ganization plan. A hearing of the stockholders' committee's action was set for March 3 before Federal Judge Murray W. Hulbert. Points to Stadium Acceptance Referee Ehrhorn pointed out that Orpheum creditors with a majority of claims against the company voted to accept Stadium's offer and that, in addition, he believed the Stadium offer to be mathematically better for the creditors than the $2,000,000 com- petitive offer. He also gave as a rea- son for approving the Stadium Bid the fact that no sufficient reason for his not following the creditors' wishes was presented. Referee Ehrhorn said that inter- vention of Orpheum in the RKO re- organization proceedings had been refused because Orpheum is a volun- tary bankrupt and must be considered insolvent despite the value of its as- sets. The stockholders' remedy, he said, was to have the bankruptcy pro- ceedings vacated, and failing to do this they had no standing in the pro- ceedings. Title Transferred On Rogers Hospital (Continued from page 1) Jones, treasurer of the Memorial Commission. Participating in the ceremony in addition to Hays and Jones were Major L. E. Thompson of RKO; Harold Rodner, Warners ; Y. Frank Freeman, Paramount ; C. C. Mosko- witz, Loew's ; H. M. Warner; George J. Schaefer, United Artists ; Jules Brulatour; Ed Kuykendall, M.P.T. O.A. ; J. Henry Walters, RKO ; Spy- ros Skouras, National Theatres ; Leo- pold Friedman, Loew's ; Truman Tal- ley, Fox Movietone ; W. C. Michel, 20th Century-Fox ; A. P. Waxman and Captain E. V. Rickenbacker. In addition to the $1,000,000 sani- tarium, the industry's endowed wards in the French Hospital here and the large tract in Kensico Cemetery were turned over to be administered by the Rogers Memorial Fund. Following newsreel takes, the ceremony was re- peated for simultaneous broadcasts over WNEW and WINS. ED KUYKENDALL, M.P.T.O.A. president, left here last night for Washington. He will go to his home at Columbus, Miss., from there in a few days and thence to Miami for the M. P. T. O. A. national conven- tion, which opens March 16. • Jacob Fabian, founder of the cir- cuit which bears his name, celebrated his 70th birthday today at the home of his son and daughter-in-law, Si and Mrs. Fabian, at Miami Beach.* • George Sydney, who recently was operated upon for appendicitis in Hol- lywood, is making steady gains toward recovery, his father, Louis K., stated yesterday. • Si Seadler has postponed his trip west for another week. A week at the M-G-M studio, then the Bar-B-H ranch near Palm Springs will be call- ing. • Harry C. Arthur, Jr. will arrive Monday from St. Louis. He was due last Tuesday but delayed his depar- ture from the Mound City. • Charles R. Rogers delayed his de- parture from the Universal studio and is now expected here early next week, probably on Monday. • George Roland, director of "I Want to be a Mother," has joined I. Alexandre in starting a school of dramatic arts. • Howard S. Cullman, trustee of the Roxy, is due back today from a vaca- tion in the Bahamas. • Anna Weiss, secretary to Harry M. Warner, is at home ill. Marvin Schenck has returned from his Florida vacation. • Louis Shurr, agent, plans his own office in Hollywood. • Zasu Pitts will leave for the coast today. Hollywood, Feb. 25. ■ — Albert Lewin, associate of the late Irving Thalberg, has returned from Europe. Edward L. Alperson, Grand Na- tional president, expects to remain here until the company takes over the Educational Studio April 1. Walter Plunkett, at work on cos- tumes for "Gone With the Wind," has returned from the south. . . . Shooting starts on "Wild West Days," 15-episode serial for Universal. . . . Bette Davis' voice temporarily out of commission because of a cold. . . . Walter Wanger received award from Fourth International Cinema Congress for "Trail of the Lonesome Pine." + Casting — Robert Lowry in "Wake Up and Live" and Jack Haley in "She Had to Eat," 20th Century-Fox. . . . Joan Davis in the next untitled Jane Withers film, same studic. . . . Lois January in "The Woman's Touch," Samuel Goldwyn. . . . Linda Perry spotted in "The Deep ED THORGENSEN of Movietone News and Leonard Gaynor of the 20th Century-Fox publicity depart- ment will attend the annual dinner of White House correspondents in Washington Saturday night. « Norman H. Moray, Vitaphone short subject sales manager, will ar- rive today in Cincinnati for a two- day stay. His next stop will be In- dianapolis. • V. Verlinsky, president of Am- kino, has left for Hollywood. He will stop at Cleveland, Chicago and other cities en route. • Joe Katsch of the Springer and Cocalis circuit, back from a short South American cruise. • Cab Calloway is set for a 12-week tour of film houses, starting March 18. • Lou Irwin has signed Dana Suesse, song writer, to a contract. . . . Washington Don MacFarlane is the new as- sistant manager of the Earle. Barrett Kiesling was a visitor. Joseph J. Oui.ahan, Paramount branch manager in Cincinnati, was a visitor. Louis Bernheimer and Frank Storty are vacationing in Florida. Nate Sauber, Universal branch manager in Buffalo, renewed local ac- quaintances. Rubin Brenner is the new Holly- wood exchange branch manager, com- ing here from Philadelphia. Mrs. Carter T. Barron, wife of Loew's eastern division manager, is recovering from a serious operation. Mrs. Samuel N. Wheeler, wife of Twentieth Century-Fox's branch man- ager, is recuperating from pneumonia. Andrew Stone Signs Two Hollywood, Feb. 25. — Andrew Stone has signed Grace Bradley and Robert Armstrong for the leads in "Broadway Chiselers." South," Warners, and Katharine Alexander in "As Good as Married," same studio. . . . Frank McGlynn, Jr., Frank Yaconelli, Al Bridges, Charles Stevens and Robert Kort- man cast in "Wild West Days," Uni- versal. + Writers — William Slavens Mc- Nutt signed to long-term pact by Radio. . . . Carrol Graham signed by B. F. Zeidman to do dialogue for his own adaptation of "Sweetheart of the Navy." . . . Radio has 41 writers working on 28 screenplays, a new high for the studio. . . . Thomas Mitchell assigned to "Life Begins with Love," Columbia. + Options — Mary MacGuire's option lifted by Warners, and she is assigned to "Mazurka." . . . Bonita Gran- ville given term pact by Radio and she is assigned to "The Story of Emile Zola." Washington, Feb. 25. — Admission tax collections in the Broadway sec- tor showed a drop of approximately $282,700 between December and Jan- uary, that one district accounting for nearly half of the $589,000 loss re- corded for the country as a whole, it was disclosed today by the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Figures prepared for the Motion Picture Daily by the bureau showed that collections in the third New York district for January were $498,- 924 out of a national total of $1,- 505,676, compared with $781,641 out of a total of $2,194,585 in December. Nearly all of the loss in New York collections was in box-office admis- sions, from which only $425,863 was secured in January against $703,180 in December. Other collections during the month included $10,374 from free or reduced rate admissions, against $3,053 in De- cember ; $13,345 on tickets sold by brokers, against $14,804; $2,897 on tickets sold by proprietors in excess of the established price, against $1,- 468 ; $9.66 on permanent use or lease of boxes and seats, against $988, and $46,435 on admissions to roof gar- dens and cabarets, against $58,148. Only One Minsky A spokesman for Herbert Kay Minsky, burlesque impresario, stated yesterday his principal operates only the Oriental here in New York and not 10 houses, as reported in Motion Picture Daily from Washington yesterday. His statement before the Dickstein committee that "stripping is definitely an American art," however, stands. Famous Books Vaudeville Lincoln, Feb. 25. — Wilbur Cush- man's vaudeville circuit became inter- national with the signing of Famous Players Canadian time. The starting date is March 10. Wall Street Paramount-Lode's Continue Board Gain Net High Low Close Change Columbia 36 35% 4% 35% + % Consolidated 4% 4% Consolidated, pfd. 16% 16% 16% -% 170% 170% vm + % Gen. T. Equip. . . 31 30% 31 Loew's. Inc 76% 74% 7654 +2 106% 106H 106% slS Paramount 25% 25% 25% + % Paramount 1 pfd. my 177% 179 +454 Paramount 2 pfd. 23% 22% 23 Pathe Film m s% - % RKO m 8% 8% - % 20th Century-Fox 33% 33% - % Universal, pfd, . . 100 100 100 —1 Warner Bros. . . . 15% 15 15 — % Fractional Curb Movement Net High Low Close Change Grand National ... 3% 3% 3% — % Sonotone 2VS 2 2% + % Technicolor 19*4 19 19 — % Trans-Lux 5% 4% 5 + % Uneven Bond Trading Net High Low Close Change Keith B. F. 6s '46 98% 98% 98% Loew's 3V2s '46.... 100 99% 99% — % Paramount B'way 3s '55 74% 74 74 — y2 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 101 '4 100% 101% + % RKO 6s '41 pp.... 118 118 118 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 98% 98% 98% + % (Quotations at close of Feb. 25) Out Hollywood Way USED IN NINE OF "I »:!<»'« BEST TEN" ALL but one of the ten pictures chosen in the Film Daily's 1936 critics' poll were made on Eastman Super X Panchromatic Negative. Unquestionably this famous film contributes substantially to the art- istry and entertainment value of every production in which it is used. Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y. (J. E. Brulatour, Inc., Distributors, Fort Lee, New York, Chicago, Hollywood.) EASTMAN SUPER X PANCHROMATIC NEGATIVE MOTION PICTURE DAILY Reallocation of Radio Stations Awaits F. C. C. Engineers 9 Report By CLARENCE LINZ Washington, Feb. 25.— Members of the F. C. C. are awaiting only the submission of final reports on the October broadcasting hear- ings from their engineers to undertake the reallocation of broad- casting stations, it was learned today. Definite assurance that there will be a reallocation has been given by Anning S. Prall, chairman of the commission. However, it has been made known, superpower stations, operating with 500,000 watts, will not be authorized until an exhaustive study has been made, not only of the possible interference with weaker sta- tions but also of the possible concentration of advertising among a few broadcasters to the detriment of the many. h RADIO Congress May Act on Radio This Session By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, Feb. 25. — Legislation further amending the communications act may be introduced in Congress before the end of the session, if the pressure of other business is not too great, it was learned today. High points of such legislation would be the giving of authority to the F. C. C. to control the advertising content of programs and also to sus- pend licenses for a period of two weeks to six months for violation of the regulations. At present the com- mission has no power whatever over programs, nor can it impose any pen- alty for violations except to revoke li- censes, a step which is felt to be too drastic in the great majority of cases. The legislation also may include provisions for the imposition of fees for licenses, etc., -designed to make the commission self-supporting. Sev- eral proposed schedules have been sub- mitted to Congress from time to time, the amount of fee being on power, frequency and time of operation of a station, but there is said now to be under consideration a percentage tax on advertising income as most equit- able. Kelvinator Details Out Details of the contest which will usher in the Nash-Kelvinator Co's. "Professor Quiz" series March 6 over CBS are now at hand. The prize will be a completely equipped "Kelvinated" home. The winner will be allowed to select the site of the lot and his own architect; Nash-Kelvinator will build and furnish the home. Entry blanks will be made available to contestants at Nash-Kelvinator stores only. It will be a "missing word" contest. Three Score Club on Air WMCA put the annual dinner of the Three Score and Ten Club of Greater New York on the air last night. The party was held at the St. George Hotel, Brooklyn, with Emily Klein, president, back after an illness. All the members of the Club are 70 years old, except for a few junior members who have passed 65. Mrs. Klein was mistress of ceremonies. McCosker in from Vacation Alfred J. McCosker, head of the Mutual network, returned to his desk yesterday after spending the past two weeks in Florida, vacationing. Burns, Allen Said To Prefer CBS Deal Burns and Allen are reported to be holding out for a CBS network, rather than NBC, when they switch over to General Foods for a new series start- ing early in April. This perhaps ex- plains why Young and Rubicam have been unable to announce a definite starting time and broadcast period for the new show, other than that it will be an NBC series. Burns and Allen have been broad- casting for five years, all on CBS. They have made only occasional guest appearances on NBC. Order One-Time Program An order for a one-time broadcast over WJZ was placed yesterday by Lord and Taylor, department store, through the James R. Flannagan agency. The broadcast will be heard March 1 from 7:15 to 7:30 P. M. and will feature a style talk by Dor- othy Shaver, vice-president and direc- tor of fashions for the store. "Clothes Are Really Different This Spring," will be the title. "Dude Ranch" to Be Dropped The General Foods Corp. "Log Cabin Dude Ranch" program, heard Tuesdays from 8 to 8:30 P. M., E.S.T. on the NBC-Blue network, will not be renewed when its present contract ex- pires March 23, it has been learned. Benton & Bowles handles this pro- gram. Sonny Kendis on WMCA Sonny Kendis' orchestra will be heard over WMCA every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6:45 P. M., beginning March 1. They are re- placing Stuff Smith's orchestra for the Lucidin Co. Sheffield Series Renewed Sheffield Farms Co., Inc., has re- newed its local series on WEAF for a 52-week period beginning March 22. The program is aired Mondays through Fridays from 6:45 to 7 P. M., E.S.T. N. W. Ayer & Son is the agency. Libby Gets "We Are Fours" Beginning March 1, Libby, McNeil and Libby will take over sponsorship of the Mutual network serial, "We Are Fours." The program is aired Mondays through Fridays, emanating from WGN, Chicago. Landau & Small Handle Gary Landau and Small, coast agents, are now representing Sid Gary for pic- tures. Ruby Cowan, N.B.C., Goes to Paramount Hollywood, Feb. 25. — Ruby Cowan, NBC executive in New York, has been contracted by Paramount and will join the studio staff supervising radio contacts and co-relating the radio activities of Paramount con- tract players, thus achieving a better balance between film and radio pro- duction. Use Missing Persons Idea Hollywood, Feb. 25.— Human inter- est, timely interviews with men and women seeking loved ones who have disappeared were the novel feature of the "Radio Bureau for Missing Persons," broadcast for the first time in a "weekly release over KMTR, from 2.30 to 2.55 P. M. The initial guest speakers were District Attorney Buron Fitts of Los Angeles County and Capt. J. A. Winn, of the Bureau of Investigation. The program was conducted by Robert Dillon, with whom the idea originated. W. S. Paley to Head East Hollywood, Feb. 25. — William S. Paley, head of CBS, will entrain for the east Saturday after approving the company's new Hollywood studio and a shift of more programs west. Per- sonnel moves await his return to New York. Gives Biography a Twist Hollywood, Feb. 25. — George Fischer, who does "Hollywood Whis- pers" over KHJ, will introduce a new feature Thursday. A biography of a screen player will be given without mentioning the name. The first 10 people to write in the correct name of the player will receive an autographed picture. KTUL Remodels Studios Tulsa, Okla., Feb. 25.— KTUL is now remodeling and adding to its studios. The addition of the new studios has necessitated the shifting of the U.P. news quarters and con- trol room. Baird at British Fair London, Feb. 15. — Baird Television is demonstrating its methods and ap- paratus at the British Industries Fair at Olympia. Tommy Riggs With WLW Cincinnati, Feb. 25. — Tommy Riggs, until recently with WTAM, Cleveland, has been added to the WLW staff here, on sustaining pro- grams. Friday, February 26, 1937 Kate Smith's Time May Be Cut 30 Mins. The Kate Smith "Bandwagon" pro- gram, heard Thursdays from 8 to 9 P. M., E.S.T. on the CBS network, may be cut down to a half-hour for the summer months, it was learned yesterday. Paris and Peart, agency handling the show, and the A. & P. Tea Co. are now huddling on the sub- ject and a definite decision will be made within the next few days. Sell More News Flashes Philadelphia, Feb. 25. — Gem Prod- ucts Sales Co., makers of laundry soap, is the newest addition to the WIP sponsors buying a Transradio news period. Starting Monday for 13 weeks, Gem Products sponsors the news dis- patches for a quarter hour on Mon- days through Fridays. The account was placed through the Robert M. Clutch Co. Matt Enters Politics Philadelphia, Feb. 25. — M. Leon- ard Matt, WDAS news commentator, has thrown his hat in the political ring. He has been slated by the Re- publican forces to run for city con- troller. Apart from his radio work, Matt is assistant city solicitor. Get Jobs with Air Programs Salt Lake City, Feb. 25.— KDYL has inaugurated a new series of "Wanted — a Job" broadcasts in 15- minute periods Tuesday nights at 6 :30 P. M., M. S. T. The programs are presented with the cooperation of the National Re-Employment Service. Eight applicants in various fields are presented and interviewed by An- nouncer Dave Simmons. Employers are asked to call or write. Plan Mexican Station Mexico City, Feb. 20.— The Na- tional University of Mexico, which was founded in 1553, is to inaugurate a short-wave radio station here March 1. The station will be non- commercial. Any form of trade pub- licity is banned from its programs. Day Line to Go on WEAF The Hudson River Day Line will sponsor a 15-minute program on WEAF only, from 7 :30 to 7 :45 P. M. beginning March 17. The contract is for 13-weeks. Wendell P. Colton Co. is the agency. Reconsider Utah Plea Salt Lake City, Feb. 25.— The F. C. C. has considered for a second time the application of the Richfield Broadcast Co. for permission to con- struct a station at Richfield, Utah, to operate on 1,370 kilocycles with 100 watts power. Jrs. Up to Five Indianapolis, Feb. 25. — Two more juniors have been added to WIRE. They are William (Billy) Frosch Jr., announcer, son of an Indianapolis busi- ness man, and George H. Engelter Jr., traffic manager, son of a North Dakota lum- ber man. This makes a total of five with "Jr." after their names. Receive Army Praise Cincinnati, Feb. 25. — Nine- teen local amateur radio op- erators have received letters of praise from Major F. W. Gano, military assistant to Lieut. Col. D. O. Elliott, U. S. District Engineer, for their "gallant work" during the recent flood. In many cases their instruments were the only links with the out- side world. Friday, February 26, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY RADIO 15 Five-Year Broadcast License Aim of Bill Washington, Feb. 25. — A minimum license period of five years for broad- casting stations is proposed in a bill introduced in Congress by Represen- tative Anderson of Missouri. The bill would make it mandatory upon the F. C. C. to issue licenses for at least the minimum period. At present, while the law authorizes_ a longer license period, the commission is limiting licenses to six months. Ben Bezoff Joins KLZ Oklahoma City, Feb. 25. — Ben Bezoff, formerly with KLZ, Denver, has joined the news staff of WKY here. Bezoff will also assist on pro- grams. Charles M. Higgins has joined the promotion staff of the Oklahoma Pub- lishing Co. He has been with the San Francisco News and Washington News. The promotion department of the publishing company does promo- tion for WKY, here; KLZ, Denver; and KVOR, Colorado Springs, Col. Start Soon on KOIL Tower Omaha, Feb. 25. — Central States Broadcasting Co. will let contracts soon for a 300-foot steel tower for KOIL to replace present equipment now in Council Bluffs. The tower, which will increase the free-of-fading area of the station sev- eral times, will be located near the Missouri river. Recently the F.C.C. gave KOIL permission to increase daytime power from 2,500 to 5,000 watts. Night time power stays at 2,500. Myers Buys Apartments Omaha, Feb. 25.— Chief Engineer Walter F. Myers of WAAW has pur- chased for $25,000 the three-story, 12-unit Maryana apartments here from the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co. The apartments, erected shortly after the war, were remodeled a year ago. One Man Show Now Two Omaha, Feb. 25. — "Yours Truly, Mr. Dooley," the one-man show broad- cast from WOW thrice weekly at 5 : 15 P. M. Monday, Wednesday and Fri- day, has become a two-man show with the addition of Staff Announcer John K. Chapel to help Dooley. The pro- gram also is being sponsored now by Fels-Naptha soap. Test Brings 6,000 Letters Omaha, Feb. 25. — News Editor Foster May of WOW has received 6,000 laudatory letters for his "Man on the Street Program," Chevrolet- sponsored, as result of a recent test request. May also has been promoted to assistant program manager 4or WOW. WHB Starts a New Series Kansas City, Feb. 25.— WHB has inaugurated a new series of programs for Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons. "Tune-Craft" features "The Old Traveler," who tells a short short story on each program. Telia on KSO and KRNT Des Moines, Feb. 25. — Dick Telia, known as a vocalist on the Breakfast Club program in Chicago over NBC, yesterday began broadcasting over both KSO and KRNT on nine 15- minute programs each week that are sponsored by the Cownie Fur Co., Des Moines. i Radio Personals ► IRV BRECHER, script writer for Milton Berle, has appointed Irving Mills his personal manager to consider film offers . . . Sid Solomon will broadcast twice weekly from the Hollywood Restaurant via WHN be- ginning Saturday . . . Zasu Pitts has been signed to guest appear on the Sealtest, "Saturday Night Party" this week . . . Art Shepherd, WMT's "Question Man," is the father of a six-pound baby daughter, Judith Ann . . . Willie Morris will be one of the contestants on the "Metropolitan Au- ditions of the Air" this Sunday . . . + Betty Wragge will be film-tested by M-G-M. Betty's star of the "Pepper Young Family" serial heard on both NBC networks . . . Jack Oakie may be missing from the airlanes this summer, 'tis reported. The sponsor is reported seeking a much less pretentious and expensive program than the present costly setup for July, August and Sep- tember . . . It'll probably be Lud Gluskin's orchestra on the forthcom- ing Ken Murray show . . . Dorothy Parker has finished a radio script which several prospective sponsors are now reading . . . + Tommy Mack, of the Milton Berle program, has signed a seven-year con- tract with RKO . . . Duke Ellington will be featured on the CBS "Satur- day Night Swing" show March 13 . . . WNEW will broadcast exclusive- ly the national indoor tennis champion- ships beginning Saturday. Earl Har- per will handle the descriptions . . . Rosaline Green returns to the "Hour of Charm" program March 1 as mis- tress of ceremonies. She was featured in the same role on this program last year . . . Hugh Herbert set for a guest appearance on Jack Oakie's pro gram next Tuesday . . . Estelle Taylor will be interviewed on the "Varieties' program over WOR this Sunday at 3 P. M. . . . + The Chicago Town Pump Chicago, Feb. 25. — Tom Fizdale is back at his desk after submitting to two minor operations . . . Charles Gil- christ, radio editor of the Chicago Daily News, addressed members of Sigma Delta Chi, journalistic frater- nity, on the subject, "Why a Radio Page?". . . The Melody Kings is the name of a new instrumental quartet which makes its bow over WJJD starting March 1 . . . Speaking from Washington, J. Edgar Hoover will be part of the "With Other People's Money" program over WBBM. The speech will come by direct wire for re- lease here . . . John Weigel, CBS announcer, is the owner of a grocery store on the North Side and spends his spare time clerking there . . . The Farm Journal will carry a radio page starting with the March issue. John Canning, Jr., will edit . . . Arch Oboler, author of "Lights Out," mar- ries Eleanor Helfand, University of Chicago co-ed. They leave this week on a trip to New England . . . + Eilers, Arlen with Winninger Hollywood, Feb. 25. — Sally Eilers and Richard Arlen will join Charles Winninger in an ether version of "Cappy Ricks" on the Lux show Bernie to Drop Band Ben Bernie will drop his dance band March 15 to de- vote his full time to radio and films, according to word received here from Holly- wood. He will use NBC studio bands thereafter for his broadcasts. Tastyeast Program To Fade on Mar. 25 March 1 . . Lou Weiss, manager of KHJ, has been made an auxiliary member of the L. A. Police Dept. Chief of Police Davis decorated him with the necessary breast plate . . . Bryan Field, turf reporter for the Mutual network, has arrived to assist Fred Graham on the Santa Anita Handicap Saturday . . . Morton Downey has left for Memphis for per- sonal appearances at the General Motors show and thence to St. Louis and return. . . . Lud Gluskin, musical director for CBS, is now conducting auditions for a tenor or baritone under 25 to de- velop for important programs . . . Burns and Allen will do their stuff on the next two "Hollywood Hotel" shows . . . Paul McClure, assistant sales manager for NBC, is here from Chicago for vacation and a film dick- er .. . Marian Talley has sold her Kansas City home . . . The reason Lum and Abner didn't get in their usual stunt Monday was due to the Santa Anita Derby which ran over- time. The duo have it written in their contracts that they do not appear if their scheduled time is three minutes over . . . Adolphe Menjou will be a guest star of Jack Benny on March 2 and Ben Bernie on March 9. San Francisco Reporting San Francisco, Feb. 25. — Cliff An- derson, NBC program traffic mana- ger, is receiving those congratulations. Reason : Donna Lou, six-pound daugh- ter .. . Howard Eastwood has been named accompanist on Dean Maddux's "Buddha" amateur program on KFRC. He replaces Clifford Souze who goes to KSFO . . . Hugh Barrett Dobbs, "Captain Dobbsie," is handling a se- ries of 15-minute dramatizations over KYA on behalf of the Civic Welfare League, which is opposed to repeal of the anti-picketing ordinance, a measure now up for decision in next month's city elections. The troubles of the Tastyeast Candy Co.'s NBC program are almost at an end, for the series will fade from the air with the broadcast of March 25. It is broadcast Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays on the NBC-Blue. The series originally was placed through the J. P. Mueller Co. and featured James J. Braddock in the story of the heavyweight champion's life. In a few weeks Braddock found himself out of the program, then back again for a brief period, and finally out permanently. Meanwhile, the Mueller agency lost the account to the Peck agency. Recently the Peck agency announced that it had signed the "Tastyeast Jesters" to be featured in the series for 52 weeks. Yesterday it was learned that the agency had forwarded a can- cellation notice to NBC, notifying the network that the March 25 broadcast would be the last. Comic Strips, Show Basis Omaha, Feb. 25.— A KOIL cast headed by Announcer Don Kelly as "Uncle Don" and directed by Arthur Faust, has launched a new 9 A. M. Sunday program dramatizing comics from The Sunday Omaha Bee-News. Promotion Manager Bill Wiseman of the Bee-News arranged the half hour program, which is being sponsored by Wolf Bros. Clothing Co. Center Quits WORL Boston, Feb. 25. — Edward Center, program director for WORL, has re- signed to enter film exhibition. His place has been filled by Stanley Schultz, formerly with the Yankee Network. King Joins WHN Boston, Feb. 25. — Ned French has replaced Art King as announcer at WHDH, King having resigned to join the staff of WHN, New York. Woodmen Go Musical Omaha, Feb. 25. — The Sovereign Camp of the Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Ass'n, which owns WOW, has started a musical reveries program at midnight each Sunday over the station. President DeEmett Bradshaw of the Woodmen personally appears on some of the programs. John K. Chapel, staff announcer who has had three books of verses published, gives read- ings ; Ida Gitlin is vocal soloist and Evelyn Mason, daytime studio host- ess, plays the organ. Time of the broadcast was selected in order to reach Woodmen members in far states. Radio Show on Radio Inside San Francisco, Feb. 25. — ■ Pat Kelly at KFRC is currently offering a novel sustainer, the "Radio Round Table" in which the "inside picture" of radio entertaiment is offered through talks by various of the local radio editors. Bill Holmes of the Oakland Post- Enquirer was the first guest with a script about alumni of St. Mary's, Oakland college, who have graduated to radio fame, among them John Nes- bitt of NBC, Tony Martin of the films and Burns & Allen's CBS weekly. "Radio Round Table" is aired every Wednesday at 6 P. M. P. S. T. Prizes for Wits Racine, Wis., Feb. 25.— "Battle of Wits," a half hour program, appears over WRJN here every Sunday from 3 to 3:30 P. M. under Wesley W. Blish. Five questions are asked five persons during the broadcast and each participant is graded according to re- plies. The one receiving the highest score is awarded a weekly $5 prize. At the end of 13 weeks, a semi- final contest is to be held with those winners eligible to participate in a final contest for a grand prize of §150. Questions on the broadcast deal with facts and not opinions. "Brother Bill" Returns Philadelphia, Feb. 25.— After an absence of eight months, "Brother Bill' returns to WIP to read the daily funnies in the Evening Ledger for the kiddies. The program is a circulation booster for the paper, coming under a time for space swap with the station. 'Don't look now, Leo, but there's somebody wants to talk to you about MAYTIME "\ Watch the headlines from now on! "MAYTiME" star- ring Jeanette Mac- Donald and Nelson Eddy is on the way from M-G-M. Alert, Intelligent the In In All Branches MOTION PICTURE DAILY The Leading Motio Picture Industry VOL. 41. NO. 48 NEW YORK, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1937 TEN CENTS Radio-Films Not at Odds, Asserts Hays Denies Pact to Control Stars' Broadcasting "No differences exist between the film and radio industries," Will H. Hays, M.P.P.D.A. president, said yes- terday during a press interview, his first since returning early this week from a seven-week stay in Hollywood during which he met several times with Major Lenox R. Lohr, NBC president, and with other radio officials on the West Coast. Hays denied that any agreement had been made looking to the control of More Radio — Page 4 the apperances of film stars on radio programs or the regulation of their broadcasting activities in order to minimize any possible competition with theatre patronage. In reply to a direct question he said that no future meets between film and radio officials on this subject are planned. The first of such meets was held here last fall, following which it was stated that mutual problems of the two industries (Continued on page 4) Nebraska Declares Ban on Bank Night Lincoln, Feb. 26. — An official opin- ion declaring Bank Night to be illegal in Nebraska was handed down today to county attorneys by Attorney Gen- eral Richard Hunter who said that his office would take immediate steps to end the practice. Today's move, which reversed the previous opinion that the game is legal if the participants are not required to purchase tickets, was reached after considering a series of court decisions in several states. Hunter stated, "We are satisfied (Continued on page 2) Three-Hour Sit-Down In Detroit Exchange Detroit, Feb. 26.— -The industry's first sit-down strike was instituted here today when film inspectresses, shippers and poster clerks at the 20th Century-Fox exchange stopped work at 10 A. M., declaring that they were paid less than similar employes in other exchanges here. The strike was short lived, Branch Manager Lester Sturm affecting a settlement in about three hours by conferring with spokesmen for the sit- downers. Cooperation Assured for MPTOA Program, Says Hays Distributor cooperation for the M.P.T.O.A. trade practice program is assured, Will H. Hays, M.P.P.D.A. president, said yesterday. Hays was queried on the attitude of member companies of the M.P.P.D.A. toward the trade practice program in view of the recent statement by Ed Kuy- kendall, M.P.T.O.A president, that he was dissatisfied with the distributors' responses to date and contemplated proposing a new policy to govern M.P.T.O.A. relations with distribution companies at the March meeting of the M.P.T.O.A. board. Hays lauded the M.P.T.O.A. for what he described as its "constructive approach" to the problems of exhibi- tor-distributor trade relations and said that a move of that kind by any responsible element deserved and would have the support of the major companies. Reminded that few significant con- cessions had been made by any of the Financing Set Financing for the new Monogram Pictures was re- ported to have been com- pleted except for minor de- tails by W. Ray Johnston, president, yesterday. The company will hold its first sales convention this spring and will be in full operation by early summer, according to present plans. seven distribution companies which re- sponded to the M.P.T.O.A. program, Hays offered the observation that it is "not the length but the direction of the step that is important." He said that tangible benefits should re- sult from the consideration which has been given the trade practice program by the distribution companies and (Continued on page 3) H. M. Crandall Dies from Gas At Washington Washington, Feb. 26. — Harry M. Crandall, pioneer circuit operator, committed suicide today by inhaling gas in an apartment he had rented six months ago. In a note to newspapermen he wrote he had none of the usual reasons for the act, "only it is I am despondent and miss my theatres, oh, so much!" Funeral services will be held from the late residence, 4530 16th St., N.W., at 10 :30 A.M., on Monday. Interment will follow in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. From a modest beginning in 1910, when he opened the El Fresco, Cran- dall built up a fortune which he later lost. He was owner of the (Continued on page 3) Building Picks Up About Philadelphia Philadelphia, Feb. 26. — Inspired by the generally good season, theatre building is proceeding apace here and in adjacent districts. The newest city project is a 500- seater which Lew Rovner is plan- ning in the Richmond-Kensington section. Though a heavily congested (Continued on page 3) Georgia Chain Taxation May Hit Theatres Atlanta, Feb. 26. — Drastic chain tax legislation affecting theatres along with all retail establishments was pre- sented in the Georgia Senate today with its early passage indicated fol- lowing a victory in the House Thurs- day. The bill went through the House after two days of debate. It provides for a levy of $10 to $500 per unit, scaled according to the number of establishments in the chain. Amend- ments placed theatres within the scope of the measure. Stores are defined as "any store, mercantile establishment or studio, whether stationary or traveling by motor, either of domestic or for- eign ownership, in which any goods, (Continued on page 2) French 40-Hour Week Problem to Industry By PIERRE AUTRE Paris, Feb. 16. — The French in- dustry is faced with the serious prob- lem of compliance with a new law, recently passed, calling for a 40-hour week in all industries. The members of the General Syndicate of Cinema Workers, which embraces practically (Continued on page 3) GB Retains Own Unit in U.S. — Ostrer But Leaves Way Open to Possible Withdrawal By BRUCE ALLAN London, Feb. 26. — In a 90-minute interview with the press at Film House today, Isidore Ostrer stated it was G.B.'s current intention to con- tinue its own distribution in America. However, he left the door open for a change of plans and a withdrawal, dependent upon subsequent events. G.B. currently is playing in 5,000 American theatres, he explained. The company is viewed by Ostrer as hav- ing pioneered in substantially break- ing British product into that market. While the gross income has been large, expenses have been heavy with the result that the American net does not now warrant continuance in that mar- ket, he added. "We have, however, demonstrated the possibility of selling in America and made it easy for others with good pictures to get money from that market," he said. Individual G.B. attractions, Ostrer stated further, have grossed as much as $250,000 in the States, but the aver- age gross has been insufficient to cover the portion of negative costs which Ostrer said he felt G.B. was entitled to earn in America. The deal with General Film Distrib- utors, Ltd., contains no specific ar- rangement about America, but Ostrer explained it was his intention defin- itely to carry on there on the basis of (Continued on page 3) Speeding of Trust Complaints Begun By CLARENCE LINZ Washington, Feb. 26.— With the aim of speeding up complaints, a re- organization of the Anti-Trust Division of the Dept. of Justice has been started, the first step having al- ready been accomplished with the creation of a complaint section, it was learned today. The new setup is designed to ex- (Continued on page 3) Wisconsin Receives Allied Theatre Bill Madison, Wis., Feb. 26. — Allied's bill to divorce producers from exhibi- tion has been introduced in the Senate here by the Committee on Corpora- tions and Taxation. Violators of the measure would be subject to a fine of $10,000 and imprisonment of one year. MOTION PICTURE DAILY Saturday, February 27, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 February 27, 1937 No. 48 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN. Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc.. Martin Quigley. president. Colvin Brown, vice-president and U publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at Rockefeller Center. New York, Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: ' 'Qulgpul ^ New York " All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- caUons0: 'MOTION PICTUBE HERALD ^BETTER THEATRES TEATRO AL DIA. IN1B.KINA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Sts.; Boone MancaU. Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave.. C. B. O Weill, WASHINGTON : Albee Building, Bertram F. Linz. Representative. ™.™» j« AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan 5: Philip de Schaap. Representative. BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 K&plar-u, Budapest II; Endre Hevesi, Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientes 2495; N. Bruski. Representative. T HELSINKI: Fredriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszlo. Representative. ; . LONDON: 4 Golden Square. W. 1; Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address. Quigpubco, Lon- MELBOTJRNE : Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins St.; Cliff Holt. Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269: James Lockhart. Representative. MONTEVIDEO: P. O. Box 664; Paul Bodo, Rep- resentative. „ „ MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern, Rep- PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre. Repre- sentative. , PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2. Prague 1; Harry Knopf, Representative. _ RIO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 3358; A. Weiss- man, Representative. ROME: Viale Gorizia; Vittorio Malpassutl, Rep resentative. SHANGHAI: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Build ing, 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler, Repre- SGtltStiVG STOCKHOLM: Kungsgatan 36; Ragnar Allberg. TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shl. Chiba-Ken; H. Tominaga, Representative. VIENNA: Nuestiftgasse, 55; Vienna VII; Hans Lorant, Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. 4 Purely Personal ► SYLVIA SIDNEY, Fritz Lang, Si Seadler, Ned Depinet, Jules Levy, Willard McKay, Frank Nug- ent, Howard Barnes, Lou Irwin, Regina Crewe, Beulah Livingstone, Bob Goldstein, Jack Goetz, J. Rob- ert Rubin and Al Altman among the throng at "21" for luncheon yester- day. • S. Charles Einfeld and Mrs. Ein- feld sail today on the Santa Elena. Other passengers coast bound via the Panama Canal on that boat are Carl and Mrs. Leserman and Jack Ali- coate, publisher of Film Daily. • Arthur Lee and Albert Mar- golies of G. B. are due today from Montreal. They are flying in. Arthur Greenblatt, G. B.'s east- ern district manager, returns to his desk Monday, recovered from a siege of the flu. • Leo and Mrs. Justin will return tomorrow from a six-week vacation at Mexico City, Havana and Miami. • Jean Hersholt, vacationing in New York, left for Hollywood yesterday. • Cresson E. Smith leaves today for a Nassau vacation on the Carinthia. • Howard Dietz is due back from Hollywood on March 1. Oscar Straus leaves on the Cen- tury tomorrow for the coast. Bull to Tour "Pop," the Chinese bull in "The Good Earth," will be exploited by Loew's in a cross-country tour in connec- tion with roadshow engage- ments of the picture. William R. Ferguson, head of the company's exploitation division, yesterday sent Capt. Volney Phifer to the coast by plane to accompany the bovine east. The bull is scheduled to leave the M-G-M studios today by "fast express." The animal's first appear- ance will be in New York. "Zombies" Decision Affirmed on Appeal Plan Hospital Drive The general sales managers of all major companies were the guests of Major L. E. Thompson yesterday at a luncheon during which were dis- cussed plans for the Will Rogers Me- morial Hospital campaign, of which Thotnpson is chairman. A. P. Wax- man is director of the drive under Thompson. Present were Abe Mon- tague, William F. Rodgers, Jules Levy, Neil F. Agnew, John D. Clark, James R. Grainger, Gradwell L. Sears, A. W. Smith, J. J. Milstein, Edward J. Peskay, George W. Weeks and Harold Rodner. Georgia Chain Taxes May Injure Theatres (Continued from page 1) wares or merchandise of any kind are sold either at wholesale or retail, or distributed." No attempt was made to clarify the meaning of the term studio used in the measure. The upward bracket of the measure is reached for chains of 10 or more units. Connecticut Bills Stir Up Opposition Hartford, Feb. 26. — Exhibitors, exchange men and salesmen gathered 88 strong on Capitol Hill yesterday to be heard on various bills by the Judiciary Committee. Although nearly all present opposed two two-men-in- the-booth bills, continuance was asked by the proponents to March 18. The opposition brought out the fact that the State Police already have authority to determine where addi- tional man should be employed. Post- ponement to March 11 or April 18 was requested instead of the sug- gested March 18, when a large num- ber of Connecticut exhibitors will be in Miami for the M. P. T. O. A. convention. A bill extending the Sunday clos- ing hour from 10:30 to 11:30 P.M. was upheld by D. B. Burbank, oper- ator of the Franklin, Thompsonville, where the early closing is being strictly enforced, and makes for in- creased competition from . nearby Springfield. No opposition was heard. The Appellate Division yesterday unanimously affirmed decisions of the lower courts which have granted Amusement Securities a judgment of $7,500 and an injunction against Ed- ward and Victor Halperin, Academy Pictures, Producers' Laboratories, Ameranglo Corp., Midtown Theatres and Melbert Pictures, restraining the defendants from using the title "Re volt of the Zombies." Amusement Securities claimed it owned the rights to the word "Zom bies" because of its picture, "White Zombies." The defendants have been assessed costs totaling $3,500. Krell- berg and Fitzsimons have been rep resenting the plaintiffs since the action was started last June. Orpheum Appraisal Filed Referee Oscar W. Ehrhorn filed a report yesterday of the appraisers' valuation of Orpheum Circuit assets pursuant to the demands of the pre- ferred stockholders' committee. The appraisal was made by Morton Blu- menthal, Witold Pavlowski and Jay Strong as of Jan. 28, 1937. The re- port fixed the valuation of the Or- pheum assets at $2,772,714. The larg- est single asset is the holding of 8,- 300 junior Orpheum San Francisco, Ltd., stock and an indebtedness valued at $800,000. Johnson Funeral Today Chanute, Kan., Feb. 26. — Martin Johnson, killed recently in an airplane crash, will be buried here tomorrow. Osa Johnson, his widow, who was injured in the same accident, will at- tend the funeral in a wheelchair. Pathe Dividend Declared The board of directors of Pathe Film yesterday declared a dividend of $1.75 on the seven per cent cumula- tive preferred stock of the company, payable April 1 to stockholders of rec- ord on March 24. Flash Preview "Paradise Express" — Action, adven- ture, romance and heroism are com- bined in this production which rates as excellent dual material, having a particular attraction for the young- sters. This film will be reviewed in full in a coming issue of Motion Picture Daily. Explorers* Club Preview "The Wedding of Palo," Arctic film produced by Knud Rasmussen, will be shown to members at the Ex- ployers' Club tomorrow. The picture opens March 1 at the 55th St. Play- house. Drop 4 Massachusetts Bills Boston, Feb. 26. — The House of Representatives has given leave to withdraw on four film bills. The bills, filed by H. H. Atwood and G. J. Leary, would have required a sepa- rate booth for rewinding film, two licensed operators in a booth during projection, the use of no larger than a 1,000-foot reel, and the installation of sprinkler systems. Two licensed operators are already required in Massachusetts. New Ohio Taxes Foreseen Columbus, Feb. 26. — A trend to- ward increased amusement and gaso- line taxes is seen here as a special committee of the House, appointed to consider poor relief and means of financing it, arranged to take up the questions in the absence of definite recommendations from Governor Da- vey in his message this week before a joint session of the General Assembly. Pulverman Case Heard Superior, Wis., Feb. 26. — Testi- mony is being taken in Federal Court here in the case of Mrs. Minnie Pul- verman, operator of the Royal Talking Pictures circuit, Duluth, against the M. P. Exhibitors' Protective Ass'n of Northern Wisconsin. Mrs. Puverman charges the asso- ciation with conspiracy to force her CCC camp circuit shows out of busi- ness, claiming the association is a violation of the anti-trust laws. Nazarro Sues Over Song Nat Nazarro filed suit yesterday against Warner Bros., Remick Music Corp., Sammy Cahn and Saul Chap- lin asking for an injunction, damages and an accounting of profits. The plaintiff claims the defendants pla- giarized his song "Rhythm for Sale" when they published "Swing for Sale," and Warners produced a picture with that title. Nazarro procured the copy right on his song in December, 1933 Nebraska Declares Ban on Bank Nigh (.Continued from page 1) that the plan is an attempted subter- fuge to escape the stigma of being classified as a lottery. Although in- genious, it is not convincing." Weinstock After Theatre David Weinstock is reported negoti- ating for the Folk currently tenanting Jewish shows. If, and when, he takes the house Weinstock will install a film policy. Selznick Board to Meet Hollywood, Feb. 26. — The board of directors of Selznick International will meet here Monday following the ar- rival from New York of John F. Wharton, treasurer. The company's $12,000,000 program for the coming season is expected to be outlined. Ornstein a Daddy Pittsburgh, Feb. 26. — Joseph Orn- stein, cashier at the local 20th Century- Fox exchange, yesterday became a father of a baby girl. Asks Bank Night Study Granite City, 111., Feb. 26. — The Tri-City Ministerial Alliance has asked City Court Judge R. W. Griffith to order a grand jury investigation of the operation of Bank Night and slot machines in the city. Denver Bank Night Increases Denver, Feb. 26. — Exhibitors here state that no agreement has been reached with reference to the discard- ing of Bank Night or other give- aways. Bank Night, it is said, will be in operation in full force here within a month. Meanwhile, neighborhood houses are giving away money and merchandise. Saturday, February 27, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY GB Retains Own Unit in U.S. — Ostrer Cooperation Assured for MPTOA Program, Says Hays (Continued from page 1) sufficient British product from General and other producers here to make the American operation a "very profitable" one. His qualification, on the other hand, entered his statement when he made it clear that if a sufficient number of quality pictures cannot be lined up, "we may have to reconsider maintain- ing the organization. But at the mo- ment, we anticipate we shall carry on." On a question, Ostrer said eight General Films and eight G.B. attrac- tions would be distributed on the other side if good enough, but the Matthews vehicles definitely are set for American release. The G.B. executive was also queried on physical distribution and said it was true that S. R. Kent had expressed the view 20th Century-Fox should handle G.B. films only and that he was entitled to reject all others. Ostrer expressed himself as confident, however, that 20th Century-Fox would cooperate on the new plan. If not, ar- rangements for other physical distribu- tion through other channels was not a serious difficulty, he asserted. Tells of U. S. Losses The company, he added, had had to face big losses in its efforts to sell in the United States, but had built up an "enormous good-will at an enor- mous cost. We shall know later if this good-will is valuable, but at pres- ent, it stands on the books at nil," Ostrer said. "It may later be worth more than it cost." As Ostrer views his company's future in America, he sees the days to come depending upon marketing 20 to 30 pictures annually in that market. Indicating, perhaps, his confidence in bringing this about, he described it as easy to get "other people to put up half of the money for production de- signed for America." _ He stated as his axiom that no one can produce here over a period of time unless a substantial proportion of the cost is recovered from the other side. America, he continued, had the British market and "we must have theirs." If the eight pictures planned by G.B. now are successful, the com- pany will go further, but Ostrer made it quite clear this success was con- tingent upon substantial revenues from America. Talks on Shepherd's Bush Again referring to the political views he expressed upon his return from New York, Ostrer repeated that the larger American companies would welcome a system of buying British quality films for the United States instead of continuing to be compelled to make bad pictures here under the quota. Declaring the future of Shepherd's Bush is open, he emphasized this as G.B.'s basic policy: "We are not going to produce sub- stantially in the future or put large amounts into production." The initial picture to be made at Pinewood under the deal closed with G. M. Woolf, and announced at 3 :20 A.M. today, will be "Gang Way," starring Jessie Matthews. This will (Continued from page 1) from the thought expended by them on the problems listed. Hays, who returned early this week from his annual winter visit in Hol- lywood, was enthusiastic about cur- rent production activities. Speaking of the industry's foreign trade prob- lems, with particular reference to monetary restrictions and quota pro- visions, Hays described them as sub- jects of "continuing worry and con- cern." "The reasons for national barriers are realized," he said. "Yet we are hopeful that they may not become prohibitive and shall continue to do what we can to prevent that. Our nearest approach to the answer to our foreign problems is in good pictures. ' He said that the world demand for quality entertainment was virtually without limitation. Hays Anniversary March 5 March 5 will mark the 15th anni- versary of Will Hays' association with the industry as head of the M. P. P. D. A. Referring to the event during a conference with trade press representatives yesterday, Hays quoted from the preamble to the or- ganization's by-laws, which dedicates the M. P. P. D. A. to the service and welfare of all within the industry. "We wouldn't have lasted 15 min- utes if anyone had his fingers crossed when that was written," Hays said. leave the stages at Shepherd's Bush vacant. Of the deal with Woolf, Ostrer maintained it will enable G.B. to pay debentures, interest on the sinking fund and the preferred dividends and leave a margin of cash. Officially, G.B.'s statement on that deal said, in part: "The agreement between G.B. and General Film Distributors, Ltd., pro- vides that G.B. will produce four pic- tures at Pinewood and four at the Gainsborough studio. General will be responsible for half of the cost of these productions and will distribute them on terms exceptionally advanta- geous to G.B. G. B. Sound News to Stay "G.B. Sound News will be produced by G.B., but also distributed by Gen- eral. G.B. instructional films and dis- tribution to theatres likewise go to General. The laboratories at Shep- herd's Bush will be extended to meet the printing needs of General. The present one unit at Lime Grove will be transferred to Pinewood for the G.B. pictures, including the Matthews pictures to be made there. The agree- ment provides substantial revenues to G.B. over a period of years on what has hitherto been the more speculative side of the company's business and spaces it in an exceptionally strong position to develop its prosperous theatre interests." Financially Beneficial to G. B. In his press interview, Isidore Ost- rer emphasized that the deal means a substantial financial gain to G.B. To conserve income and profits on news reels and laboratory, he viewed it as essential to have a regular supply of high quality pictures. Instead, there- fore, of G.B. investing $5,000,000 an- nually in production, the company, ac- cording to Ostrer, now gets General's output for its laboratory. From this he drew the conclusion G.B. has been removed from the ranks of speculative business and assured a profit for "many years ahead" based on the newsreel and laboratory deals. The distribution deal with General, he as- serted, was practically on a cost basis, thereby increasing the former's cash position "enormously." This, in turn, he added, "almost immediately places us in a position to extend our theatre chain rapidly." G.B. Film Distributors, Ltd., there fore, closes down at once, with Gen eral taking part of its staff. Four of the pictures to be made jointly with General will cost $325,000 each and total cost of the eight planned is com- puted at $2,100,000. In the meantime, John Maxwell, who fails to see the G.B. moves in the same light as the Ostrers, has left for Scotland, his native heath. H. M. Crandall Dies from Gas At Washington (Continued from page 1) Knickerbocker, the roof of which col- lapsed Jan. 28, 1923, and he is said not to have fully recovered from the shock of that tragedy which cost 98 lives. Nearly a decade ago he sold his extensive properties to Warners, for whom his son-in-law, John J. Pay- ette, is general zone manager. Cran- dall was president of the local branch of the M. P. Exhibitors' League of America and was a member of the Kiwanis, City, Columbus Country, Congressional Country, Elks' and Na- tional Press Clubs, the Board of Trade and Chamber of Commerce. A number of years ago he estab- lished a public service and educa- tional department in his theatre or- ganization to aid public schools through films. He was 58 and is survived by his widow and three daughters, Mrs. Payette, Mrs. Olga Burch of Alexan- dria and Mrs. Leroy T. Sherman. G. B. Films to Chesterfield London, Feb. 18. — In a High Court action, Chesterfield M. P. Corp. and Invincible M. P. Corp. successfully sought permission to distribute through Gaumont British Distributors features previously handled by Twick- enham Film Distributors, now in the hands of a receiver. Twickenham had, without the con- sent of the American companies, transferred the films to Pathe Pic- tures, on the terms of 10 per cent of receipts of films handed over and 25 per cent of new contracts. The terms with G. B. were 15 per cent and 30 per cent. It was indicated that the American companies wished the films transferred to G. B. because that company would handle their future product. Twickenham Creditors Meet London, Feb. 18. — The meeting of creditors of Twickenham Film Stu- dios, Ltd., will be held on Feb. 26. The company is in voluntary liquida- tion, but a petition for its compulsory termination has been filed by Betty Balfour, a creditor. French 40-Hour Week Problem to Industry (Continued from page 1) all employes of the industry, are de manding a five-day week and an eight-hour day, in accordance with the law. The introduction of such a system would form a severe handicap for pro ducers. Now in progress are negotia tions looking to the most practicable application of the new rules and regu- lations. Globe Closes for Changes The Globe on Broadway closed yes terday for alterations preparatory to the opening of "The Lost Horizon" on a two-a-day policy March 3. Building Picks Up About Philadelphia (Continued from page 1) center as far as theatres are con- cerned, business appears to warrant another house. A. M. Ellis is soon to have two houses on opposite ends of Broad St. The Broad is under way in North Philadelphia and the Dante is being completed on South Broad St. Both will be about 600 seats. Another South Philadelphia house, the Dewey, will soon be started by Jay Emanuel and associates. It will seat about 450. Under construction in the central city is Warners' Center, a 500-seater on Market St. near 17th. It will be on the proposed boulevard from City Hall to the West Philadelphia rail- road station. In Vineland, N. J., the 1,000-seat Landis is being completed by Eugene Mori, while Lewis Perlman is build- ing another theatre in Yeadon, Phila- delphia suburb. The Girardville the- atre, partially destroyed by fire re- cently, will be rebuilt by Frank Hol- lister. Speeding of Trust Complaints Begun (Continued from page 1) pedite the handling and investigation of complaints that come to the depart- ment. Heretofore, complaints have been handled by members of the trial section, who often have been engaged in the drafting of trial cases on other matters, with the result that frequently it has been impossible to give com- plaints adequate attention, or has resulted in the slowing down of action. Under the new arrangement com- plaints received in the department will go to a special group of experienced men for study and their findings will be reported to Assistant Attorney General Jackson, who will determine whether the department should take further action. MOTION PICTURE DAILY RADIO F. C. C. Sets Hearings on Station Bids By CLARENCE LINZ Washington, Feb. 26. — Hearings on eight applications for new broad- casting stations today were scheduled by the F.C.C. for the coming week. On March 1, commission examin- ers will hold hearings on the applica- tions of Peninsula Newspapers, Inc., for a 1,160-kilocycle 250-watt daytime station at Palo Alto, Cal. ; Chase S. Osborn, Jr., for a 1,440-kilocycle, 500- watt unlimited time station at Fresno, Cal., and Central Broadcasting Corp., for a 1,440-kilocycle, 500-watt un- limited time station at Centralia, Wash. Examiner hearings will be held on March 2 for the applications of Charles Porter and Edward T. Ever- sole for a 1,420-kilocycle, 100-watt daytime station at Festus, Mo. ; Ham- mond-Calumet Broadcasting Corp., for a 1,480-kilocycle, 5,000-watt day- time station at Hammond, Ind. ; Northwestern Publishing Co., for a 1,500-kilocycle, 250-watt daytime sta- tion at Danville, 111. ; Curtis Radio- casting Corp., for a 1,500-kilocycle station at Indianapolis, using 100 watts at night and 250 watts during the day, and Knox Radio Corp., for an increase of time for WKVB, Rich- mond, Va. Will Consider Power Increase Hearings will be held before an ex- aminer March 3 on the request of the Outlet Co. for an increase of day power from 1,000 watts to 5,000 watts for WJAR, Providence, R. I., and on the application of J. Leslie Doss for a 1,390-kilocycle, 250-watt daytime station at Sarasota, Fla. On March 4, oral argument will be heard before the Broadcast Division on the application of the Bayou Broad- casting Co. for a 1,210-kilocycle, 100- watt daytime station at Houston, Tex. ; Brownwood Broadcasting Co., for a 1,370-kilocycle, 100-watt daytime station at Brownwood, Tex., and Con- tinental Radio Co., for a 1,310-kilo- cycle, 100-watt unlimited time station at Columbus, and a 1,200-kilocycle, 100-watt daytime station at Toledo. Broadcasters File in Dover Dover, Del., Feb. 26. — Incorporation papers have been filed here by United Broadcasting Co., listing a capital stock of 10,000 shares with no par value. Incorporators are M. S. Cook, A. L. Raughley and J. M. Townsend of Dover. Gets Television Verdict L. Stewart Gatter, a New York at- torney, yesterday obtained a judgment for $3,000 against the International Television Radio Corp. in a trial be- fore Federal Court Judge John W. Clancy and a jury. Gatter had asked for $56,000 for the value of his legal services rendered in connection with the sale of exclusive rights for the de- fendant's patent in Australia and New Zealand. Ward Made Chief Organist Jack Ward has been appointed chief staff organist for WMCA. Ward joined the station in 1935. RCA's Net for Year Reaches $6,155,937 RCA's 17th annual report shows a net profit for 1936 of $6,155,937, an increase of 20 per cent over a net of $5,126,872 for 1935. Announcement also was made yesterday of a dividend of 87T/2 cents on the outstanding shares of RCA's cumulative convert- ible first preferred. The dividend, covering the period from Jan. 1 to March 31, will be paid April 1 to stockholders of rec- ord March 10. A similar dividend also will be paid as soon as practicable after April 1 to holders to whom $3.50 cumulative convertible first preferred stock is issued after March 10 and prior to April 1, upon the conversion of "B" preferred, or upon the surren- der of deposit receipts for "B" pre- ferred, or of script certificates for fractional shares of $3.50 cumulative convertible first preferred stock. Gross income from all sources amounted to $101,186,310 in 1936, com- pared with $89,228,898 in 1935. Cost of operations for the year was $89,- 722,151, compared with $78,885,740 in 1935. The net income for 1936 was $11,- 464,159, compared with $10,343,159, an increase of 10.8 percent. Cowan's Para. Work To Start Next Month Rubey Cowan, NBC artists service executive whose resignation from NBC was exclusively revealed in yes- terday's issue of Motion Picture Daily, will leave for Hollywood in a month to create what is believed to be the first radio-film department in pictures. Cowan will supervise Paramount players' radio activities, and act as a liaison officer between the two entertainment mediums. The new post, it is said, has been created because of Paramount's be- lated belief that the company had erred in permitting Martha Raye to appear regularly on the Al Jolson program. This series has not been re- ceived too well, and Paramount is now said to regret giving its sanction. "Broadway Varieties" "Broadway Varieties," having been renewed for an additional cycle on the air, we tuned in on the program last night and found it to be a thoroughly delightful half -hour period of song and instrumental music tastefully dished up by Carmella Ponselle, Elizabeth Len- nox, Oscar Shaw and Victor Arden's Band. Keen microphone showmanship is manifest in the duet numbers offered by Shaw and Miss Lennox. Each duet is preceded by a short narration which sets a romantic background for the number which follows. Thus the songs are given greater depth and meaning than they ordinarily would have. It is a style which might well be emulated on other programs. Rounding out the broadcast, Car- mella Ponselle offered "Lover, Come Back to Me," and the "Variety" chorus harmonized "Tea on the Ter- race." "Broadway Varieties" is offered Friday night at 8:00 P. M., E.S.T., 4 Radio Personals ► DON SHAW of the McCann- Erickson agency returned to New York yesterday after a week's business trip to Chicago. . . .Vic Rat- ner, CBS executive, left for Wash- ington yesterday to attend the White House correspondents' dinner there tomorrow. . . . Zeke Manners and Gang have been set for the CBS Ford show Tuesday. . . . Herman Bernie has set Gertrude Berg for an appear- ance on brother Ben's American Can Co. program March 16. . . . Connie Boswell will appear also on the pro- gram. . . . Irene Beasley signed for the Schaefer Beer show on WOR next Sunday. . . . Frank Parker cele- brates his 10th year in radio the week of March 1. . . . Art Shaw has been renewed for two additional weeks at the Meadowbrook Club. He will re- tain his CBS wire for this period. . . . Dr. Walter Damrosch will lecture at N. Y. U. March 6. . . . Novices, Veterans on Program Hartford, Feb. 26. — Novices and veterans will join in the third annual Old Timers' Night of the Hartford County Amateur Radio Ass'n, tonight at 7 P.M. Oldtimers will reminisce on the problems and thrills of the ham in the early days of radio. Among the guest speakers will be Irving Virmilya, WZE, Mattapoisett, Mass., the first licensed radio amateur in New Eng- land ; George Bailey, American Radio Relay League vice-president ; Isaiah Creaser, radio pioneer of Springfield ; Percy Noble, W1BZR, Westfield, Mass., director of the New England Division, and Charles Kolster of the F.C.C. WINS Has New Serial A new serial, known as "A Modern Girl's Romance," will be presented over WINS, starting March 1. The program will be aired Mondays, Wed- nesdays, Fridays from 9 :45 to 10 P.M. on the CBS network by the American Home Products Co. for Bi-so-dol. "The House That Jack Built" Offered by the Duff-Norton Mfg. Co,. "The House that Jack Built" made its debut over NBC's 14 man- aged and operated stations of the Red network last night from 7 :45 to 8 :00 P. M., E.S.T. The program promises to be a pleas- ant addition to the Friday night air schedule. The entertainment consists of organ music played by Lois Miller and vocals by weekly guests. Last night's guest was Alexander Gray. Gray was a happy choice as the pre- miere's guest. The former screen fa- vorite has a pleasing baritone voice. After hearing him last night, it sur- prises us that he's not heard more often on the networks. His "Play, Gypsy, Play" and "Why Do I Love You" were thoroughly enjoyable. Lois Miller's organ playing was ex- cellent. Her singing, however, left something to be desired. Banner Saturday, February 27, 1937 Radio-Films Not at Odds, Asserts Hays (Continued from page 1) had been discussed and that a better understanding on the part of each was expected to result. Hays' statements closely paralleled those of Lohr, who denied emphatical- ly on his return from the coast last Wednesday that any regulation of the radio activities of film stars is now, or at any time had been, in the making. Not only has no attempt been made to control the relations between the two industries, Hays said, "but none is possible." A recognition of the mu- tual problems of the two and realiza- tion that "accommodations" must be made by both is the nearest approach to an "agreement" that has or can be made, Hays said. He minimized the significance of current outcries against radio com- petition within the industry, stating that officially he had never received a specific complaint of harmful radio competition, although he had heard "concern expressed" over the possible effects of certain broadcasting. "Movie Man" on Air From Theatre Lobby Cedar Rapids, Feb . 26. — "Movie Man,'' with Bill Brown, WMT, an- nouncing, is the title of a new pro- gram emanating from the lobby of the Paramount. Thirty-five questions concerning screen players are used on each broadcast, with tickets of admission being given to those who send in questions used on the show. "Movie tests" are given to all who take part in the broadcast by having participants read commercials and act portions of the film showing at the theatre. Also, song numbers from current films are played in the lobby, with free tickets for those who send in the list of numbers played. Wall Street General Upturn in Stocks Net High Low Close Change Consolidated 4H Consolidated, pfd. . 1654 wa + Vi Eastman Kodak . . 171 i7oy2 17054 - 54 Loew's, Inc 7554 7934 +354 Loew's, 'pfd 1065/g 10654 106*6 — Ys, Paramount • 26J4 25H 26J4 +1 Paramount 1 pfd.. 184 1S0% 184 +5 Paramount 2 pfd.. 24J4 23 2454 +VA Pathe Film 9'A + % RKO ..... 343/6 34 343/6 20th Century-Fox. + *A Warner Bros 1554 15 1554 + % Curb Has Small Increases Net High Low Close Change Grand National . . 354 VA 33/g" Sonotone 2A 2 2 — *4 Technicolor 19J4 18% 1954 + 54 Trans-Lux 554 5 554 + 54 Little Bond Movement Net High Low Close Change Keith B. F. 6s '46 9854 9854 9854, — 5-6 Loew's 354s '46.... 99?4 99?4 99?4 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 10134 101 10134. + ys RKO 6s '41 pp.... 118 118 118 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 98 97?4 98 — 54 (Quotations at close of Feb. 26) New Shows on the Air Alert, Intelligent the In in All Branches MOTION PICTURE DAILY The Leading Motio Picture Industry VOL. 41. NO. 49 NEW YORK, MONDAY, MARCH 1, 1937 TEN CENTS GB Action Is Called Defeat For Maxwell Had Planned Control Via Preference Votes By BRUCE ALLAN London, Feb. 28. — It is generally believed in informed quarters here that the action of the board of directors of Gaumont British in approving the production and distribution setup with C. M. Woolf of General Film Dis- tributors, as proposed by the Ostrer faction, is a temporary defeat for John Maxwell in the matter of company policies. It is considered a setback to Max- well's plans to obtain control of G. B. through the votes of preference share holders. The finances obtained from Woolf will enable the company to meet its obligations under production contracts, for which the firm's current resources are inadequate. Under the terms of the contract arranged with Woolf, it is seen that there is practically no chance for G. B. to realize a profit. Maxwell is understood to have de- clined to make a counter offer to re- lieve the company in its financial im- passe by transferring all production to the Maxwell studio at Elstree. Dixon Boardman is known to have reconsidered his intention of quitting the G. B. directorate, but has regis- tered publicly his emphatic opposition {Continued on page 2) Meetings Called on Quota in Australia By CLIFF HOLT Sydney, Feb. 8. {By Air Mail Via London) — The cabinet has called a conference of producers and distribu- tors to discuss the regulations govern- ing the N.S.W. Quota Act. It is stated that the cabinet now realizes the Act can't force distributors into production in order to provide local films to make up their quota percen- tages, but the legislature is anxious (Continued on page 2) Legion Approves 17 Of 18 New Pictures The National Legion of Decency, in its list of new pictures for the cur- rent week, approved, either for gen- eral patronage or adults, 17 out of 18 new pictures reviewed. Of the total 12 were approved for general patron- age, five for adults, and one was classed as objectionable in part. The (Continued on page 2) Para. Fourth Quarter Net $3,700,000 Three Dividends Declared By Directors Paramount's consolidated earnings for the fourth quarter of 1936 were estimated by the company on Saturday at $3,700,000 after all charges, includ- ing interest, taxes and reserves. Re- serves are estimated to be sufficient to cover any unascertained taxes on undistributed earnings, the company stated. The board of directors declared the 1936 dividend of 60 cents a share on the company's second preferred, which had been in arrears for the year, and also declared the first 1937 quarterly dividends of $1.50 on the first pre- ferred and IS cents on the second. All three dividends are payable April 1 to stockholders of record on March IS. The dividend action leaves both preferred issues fully paid to April 1, next, placing the company's common in a favorable position for dividends in the near future, which should en- courage conversion of the first pre- ferred into common and exchange of (Continued on page 6) Games to Be Ended By Century Circuit Following a decision last week by Loew's, RKO and Skouras to dis- continue games, Century Circuit will drop the practice in all of its Nassau County theatres within the next few weeks, an official of the circuit stated Saturday. No decision has been reached on Century's Brooklyn units, but it is expected that a similar stand will be taken shortly. Doob vs. Doob The Mr. C. Hunter who has been advertising in the Pub- lic Notices column of the New York Times for the in- formation leading to the haunts of Oscar Doob will meet Loew's Oscar Doob when the latter returns from Miami. Oscar's department has been in touch with Mr. C. Hunter who, after all, is merely seeking the where- abouts of his former college chum. But Oscar is working up an interest in the missing Oscar. Besides, he wants to trace a possible family con- nection. In other words, tree gazing. Hit Measure Banning Games in Wisconsin Madison, Wis., Feb. 28. — The Franzkowiak bill to ban games of chance was attacked as discriminatory by independent and circuit exhibitors at a hearing before an Assembly com- mittee here. Theatre representatives described games as "trade stimulants" and a form of advertising. Appearing against the bill were B. J. Miller, Milwaukee, representing the Fox- Wisconsin Thea- tres and Warner-Saxe Theatres ; E. F. Maertz, Milwaukee, and F. J. McWilliams, Madison, officials of the I.T.P.A. of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan and I. B. Padway, Milwau- kee, attorney for Bank Night dis- tributors. Padway declared that there has been paid out in Bank Night win- nings more than $400,000 during the last year. The committee deferred action on the measure, which would prohibit any person from setting up any prize to induce persons to visit any store, (Continued on page 6) Over the Wire, In the Mail Harry Brandt, president of the I.T.O.A., commenting telegraph- ically on Motion Picture Daily's editorial stand for the national elimination of chance games and giveaways and a return to the original tenets of showmanship in exhibition: "Motion Picture Daily is to be congratulated for the aggres- sive stand it is taking in this matter." Floyd Fitzsimmons of the Austin Theatre, Kew Gardens, L. I.: "I want to congratulate you on your splendid editorial on theatre giveaways activities in Motion Picture Daily. "As a theatre manager I have been opposed to this type of box-office stimulant since its inception, but for my own good, it has never been my privilege to stand up and say so. "Now, you come forward and speak my piece. I wonder that it wasn't printed for the benefit of those guiding genii (show- men) who are responsible for its growth, long before this. "Again, congratulations." Loew to Join Score Charge With Rentals Lichtman Makes Promise To Ed Kuykendall Loew's will endeavor to eliminate the separate score charge in flat rental contracts by consolidating the charge with the film rental, Al Lichtman, Loew's vice-president, informed Ed Kuykendall, M. P. T. O. A. presi- dent, on Saturday. Lichtman's statement was contained in a reply to Kuykendall's letter of Jan. 11 asking for reconsideration and clarification by Loew's of certain points in the company's original re- sponse to the M. P. T. O. A. 10-point trade practice program which had been made earlier. At that time, Lichtman inferred that the separate score charge was regarded as a part of the film rental and as such would not be eliminated. In asking Licht- man to reconsider, Kuykendall char- acterized the separate score charge as "deception and trickery" in the mat- ter of quoting prices and asked for the elimination of "this petty racket." "I take it from what you write and what you say," Lichtman's latest reply to Kuykendall states, "that you ap- preciate that the score charges have been and are today considered part of the film rental. You seem to feel that we could eliminate needless book- keeping and irritation by joining the score charge with the film rental and make one film charge on flat (Continued on page 6) More Speakers Set For MPTO Program Additional industry and Adminis- tration figures have been obtained for the M. P. T. O. A. convention pro- gram at Miami, March 16 to 18, the exhibitor organization's program com- mittee reported yesterday. Tentative arrangements have been made for convention addresses by Sidney R. Kent, president of 20th (Continued on page 2) U. S. Family Radio Hours at 95,500,000 A total of 95,500,000 hours each day are devoted to listening to the radio by families in the United States, it is indicated in research studies con- ducted by the staff of Dr. Daniel (Continued on page 7) More Radio — Page 7 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, March I, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 March 1, 1937 No. 49 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN. Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc.. Martin Quigley. president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubeo. New York." All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- cations: MOTION PICTURE HERALD, BETTER THEATRES. TEATBO AL DIA. INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Festal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Sts. : Boone Mancall. Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave.. C. B. O'Neill, Manager. _ WASHINGTON : Albee Building, Bertram F. Llnz, Representative. AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan 5; Philip de Schaap, Representative. BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 Kiplar-u, Budapest II; Endre Hevesi. Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientes 2495: N. Bruski, Representative. HELSINKI: Fredrlksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszlo, Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square, W. 1; Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address. Quigpubeo, Lon- don. MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins St.; Cliff Holt, Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart. Representative. MONTEVIDEO: P. O. Box 664; Paul Bodo. Rep resentatlve. MOSCOW : Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern, Rep resentatlve. PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre. Repre sentative. PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1; Harry Knopf, Representative. RIO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 3358; A. Weiss- man, Representative. ROME: Viale Gorlzia; Vittorio Malpassutl. Rep- resentative. SHANGHAI: Rooms 38-41. Capital Theatre Build- ing, 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler, Repre- STOCKHOLM : Kungsgatan 36; Ragnar Allberg, TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi. Chlba-Ken H. Tominaga, Representative. VIENNA: Nuestiftgasse, 55; Vienna VII; Hans Lorant, Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Slllei, Representative. 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 $6 In the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Legion Approves 17 Of 18 New Pictures {Continued from page 1) new films and their classification, follow. Class A-l, Unobjectionable for Gen- eral Patronage — "Crisis Mundial" (Spanish), "Espionage," "Land Be- yond the Law," "Love Is News," "Girl from Poltava," "Paradise Ex- press," "Phantom of the Range," "Stelldichein im Schwarzwald" (Ger- man), "Step Lively, Jeeves," "Ten Laps to Go," "Trusted Outlaw," "Two Wise Maids." Class A-2, Un- objectionable for Adults — "Girl Over- board," "The Man Who Could Work Miracles," "Midnight Court," "When You're in Love," "Woman of Glamour." Objectionable in Part — "Sporck'schen Jaeger" (German). McCarthy Services Held Beverly Hills, Feb. 28.— Funeral services were held here yesterday morning for J. J. McCarthy, head of the Advertising Advisory Council of the M. P. P. D. A., who died here Thursday. The services were held in the Church of the Good Shepherd. The requiem mass was said by Father John J. Devlin, pastor of St. Victor's R. C. Church, West Hollywood. Insiders' Outlook By RED KANN C CRATCH an Ostrer and ^ you'll find a story. The whirling dervish act which Isi- dore provided during his recent sojourn in uncivilized America provided great amusement, not to ignore amazement, to those who read and, in so doing, could not fail to note how mixed up he was or appeared to be. We reminded at the time that London was the next stop. And London it was reporting late last week, at great expense to the publisher. All about a production deal with C. M. Woolf, who has been itching to get his fingers into G.B.; divi- dend declarations, to a reaction of popping eyes and sagging jaws, and attendant diverting detail. . . . ▼ You can either regard Isidore as truth's greatest disciple or one adhering religiously to the fum- bling of his public relations. He talked about the rights of stock- holders and he made himself the defender of G.B.'s interests. Simultaneously, and with product to sell in this market, he vacil- lated forward and backward about the future of the G. B. organization in this field. The plan currently is to keep it going, remarked Ostrer, who then held tightly to at least one string by leaving the way open for a poten- tial withdrawal. We leave to your own good judgment what this does to the G. B. sales force tramping up and down the land selling contracts first, then trying to land the evasive playdates, which is harder. . . . T It is a highly involved situa- tion. A great deal has been pub- lished about the narrow clearance accorded the declared vote on the preferred stock and not all of it what might be termed compli- mentary. Opinion seems to hold the dividend should not have been declared in the light of the com- pany's general financial position. Why, then, was it? This may be an explanation. Preferred stock- holders, when unpaid, acquire votes ordinarily limited to the holders of the ordinary shares. The preferred votes, in battery assembled, quite conceivably could outvote the ordinaries at the next annual, or any extraordinary, meeting. . . . T Were this to happen, the con- trol of G. B. through Metropolis and Bradford and its fifty-seven percent of the outstanding com- mon, might undergo a serious shift. Resolutions against 20th Century - Fox - Ostrer control, therefore, might be entered upon the record. Bill Fox dished out somewhere between $16,000,000 and $19,000,000 for the forty-nine percent interest in M. and B.'s fifty-seven percent of the whole and there you have something — a tidy sum that can neither be for- gotten nor pushed around. Mind you, this department has no way of knowing how right or how wrong it may be, but is confident, nevertheless, that the speculation is earmarked with drama and possibilities. . . . T While London currently re- gards the melee as marking a de- feat for John Maxwell, it might be the cautious thing to do to wait a bit longer to see what hap- pens on his count and also on the score of 20th Century-Fox. If you have found this and other chapters in the G. B. steeplechase at all interesting, don't despair too much that the final word has been reached. There'll be more and it ought to be good. . . . ▼ T The Government and the tax- payers' money soon part under a congressional system which per- mits hearings on pet and nutty legislation. The Dickstein mea- sure, for instance. The honorable congressman wants art com- pressed within the geographical limitations of the commonwealth. Heaven help the tragedian or the comic who sees the light of day on any but these anointed shores. The Washington hearings, at minimum, get Dickstein's name into the record and Dickstein thinks that's all right, but should not be discounted, not when they provide amusement like that fur- nished by Herbert Kay Minsky last week. Conscious of his angles, he pulled that "stripping is definitely an American art" line and promptly bannered it across the front of the Oriental on Broadway where the Gypsy Rose _ Lee sorority meets. What America needs is more Dick- steins and Minsky more theatre frontage to advertise his show's frontage. . . . T T The Balanchine ballet will ap- pear in "Goldwyn Follies." From the same Zanuck about whom he yelled loud and, if true to form, long over the ridiculous race to place a pen in the hand of Gypsy Rose Lee — Darryl was accused of trying to bottle up Sam from signing new faces, which is a way of describing Miss Lee — Goldwvn borrows the Ritz Broth- ers. They will be used "contra- puntally" in comedv numbers to be designated as "Belly Laughs in Ballet" although probably it was for the suggestion in the title that Sam wanted Gypsy in the first instance. "Contrapuntally" is it? Jock Lawrence certainly is making it tough for Sam. . . ". G. B. Action Called Defeat for Maxwell {Continued from page 1) to the virtual abandonment of pro- duction and distribution. He said, "I believe there is some hope of pro- curing certain British and American assistance which may make it possible ior G. B. to reenter the production and distribution field on a satisfactory basis." Meetings Called on Quota in Australia {Continued from page 1) that the Act should not prove a dis- mal failure. After the end of the first quota year, Cinesound is the only producer en- gaged in regular production, and this company would be producing regular- ly whether quota existed or not. Some production activity is planned in other directions, but no more activity than would have been expected had the quota measure never been thought of, it is considered. Since there has been an inadequate supply of Australian films to meet the distributors' quota obligations, they have been unable to comply with the regulations, but no action will be taken in the matter. Meanwhile the cabinet hopes by conferring with dis- tributors and exhibitors to evolve some planby which the quota laws can be put into working order. More Speakers Set For MPTO Program {Continued from page 1) Century- Fox; Jesse H. Jones, chair- man of the R. F. C. and treasurer of the Will Rogers Memorial Commis- sion, and Charles Edison, Assistant Secretary of the Navy and son of Thomas A. Edison. Convention speakers announced earlier included Adolph Zukor, chairman and produc- tion head of Paramount, and J. Edgar Hoover, chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. A number of studio personalities will also attend the convention, with Shirley Ross being the latest to ac- cept an invitation. Set Full Day for March 18 The March 18 business session will be given over to committee reports and discussion of major trade practice subjects, including the music tax, un- fair trade practices, the M. P. T. O. A. 10_-point trade practice program, possibilities in conciliation and arbi- tration of trade disputes, radio and non-theatrical competition, "B" pic- ture production, exhibitor public rela- tions problems, labor relations, legis- lation and taxation and proposals for Governmental regulation of exhibition and distribution. The M. P. T. O. A. points out that Federal legislation to regulate wages, hours and unfair com- petitive practices may be introduced m Congress prior to the convention, in which case the new measures would be included in the program for analy- sis and discussion of their relation to theatre interests. Circuit Changes Name Dover, Del., Feb. 28.— Fox Utah Theatre Corp. has filed a change of name with officials here to Salmount Theatres, Inc., New York. TWO 20th CHAMPIONS FIGHT IT OUT; BOTH SMASH RECORDS! "Lloyds" and THE KEYSTONE OF YOUR FUTURE " flit "Avenge Pitt Records cause forcew M the Mvw a eacb Century-^x- next QOor . s ton, fftactw* Liy Zanuck proa other, two* ^ ^ord^ ^ ^ Up^rf' getting ^ dollars the o{ London 8 . t a iew doi IAPPY CRITICS AND CAPACITY CROWDS AT THE I. Y. RIVOLI GUFFAWED AT EVERY ONE OF THEM! THE HI inn 11^1 COHEOY NASTERPIECE • •"*".,. f H0 MM torn miracles \ mum mm lIi JU .... JUST if SHINE! Roland YOUNG Ccmerfu •""'•SI Mr Young is so completely fascinating that his problems9* this role aroose & he makes his difficulties """^ T, makes his lunacies personal ... He makes stirring and ^^^.S^^'k r. ««rn. n . -oto*>* A \V\e v t>«*e > de^ooO^°t^kS When Korda selected koi« $ sense ot ill WS Choice . . • «•» _ Kafe Cameron, N- pervades it. 2m'K°ble fantasy 7^ • • . New H-gh humor... Nyove^ Photoplay " and NOW / N /TS 2ND HOLDOVER WEEK! An ALEXANDER KORDA production Re/eased thru UNITED ARTISTS MOTION PICTURE DAILY 4 Purely Personal ► SS. HOREN, Spanish managing • director for 20th Century-Fox, is in town. J. C. Bavetta, head of Brazil sales, is due today. M. Lederman of the Philippine Islands is now in San Francisco and John Lindsey of Venezuela will arrive here March 9. Dell Goodman of the Far East will be here in April. • Lou Kaufman of Warners' real estate department is due back from Cleveland today. He's becoming a regular commuter between the Ohio city and the company' headquarters. • Lillian Fische, fashion adviser on "Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1938," will arrive today from Paris on the Berengaria. • Mary Pickford will arrive here by train on Wednesday en route to England. She will leave at noon the same day on the Berengaria. • Otto Kruger, Raymond Massey, Con Colleano and Joseph Schmidt are due today on the Berengaria. • Jay C Flippen and His Friars ap- peared at Leon & Eddie's last night in addition to the regular floor show. • E. W. Hammons, Educational pres- ident, is expected here from the coast Wednesday. • Tom Connors, western division head for Loew's, is en route to At- lanta, New Orleans and Miami. • Felix Joachimson, Hungarian film player, is due at Universal City tomor- row. Loew to Join Score Charge With Rentals {Continued from page 1) rental contracts. This we will en- deavor to inaugurate." Lichtman also clarifies Loew's stand on the 10 per cent cancellation pro- vision, asserting that it will apply to any exhibitor who leases all of the "features" offered him. Loew's use of the word "product," in place of "features," in the original reply, led Kuykendall to inquire whether short subjects, newsreels and trailers also were meant, and whether an exhibi- tor would have to take all of those offered him in order to obtain the cancellation right. Lichtman amplifies on Loew's policy in regard to the designation of pre- ferred playing time, pointing out that the company offers city subsequent runs and small town theatres "the right to lease all but four of our pic- tures on a flat rental basis and to permit him to play them on such days of the week as he may choose." The designation of preferred playing time on only four of Loew's pictures places no "great burden" on an exhibitor, Lichtman contends. Shorts Requirement Lenient The reply also asserts that Loew's will not require an exhibitor to pur- chase more shorts than would reason- ably be required to fill out a program for the features licensed from the company. Similar letters requesting clarifica- tion and reconsideration of responses to the M. P. T. O. A. program have been addressed to other major com- panies by Kuykendall and indications are that further concessions may be expected from them in the near fu- ture, as a result. Will H. Hays, M. P. P. D. A. president, lauded the M. P. T. O. A. trade practice cam- paign at a press conference last week and asserted that distributors "are doing and will do" something of defi- nite value in connection with the pro- gram. Would Tax Music Agents Madison, Wis., Feb. 28. — Music brokers would be obliged to pay an annual franchise tax of 25 per cent on their entire gross receipts from persons within Wisconsin for licenses or other agreements for the public rendition of copyrighted musical num- bers under the Cashman bill, which has been introduced in the State Senate. Ticket Tax Up in Kansas Kansas City, Feb. 28. — A bill in- troduced in the Kansas legislature provides for a tax equal to two per cent on the purchase price of admis- sion to any place of amusement except fairs and educational, religious or charitable activities. It is not a gen- eral retail sales tax, but is a retail sales tax on certain businesses. Billboard Regulation Asked Kansas City, Feb. 28.— A bill which would authorize county com- missioners in Kansas to license and regulate billboards has been intro- duced in the Kansas legisltature. Hit Measure Banning Games in Wisconsin {Continued from page 1) theatre or place of business by giving a ticket or token as an opportunity to win a prize. Omaha Games Attacked Omaha, Feb. 28. — The cooperative Bank Night conducted by 27 Omaha theatres faces more trouble because the most recent drawing was held ap- proximately 30 minutes earlier than usual. Difficulties arose when the woman whose name was called ap- pealed to Acting Mayor Harry Knud- sen in an effort to collect the $1,000. She claimed she was enroute to a theatre shortly before 9 p. m. when she learned the drawing had been at 8 :28 and she had won, yet lost be- cause she wasn't present. Knudsen told her that the city could not collect the money for her, but held a conference with City Attorney Sey- mour Smith who recently ruled thea- tre owners had to announce the win- ner's name to crowds outside the houses in order to avoid lottery charges. After the conference Knud- sen said the theatres may have been violating the lottery laws by holding the early drawing. Charge St. Paul Lottery St. Paul, Feb. 28. — Two theatres, two corporations and five men have been charged with operation of lot- teries here in complaints issued by M. F. Kinkead, Ramsey County At- torney, as he launched an investiga- tion of Bank Nights in St. Paul. Named in the two complaints were Abe Kaplan and Louis Rubenstein of Minneapolis, operators of the Dale in St. Paul ; J. L. Stern, state agent for Affiliated Enterprises, Inc., dis- tributors of the game ; David Gilman, operator of the Arcade, St. Paul, which runs a Jack Pot with permis- sion of the Northern Amusement Co., and Charles Yaeger of Denver, presi- dent of Affiliated. Study Mississippi Bank Night Oxford, Miss., Feb. 28. — Bank Night has been taken under consid- eration by the Lafayette County Grand Jury in an effort to test its legality. The case was given to the Grand Jury for investigation after Mayor R. X. Williams filed a charge against a theatre which has been using the game. Kansas Turns to Premiums Kansas City, Feb. 28.— With the banning of Bank Night and other games by the Kansas Supreme Court two months ago, exhibitors in Kansas are turning to double bills and dishes. Delay Shows to March 12 Pittsburgh, Feb. 28. — Balked in an effort to get James Melton to head the proposed stage show at the Stan- ley next week, the Warner house will not return to presentations until March 12. The first attraction is to be the "Folies Internationale" from Chicago's French Casino. The policy will not be permanent. Flash Preview "Circus Girl" — Plenty of excite- ment in this story of the big top, especially for the youngsters. This film will be reviewed in full in a coming issue of Motion Picture Daily. Monday, March I, 1937 Para. Fourth Quarter Net ISJOCOOO11 {Continued from page 1) the present six per cent debentures into the new three and one-quarter per cent convertible debentures, it is] believed. The accumulated two years' back 1 dividends on the first preferred and [ one year of the accumulated back divi- dend on the second preferred was paid by the company during the fourth quarter. Dividends on the two pre- ferred issues for the quarter alone, amounted to $412,000 and after de- ducting this, the remaining $3,288,000 of earnings for the period is equal to $1.72 a share on the 1,907,179 shares of common outstanding on Jan. 2, last. The quarter's earnings of $3,700,000 are after applying the last $200,000 of a special inventory reserve of $2,500,- 000 set up out of 1935 earnings, and also include $600,000 of non-recurring income. During the year, the com- pany's entire investment in Spain, amounting to approximately $240,000, was written off. During the quarter, approximately $1,600,000 of dividends was received from Paramount's non-consolidated theatre subsidiaries, which is approxi- mately $800,000 in excess of the com- pany's net interest as a stockholder in the combined earnings of all non- consolidated subsidiaries during the quarter, the company states. Results fof the quarter do not include earn- ings of Olympia Theatres and sub- sidiaries, which are in receivership. Indicating the rate at which con- version of preferred shares into com- mon is progressing is the company's report that the 210,129 shares of first preferred outstanding on Jan. 2, last, which are convertible into seven shares of common stock each, had been reduced to 165,465 shares on Feb. 24, while the 1,907,179 shares of com- mon had been increased to 2,219,908 shares on Feb. 24. Wall Street Most on Board Gain Net High Low Close Change Columbia 36J4 36'4 36J4 + H Consolidated, pfd 16'4 WA Eastman Kodak. 1693/6 16934 16934 -X Eastman, pfd 161 161 161 + v* General Theatre Equipment — Loew's, Inc 30 30 ' 30 -\ 7934 79 79 Paramount 2634 26V4 2634 + Paramount 1 pfd.. 187 186 186 +2 Paramount 2 pfd. 2434 24^ 24^4 + y» 94 9 9 + ZA RKO 834 8Vs 834 + X 20th Century-Fox. 35 341/2 35 + H Universal, pfd 100 100 100 Warner Bros 1554 1554 1554 - % Little Curb Movement Net High Low Close Change Grand National.... 334 3J4 334 Sentrv Safetj' Control Vt, % Vi —1/1 Technicolor 194 19J4 194 Trans Lux V/% 5 SVs — Vi Fractional Bond Changes Net High Low Close Change Keith B. F. 6s '46. 9854 9854 9854 + yt Paramount Pic- tures 6s '55 10134 10U4 10134 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 98 9734 9734 — 'A (Quotations at close of Feb. 27.) THEATRE ACCOUNTING by WILLIAM F. MORRIS (Certified Public Accountant) Tells all the facta about your business each week. • Payroll data for Social Security Taxes. • Profit at a glance — Daily or Weekly. • All expenses deducted — In- cluding Rent, Taxes and Depreciation. • Complete record of ad- vance bookings. • Itemized Schedule of AH Assets and Equipment with Table of Depreciation Rates. • Does not require a book- keeper to handle it. $3 ENOUGH FOR A FULL YEAR'S BOOKKEEPING 0 U 1 G LEY BOOKSHOP ROCKEFELLER CENTER NEW YORK MOTION PICTURE DAILY .londay, March I, 1937 I Radio Personals ► II Y McKEE, recently resigned from Cecil, Warwick and Cecil, ailed for Lima, Peru, last night. . . . '"red Wile, Jr., press head at Young ■nd Rubicam, left yesterday for a wo-week vacation in Nassau. . . . MEW will carry President Roose- elt's "Victory Dinner" address 'ilarch 4. CBS will feed the talk to |WNEW. . . . Charlotte Loughton, fnarpist, is the newest addition to the 'nusical staff of KTUL, Tulsa. . . . Klun Williams now a member of the IWMCA announcing staff, coming hjrom WIP, Philadelphia. . . . Bill B. jellatly, WOR's sales manager, now !he proud father of another daugh- ter. . . . Nat Brusiloff, WOR con- ductor, left for Bermuda Saturday. I( . . Frank Graham of the New York Sun's sport staff takes over Stan Lo- l>nax's "Sportscasts" on WOR this week, Lomax leaving for Florida to ''cover" the Brooklyn ball club. . . . I * ' Freddie Bartholomew will appear with Bing Crosby on the Kraft "Mu- !sic Hall" series March 4. . . . George Raft heads the list of guest talent set 'for next Saturday's "Shell Show" starring Joe Cook. . . . Benay Ve- nuta, Glenn Hunter, and George 'Rasely set for the Hammerstein "Mu- sic Hall" Tuesday, March 9. . . . Harlan Eugene Reid, acting as a staff correspondent for Transradio, sails for Europe Wednesday to cover the coronation of George VI, and will visit areas where war threatens. He will be gone three months. . . . Philip Merivale and Gladys Cooper will offer a scene from "Death Takes a Holiday" on the "Bandwagon" pro- gram March 4. . . . + Lennie Hayton's orchestra, with Marguerite Churchill, will be the guest attractions on Mutual's "Morn- ing Matinee" March 4. . . . Howard Hughes, film producer and speed pilot, will be the guest speaker at the Advertising Club luncheon March 4. WMCA and WOR will broadcast his address beginning at 1:15 P.M. . . . "Memory Songs" is the title of a new program which began last week over WOR. It is sponsored by the Ameri- can Book Mart and broadcast Tues- day s_ at 7 :45_ P. M. . . . Willard M. Kiplinger will be heard as guest speaker on the CBS Philadelphia Or- chestra program March 5 in place of Thomas I. Parkinson, previously an- nounced. . . . Sally Rand will be guest interviewed on "For Men Only" from the studios of WLW and over a Mutual hook-up tonight at 9 P. M., E. S. T. Farley-Smith James A. Farley and Al Smith will appear on the same program Wednesday, March 17 — but only because they're fellow Irishmen. The occasion for the get- together will be the dinner of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, which will be broad- cast from 10 to 11 P. M., E.S.T., on the NBC-Blue. Air Power Tests Put Over Until March 15 New Castle, Del., Feb. 28. — The demonstration by the National Wire- less Power & Light Corp. of the "feasibility of the use of transmission of electric power and light by wire- less," scheduled from the company's experimental laboratories near here for March 1 has been postponed until about March 15. John C. Roberts, the inventor, says the delay is due to a faulty tube which showed up during recent tests. Using equipment installed in the re- search laboratories near here during the past three and one-half months, Roberts said efforts will be made to transmit electrical lighting power by wireless to a ship en route from New York to Bermuda. Recent short tests at a distance of about seven miles have been successful, Roberts declared. U. S. Family Radio Hours at 95,500,000 (Continued from pape 1) Starch, research authority, under the sponsorship of CBS. It was determined that there are 24,500,000 families owning radio sets in the country. A total of 76.4 per cent of these families listens to the radio sometime each day; 18,718,000 families listen each day, and each family listens on an average of 5.1 hours each day. The foregoing figures result in a daily total of family listen- ing hours of 95,500,000. NBC Plans Test to Find Newsboy Champ In an effort to find the nation's champion newsboy, NBC will broad- cast a special program Wednesday, March 3, beginning at 11:30 P. M., E.S.T., on the Blue network. News- boys in New York, Boston, Washing- ton, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles will air their calls and will be interviewed on how they take an obscure item appearing on page 14 of a newspaper and make a headline out of it to lure readers. Judges sta- tioned in audition rooms of the New York and Washington studios will de- termine the winner, who will receive a cup. The judges are Charles Grid- ley, president of the National Press Club; Arthur T. Robb, editor of Editor and Publisher; Pat Kelly, NBC chief of announcers, and James Barrett, head of the Press-Radio Bureau. Cartoonists to Debate The Cartoonists' Guild of America will sponsor a forum on the subject, "Why Comic Strips?" on WNEW Saturday, March 6, from 8:30 to 9 P. M., E.S.T. Cartoonists will be broken into two factions : Sidney Hoff, Roland Coe arguing that present day cartoons contain too much propa- ganda. Opponents will be Otto Sog- low, Bob Brinkerhoff, Al Capp, Russ Westover and Ad Carter. Arthur J. Kemp Goes West Arthur J. Kemp, eastern representa- tive of the CBS Pacific coast network, left New York yesterday for Los Angeles and San Francisco in behalf of radio sales. He will be in Cali- fornia for two weeks. Simple After All Los Angeles, Feb. 28. — Harrison Holliway, station manager of the Earle C. Anthony stations KFI-KECA, is a genius — or so his an- nouncing staff thinks, at any rate. Announcers there have been struggling for months with sign-off announcements in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Hawaiian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish, for the benefit of foreign listeners. Holliway solved the poly- glot problem by having the greetings electrically tran- scribed. WBT, Charlotte, Ups Rates 20% Today Charlotte, Feb. 28. — WBT, Char- lotte station of CBS, will increase its rates 20 per cent beginning March 1. William A. Schudt is general man- ager. WBT's basic one hour evening rate is $250 per hour and goes up to $300, with proportionate increases in all other classes except daytime 50-word service announcements, which remain at $50 per week for seven. The new rate employs weekly frequency dis- counts, dollar volume discounts and discounts for consecutive weeks of uninterrupted broadcasting. Several weeks ago the station sent notices to all prospective advertisers notifying them of the increase and in- forming them that contracts signed up to March 1 could start within 50 days and retain the protection of the old rate card up to and including Feb. 28. The station also protected its entire list of current advertisers on the old rate card by issuing a new contract to all from March 1 to Feb. 28, 1938. All local current business has been renewed for 52 weeks. Three "Hotels" Are Set Billy Bacher, producer of the "Hol- lywood Hotel" program, has set three ace attractions for the month of March. The March 12 broadcast will fea- ture the Mauch twins and Ian Hunter in scenes from "Penrod and Sam." March 19, George Murphy, Doris Nolan, Ella Logan, Hugh Herbert, Gregory Ratoff. Henry Armetta, and Misha Auer will offer highlight re- enactments from Universal's "Top of the Town." March 26, Janet Gaynor and Fred- ric March will repeat their picture roles on the air in "A Star is Born." Seek Ideas for Scripts The new script show sponsored by the J. B. Ford Co. and beginning on CBS tomorrow will offer listeners prizes of $25 for acceptable dramatic incidents from life. The program's title, "A Page From Your Life" is a tentative, N. W. Ayer & Son informs, and probably will be changed by broadcast time. Murray Bloom Leaves NBC Murray Bloom, NBC artists ser- vice executive, has resigned his posi- tion at the network, it -was learned Saturday, following the example set by his chief, Rubey Cowan. Bloom will open a talent agency and will specialize in motion picture contacts. RADIO 7 CBS Drops KOL; New Seattle Feeder KIRO CBS will drop KOL, its present affiliate station in Seattle, and will take on in its stead KIRO, also lo- cated in Seattle. An announcement to this effect will probably be made by CBS within the next few days. KOL has been a member of the CBS network for a considerable number of years. The station is owned and operated by the Seattle Broadcasting Co., Inc., with studios in the Northern Life Tower Build- ing, Seattle. It is a full-time station, operating on a power of 5,000 watts by day, 1,000 watts by night. KlRO is owned by the Queen City Broadcasting Co. and maintains its studios in the Cobb Building, Seattle. It operates full time on a power of 1,000 watts. Four New WHN Shows Set Four new commercial programs will begin stays on WHN this week. Beginning today, the Mason Au Magenheimer Candy Co. will sponsor "Kandy Andy and Nancy," with James Sarsfield and Miss Golding in the title roles. The schedule is for Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 5 to 5:15 P. M. The series, for 13 weeks, was placed through the Grey Advertising Agency. Additionally today, the Helix Co. will sponsor a once-a-week series, "Your Opportunity," Mondays from 11:30 to 11:45 A. M. The contract, for 13 weeks, was placed direct. "Tunes of Today," sponsored by Procter and Gamble, begins a 26-week stay tomorrow. The series consists of five-minute spot periods broadcast Tuesday through Thursdays from 11:30 to 11:35 A. M. The Compton Co. is the agency. Starting Wednesday, and weekly thereafter for 26 weeks, the Budget Finance Co. will sponsor "How to Borrow Money," from 5:55 to 6 P. M. Frank Kiernan & Co. is the agency. Childs to Have Ted Mack The Childs Co., through Ruthrauft' & Ryan, Inc., will sponsor Ted Mack's orchestra from the restaurant on 59th St. and Madison Ave., be- ginning March 5 over WOR. The series will be broadcast Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7:15 to 7:30 P. M., E. S. T. A novel feature of the program will be informal interviews with diners in the restaurant. Program to Network "Northern Lights," a series which has been appearing locally on WTAM, Cleveland, for the past six weeks, goes network Thursday, March 4 on the NBC-Red, from 11:30 P. M., E.S.T., to midnight. It will continue to origi- nate from Cleveland as a sustainer. Use Radio Trailer Philadelphia, Feb. 28.— Bor- rowing a note from films, WFIL airs a five-minute trailer in the early evening giving a preview of the re- maining programs for the day. A transcribed musical background dresses up the readers and accounts spon- soring the programs come in for a mention. MOTION PICTURE DAILY 4 Purely Personal ► SS. HOREN, Spanish managing • director for 20th Century-Fox, is in town. J. C. Bavetta, head of Brazil sales, is due today. M. Lederman of the Philippine Islands is now in San Francisco and John Lindsey of Venezuela will arrive here March 9. Dell Goodman of the Far East will be here in April. • Lou Kaufman of Warners' real estate department is due back from Cleveland today. He's becoming a regular commuter between the Ohio city and the company' headquarters. • Lillian Fische, fashion adviser on "Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1938," will arrive today from Paris on the Berengaria. • Mary Pickford will arrive here by train on Wednesday en route to England. She will leave at noon the same day on the Berengaria. • Otto Kruger, Raymond Massey, Con Colleano and Joseph Schmidt are due today on the Berengaria. • Jay C. Flippen and His Friars ap- peared at Leon & Eddie's last night in addition to the regular floor show. • E. W. Hammons, Educational pres- ident, is expected here from the coast Wednesday. • Tom Connors, western division head for Loew's, is en route to At- lanta, New Orleans and Miami. • Felix Joachimson, Hungarian film player, is due at Universal City tomor- row. Loew to Join Score Charge With Rentals (Continued from pane 1) rental contracts. This we will en- deavor to inaugurate." Lichtman also clarifies Loew's stand on the 10 per cent cancellation pro- vision, asserting that it will apply to any exhibitor who leases all of the "features" offered him. Loew's use of the word "product," in place of "features," in the original reply, led Kuykendall to inquire whether short subjects, newsreels and trailers also were meant, and whether an exhibi- tor would have to take all of those offered him in order to obtain the cancellation right. Lichtman amplifies on Loew's policy in regard to the designation of pre- ferred playing time, pointing out that the company offers city subsequent runs and small town theatres "the right to lease all but four of our pic- tures on a flat rental basis and to permit him to play them on such days of the week as he may choose." The designation of preferred playing time on only four of Loew's pictures places no "great burden" on an exhibitor, Lichtman contends. Shorts Requirement Lenient The reply also asserts that Loew's will not require an exhibitor to pur- chase more shorts than would reason- ably be required to fill out a program for the features licensed from the company. Similar letters requesting clarifica- tion and reconsideration of responses to the M. P. T. O. A. program have been addressed to other major com- panies by Kuykendall and indications are that further concessions may be expected from them in the near fu- ture, as a result. Will H. Hays, M. P. P. D. A. president, lauded the M. P. T. O. A. trade practice cam- paign at a press conference last week and asserted that distributors "are doing and will do" something of defi- nite value in connection with the pro- gram. Would Tax Music Agents Madison, Wis., Feb. 28. — Music brokers would be obliged to pay an annual franchise tax of 25 per cent on their entire gross receipts from persons within Wisconsin for licenses or other agreements for the public rendition of copyrighted musical num- bers under the Cashman bill, which has been introduced in the State Senate. Ticket Tax Up in Kansas Kansas City, Feb. 28. — A bill in- troduced in the Kansas legislature provides for a tax equal to two per cent on the purchase price of admis- sion to any place of amusement except fairs and educational, religious or charitable activities. It is not a gen- eral retail sales tax, but is a retail sales tax on certain businesses. Billboard Regulation Asked Kansas City, Feb. 28.— A bill which would authorize county com- missioners in Kansas to license and regulate billboards has been intro- duced in the Kansas legisltature. Hit Measure Banning Games in Wisconsin (Continued from page 1) theatre or place of business by giving a ticket or token as an opportunity to win a prize. Omaha Games Attacked Omaha, Feb. 28. — The cooperative Bank Night conducted by 27 Omaha theatres faces more trouble because the most recent drawing was held ap- proximately 30 minutes earlier than usual. Difficulties arose when the woman whose name was called ap- pealed to Acting Mayor Harry Knud- sen in an effort to collect the $1,000. She claimed she was enroute to a theatre shortly before 9 p. m. when she learned the drawing had been at 8 :28 and she had won, yet lost be- cause she wasn't present. Knudsen told her that the city could not collect the money for her, but held a conference with City Attorney Sey- mour Smith who recently ruled thea- tre owners had to announce the win- ner's name to crowds outside the houses in order to avoid lottery charges. After the conference Knud- sen said the theatres may have been violating the lottery laws by holding the early drawing. Charge St. Paul Lottery St. Paul, Feb. 28.— Two theatres, two corporations and five men have been charged with operation of lot- teries here in complaints issued by M. F. Kinkead, Ramsey County At- torney, as he launched an investiga- tion of Bank Nights in St. Paul. Named in the two complaints were Abe Kaplan and Louis Rubenstein of Minneapolis, operators of the Dale in St. Paul ; J. L. Stern, state agent for Affiliated Enterprises, Inc., dis- tributors of the game ; David Gilman, operator of the Arcade, St. Paul, which runs a Jack Pot with permis- sion of the Northern Amusement Co., and Charles Yaeger of Denver, presi- dent of Affiliated. Study Mississippi Bank Night Oxford, Miss., Feb. 28. — Bank Night has been taken under consid- eration by the Lafayette County Grand Jury in an effort to test its legality. The case was given to the Grand Jury for investigation after Mayor R. X. Williams filed a charge against a theatre which has been using the game. Kansas Turns to Premiums Kansas City, Feb. 28.— With the banning of Bank Night and other games by the Kansas Supreme Court two months ago, exhibitors in Kansas are turning to double bills and dishes. Delay Shows to March 12 Pittsburgh, Feb. 28. — Balked in an effort to get James Melton to head the proposed stage show at the Stan- ley next week, the Warner house will not return to presentations until March 12. The first attraction is to be the "Folies Internationale" from Chicago's French Casino. The policy will not be permanent. Flash Preview "Circus Girl" — Plenty of excite- ment in this story of the big top, especially for the youngsters. This film will be reviewed in full in a coming issue of Motion Picture Daily. Monday, March I, 1937 Para. Fourth Quarter Net $3,700,000 (Continued from page 1) the present six per cent debentures into the new three and one-quarter per cent convertible debentures, it is believed. The accumulated two years' back dividends on the first preferred and one year of the accumulated back divi- dend on the second preferred was paid^ by the company during the fourth quarter. Dividends on the two pre- ferred issues for the quarter alone, amounted to $412,000 and after de- ducting this, the remaining $3,288,000 of earnings for the period is equal to $1.72 a share on the 1,907,179 shares of common outstanding on Jan. 2, last. The quarter's earnings of $3,700,000 are after applying the last $200,000 of a special inventory reserve of $2,500,- 000 set up out of 1935 earnings, and also include $600,000 of non-recurring income. During the year, the com- pany's entire investment in Spain, amounting to approximately $240,000, was written off. During the quarter, approximately $1,600,000 of dividends was received from Paramount's non-consolidated theatre subsidiaries, which is approxi- mately $800,000 in excess of the com- pany's net interest as a stockholder in the combined earnings of all non- consolidated subsidiaries during the quarter, the company states. Results fof the quarter do not include earn- ings of Olympia Theatres and sub- sidiaries, which are in receivership. Indicating the rate at which con- version of preferred shares into com- mon is progressing is the company's report that the 210,129 shares of first preferred outstanding on Jan. 2, last, which are convertible into seven shares of common stock each, had been reduced to 165,465 shares on Feb. 24, while the 1,907,179 shares of com- mon had been increased to 2,219,908 shares on Feb. 24. Wall Street Most on Board Gain Net High Low Close Change 36J4 3654 36J4 + H Consolidated, pfd 1654 1654 1654 Eastman Kodak. 1693/6 16934 1693/g -Vs Eastman, pfd 161 161 161 + 54 General Theatre Equipment Loew's, Inc 30 30 30 —1 79 79 - 54 Paramount 263/ 26M + % Paramount 1 pfd.. 187 186 186 24J4 +2 Paramount 2 pfd. 24M 2VA + H 954 m 9 9 + 5$ RKO 8J4 + 54 20th Century -Fox 35 3454 35 + H Universal, pfd.,., 100 100 100 Warner Bros 155/6 1554 15}4 - 54 Little Curb Movement Net High Low Close Change Grand National.... 3$i 354 ■ Sentry Safety Control Vt V» 7A — M(> Technicolor 1954 1 954 1954 Trans Lux 556 5 55s — Vs Fractional Bond Changes Net High Low Close Change Keith B. F. 6s '46. 9854 9854 98$4 -f % Paramount Pic- tures 6s '55 10134 10154 10134 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 98 9754 973/i - 54 (■Quotations at close of Feb. 27.) THEATRE ACCOUNTING by WILLIAM F. MORRIS (Certified Public Accountant) Tells all the facts about your business each week. • Payroll data for Social Security Taxes. • Profit at a glance — Daily or Weekly. • All expenses deducted — In- cluding Rent, Taxes and Depreciation. • Complete record of ad- vance bookings. • Itemized Schedule of All Assets and Equipment with Table of Depreciation Rates. • Does not require a book- keeper to handle it. ENOUGH FOR A FULL YEAR'S BOOKKEEPING QU1GLEY BOOKSHOP ROCKEFELLER CENTER NEW YORK MOTION PICTURE Monday, March I, 1937 L A Radio Personals > HY McKEE, recently resigned from Cecil, Warwick and Cecil, =ailed for Lima, Peru, last night. . . - Fred Wile, Jr., press head at Young and Rubicam, left yesterday for a two-week vacation in Nassau. . . . •WNEW will carry President Roose- velt's "Victory Dinner" address March 4. CBS will feed the talk to WNEW. . . . Charlotte Loughton, harpist, is the newest addition to the musical staff of KTUL, Tulsa. . . . Alun Williams now a member of the WMCA announcing staff, coming from WIP, Philadelphia. . . . Bill B. Gellatly, WOR's sales manager, now the proud father of another daugh- ter. . . . Nat Brusiloff, WOR con- ductor, left for Bermuda Saturday. . . . Frank Graham of the New York Sun's sport staff takes over Stan Lo- max's "Sportscasts" on WOR this week, Lomax leaving for Florida to "cover" the Brooklyn ball club. . . . + Freddie Bartholomew will appear with Bing Crosby on the Kraft "Mu- sic Hall" series March 4. . . . George Raft heads the list of guest talent set for next Saturday's "Shell Show" starring Joe Cook. . . . Benay Ve- nuta, Glenn Hunter, and George Rasely set for the Hammerstein "Mu- sic Hall" Tuesday, March 9. . . . Harlan Eugene Reid, acting as a staff correspondent for Transradio, sails for Europe Wednesday to cover the coronation of George VI, and will visit areas where war threatens. He will be gone three months. . . . Philip Merivale and Gladys Cooper will offer a scene from "Death Takes a Holiday" on the "Bandwagon" pro- gram March 4. . . . + Lennie Hayton's orchestra, with Marguerite Churchill, will be the guest attractions on Mutual's "Morn- ing Matinee" March 4. . . . Howard Hughes, film producer and speed pilot, will be the guest speaker at the Advertising Club luncheon March 4. WMCA and WOR will broadcast his address beginning at 1:15 P.M. . . . "Memory Songs" is the title of a new program which began last week over WOR. It is sponsored by the Ameri- can Book Mart and broadcast Tues- days at 7:45 P. M. . . . Willard M. Kiplinger will be heard as guest speaker on the CBS Philadelphia Or- chestra program March 5 in place of Thomas I. Parkinson, previously an- nounced. . . . Sally Rand will be guest interviewed on "For Men Only" from the studios of WLW and over a Mutual hook-up tonight at 9 P. M., E.'S. T. Farley-Smith James A. Farley and Al Smith will appear on the same program Wednesday, March 17 — but only because they're fellow Irishmen. The occasion for the get- together will be the dinner of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, which will be broad- cast from 10 to It P. M., E.S.T., on the NBC-Blue. Air Power Tests Put Over Until March 15 New Castle, Del., Feb. 28.— The demonstration by the National Wire- less Power & Light Corp. of the "feasibility of the use of transmission of electric power and light by wire- less," scheduled from the company's experimental laboratories near here for March 1 has been postponed until about March 15. John C. Roberts, the inventor, says the delay is due to a faulty tube which showed up during recent tests. Using equipment installed in the re- search laboratories near here during the past three and one-half months, Roberts said efforts will be made to transmit electrical lighting power by wireless to a ship en route from New York to Bermuda. Recent short tests at a distance of about seven miles have been successful, Roberts declared. U. S. Family Radio Hours at 95,500,000 {Continued from pane 1) Starch, research authority, under the sponsorship of CBS. It was determined that there are 24,500,000 families owning radio sets in the country. A total of 76.4 per cent of these families listens to the radio sometime each day; 18,718,000 families listen each day, and each family listens on an average of 5.1 hours each day. The foregoing figures result in a daily total of family listen- ing hours of 95,500,000. NBC Plans Test to Find Newsboy Champ In an effort to find the nation's champion newsboy, NBC will broad- cast a special program Wednesday, March 3, beginning at 11 :30 P. M., E.S.T., on the Blue network. News- boys in New York, Boston, Washing- ton, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles will air their calls and will be interviewed on how they take an obscure item appearing on page 14 of a newspaper and make a headline out of it to lure readers. Judges sta- tioned in audition rooms of the New York and Washington studios will de- termine the winner, who will receive a cup. The judges are Charles Grid- ley, president of the National Press Club; Arthur T. Robb, editor of Editor and Publisher; Pat Kelly, NBC chief of announcers, and James Barrett, head of the Press-Radio Bureau. Cartoonists to Debate The Cartoonists' Guild of America will sponsor a forum on the subject. "Why Comic Strips?" on WNEW Saturday, March 6, from 8 :30 to 9 P. M., E.S.T. Cartoonists will be broken into two factions : Sidney Hoff, Roland Coe arguing that present day cartoons contain too much propa- ganda. Opponents will be Otto Sog- low, Bob Brinkerhoff, Al Capp, Russ Westover and Ad Carter. Arthur J. Kemp Goes West Arthur J. Kemp, eastern representa- tive of the CBS Pacific coast network, left New York yesterday for Los Angeles and San Francisco in behalf of radio sales. He will be in Cali- fornia for two weeks. Simple After All Los Angeles, Feb. 28.— Harrison Holliway, station manager of the Earle C. Anthony stations KFI-KECA, is a genius — or so his an- nouncing staff thinks, at any rate. Announcers there have been struggling for months with sign-off announcements in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Hawaiian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish, for the benefit of foreign listeners. Holliway solved the poly- glot problem by having the greetings electrically tran- scribed. WBT, Charlotte, Ups Rates 20% Today Charlotte, Feb. 28.— WBT, Char- lotte station of CBS, will increase its rates 20 per cent beginning March 1. William A. Schudt is general man- ager. WBT's basic one hour evening rate is $250 per hour and goes up to $300, with proportionate increases in all other classes except daytime 50-word service announcements, which remain at $50 per week for seven. The new rate employs weekly frequency dis- counts, dollar volume discounts and discounts for consecutive weeks of uninterrupted broadcasting. Several weeks ago the station sent notices to all prospective advertisers notifying them of the increase and in- forming them that contracts signed up to March 1 could start within 50 days and retain the protection of the old rate card up to and including Feb. 28. The station also protected its entire list of current advertisers on the old rate card by issuing a new contract to all from March 1 to Feb. 28, 1938. All local current business has been renewed for 52 weeks. Three "Hotels" Are Set Billy Bacher, producer of the "Hol- lywood Hotel" program, has set three ace attractions for the month of March. The March 12 broadcast will fea- ture the Mauch twins and Ian Hunter in scenes from "Penrod and Sam." March 19, George Murphy, Doris Nolan, Ella Logan, Hugh Herbert, Gregory Ratoff, Henry Armetta, and Misha Auer will offer highlight re- enactments from Universal's "Top of the Town." March 26, Janet Gaynor and Fred- ric March will repeat their picture roles on the air in "A Star is Born." Seek Ideas for Scripts The new script show sponsored by the J. B. Ford Co. and beginning on CBS tomorrow will offer listeners prizes of $25 for acceptable dramatic incidents from life. The program's title, "A Page From Your Life" is a tentative, N. W. Aver & Son informs, and probably will be changed by broadcast time. Murray Bloom Leaves NBC Murray Bloom, NBC artists ser- vice executive, has resigned his posi- tion at the network, it was learned Saturday, following the example set by his chief, Rubey Cowan. Bloom will open a talent agency and will specialize in motion picture contacts. RADIO 7 CBS Drops KOL; New Seattle Feeder KIRO CBS will drop KOL, its present affiliate station in Seattle, and will take on in its stead KIRO, also lo- cated in Seattle. An announcement to this effect will probably be made by CBS within the next few days. KOL has been a member of the CBS network for a considerable number of years. The station is owned and operated by the Seattle Broadcasting Co., Inc., with studios in the Northern Life Tower Build- ing, Seattle. It is a full-time station, operating on a power of 5,000 watts by day, 1,000 watts by night. KlRO is owned by the Queen City Broadcasting Co. and maintains its studios in the Cobb Building, Seattle. It operates full time on a power of 1,000 watts. Four New WHN Shows Set Four new commercial programs will begin stays on WHN this week. Beginning today, the Mason Au Magenheimer Candy Co. will sponsor "Kandy Andy and Nancy," with James Sarsfield and Miss Golding in the title roles. The schedule is for Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 5 to 5 :15 P. M. The series, for 13 weeks, was placed through the Grey Advertising Agency. Additionally today, the Helix Co. will sponsor a once-a-week series, "Your Opportunity," Mondays from 11:30 to 11:45 A. M. The contract, for 13 weeks, was placed direct. "Tunes of Today," sponsored by Procter and Gamble, begins a 26-week stay tomorrow. The series consists of five-minute spot periods broadcast Tuesday through Thursdays from 11:30 to 11:35 A. M. The Compton Co. is the agency. Starting Wednesday, and weekly thereafter for 26 weeks, the Budget Finance Co. will sponsor "How to Borrow Money," from 5 :55 to 6 P. M. Frank Kiernan & Co. is the agency. Childs to Have Ted Mack The Childs Co., through Ruthrauff & Ryan, Inc., will sponsor Ted Mack's orchestra from the restaurant on 59th St. and Madison Ave., be- ginning March 5 over WOR. The series will be broadcast Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7:15 to 7:30 P. M., E. S. T. A novel feature of the program will be informal interviews with diners in the restaurant. Program to Network "Northern Lights," a series which has been appearing locally on WTAM, Cleveland, for the past six weeks, goes network Thursdav, March 4 on the NBC-Red, from 11 :30 P. M., E.S.T., to midnight. It will continue to origi- nate from Cleveland as a sustainer. Use Radio Trailer Philadelphia, Feb. 28.— Bor- rowing a note from films, WFIL airs a five-minute trailer in the early evening giving a preview of the re- maining programs for the day. A transcribed musical background dresses up the readers and accounts spon- soring the programs come in for a mention. Q AanMticmaf ftavtlcCtUm. oft cl 2000 YERR OLD MYSTERY Revealed for the First Time Su( not a mystery for these alert showmen who are now playing/ to TURN AWAY BUSINESS - 1937 s BIG BOX OFFICE THRILL! FOR THE FOLLOWING THEATRES R.K.O. Metropolitan Theatres Skouras R.K.O. White Plains Great Stales R.K.O. New Rochelle M & P Circuit R.K.O. Mt. Vernon Century Circuit R.K.O. Trenton Randforce Circuit R.K.O. Rochester Consolidated Circuit R.K.O. Union City Nelco Theatres R.K.O. New Brunswick Schine Circuit R.K.O. Kansas City Interboro Circuit Warner Bros. Theatres Balaban & Kaiz Interstate Circuit (New England) Rugoff & Becker EXTENDED RUNS Boston ... 16 weeks New York . 9 weeks Chicago . . 9 weeks Cleveland . 8 weeks Pittsburgh ... 8 weeks Los Angeles . . 5 weeks San Francisco . 5 weeks OPENING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY Cameramen have been permitted to film the mysterious life of the nuns living in a strictly cloistered Convent— where no man ever entered before. AN AUTHENTIC HUMAN DOCUMENT Filmed by Special Permission of Pope Pius XI Rialto Theatre Washington Erlanger Theatre Philadelphia March 2nd March 14lh "A masterpiece. Nol to "Irresistible appeal. Un- be seen once but many cannily artistic. A minor limes." — AMERICA miracle." — N. Y. POST ( "One of the most unusual "Unique picture.. .Strange- pictures of the year." Iy moving and beautiful." - N. Y. TIMES - DAILY NEWS PRESENTED BY BEST FILM.CO. RENE HUISMAN president DISTRIBUTED BY MUTUAL M.P.DISTRIBUTORSJNC. HARRY M .THOMAS president. . uni R.K.O. BUILDING * RADIO CITY - NEW YORK. Jjilt. Alert. Intelligent MOTION PICTURE DAILY The Leading Motio Picture Industry VOL. 41. NO. 50 NEW YORK, TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 1937 TEN CENTS S.&C. Signs 10-Year Deal With Empire New Agreement Replaces One Just Expired The Empire State operators' union yesterday concluded a new 10-year working agreement with the Springer & Cocalis circuit for the company's 38 theatres in Greater New York, it was learned from a reliable source. The new contract, which became effective immediately with the sign- ing of the agreement yesterday, re- places the previous deal which had expired last month, and which had been operative under a 30-day exten- sion which has just terminated. The Empire union, which maintains its headquarters in Brooklyn, and whose members are employed in the theatres of that borough for the most part, has been the subject of recent discussion relative to a possible agree- ment whereby the Empire union would merge with Local 306, along the lines of the recently completed arrange- ment whereby 306 absorbed the mem- bership of the Allied union. How- ever, Abraham Kindler, Empire pres- ident, specifically denied that any negotiations, or even discussions, have (Continued on page 8) Grace Moore's Film $101,000 for Week "When You're in Love" garnered $101,000 in the first week at the Music Hall. "Fire Over England" will open there Thursday. The Capitol on the first week of "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney" tallied approximately $50,000. The Astor, which continues to do standout busi- ness with a nice advance sale, took in $21,900 on the fourth week of "The Good Earth." For the three-day weekend at the (Continued on page 6) G.B.-Woolf Plan Subject To Approval Debenture Holders Still To Pass on Deal By BRUCE ALLAN London, March 1. — The arrange- ment completed between Gaumont British and C. M. Woolf's General Film Distributors is subject to the approval of the Law Debenture Corp., which is acting as trustee for the de- benture holders of G. B., it was learned here. A factor in the company's decision is likely to be the opposition to the deal, engineered by the Ostrers, which has been expressed by four im- portant members of the Gaumont British board, John Maxwell, Dixon Boardman, 0. H. C. Balfour and Sidney R. Kent, president of 20th Century-Fox. The four opposing di- rectors contend that the decision was rushed to a vote within 24 hours of the tendering of the offer by Woolf and entails the scrapping of £1,500,000 of the assets of the company in G.B. Distributors' shares and studio de- bentures partly secured by these as- sets. Roxy Six-Month Net Placed at $186,868 Howard S. Cullman, trustee for the Roxy, yesterday filed his fifth semi- annual report covering the period from July 3, 1936 to Jan. 7, 1937, and his monthly report covering the period from Dec. 31 to Jan. 28. The semi-annual report shows in- come of $961,532 and operating ex- penses of $774,664, leaving a net oper- ating profit of $186,868. Rent, taxes (Continued on page 2) Radio — Pages 10-11 France, Italy Sign New Film Agreement By PIERRE AUTRE Paris, Feb. 24. — A new film agree- ment has been concluded between France and Italy. It was signed in Rome. By its terms the Italian Gov- ernment will allow the importation quarterly of 12 French films over three reels in length, and France will take eight Italian features each quar- ter. Dubbed and subtitle versions will be considered one feature. It will be possible at a later date to increase the number of importa- tions, but the 4-3 ratio will be main- tained. French-language films made (Continued on page 6) Korda Drops Picture On Prudential Order London, March 1. — "Lawrence of Arabia," scheduled to be produced by Alexander Korda of London Films, will be made instead by Robert Kane of 20th Century-Fox's English pro- ducing unit. The shift in producer is taken here as a further indication of the cutting down of London Films activity on orders from the Prudential Assur- ance Co., chief financial backer of Korda. «U" May Physically Handle G.B. List Reports were current yes- terday that physical handling of G. B. may go to Universal under a plan which would continue the maintenance of the British company's own selling organization in this market. The alliance between C. M. Woolf of General Film Dis- tributors, Ltd. and G. B., con- summated in London late last week, could bring this about. Woolf, at one time a co-man- aging director of G. B. with Isidore Ostrer, is financially interested in Universal (American) under the deal by which control of the com- pany passed from Carl Laemmle to the group headed by J. Cheever Cowdin. Games Killed By High Court In Louisiana New Orleans, March 1. — Bank Night has been outlawed in Louisiana. The State Supreme Court today de- nied an appeal from the decision of Dec. 14 which held that Bank Night constituted a lottery and violated the criminal statutes of Louisiana. Every theatre in the state which conducts the game is affected. Today's decision is the outgrowth of a suit filed against Lewis Amusement Co., operators of the Florito, in City Court here by Charles Schanchelli on behalf of his son, a negro. Schanchelli alleged that his son was induced to buy a ticket on Nov. 13, 1935. Hoping to win a cash prize he attended the theatre every prize night until Feb. 29 when he was refused admission because the theatre was no longer selling tickets to negroes. Later, his (Continued on page 2) Warner, "U" Reports Revealed by S. E. C, Washington, March 1. — Annua! reports of Warners and Universal were made public here today by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Warner report, covering the fis- cal year ended Aug. 29, last, showed that at that time the company had 14 domestic and 29 foreign subsidi- aries, either wholly or partly owned ; that it held 50 per cent or more stock in 12 companies not included in its consolidated return, and stock also, in (Continued on page 8) Other Majors Seen Adopting Loew's Stand Expected to Liberalize MPTO Commitments All distribution companies may fol- low Loew's lead in liberalizing their commitments under the M.P.T.O.A. 10-point trade practice program in the near future, it was learned yesterday. Elimination of the separate score charge and specifically defined policies on the designation of preferred play- ing time are regarded as most likely to receive further attention from other distributors as a result of Loew's action. Al Lichtman, vice-president of Loew's, informed Ed Kuykendall, M.P.T.O.A. president, on Saturday that his company would endeavor to combine the score charge with the film rental, thus eliminating it as a separate charge, and would ask city subsequent runs and small town thea- tres for preferred playing time on only four pictures during the year. Licht- man's statements were made by way of clarification of Loew's original re- sponse to the M.P.T.O.A. program. It was pointed out that Kuykendall has asked the other six distributors who responded to the trade practice program to clarify some of their an- swers and to reconsider other pro- gram points on which their replies were regarded as unsatisfactory. Dis- (Continued on page 2) Fabian Sets Albany Pool With Warners Si Fabian and Warners have com- pleted a four-theatre pool in Albany. The deal went into effect Sunday and involves Fabian's Harmanus-Bleeker Hall and Palace and Warners' Ritz and Strand. Policies of all four houses will be continued without change for the time being. Fabian, who returned yesterday morning from Miami, left last night for Albany and will return tomorrow. He said yesterday that the pool will run indefinitely. Gordon, Goetz to Produce for U.A. Max Gordon and Harry M. Goetz probably will produce a series of three pictures annually for United Artists under the terms of a contract drawn and virtually set, barring details which are understood to be more or less routine. The first will be "The Women," (Continued on page 2) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, March 2, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 March 2, 1937 No. 50 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manage-, Published deily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc.. Martin Quigley. president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- cations: MOTION PICTURE HERALD, BETTER THEATRES, TEATRO AL DIA, INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Sts. ; Boone Mancatl. Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave., C. B. O'Neill, Manager. WASHINGTON: Albee Building, Bertram P. Linz, Representative. AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan 5; Philip de Schaap, Representative. BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 33; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 K&plar-u, Budapest II; Endre Hevesi, Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientes 2495; N. Bruski. Representative. HELSINKI: Predriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszlo, Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square, W. 1; Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address, Quigpubco, Lon- don. MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins St. ; Cliff Holt, Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart, Representative. MONTEVIDEO: P. 0. Box 664; Paul Bodo, Rep- resentative. MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern, Rep- resentative. PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre, Repre- sentative. PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1; Harry Knopf, Representative. RIO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 3358; A. Weiss- man, Representative. ROME: Viale Gorizia; Vittorio Malpassuti, Rep- resentative. SHANGHAI: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Build- ing, 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler, Repre- sentative. STOCKHOLM: Kungsgatan 36; Ragnar AUberg, Representative. TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken; H. Tominaga, Representative. VIENNA: Nuestiftgasse, 55; Vienna VII; Hans Lorant, Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Show "Horizon" Tonight Columbia previews "Lost Horizon" tonight at the Globe for newspaper and magazine critics. The film, which will play two-a-day, has its formal opening tonight. Hollywood, March 1. — The 4 Star Theatre goes two-a-day with "Lost Horizon" beginning March 10. Mat- inee scales will be tipped to $1. even- ing prices at $1.50. Marion, Col. Producer Hollywood, March 1. — Columbia has signed Frances Marion, writer, to a long term contract as a producer. MITCHELL MAY, Jr. CO., INC. • INSURANCE Specialists To The Motion Picture Industry 75 Maiden Lane, N. Y. City 510 W. 6th St., Los Angeles, Cal. More Support for Daily Cleveland, O. Feb. 25, 1937. Mr. Red Kann, Motion Picture Daily, New York City. Dear Red. I just picked up your paper and read your editorial entitled "Every Night But Show Night." This is the smartest and most timely article that has been written about our business in a long time. More truth has been expounded in the two and one quarter columns which I have just read than anything printed that I have been able to read relative to our business and its recent develop- ments. I have always said, when discussing Bank Nights, Dish Nights, etc," it is not show business. Thanks to you for your fine article. Kindest regards, NAT HOLT RKO Theatre Division Manager Other Majors Seen Adopting Loew's Stand {Continued from page 1) tributor acknowledgements of these are expected to include new liberalized commitments, comparable to those made by Loew's. It is also felt that the present 10 per cent cancellation privilege may be increased later when distributors have observed the manner and extent to which it is utilized by their accounts. Loew's is the fourth major dis- tributor to agree to work for the elimination of the separate score charge. Universal, Columbia and United Artists having committed themselves affirmatively on this point earlier. This leaves only RKO, Para- mount and 20th Century-Fox continu- ing the separate charge among the companies which acknowledged the M.P.T.O.A. program. Efforts to define the procedure of the local conciliation boards are being made currently, it was learned, and a definite position may be reached within the next few weeks. Several distribution companies were not in- clined to participate in the establish- ment of the boards unless such a definition was made. McNeil Will Attend San Francisco, March 1. — R. A. McNeil of the Golden State Theatre and Realty Corp., is en route to Ha- vana on the Pennsylvania. Due there March 12, he will fly to Miami for the forthcoming M. P. T. O. A. con- vention. Gordon, Goetz to Produce for U.A. (Continued from page 1) stage play jointly produced by the partners and now listed among the New York hits. Unless a release is purchased, however, the film version cannot be released until the fall of 1938. Goetz, who has returned from the coast, stated yesterday the cur- rent plan was to place the play in work next summer in Hollywood. He sails on the Queen Marv March 10 for an extended stay abroad and a peek at the coronation. Roxy 6-Month Net Placed at $186,868 (Continued from page 1) and insurance amounted to $89,141, leaving a net profit of $97,726 for the period before deductions for deprecia- tion and interest. The trustee esti- mated that depreciation would amount to $114,000. Net profit for the entire year 1936, before deduction for depre- ciation and interest, was $153,152, showing a profit of $55,425 for the first six months against $97,726 for the latter half. The trustee has cash on hand of $55,838 which compares with $51,802 for six months ago. During the six- month period, $75,000 of the principal of the outstanding receivers' certifi- cates was paid off, leaving $175,000 outstanding. Since January, however, an additional $25,000 has been paid, leaving only $150,000 outstanding. Sums Up Incumbency Cullman pointed out that since he became trustee on June 15, 1934, there has been a net profit of $375,027 as compared with a loss of $576,397 which occurred while a receiver was operating the property from May 18, 1932 until June 14, 1934. Since the original date of the receivership a loss of $204,145 has been sustained. Cullman also stated that as of Jan. 7, 1937, there was a deficit of $1,- 818,717. The monthly report shows cash re- ceived to the amount of $245,603 and disbursements of $169,345, an excess of receipts over disbursements of $76,- 258. A net profit of $36,953 before deductions for interest and deprecia- tion was shown. Program costs were $105,040 consisting of: Film rentals, $57,983 ; special talent, $26,068 ; stage, $7,495; orchestra, $9,514; projection- ists, $3,977, and other operating ex- penses, $61,894. This leaves a net operating profit of $50,120. Rent, taxes and insurance were $13,167. In- come from admissions was $214,091. With miscellaneous income of $2,963 the total income reached $217,055. Get Three French Films French M. P. Corp. has acquired the American distribution rights for "Club De Femmes," "Mile Mozart" and "L'Or Dans La Rue." The last named stars Dannielle Darrieux, French actress recently signed by Universal. "Club De Femmes" will be released by Mayer and Burstyn. Games Killed By High Court In Louisiana (Continued from page 1) name was called as the winner of an accumulated award. The plaintiff charged that denial of admission con- stituted breach of contract. Theatre attorneys argued that no cause or right of action existed as the alleged contract was a gambling law violation and therefore unenforceable. They were upheld by the court. It is said that police will allow thirty days before making arrests for con- ducting of cash giveaways in the 36 neighborhood spots here which are running Bank Night or Buck Night. Fabian Undecided On Quitting Games Although he is in favor of discon- tinuing games, Si Fabian, head of the Fabian circuit, has not determined definitely on dropping the practice, he. said yesterday. Operating the Fox, Paramount and Strand in Brooklyn in a pooling ar- rangement with Warners, Fabian claims that it is costing $1,000 a week to run games in these houses. Adver- tising, awards and commissions to the game agencies are included in the $1,- 000. Fabian said he wanted to study the matter before making a definite deci- "Deeds" Tops Poll of Minneapolis Journal Minneapolis, March 1. — "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" was voted the best picture of 1936 by 621 film critics from 47 states who were polled by the Minneapolis Journal. Paul Muni, for his work in "The Story of Louis Pasteur" won the best actor award, and Luise Rainer the best actress vote for her performance in "The Great Ziegfeld." Merle Potter, film critic of the Journal, directed the poll. Gold medals will be presented to Columbia for "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," and to the two players. Three choices for each division were requested and a point system determined the winners. Runners up in the three divisions were "The Great Ziegfeld," Gary Cooper in "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" and Irene Dunne in "Theodora Goes Wild." Form National Pictures Dover, Del., March 1. — National Pictures Corp. has been incorporated here with a capital of $100,000. The incorporators are D. B. Hilliard, R. M. Hilliard and H. M. Coote of Wilmington. Ben Goetz Sailing London, March 1. — Ben Goetz, who has been organizing M-G-M's produc- tion activities here, is booked on the Queen Mary for New York Wednes- day. Block on "Parnell" Hollywood, March 1. — Bertram Block of M-P-M's eastern editorial department, is writing additional dia- logue for "Parnell." SHOWMEN! USE THESE FLASH REVIEWS IN ALL ADVERTISING! Lobbies! Programs! Newspapers! Everywhere! LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY HAILED BY CRITICS! N.Y. TELEGRAPH — Slick, handsome and clever, glittering with polished dialogue and clever turns, sparkling with wit. N.Y. AMERICAN — Another See - It - By - All- Means picture. The cinema at its best . . .Wise and witty story with a happy ending. N.Y. POST — A bright and attractive screen vehicle, definitely a super-special in acting and production value... Miss Crawford wears stun- ning clothes and gives a right good perform- ance...You'll enjoy "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney." N.Y. WORLD-TELEGRAM — Highly diverting entertainment . . . Peopled with Hollywood's most charming and competent players and directed with a skilled touch . . . Solves the problem of how to have a perfectly swell time at the cinema . . . Joan Crawford superb. Fine work by Robert Montgomery, William Powell, Frank Morgan, as well as the others in the cast. In short, here is a film that one can recommend. N.Y. DAILY MIRROR— Sensationally smart and amusing comedy-drama. An admirable vehicle for Joan Crawford, Robert Montgomery and William Powell. Glamorous and exciting role for lovely Miss Crawford and it affords her companionship of a most accomplished sup- porting cast. N. Y. DAILY NEWS — Fast-moving, smartly- acted comedy. Entertainment for multituden- ous fans. N.Y. HERALD TRIBUNE —Witty and amusing . . . Infused with human interest, pace rapid and the suspense high, while retaining all the hu- mor in the author's dialogue and situations... Staged handsomely, the climax is gay, and the lines glitter. BUFFALO TIMES— I advise you to go to see "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney"... It is a handsome setting for the new Joan Crawford ... A clever, witty and amusing comedy. 20 times more events, surprises, twists and paradoxes! KANSAS CITY STAR— Bright and smart com- edy. Miss Crawford attractive, Mr. Powell, his competent suave self, Mr. Montgomery has one of his best parts in recent months. Frank Morgan is well nigh perfect. LOS ANGELES HERALD -Cast reads like the who's who of moviedom. LOS ANGELES EVENING NEWS— Played with verve and finesse by a top-notch company . . . Rapid-fire dialogue kept the customers alter- nating between chuckles and real laughs . . . Joan Crawford very fetching. LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS— A lavish pro- duction with exquisite settings. Agreeably and suavely told . . . Joan Crawford is handsomely and stunningly gowned. LOS ANGELES EXAMINER— The magic names of Joan Crawford, Robert Montgomery and William Powell . . . Production, direction and cast are excellent. M. P. DAILY — Clever situations, smart dia- logue, gay amusement. FILM CURB— Rates high as film fare. DAILY VARIETY— Swell dialogue, bright with laughs and satirical shafts . . . Joan Crawford plays with vitality and charm. William Powell renders a most ingratiating performance. Robert Montgomery's love scenes are delightful . . . Entertainment for all classes, with gorgeous production. HELD OVER 2nd BIG WEEK AT NEW YORK'S CAPITOL And delighting audiences in hold-overs everywhere 6 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, March 2, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "23y2 Hours' Leave" {Grand National) Hollywood, March 1. — Horseplay in the 1917 military cantonments is the substance of this feature produced by Douglas MacLean and in which he once starred. Of the substance that revives happy memories in the minds of those who signed up to save democracy and also pro- viding amusing entertainment for a new young generation, the film is a blending of comedy characterizations, gags, situations and dialogue, interspersed with solo and chorus singing. A soldier boy-general's daughter romance is also worked in. The song number "Good Night, My Lucky Day" is quality music and would be a decided asset to any production. As the full atmosphere of how the citizen soldiery lived when the war was considered a lark is reflected, Rookie James Ellison bets his com- rades he will have breakfast with Gen. Paul Harvey and that patty cakes will be the main course. He does all right but not before he is given a merry jousting about by his buddies and falls in love with Terry Walker whom he does not know is the General's daughter. The amusement provided is aimed to hit the fancies of the neighbor- hood and family trade. Likewise, it is geared to take the World War soldiers back to the good old days. Roisterous, but clean and wholesome, it should fit in acceptably on secondary programs. Ellison is pleasing in the leading role and Miss Walker satisfactory as the center of ro- mantic interest. Good support is provided by Morgan Hill, Arthur Lake, Paul Harvey, Wally Maher, Andy Andrews, Murray Alper, Russel Hicks and Ward Bond. Premised on Mary Roberts Rinehart's story, Henry McCarty and Harry Ruskin did the screen play. Samuel J. Warshawsky contributed added dialogue and music and lyrics are credited to Sammy Stept and Ted Koehler. John Blystone's direction made comedy to predominate. Production Code Seal No. 3,124. Running time, 72 minutes. "G." "That I May Live" (20th Century-Fox) Hollywood, March 1. — Basically a crime melodrama, "That I May Live" is handled, for the most part, in a light vein with sprightly penned dialogue and situations and tempered direction spasmodically verging on the farcical. The film emerges as ordinary, but entertaining, program fare evenly gauged for laughs and suspense which will primarily draw neighborhood patronage, but can be counted on to balance up a double bill in some key spots as obviously calculated by the producer. It's the old story of the man who emerges from a term in the peni- tentiary desiring to reform but is forced back into the racket by former pals. Robert Kent is the lad who does a three year stretch for robbery and, upon release, is forced at gunpoint to participate in another bank robbery by former cronies Jack La Rue and Frank Conroy. He is framed in this one and is held on a murder charge. Subsequently es- caping, Kent fakes a restaurant holdup but Rochelle Hudson, the wait- ress, kids him out of it, he goes to work washing dishes and romance begins. J. Edward Bromberg, who tours the country with a general store housed in his truck, is the kindly benefactor who takes the couple in after they are fired, sees that they are properly married and ultimately clears Kent of the crime. All characterizations are carried out in first class order with Brom- berg's role outstanding. Fred Kelsey, George Cooper, De Witt Jennings and others ably supported. Allan Dwan's direction is evenly balanced and intelligent. Ben Markson and William Conselman did the screen play. Sol Wurtzel produced. Production Code Seal No. 3,089. Running time, 70 Minutes. "G." Grace Moore's Film $101,000 for Week (Continued from page 1) Roxy, "Woman Alone" got $23,800. The picture is expected to wind up with $37,000 on the week. "Man of Affairs" at the Criterion garnered $16,394, according to G.B. "Women of Glamour" will open there Thurs- day evening. 20th Century-Fox will have five first runs of Broadway this month. "Love Is News" opens at the Roxy Friday. "Nancy Steele Is Missing" is due at the Rivoli March 6. "Wings of the Morning" has been dated into the Music Hall for March 11. "Time Out for Romance" is scheduled to open at the Palace March 12 and will be fol- lowed by "Fair Warning." Moore-Orsatti Settle Los Angeles, March 1. — The action instituted by Orsatti & Co., against Grace Moore for $98,000 was dis- missed today following a private settlement by the principals. File Infringement Answer C. & F. Amusement Corp., through its attorneys, Weisman, Quinn, Allen and Spett, yesterday filed answers in the U. S. District Court to copyright infringement actions brought by 20th Century-Fox and M-G-M, which charged the theatre company with playing one picture of each company one day overtime. The answer de- clared that the actions of the two companies had led the theatre to as- sume the overtime playing was author- ized, and charged that the suits were for the purpose of collecting damages which the answer called "excessive." Allow Proctor RKO Claim A stipulation was signed yesterday between attorneys for RKO and RKO Proctor Corp. in the RKO reorganiza- tion proceedings allowing the claim of the Proctor Corp. against RKO in the sum of $10,350. Disallows Attorneys' Claim Special master Richard B. Scan- drett, Jr., filed an order yesterday dis- allowing the claim of Boyle and Priest, St. Louis attorneys, in the RKO re- organization proceedings, for $3,561 for legal services on the ground that the services were not rendered for the debtor corporation. Wilkes Answers Interrogation New Orleans, March 1. — Harold Wilkes today filed an answer to an in- terrogation in Federal Court here de- fining the position of branch manager for Paramount and director of the Saenger Theatres Corp. He claimed that there has been no discrimination on account of color and stated further that Saenger has prior claim to Para- mount this season. Technicolor Wins Restraint Los Angeles, March 1. — Federal Judge William P. James today ruled that Tricolor's circularizing of exhib- itors constitutes improper interfer- ence with the business of Technicolor and granted an injunction restraining Tricolor from further use of the prac- tice pending the trial of the case on March 9. The opinion states, in part : "The belief, as expressed by Tricol- or, that it might show some conspiracy between the defendant and the pur- chasers of films produced by it is not sufficient to authorize the threaten- ing notice sent to exhibitors. The law states plainly that when infringement by the making and use of apparatus is claimed, liability does not extend to the users of the apparatus." The Tricolor correspondence was held "tending to alarm exhibitors." United Sues Columbia in N. O. New Orleans, March 1. — Suit has been filed here by the United The- atres circuit against Columbia. The circuit claims "Theodora Goes Wild" to be part of their contract for first subsequent run, claiming that Colum- bia had no right to sell the film first in other situations. Pulverman Action Dismissed Milwaukee, March 1. — Federal Judge Patrick T. Stone in Superior Court here has dismissed the $300,000 action of Minnie Pulverman against M. P. Exhibitors' Protective Ass'n of Northern Wisconsin, Vitagraph, Para- mount, United Artists, G.B. and M-G-M. The court held that the ex- hibitors had the right to protect their business. _A motion for a new trial was de- nied. France, Italy Sign New Film Agreement (Continued from page 1) in Italy and Italian language films made in France will not be considered in the import group, nor will shorts or silent films. Italian films shown in France will be subject to all regula- tions which govern the showing of any foreign product in this country. The agreement will be in effect from Feb. 1 to Dec. 31, 1937, with renewal automatic at the termination date un- less opposition to it is voiced. Under a correlative agreement pay- ment for such films as are traded between the two countries will be paid for through a special clearing house set up by the Government in each country. Eastman Raises Pay Rochester, March 1. — Pay in- creases and wage dividends totaling nearly $4000,000 have been set for home and foreign employes with eight months' service or more by Eastman Kodak. The pay increase, approxi- mating a jump of 20 per cent over the old 40-hour week, will total $1,500,000. The wage dividend will be $2,112,555, of which employes in the three Rochester plants will receive $1,393,909, those in the United States and Canada $1,858,528, and those in foreign countries the rest of the total. Epidemic Bars Children Wellington, N. Z., Feb. 2. — (By Air-Mail Via London) — Theatre man- agements in the Dominion have volun- tarily undertaken to bar the attendance of children until the infantile paralysis scare has passed. Selznick Meets Today Hollywood, March 1. — The board of directors of Selznick International at its meeting to be held tomorrow will consider the $12,000,000 produc- tion program for the coming year. Wall Street Losses Spot Board Net High Low Close Change Columbia Columbia, pfd. . . Consolidated .... 3654 4454 3654 4454 3654 4454 - 54 4?4 4% 4% Consolidated, pfd. 163^ 1654 1654 + 54 169 168 168 -i% Eastman, pfd. . . . 16054 160 16054 - 54 Gen. T. Equip 30 J>30 30 K.-A.-O., pfd. ... 1044 103 103 —7 Loew's, Inc 79 7754 7754 -1M 26% -25% 25% - % Paramount 1 pfd. .185 184 184 —2 ' Paramount 2 pfd. 2434 23% 23% -% Pache Film 9 8% - % RKO 9 m 8% - % 20th Century -Fox. 3Sl/$ 3454- 34% - Vi Warner Bros. . . . 1554 15% 15/s -% Technicolor Best Curb Gains Net High Low Close Change Grand National . • 3% 354 354 U - % Sentry Safety . . . ■ ¥>, 34 Sonotone 2 2 2 Technicolor 20J4 1954 2034 +154 • 554 5 5 Universal Pict. . . 15 15 15 —2 Most Bonds Rise Net High Low Close Change Loew's 354s '46. . . 99%, 99% 99% + % Paramount B'way 3s '55 75 74 75 +1 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 1013^ 101 101 - 54 RKO 6s '41 pp.. 120 118 118 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 98% 98 98% + % (Quotations at close of Mar. 1) Mi ...cutting a fighting trail through the Big Timber country.. -as a society lion who turned Northwoods wildcat when a gang of timber thieves got too reck- less!... Romance hewn from a rugged land., .in a pulse-pounding story of grit and speed and breathless excitement! Si :=5? - ID HOWARD V GEORGE A. HIRLIMAN PRODUCTION Jtt'#>v , ASSOCIATE PRODUCER 1^ \J LEONARD GOLDSTEIN [Ap\Q PICTUf MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, March 2, 1937 S.&C. Signs 10-Year Deal With Empire (Continued from page 1) taken place with the officials of Empire looking to a possible amalgamation of the two unions. Detailed terms of the wage and hour agreement entered into between Springer & Cocalis and the Empire union were not available last night. Lieutenant James Pyke of the Bomb Squad of the Police Dep't yesterday told Motion Picture Daily that his unit is pressing its investigation into the tear gas bombing Saturday night of seven Springer & Cocalis theatres located along upper Broadway from 72nd St. to 110th St., in which a number of people were slightly in- jured and patrons were forced from the houses by the fumes. Lieutenant Pyke, under whose jur- isdiction is the investigation of the bombings, declared that policemen will be maintained at each of the 38 Springer & Cocalis theatres in Man- hattan, the Bronx and Brooklyn un- til the "situation is cleared up." Two K.C. Houses Bombed Kansas City, March 1. — Two thea- tres here, the Roanoke and Sun, were bombed here early today. Both houses were closed at the time. Edwin S. Young, manager of the Roanoke, and C. W. Rohde and Homer Pautz, own- ers of the Sun, declared neither house employs union operators. Delaware Bill Asks Tax-Free Producing Dover, Del., March 1.— A bill exempting motion picture studios which shall be established in Delaware on or after July 1, 1937 from taxation for 15 years was introduced in the State Assembly here today by Repre sentative W. R. Ringler of Millvilie. The bill, an act amending the "valu- ation and assessment property" act, provides that for a period of IS years from the beginning of its operation film studios and plants, including all lands, buildings and chattels utilized in connection with the production of mo- tion pictures and all raw materials going into the finished products of such studios and plants as well as the finished films, shall be exempt from valorem taxation. The exemp- tion is not to apply to real estate owned by such studio and plants ex- cept real estate occupied as location required to house such studios and other buildings incidental to operation together with such lands as may be required to house officers and em- ployes, or for warehouses, laboratories, cutting rooms, projection rooms, sets and locations. Sunday Bill in Delaware Dover, Del., March 1.— A bill call- ing for the State-wide legalization of Sunday motion pictures after 2 P. M., was introduced in the State Assem- bly here today by Representative John P. Hammill of Wilmington. The bill also provides that no em- ploye in or about a theatre shall be employed on Sunday unless he or she has had at least 24 consecutive hours DECENCY IN MOTION PICTURES by MARTIN QUIGLEY Why there is and how there came to he a "Production Code" 100 pages — bound in Blue Cloth ONE DOLLAR POSTPAID Published by the MACMILLAN COMPANY available at THE QUIGLEY BOOKSHOP Rockefeller Center, New York City Explains Triples Kansas City, March 1.— Triple features bring in enough extra patronage to warrant the additional ex- pense and decreased "turn- over" only on Sundays, says E. S. Young, operator of the Roanoke and Central, who introduced the policy some months ago. Young runs a triple at his houses about one change a week. This is due, Young be- lieves, to the fact that on Sunday people have time for a triple. of rest during the preceding six days. Violation of the measure calls for a fine of $50 or imprisonment of 10 days for the agent or officers of the com- pany guilty of the violation. HammiU's bill is not the measure currently being formulated by the Law and Legislative Committee of the M. P. T. O. of Delaware and Eastern Maryland, it was stated today by Ben- jamin Shindler, a member of the com- mittee. Oklahoma Reduces Planned Tax Oklahoma City, March 1. — A severe blow was dealt the Oklahoma tax commission by administration leaders here recently when the rev- enue and taxation committee reduced the commission's administrative share of the tax tnore than $200,000 and clipped $250,000 from a proposed amusement tax. H. Tom Kight, chairman, and Homer Odell, vice-chairman, took the lead first in stripping the tax commis- sion of part of its administrative fund, and in reducing the theatre tax from a proposed five per cent to the present two per cent. Favor Sunday Measure Raleigh, N. C, March 1.— The Senate Committee on Counties, cities and towns, following a public hearing, reported favorably on Representative Cooper's bill to legalize Sunday films, baseball and pool rooms in Cherokee County. Illinois Considers 2 Bills Springfield, 111., March 1. — Two bills, both concerning theatres, were referred to Senate committees here this week. One measure, introduced by Sena- tor Tuttle, reads, "a tax is imposed on persons engaged in or conducting any place of amusement to which ad- mission has been charged and is col- lected at the rate of two per cent of the gross receipts so charged and col- lected." This bill, if passed, would be effec- tive Aug. 15. All monies received as the proceeds of this tax would go to the old age assistance fund in the state's treasury. This plan is under- stood to meet with much approval among state's legislators. A second bill, introduced by Sena- tor Meyers, asks that a state board of censors for films be provided. This board would consist of three members to be appointed by' the director of the Department of Registration and Edu- cation and would also censor all forms of film advertising. Films approved by the board would get a certificate from the department stamped on the film itself. The fee for consideration would be $3 for each 1,200 feet and $3 for each duplicate of a film. If Warner, "U" Reports Revealed by S. E. C (.Continued from page 1) 19 others which it claims it has no control over and therefore are not subsidiaries. Holders of 10 per cent or more of any class of securities, as of Feb. 1, last, were reported as Renraw, Inc., 14,358 shares; Sigler & Co., 20,720 shares ; H. M. Warner, 10,618 shares and Albert Warner, 21,035 shares, all in $3.85 cumulative preferred. Other securities held by officers and directors were $22,500 each, bene- ficially, of six and one-half per cent first mortgage gold bonds by H. M. Warner, Albert Warner and J. L. Warner. The company reported no change in its contractual arrangements but showed that between Nov. 30, 1935, and April 13, 1936, Jack L. Warner sold the company certain furniture, equipment and material for $105,323. It also reported that during the fis- cal year the company filed a claim with the board of tax appeals for a deductible allowance as an offset against income tax deficiences and the Treasury held the claim conflicted in part with other claims filed by the three Warners brothers, and refused relief to all parties. To "avoid an impasse" the company entered into an agreement with the Warners, accept- ing their obligation to pay it $110,000 in substitution for its claim. "U" Reports to Oct. 31 The Universal report, covering the fiscal year ended Oct. 31, last, showed six wholly-owned and one partly owned domestic subsidiaries, two of which were inactive, and 28 foreign subsidiaries. Holders of 10 per cent or more of any class of stock were listed as the Universal Corp., 20,000 shares of second preferred and 229,027 shares of common, and Gruntal & Co., 1,922 shares of first preferred. The company reported that during the year as existing contracts expired, it made new agreements with Willard S. McKay as general counsel at $700 per week to April 1, 1937, and $1,000 per week thereafter to 1941, and with James R. Grainger as general sales manager, for two years from May 18, 1936, at $1,000 per week for the first year and $1,250 per week for the sec- ond year, with an option to retain his services for a third year at $1,500 per week. Laurel Incorporates Sacramento, March I. — Incorpora- tion papers were filed here today for Stan Laurel Prod., Inc. Valuation of $100,000 has been listed. It is re- ported that Oliver Hardy has been assigned for a single picture. Sam Shirley Very III Chicago, March 1.— Sam Shirley of M-G-M, ill here, suffered a seri- ous setback yesterday following an operation. John Divney Recovering Portland, March 1. — John Divney, manager of the Maine, is convalesc- ing from an operation. He is home from Queen's Hospital. passed, the censorship bill will be ef- fective Aug. 1. It is understood that theatre men are _ planning an intensive campaign against both measures. Tuesday, March 2, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 'Salem,' Show "Sea Devils" Only Grosser On the Coast Los Angeles, March 1. — "Maid of Salem," with a stage show at the y Paramount, was the only attraction to make much of an impression dur- > ing the week in spite of an improve- ment in the weather. The $20,500 „ take was $2,500 over par. "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney," on a dual with "Man of the People," went $2,100 over the line on a take of $16,- 000 at Loew's State, but failed to make much of an impression at the Chinese where the take was $12,000. "The Black Legion," with "Women of Glamour" was a disappointment at ' the Warner Hollywood with $13,400, but managed to get $300 over the line , on a take of $12,300 at the Warner , Downtown. I Total first run business was $107,- 278. Average is $105,950. i Estimated takings for the week end- : ing Feb. 24: "THE GOOD EARTH" (M-G-M) CARTHAY CIRCLE— (1,518), 50c -$1.50, 7 days, 4th week. Gross: $16,800. (Average, 1 $17,000) "THE LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY" (M-G-M) "MAN OF THE PEOPLE" (M-G-M) CHINESE — (2,500), 30c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $12,500) "WINGS OF THE MORNING" (20th-Fox) 4 STAR— (900), 30c-55c, 5 days, 2nd week. Gross: $3,078. (Average, $3,250) "YELLOW CRUISE" (French) GRAND INTERNAT'L — (750) , 35c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $1,600. (Average, $1,200) "MICHAEL STROGOFF" (Radio) "DON'T TELL THE WIFE" (Radio) HILLS TREET— (2,700), 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $8,000) "THE LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY" (M-G-M) "MAN OF THE PEOPLE" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE— (2,500), 30c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $16,100. (Average, $14,000) "MICHAEL STROGOFF" (RKO) "DON'T TELL THE WIFE" (RKO) PANTAGES— (3,000), 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $8,000) "MAID OF SALEM" (Para.) PARAMOUNTM3,595), 30c-55c, 7 days. Stage: Rube Wolf and his orchestra, F. & M. revue, Charles Withers, Laraberti, Loretta Lee. Gross: $20,500. (Average, $18,000) "BLACK LEGION" (W.B.) "WOMEN OF GLAMOUR" (Col.) WARNER BROS. (HOLLYWOOD) — (3,000), 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $13,400. (Average, $14,000) "BLACK LEGION" (W.B.) "WOMEN OF GLAMOUR" (Col.) WARNER BROS. (DOWNTOWN) — (3,400), 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $12,300. (Average, $12,000) 5,302 Houses in Reich Berlin, Feb. 20. — The number of German theatres on Jan. 1, 1937, was 5,302 with a total seating capacity of 1,943,049. Of them, 2,316 theatres are playing daily with a total seating ca- pacity of 1,195,906. A total of 1,984 houses have 250 seats or less, 2,355 from 250 to 500 seats, 713 from 501 to 900 seats and 250 houses have more than 900 seats. Ohio Lifts "Spain" Ban Columbus, March 1. — The censor board has lifted the ban on "Spain in Flames," Russian film, as the result of pressure brought by various Spanish societies, sympathizers and newspaper editorials. The picture was banned because it was thought it would exert a harmful influence on the public due to its decided Loyalist angles. $20,400 Hit, San Francisco San Francisco, March 1. — "Sea Devils" was something of a sensation tion in a quiet week. It piled up $20,- 400 with the help of a vaudeville bill at the Golden Gate leaving par $4,400 astern. "The Green Light" and "Woman Wise" also went into the profit col- umn in a big way with a take of $19,500 at the Fox. This was $4,500 in the black. Other houses felt the competition, although "On the Avenue," with "Paradise Express" held up to $13,- 000 at the Paramount. Total first run business was $93,450. Average is $85,000. Estimated takings : Week Ending Feb. 23: "ACCUSED" (U.A.) "NIGHT WAITRESS" (Radio) EMBASSY— (1,400), 15c-30c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $3,500. (Average, $4,500) "SEA DEVILS" (Radio) GOLDEN GATE— (2,850), 15c-30c-35c- 40c-55c, 7 days. Stage, vaudeville. Gross: $20,400. (Average, $16,000) Week Ending Feb. 24: "GREEN LIGHT" (W.B.) "WOMAN WISE" (20th-Fox) FOX— (5,000), 15c-30c-35c-40c-55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $19,500. (Average, $16,000) "DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND" (Col.) "SHE'S DANGEROUS" (Univ.) ORPHEUM— (2,440), 15c-30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $10,200. (Average, $9,500) "ON THE AVENUE" (ZOth-Fox) "PARADISE EXPRESS" (Republic) PARAMOUNT— (2,740), 15c-30c-35c-40c- 55c-75c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $13,000) "MAID OF SALEM" (Para.) "HOLY TERROR" (ZOth-Fox) ST. FRANCIS — (1,400), 15c-30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 2nd downtown week. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $6,000) "BELOVED ENEMY" (U.A.) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,200), 15c-30c-35c- 40c-65c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $5,800. (Average, $6,000) Week Ending Feb. 25: "MAN OF AFFAIRS" (G.B.) "UNDER COVER OF NIGHT" (M-G-M) WARFIELD— (2,680) , 15c-30c-35c-40c - 55c- 75c, 7 days. Gross: $13,400. (Average, $13,- 000) Week Ending Feb. 26: "LUCK OF THE IRISH" (Guaranteed) CLAY— (400), 15c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $1,150. (Average, $1,000) Cut Pacific Mail Rates New air mail postage rates for trans-Pacific service have gone into effect coincident with the scheduling of the first clipper departure from San Francisco, March 24 or shortly thereafter. The rates are : to Hawaii, 20 cents ; Manila, 50 cents ; Hong- kong, 70 cents. Republic in French Deal Paris, Feb. 20.— The French dis- tributing company Radio Cinema has closed a deal with Republic for the distribution in France and North Africa of a number of Republic films, which have not been distributed in France up to this time. No "Maytime" Roadshow Hollywood, March 1.— M-G-M has decided against roadshowing "May- time." It will open day and date at Loew's State and the Chinese here March 10. Runs for Mayor Columbia, Mo., March 1.— By a vote of 2,553 to 1,954, Rex. P. Barrett, manager of Com- monwealth's Uptown, has won the Democratic nomina- tion for mayor. Barrett nosed out R. S. Pollard, present mayor. Usually, nomination on the Democratic ticket is tantamount to election. "Cheyney" $10,000, Milwaukee on Dual Milwaukee, March 1. — The week's high money went to "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney" and "Sinner Take All," which grossed $10,000 at Fox's Wisconsin. This was $2,000 above average. The bill was held. "The Green Light" and "Fugitive in the Sky" cornered second high honors with $7,000 for eight days at the Warner. This was $2,000 above average. The weather varied from rain to near zero temperatures. Total first run business was $30,000. Average is $24,500. Estimated takings : Week Ending Feb. 23: "THE LAST OF MRS. CHENEY" (M-G-M) "SINNER TAKE ALL" (M-G-M) WISCONSIN— (3,200), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $8,000) Week Ending Feb. 25: "WOMEN OF GLAMOUR" (Col.) PALACE— (2,400), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Stage: Benny Davis' "Stardust Review." Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,000) "HAPPY-GO-LUCKY" (Republic) RIVERSIDE— (2,300), 20c-30c, 7 days. Stage: Andre Lasky's "French Revue." Gross: $5,500. (Average, $5,000) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) "MR. CINDERELLA" (M-G-M) STRAND— (1,400), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $1,500. (Average, $1,500) "THE GREEN LIGHT" (F.N.) "FUGITIVE IN THE SKY" (W.B.) WARNER— (2,400), 25c-3Sc-50c, 8 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $5,000) "Avenue" on Dual Top in Providence Providence, March 1. — The biggest business for the week was scored by "On the Avenue," at the Majestic, where the musical hit $11,200 on a dual with "Off to the Races." Aver- age for the house is $7,000. The Strand enjoyed a big week with "Maid of Salem" and "Mind Your Own Business," which brought in $8,900, over average by $2,400. "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney" chalked up a par $12,000 at Loew's State. The weather was warm and fair. Total first run business was $45,600. Average is $39,500. Estimated takings for the week ending Feb. 25 : "THE LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE— (3,400), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average. $12,000) "SEA DEVILS" (RKO) "DON'T TFLL THE WIFE" (RKO) RKO ALBEE— (2,300), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $7,000) "ON THE AVENUE" (20th-Fox) "OFF TO THE RACES" (20th-Fox) MAJESTIC — (2,400), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $11,200. (Average. $7,000) "BREEZING HOME" (20th-Fox) FAYS— (1,600). 15c-40c, 7 days. Stage: "Olympics Revue." Gross: $7,000. (Aver- age, $7,000) "MAID OF SALEM" (Para.) "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS" (Para.) STRAND— (2,300), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,900. (Average, $6,500) "Green Light" $18,000 Wow In Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, March 1. — "The Green Light" turned in a smashing $18,000 at the Stanley, over normal by $6,500, and was held over. It was the best take at this house since "Anthony Adverse." "On the Avenue" held up to $7,800, up by $3,300, at the Fulton, and "Lloyds of London," in its second week at the Alvin took a strong $6,500. Although the notices for "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney" at the Penn were only lukewarm, there were enough cast names to carry it through to an excellent $16,750. Weather conditions all week were excellent, except for the sudden re- turn of winter, which didn't seem to hurt much, and first run grosses were $55,150. Average is $37,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 25 : "LLOYDS OF LONDON" (20th-Fox) ALVIN— (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $5,500) "ON THE AVENUE" (ZOth-Fox) FULTON— (1,750), 25c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $7,800. (Average, $4,500) "LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY" (M-G-M) PENN— (3,300), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $16,750. (Average, $11,000) "GREEN LIGHT" (W.B.) STANLEY — (3,600), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $18,000. (Average, $11,500) "PLOUGH AND THE STARS" (RKO) "DANGEROUS NUMBER" (M-G-M) WARNER — (2,000), 25c-40c, 8 days. Gross: $6,100. (Average, for 7 days, $5,000) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Hollywood Joining Divines In Air Series on Tolerance RADIO Six Station Permits Are Asked of F. C. C. Washington, March 1. — Receipt of six applications for the construction of new broadcasting stations was an- nounced today by the F.C.C., as fol- lows : John W. Haigis, Greenfield, Mass., 1,210 kilocycles, 250 watts, daytime only; Ocala Broadcasting Co., Ocala, Fla., 1,500 kilocycles, 100 watts at night and 250 watts during the day, unlimited time ; Florida West Coast Broadcasting Co., Clearwater, Fla., 1,300 kilocycles, 250 watts, unlimited time ; State Broadcasting Co., New Orleans, 1,370 kilocycles, 100 watts, unlimited time ; Glenn E. Webster, Decatur, 111, 1,290 kilocycles, 250 watts, daytime only, and Provo Broad- casting Co, Provo, Utah, 1,210 kilo- cycles, 100 watts, unlimited time. The commission also has received application from KCRC, Enid, Okla, for an increase of power from 250 to 500 watts, and from KSJS, Salina, Kan, for an increase in day power from 100 watts to 250 watts. Vic and Sade in New Spot Vic and Sade, broadcasting for Procter and Gamble, take on a new evening spot on the NBC-Blue net- work beginning tomorrow evening at 10 P. M, E.S.T. The contract is for 17 weeks. Additionally, Vic and Sade are beard from 11:30 to 11:45 A. M, E.S.T, and from 3 :30 to 3 :45 P. M, E.S.T, both on the Blue network. The new evening spot will supplement their present morning and afternoon periods, all for Procter and Gamble. World Signs More Stations The World Broadcasting Co. has signed CKPC, Brantford, Ontario ; WSGN, Burmingham, and stations comprising the South African Broad- casting Co. to receive its transcribed program service, effective immedi- ately. The South African Broadcast- ing Co. maintains stations in Jo- hannesbrug, Durban, Capetown and Grahamstown. Ralston Not to Renew Mix The Ralston Purina Co, sponsors of the current 5 to 5:15 P. M, E.S.T. Red network series starring Tom Mix, will not renew the program for an additional cycle, it became known yes- terday. The final broadcast will be heard March 26. The Gardner Ad- vertising agency handles the account. Doris Hare to Start Series Doris Hare, British comedienne, will begin a sustaining series of her own from 7:45 to 8 P. M, E.S.T. on the NBC-Red, beginning March 10. Miss Hare recently appeared on a Rudy Vallee broadcast. Borrows a Radio Idea 20th Century-Fox will borrow from radio's "Community Sing" idea in making its next feature picture. The tentative title is "Everybody Sing," which goes into production March 15 under the production wing of Sol M. Wurtzel. Leah Raye and Tony Mar- tin will be featured. Pflugfelder Leaves for Coast Fred Pflugfelder, director of N. W. Ayer & Son's radio department, left for California yesterday, to look over the radio situation there and to discuss program ideas, Hollywood, March 1. — Albert B. Lasker, president of Lord and Thomas, acting in collaboration with the Na- tional Conference of Jews and Chris- tians, is expected to release soon full details of a new series of 13 coast-to- coast programs, a half-hour each, over NBC some time next month. The series will feature leading divines of all faiths, and topflight actors and authors who will contribute their serv- ices in an effort to foster tolerance and combat lynching and other anti- social evils. NBC will contribute the time. Richard Carroll of Lord and Thomas' radio department in New York, is actively in charge of the pro- gram plans. It is understood that President Roosevelt and Professors Einstein and Conant have volunteered their serv- ices. Among those who may contribute their services to the series are : Dorothy Canfield, Edna Ferber, Booth Tarkington, John Erskine, Fan- nie Hurst, Rupert Hughes, Gene Fowler, Clifford Odets, Charles Mac- Arthur, Preston Sturges, Bella and Sam Spewack, Gertrude Berg, Edgar Allan Woolf, Irving Berlin, Bayard Veiller, John Balderston, Frank R. Adams, Zoe Akins, Moss Hart, Cyril Hume, Albert Jennings, Frances Marion, Florence Ryerson, Ernest Vajda, P. G. Wodehouse, Phil Wylie, Charlie Chaplin, Eddie Cantor, Abbey Players, Alfred Lunt, Walter Con- nolly, Walter Hampden, Edward Ev- erett Horton, Peter Lorre, George Arliss, George M. Cohan, Clark Gable, William Powell, Robert Tay- lor, Gary Cooper, Fredrii: March, James Cagney, Edward G. Robinson, Paul Muni, Bing Crosby, Fred Mac- Murray, Jeanette MacDonald, Joan Crawford, Myrna Loy, Irene Dunne, Norma Shearer, Janet Gaynor, Mae West, Marlene Dietrich, Al Jolson, Harold Lloyd. Oklahoma Paper and WKY to Make a Film Oklahoma City, March 1. — Ar- rangements have been made by the Standard Theatres Corp, the Daily Oklah oman, Station WKY and Gen- eral Film Corp. to produce a feature here. The picture will be made with sound and will be a newspaper story titled "Deadline." Many of the scenes will be taken in the plant of the Daily Oklahoman, Radio personalities will be shown doing their daily tasks in station WKY. James DeCamp will direct, with J. Basil LeRoy supervising. Standard Theatres will show the film. Parkyakarkus with Jolson Parkyakarkus, erstwhile stooge on Eddie Cantor's program has been signed to replace Sid Silvers on Al Jolson's CBS program, beginning with tonight's program. The program is presented in behalf of Rinso and Life- bouy and is handled by Ruthrauff and Ryan. The Parkyakarkus contract is for 16-weeks, with options for two years, Mixed Records Recently Bob Ripley dram- atized a story about grave robbers during a rehearsal for his "Bakers Broadcasts" program. The closing scene was the apprehension of the defilers, and called for crowd noises. Accordingly, a sound effect record of crowd noises was produced. The sketch reached its dra- matic climax, and the crowd noise platter was set on the machine. Just as the grave- robbers were being hanged, a voice in the crowd shouted above the rest: "Yeah, a touchdown!" It was a recording of an Army-Notre Dame football crowd. New Rate Schedules Worked Out at WINS A new schedule of rates, designed for limited budgets, goes into effect immediately at WINS. The new rates, marking a radical departure from the conventional time-selling methods now used by stations throughout the in- dustry, offer program periods ranging from 50-word announcements to full hour presentations, in program periods of one, three, five, seven, eight, 10, 12, 15, 30 and 60 minutes each. The rates range from $125 per hour, one to 12 times, to $10 per 50-word announcement for a like number of times. Burt Squires, manager of WINS, evolved the new rate structure. Cowan Will Control Para. Talent on Air Hollywood, March 1. — Rubey Cow- an, who arrives from New York about April 1, will act as a sort of one- man clearing house between Para- mount and its star's radio activities. The former NBC executive is ex- pected to clear all outside requests for additional radio appearances of Paramount players now appearing on the air including Jack Benny, Bing Crosby, Bob Burns, Burns and Allen, Martha Raye and Gladys Swarthout. A more consistent balance between film and broadcast engagements will be another of his jobs. Christoph to R. & R. Charles Christoph of the radio de- partment at McCann-Erickson leaves the agency next week to assume charge of the day-time program de- partment at Ruthrauff & Ryan. Christoph formerly was a member of the radio department at Blackett- Sample-Hummert. Roosevelt Party on WHN WHN, in addition to networks and independent stations previously noted, will carry President Roosevelt's ad- dress at the Victory Dinner in Wash- ington this Thursday from 10:30 to 11 P. M. Tuesday, March 2, 1937 Rhode Island Going Under FCC Scrutiny Providence, March 1. — Broadcast- ing conditions in Rhode Island will be studied by an agent of the F. C. C. at hearings March 26 in Washington to decide on new applications for stations in Providence and Pawtucket. It is understood one petitioner is the Bay State Broadcasting Corp. The commission intends to determine whether or not additional service is necessary and, if so, where a new station should be located. Pepperell Sets Its First The Pepperell Co. will sponsor its first radio program over WSB, At- lanta, beginning March 4. Addition- ally, WSB will pipe the program to WRDW, Augusta. If the results are favorable, the Pepperell Co. may buy network time, according to Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn, agency handling this account. The program will be aired Thurs- days at 6:15 P. M. (Central time in Atlanta; eastern time in Augusta) and will feature Dr. Karl Reiland in inspirational talks. Arthur Pryor, radio director for the agency, is now in Atlanta to supervise the initial air- ing of the series. Files Copyright Suit Perry Bradford, as administrator of the estate of Eddie Stafford, filed a suit yesterday against the RCA Manu- facturing Co. and the Southern Music Publishing Co. asking $15,000 damages and an injunction for infringement on copyright of the song, "He's in the Jail House Now." The complaint alleges that Stafford copyrighted this song in Nov. 1915, that Southern published it and RCA made phonograph records of it. Bamberger Sues Fur Company The Bamberger Broadcasting Ser- vice and L. Bamberger & Co. filed a suit yesterday against the WOR Fur Corp. for an accounting of profits and an injunction restraining the defend- ant from further use of the name WOR on the ground that it conflicts with the fur department maintained by L. Bamberger & Co. The defendant company was incorporated in March, 1934. "Unseen Friend" Renewed "Your Unseen Friend," heard Sun- days at 5 P. M, E.S.T. on CBS, has been renewed for an additional 13 week period by its sponsors, the Per- sonal Finance Co. Neff-Rogow is the agency. The program will undergo a change in broadcast some time in mid- April. Edwards Show Starts Hollywood, March 1. — "Schooldays of the Air," long-heralded Gus Ed- wards show, made its debut tonight at 8:15 P.M., P.S.T. over KFWB. Eddie Dien and Stanley Kops, film writers, wrote it and Arthur Q. Bryan and Manning Ostroff produced under Edwards' supervision. Bert Fiske's orchestra furnished the music and prominent as an opener was Edwards' well-known song, "Schooldays." Camel Signs Film Names Hollywood, March 1. — George Jes- sel, Alice Faye and John Boles will follow each other on subsequent Tues- days on the Camel show, beginning March 9. Tuesday, March 2, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY RADIO " , 4 Radio Personals ► FRED SMITH, publicity director at Batten, Barton, Durstine and Osborn, ailing with the flu. . . . Frank Healy, assistant to Wayne Randall at NBC, back in harness after a 10-day trip to New Orleans i to cover the N.E.A. convention there. "» . . . Carey Grant in all likelihood will support Grace Moore in next Mon- day's Lux "Radio Theatre" offer- ing. . . . Sheila Barrett set for the Nash-Lafayette program for next week. . . . From the coast Ben Ber- , nie wires that he is parting from his band temporarily, not permanently. . . . Ford Frick, president of the Na- tional Baseball League, will be the "Showboat" guest April 1. . . + Rudy Vallee planes to Florida for a five-day vacation immediately after Thursday night's broadcast. . . . Warden Lawes was unable to appear on his "20 Thousand Years in Sing Sing" program last night due to ill- ness. Richard Gordon substituted for j him. . . . The RCA "Magic Key" cast this Sunday will include Jean Sablon, Josephine Antoine, Eddie Albert and Frank Albertson and Richard Himber's orchestra. . . . Irene Delroy, who leaves for the coast shortly to begin picture work, will guest appear on Louis Katz- man's program over WINS to- day. . . . + C. E. Midgeley, head of Batten, Barton, Durstine and Osborn radio department, has returned to New York after conferring with officials at the Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. in Louisville regarding the change in time for the company's Jack Pearl series. . . . Betty Olson joins the "Escorts" on the NBC "Breakfast Club" series and hereafter the act will be known as "The Escorts and Betty." ... A new symphony pro- gram, the "Chicago Symphonic" hour, will be inaugurated over the NBC- Blue network at 11 P. M., E.S.T., beginning March 5. . . . WOR's gym classes with John B. Gambling cele- brates its 14th year on the air the week of March 8. . . . + Joe Gentile and Bruce Hamilton, conductors of CKLWs "Early Morn- ing Frolic" both back on the job after a siege of grip. . . . Joseph Schmidt, European tenor, makes his American concert debut on the General Motors concert this Sunday. . . . The first issue of Promotion, complimentary service organ, published by Adrian James Flanter and associates, specialists in radio exploitation, is now in the mail. . . . Grady Cole, Ford newscaster and Stewart- Warner commentator on WBT, ill with grippe. . . . Duane Thompson, telephone operator on "Hollywood Hotel," marries William Johnson, coast script writer, this Saturday. . . . Margaret Sullavan will offer a scene from her current stage play, "Stage Door," on Kate Smith's "Bandwagon" program, March 11. . . . Carole Lombard will appear on the CBS "Hit Parade," Saturday. W. L. Doudna Joins WHBL Sheboygan, Wis., March 1. — Wil- liam L. Doudna, formerly radio and music editor of the Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, and news announcer over WIBA, has joined WHBL, the Sheboygan Press station as program director. "Butterfly" Over Lux Hollywood, March 1. — Lux Thea- tre of the Air will turn to "Madame Butterfly" for its March 8 broadcast. Grace Moore and the Puccini music will be featured. "Paramount Parade" Is Set for Mar. 28 Hollywood, March 1. — The initial broadcast of "Paramount on Parade" will be heard over the NBC-Red March 28th instead of March 14. The complete clearance of 73 stations nec- essitated the postponement. The full Paramount contract list of 80 stars and featured players including the musical comedy attractions will be called upon for the building of the Sunday program. Outstanding among the features planned is the bringing to the microphone of a "visitor of the day," the visitor being some prominent personality in southern California. New Women's Show Starts in Charlotte Charlotte, March 1. — The "Wo- men's News Parade," a daily 15-min- ute program designed exclusively for women, makes its debut on WBT to- morrow. The program features wo- men in the news, fashions, and film chatter. Sponsored by the O'Boy Bread Co., the show will be handled by Reginald Allen. The news will be furnished by the United Press. New Shows on the Air "Passing Parade" John Nesbitt's "Passing Parade," long a favorite with west coast listen- ers, hit the "big time" last night as a coast-to-coast feature on the NBC- Red. With a few minor reservations, the program is definitely worth while dialing. Produced with a showmanly touch, Nesbitt exhibited a good sense of dra- matic values and a fine, well-modu- lated voice. His mike style and choice of material, however, bordered uncom- fortably close to that of Edwin C. Hill and his "Human Side of the News." In the comparison, Nesbitt suffered. The program consisted of a series of panels highlighting the news of yesterday. Last night Nesbitt mar- shalled tales of the explorer Fawcett, who perished in the Brazilian jungles ; the story of a miserly woman who lived in a hovel and slept on a pillow stuffed with $100 bills ; and a yarn about an old skipper who put out to sea with a bevy of monkeys as his traveling companions. All were uni- formly good and sustained interest throughout. Nesbitt's "parade" is divided into two chapters presented on successive days. Last night's was the "Parade of Yesterday." This evening, and em- ploying a similar schedule thereafter, Nesbitt will offer his "Parade of To- day." "Passing Parade" is sponsored by the Duart Co., makers of cosmetics, Mondays and Tuesdays at 7:15 P. M.. E.S.T. on the NBC-Red. "Ma and Pa" Apparently "Ma and Pa," the At- lantic Refining Co.'s rural script drama, has caught on with the listen- ers, for, beginning with last night's broadcast from 7:15 to 7:30 P. M., E.S.T., the series was boosted from a three to a five-time per week sched- ule. "Ma and Pa," of course, is founded on the proverbial set of rural charac- ters, headed by the Baxters — "Ma and Pa" of the script. Having listened, we hardly know what to say about this one. Perhaps it would be most char- itable to say it's no better or worse than most of the rural script dramas heard on the air. Last night's episode concerned "Pa Baxter's" sub rosa efforts at building an automobile trailer for himself and "Ma." Characteristically, however, "Pa" plans to build his trailer with a chicken roost and a cow stall in it, so that he and "Ma" can have fresh eggs and milk when they go touring. "Ma" gets wind of the trailer, however, and puts the "kibosh" on "Pa's" plans. The episode also dealt with something about an iron cat. Apparently the iron feline plays an important part in the plot, but being only a casual listener, the significance of this was lost to us. The NBC Sustaining Dramas NBC is in the non-strategic posi- tion of not being able to blow its own horn by calling attention to the ex- cellent sustaining dramas it is now offering each Sunday from 8 to 9 P.M., E.S.T. on the Blue network, for fear of drawing fire from Chase and Sanborn, sponsors of the competi- tive "Do You Want to Be an Actor?" series, heard at the same hour as the sustaining dramas on the Red. It seems to be up to others, therefore, to do something about the matter. Two Sundays ago, in an effort to build up the 8 to 9 P.M. period, NBC presented Philip Merivale in "Thorns in Omar's Garden." Last Sunday the period was delightfully occupied by Eva Le Galliene, who presented Tom Broadhurst's adaptation of Longfel- law's poem, "Evangeline." We have seldom, if ever, heard any- thing as fine on the air. It's com- paratively easy for one to be aroused emotionally by a fine play or motion picture, but never have we witnessed such a radio phenomenon as occurred in our home as we listened to Miss Le Galliene's amazing voice portrayal of "Evangeline." We had a party of friends at the house : when we tuned in the party was at its gayest. Min- utes after the program had started a voice wasn't to be heard, save those that came from the loudspeaker. At the conclusion of the program there was hardly a dry eye in the room. When a mere radio program can grip a roomful of listeners with such intensity, it may be said that true dramatic art in radio has been reached. "The ABC of NBC" "The ABC of NBC," a new series of institutional programs designed to afford dialers a non-technical insight to how radio works, bowed in over the Red network last Saturday from 7:45 to 8 P.M., E.S.T. The initial "lesson" dealt with the duties of the control room engineer and studio di- rector ; a demonstration of the work accomplished by the control room "mixing panel," an explanation for the importance of "timing" in radio ; and a glossary of the signals used in putting and keeping a program on the air. For a program without entertain- ers, the broadcast held up surprisingly well. Utilizing the catch phrase, "Use Your Radio Dial As a Latch Key to NBC," the show featured an- nouncer George Hicks as narrator, and assistants Tom Hutchinson, di- rector ; Ted Hahn, engineer ; and an unnamed woman who assumed the role of a visitor to Radio City sepa- rated from her regular guide party. Each week a different department will be visited and its operations ex- plained. Listeners with a desire to learn what makes the wheels of the broadcasting world go 'round will like this informative little series. "Singing Waiters of Paris Inn Cafe" "The Singing Waiters of the Paris Inn Cafe," heard Saturdays at 5:45 P.M., E.S.T. on CBS, is a fluent little musical program which recently at- tained coast-to-coast status after a long period of west coast airing over KNX, Los Angeles. The program is definitely of a much higher calibre than the usual sustain- ing programs and should be well- received ;t>y the CBS audience. "Class" music predominates, with occasionally a number of the popular variety. Highlights of Saturday eve- ning's broadcast were renditions of "The Mountaineers" by the entire "Paris Inn" ensemble, and "The March of the Musketeers" by Roger Kilburn. Banner "Keep Laughing" Philadelphia, March 1. — Having developed more than a dozen musical variety shows, most of them fed to the NBC Red, KYWs production department is now turning its atten- tion to the comic element, figuring that Jack Benny can't go on forever. LeRoy Miller and Morton Law- rence, as Berton and Dutton, with announcer Jim Harvey feeding straight lines, makes for a laughing combination that promises to be as zany as the Colonel and Budd. With- out a visual audience to milk the laughs, the boys will have to juggle their material until they hit the proper vein. As heard on the initial broad- cast, the mimed characterizations lis- tened best, the "highlights of last week's news" coming over tops. The black-outs, however, fell flat. Jan Savitt's studio band of 16 keep the pace at a fast tempo. "Get Happy" is the signature with stock laughs to convey the idea to those who don't recognize the song. "Keep Laughing" is offered as a sustaining show on KYW, Fridays at 1:15-1:30 P.M., E.S.T. The program has commercial potentialities, provid- ing the comics don't get stale and fall back on Joe Miller. 12 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Rites Are Held for Harry M. Crandall 4 Purely Personal ► Washington, March 1. — The last rites of Masonry and the Presbyterian Church were held today at the funeral of Harry M. Crandall, veteran ex- hibitor who died by his own hand last Friday morning. The services were read by Rev. John C. Palmer at Crandall's late residence on 16th St. Interment took place in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. The honorary pallbearers were Alvin Newmeyer, Clifford K. Berry- man, Frank V. Killian, Harry Wolf, Dr. Malcolm G. Gibbs, Nelson B. Bell, Andrew R. Kelley and L. T. Souder. The active bearers were George A. Crouch, Harry E. Loh- meyer, Robert E. Etris, Guy Wonders, Nat Glasser and Ashley M. Abend- schein. McCarthy Burial Set The body of J. J. McCarthy arrives from Hollywood Thursday morning and will be interred at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Mt. Pleasant, N. Y. Services will be conducted by Father Madden of the Church of the Sacred Heart, Larchmont, N. Y., where Mc- Carthy had been a parishioner. Clay- ton R. Sheehan is in charge of the de- tails of the final burial service. Fountain Killed in Australia Sydney, March 1. — William Foun- tain of Thomas Lamb & Co., theatre architects, who has been missing in the Brisbane-Sydney airplane wreck since Feb. 19 was found dead yester- day. His wife and children have been in Brisbane for the past two weeks awaiting word. Newall Dies in London London, March 1.— Guy Newall, 51, British stage and screen actor, who made a stage tour in the United States 20 years ago, and who was at one time managing director of George Clark Film Prod., died here at his home. Taylor's Grandfather Dies Beatrice, Neb., March 1. — Jacob A. Brugh, 82, grandfather of Robert Taylor, died at the home of his son near here this morning, from in- fluenza. Rites for Mrs. Snell Funeral services for Mrs. Julia Snell, mother of Frank M. Snell, vice- president of the Van Bueren Corp., who died Saturday, will be held today at St. John's Church, Noroton, Conn. Burial will be at Summit, N. J. Jennings Funeral Tomorrow Los Angeles, March 1. — The fu- neral of DeWitt C. Jennings, actot will be held here on Wednesday. The Tavern MEETING PLACE of the INDUSTRY • MAKE THIS YOUR LUNCHEON — DINNER — SUPPER CLUB 158 W. 48th St. Toots Shor GEORGE J. SCHAEFER, vice- president and general manager of United Artists, left by plane last night by New Orleans. James A. Mulvey, vice-president of Samuel Goldwyn Prod., and Lowell Calvert, eastern representative for Selznick Interna- tional, left by train last night and wiil join Schaefer in New Orleans for a trip to the coast. • Gene Moore and William Boetcher of Loew's sound engineer- ing department, have gone to St. Louis on the first lap of a cross coun- try tour. They are supervising instal- lation of new sound horns in Loew houses. • John J. O'Connor, film buyer for the RKO circuit, arrived in Colum- bus yesterday. From there he will go to Cincinnati, Dayton and New Or- leans, returning to New York on March 11. • Rudolph Eisenberg, theatrical at- torney and national sales manager for Reliable Picture Corp., leaves for Florida in 10 days to attend the M. P. T. O. A. convention. • Charles Koerner, RKO theatre division head, arrived yesterday from Boston to spend a few days confer- ring with home office executives. • Arthur Gottlieb, president of DuArt Labs., left Miami yesterday for the coast and is traveling via Vera Cruz and Mexico City. • Hattie Helborn, secretary to Nicholas M. Schenck, is vacation- ing at Hollywood, Fla. She's due back March 12. • William Schneider is in town from St. Louis with Harry C. Arthur. They plan to remain about 10 days. • Aladar Laszlo's play, "The Mud- dled Deal," at present on the boards in Budapest, has been purchased by RKO. • Al Friedlander plans to leave to- day or tomorrow for a tour of the country. He'll be gone several weeks. • Monty Proser has returned from Miami. Ditto Milton Blumberg and Lewis J. Brecker. • Jack D. Trop has moved his offices from the Paramount Bldg. to Radio City. Jack Goetz of DuArt Labs, will sail May 4 for England on the Ber- engaria. • Arthur Loew is due back from his cross-country vacation tour next week. • Mrs. Al Lichtman left yesterday for Hollywood to join her husband. • Sam Cocalis will open his summer estate at Deal on March 25. • A. H. Schwartz is back from a West Indies cruise. • Bill Scully, Loew's district manager, is in Miami. Vacationing. ARTHUR W. KELLY, vice- president of United Artists in charge of foreign distribution, is due today aboard the Berengaria. On the same ship are Lillian Fischer, fash- ion adviser, Walter Warner's forth- coming "Vogues of 1938," and Ray- mond Massey, who is to play Black Michael in Selznick's "The Prisoner of Zenda." • Edward Hyman of Century circuit will leave for a Florida vacation on March 19. He will attend the Bobby Jones golf tournament in Augusta and also the northern and southern open tourney to be held at Pinehurst on March 23. • Eddie Smith, sales manager of Im- perial, opened the new Imperial ex- change in Cleveland yesterday. He will make stops in Detroit and Buf- falo on his return to New York. • F. J. Holleran, assistant vice-pres- ident, and Harold Hatter, assistant manager of the Times Square branch of the National City Bank, are back from a business trip to Hollywood. • Roy H. Haines, newly appointed eastern sales manager for Warners, will be tendered a dinner by the Mon- day Knighters. Date and place have not been set. • Gracie Fields, arriving Monday on the Queen Mary, will be greeted by Monte Banks, who has charge of her pictures. • Mel Berns, chief of the RKO makeup department, will address the National Beauty Show in Chicago shortly. • Anna Lee, G. B. player, is contem- plating a trip here, her first, for the opening of "You're in the Army Now." • Katharine Brown and Mrs. June Knight of Selznick International will leave for the coast tomorrow. • Mack Gordon and Harry Revel, song writers, will reach town tomor- row on a vacation of two weeks. • Barrett C. Kiesling, M-G-M coast executive, and Mrs. Kiesling, in town and at the Warwick. • _ Nate Manheim, Universale for- eign chief, is one year older today, but he doesn't say how many. • William Keighley is here for a brief vacation. He is staying at the Ritz Towers. • Lillie Messinger, RKO's eastern scenario editor, has returned from the coast. • A. C. Blumenthal is due from England in a few weeks. • Harvey Newins has returned from Sea Island, Ga. • Howard Dietz returned yesterday from the coast. • Noah Beery is in town from the coast. • William R. Ferguson has returned from Miami Beach, where he attended Tuesday, March 2, 1937 the opening of "The Good Earth" at the Community. After a 10-day show- ing at this theatre, the picture will be switched to the Paramount, Miami. • Elizabeth Armand, Iva Stewart, Irma Wilsen and Alice Armand have been signed by 20th Century- Fox and will leave for Hollywood on March 22. • Irving Weingart, formerly with the contract department of the Marcus Loew Booking Agency, has been transferred to the tax division of the company. • John D. Clark, general sales man- ager for 20th Century- Fox, left yester- day by train for coast production con- ferences with Darryl F. Zanuck. • Nat B. Finkler, manager of the contract department of 20th Century- Fox, is mourning the loss of his sis- ter, Mrs. Martha Miller. • Mort Goodman, long with Warners' theatres in Cleveland, has joined Fil- mack Trailer Co. in Chicago as direc- tor of advertising. • Ellery Queen's novel, "Halfway House," published in the June issue of Cosmopolitan, has been acquired by M-G-M. • Joseph Hornstein has taken over Champion Lamp Co. from his son, George, who is now working for his father. • Bob Collier, just in from the coast, is interested in a television project which he is not yet ready to announce. • Stanley True of American Air- lines is back from the coast. He also stopped at Memphis for two days. • Clinton M. White, assistant to George W. Weeks at G. B., is mourn- ing the loss of his father-in-law. • Jack Kuhn is now assisting Wil- liam R. Ferguson at Loew's on spe- cial roadshow material. • Bill Sussman is back at his desk after having been away for a few days with a sore throat. • Milton Kusell has returned from a week's tour of southern Paramount exchanges. • William Bishop, Loew exploiteer in Detroit, was in town for a few days. • Belle Landau of Loew's "still" de- partment is on a leave of absence. • Dave Apollon has been appointed a Texas Ranger. The Diamond Brothers arrive today on the Berengaria from England. Resumes Theatre Post New Orleans, March 1.— Harry S. McLeod, who resigned from the St. Charles Theatre staff to become ad- vertising manager of WBNO, has re- turned to the theatre as promotion manager and booker of stage shows. Would End Marathons Oklahoma City, March 1. — Pat McGee, general manager of Standard Theatres, is launching a legislative drive to outlaw marathons. Alert, Intelligent the In In All Branches MOTION PICTURE DAILY The Leading Motio Picture Industry VOL. 41. NO. 51 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 1937 TEN CENTS NRA Chiefly Aided Labor Report Finds Unfair Trade Practices Not Suppressed By CLARENCE LINZ Washington, March 2. — Success of the NRA efforts lay largely in the improvement of the condition of labor rather than in the suppression of unfair trade practices, according to a report of the President's Committee on Industrial Analysis appointed 11 months ago to study the accomplish- ments of the recovery codes. The report was transmitted to Congress by President Roosevelt together with a brief message in which he declared that a study of it will point the way to the solution of many vexing prob- lems with regard to legislation on the subject. Various trade practice measures taken under the NRA accomplished certain specific and useful things, but they usually were of limited scope, the committee found. Chiefly, it was held, the NRA gave business men the experience of working together in an effort to adjust differences and formu- late a common policy for the gen- eral good of the entire industry. "If industry should again be con- fronted with a similar problem, it would not attempt to get quite so much in the way of protection against (Continued on page 3) Allan Messer Named To G.B. Directorate London, March 2.— Allan Messer, a director of the Equity and Law Life Assurance Co., has been elected a di- rector of Gaumont British. It is understood here in informed quarters that the election of Messer to the board may result in a voting dead- lock between the Ostrer and John Maxwell factions of the board. It was pointed out that when Isidore Ostrer was named chairman of the (Continued on page 8) Week's Pact Ending; Lee Seeks Renewal George W. Weeks' contract as gen- eral sales manager of G.B. expires May 1. He admitted this yesterday in commenting upon current reports that he would leave the company, but added he could not announce his future plans at this time. It is understood Arthur A. Lee, however, is negotiating to renew the deal. Quite a Feat The Chicago wire yester- day bristled with this one: "As a result of foot injury yesterday, Gypsy Rose Lee is now doing her 'Follies' strip tease number sitting down." Unionizing Moves on In Boston Exchanges Boston, March 2.— -A. F. of L. representatives will meet at Payne Memorial Hall this week in an effort to organize poster clerks, inspectress- es, rewinders, shippers and similar employes into a single union. More than 100 such workers, at a meeting held a few days ago, agreed to request an A. F. of L. charter. John L. Lewis' representatives have been in the district, trying to organ- ize a C. I. O. unit. This action pre- cipitated the opposition attempts, it is said. Exchange heads generally main- tain a non-committal attitude. One told Motion Picture Daily that inas- much as unskilled labor would be in- volved by the action, there would be 100 ready to step into any job va- cated by a member of the proposed union. Approve New Trade Group in England By BRUCE ALLAN London, March 2. — More than 100 British producing executives approved the formation of a new trade organiza- tion at a meeting today at the offices of the Federated British Industries. The probable name of the new asso- ciation will be the Film Producers' Ass'n, and it is expected to include five sections : producers, studio own- ers, shorts producers, newsreels and laboratories. A committee was appointed, con- (Continued on page 8) FILM BUYS MOVE UP BY 2 MONTHS Depositions Ready On Ohio Playdates Cincinnati, March 2. — Paxton & Seasongood, attorneys for RKO Dis- tributing Corp., have completed tak- ing depositions in the fight against the state's anti-preferred playing time law. Defendants have until March IS to complete theirs. Both sides will have two weeks thereafter to file briefs in the Federal statutory court hearing the case. S. & C. -Empire Deal To Date from Jan. 31 Under terms of the 10-year deal signed Monday between Springer & Co- calis and Empire State union, the con- tract is retroactive to Jan. 31, last, it was learned yesterday. The circuit has the right to cancel the agreement after five years. Slight increases have been granted to operators in a number of the 38 theatres, it was stated at the circuit's headquarters yesterday. The raises, (Continued on page 8) Drop Sherman Bail In Union Fund Case Judge John J. Freschi in General Sessions yesterday discharged the cash bail of $7,500 that had been posted by Harry Sherman, former head of Local 306, after his indictment for grand larceny. The indictment was made on May 18, 1936, charging him with lar- ceny of $150,961.75. money allegedly belonging to the union. The bail was (Continued on page 8) New National Air Network Is Reported in Formation A new national radio network may be launched within the next few months if plans sponsored by promi- nent radio, civic and financial figures and now reputedly nearing comple- tion, are successfully culminated, it was learned yesterday. Tentative arrangements for an ini- tial station lineup are reported to have been made and discussions with the F. C. C. at Washington have been conducted by the sponsors, it is said. Richard C. Patterson, former execu- tive vice-president of NBC, and Dr. Stanley High, head of the Good Neighbor League, are reported to be the principal factors behind the project. Goldman, Sachs & Co. is said to be financially interested. None of the principals could be reached for comment on the plans (Continued on fage 6) More Radio News — Pages 6-7 FWC-20th-Fox Deals Get Going March 9 with Others to Follow Film buying this season will be moved up two months over last year, according to indications among major circuits. Last year preliminary ne- gotiations between distributor and af- filiated theatre representatives started in May. This year the talks between buyer and seller will get under way March 9. First of the important product con- ferences will be held on the coast be- tween National Theatres and 20th Century-Fox. The negotiations will involve about 400 theatres and are ex- pected to last more than a week. Spyros P. Skouras, William T. Powers, Edward Zabel and Milton Hossfeld, all of National Theatres, will leave tomorrow for Los Angeles where they will meet John D. Clark, general sales manager, and Herman Wobber, western division head for 20th Century-Fox. Clark has left Miami, after a vacation there, for the coast, while Wobber is already in Cali- fornia. Although J. J. Sullivan, Fox West Coast film buyer, has attended previ- ous buying conferences, his illness will prevent him from sitting in on the 20th Century-Fox talks. George Bals- don, assistant to Powers, also will be absent from the meetings. He is recu- perating slowly at St. Joseph's Hos- pital, Stockton, Cal., from injuries suffered in a recent automobile acci- dent. After Skouras finishes setting prod- uct deals with all distributors he may take a vacation trip to Europe. May Consider Films Act in This Session London, March 2. — Walter Runci- man, president of the Board of Trade, declared in the House of Commons today that it should not be assumed that action to amend the Films Act, which expires in 1938, would not be (Continued on page 8) New Nebraska Taxes Are Aimed at Films Lincoln, Neb., March 2. — Senator A. L. Miller today suggested the rais- ing of additional money for relief by the imposition of a tax on cigarettes, liquor and theatre admissions. This suggestion is in addition to (Continued on page 3) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, March 3, 1937 ivlOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 March 3, 1937 No. 51 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published dully except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc.. Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown. vice-president and U Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco. New York." All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Company. Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- cations: MOTION PICTURE HERALD, BETTER THEATRES. TEATRO AL DIA. INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Sts. : Boone Mancall. Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave., C. B. O'Neill, Manager. WASHINGTON: Albee Building, Bertram F. Linz, Representative. AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan 5; Philip de Schaap, Representative. BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest II; Endre Hevesi. Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientes 2495: N. Bruskl, Representative. HELSINKI: Fredriksgatan 19C: Charlotte Laszlo, Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square. W. 1; Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address, Quigpubco, Lon- don. MELBOURNE : Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins St.; Cliff Holt. Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart. Representative. MONTEVIDEO: P. O. Box 664; Paul Bodo. Rep- resentative. MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern, Rep- resentative. PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre, Repre- ggn tstivc PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1; Harry Knopf, Representative. RIO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 3358; A. Weiss - man. Representative. ROME: Viale Gorizia; Vittorio Malpassutl, Rep- rcscntstivCi SHANGHAI- Rooms 38-41. Capital Theatre Build- ing, 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler, Repre- sentative. STOCKHOLM: Kungsgatan 36; Ragnar Allberg, Representative. TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka. Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken; H. Tominaga, Representative. VIENNA: Nuestiftgasse. 55; Vienna VII; Hans Lorant, Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Sillei, Representative. Entered as .*'econd 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. "Horizon" Previewed At Globe for Press Weeks of excitement reached a peak at the Globe last night when Colum- bia previewed "Lost Horizon" for newspaper, magazine and trade paper writers. Tonight, the picture makes its for- mal debut before what is slated to be a distinguished audience. The first public performance gets under way Thursday afternoon on a two-a-day basis. Goetz, Balcon Due Here London, March 2. — Ben Goetz, in charge of M-G-M production in Eng- land, is due here shortly for four weeks of conferences in Hollywood with Louis B. Mayer. Michael Bal- con will leave here on the Normandie on March 10 also for coast confer- ences at the M-G-M studio. M-G-M here has signed Sidney Gilliatt to a writing contract. U. A. Plant Busy Hollywood, March 2. — One hun- dred workmen in three shifts, at 24 hours per day, started today at United Artists to strike every standing set on the back-lot, to make room for forthcoming productions by Samuel Goldwyn and Walter Wanger. Insiders' Outlook By RED KANN U*ILM and radio are no longer *■ glowering so ferociously at each other. The other day brought Lenox R. Lohr, presi- dent of NBC, with the statement that at no time had discussion turned toward the formulation of a controlling code for both industries. On its heels, there was Will Hays, j'ust in from the coast, tapped on the same ques- tion and adhering very closely to the highlights of Lohr's earlier observations. Yet, a sig- nificance beneath its surface lurked in one portion of the story of his comment. That por- tion of it which went on to say: Not only has no attempt been made to control the relations between the two industries, Hays says, "but none is pos- sible." A recognition of the mutual problems of the two and realization that "accommo- dations" must be made by both is the nearest approach to an "agreement" that has or can be made, Hays said. When Hays refers to the diffi- culties of a direct control over radio appearances of important Hollywood names, he cites a genuine trouble. Most contracts today contain a clause making it essential for the player to ob- tain specific permission from the employing studio to broad- cast. In theory, therefore, the studio exercises control. Prac- tically, this means little or noth- ing. The attraction of large return dangled by advertising agencies is too tempting to re- sist. For the studio to negate such offers can be, and often is, the lesser part of discretion for it may reflect itself in disgruntle- ments enough to seriously dam- age progress on the sound stages. . . . T By "a recognition of the mutual problems," Hays un- doubtedly refers to an inter- change of confidences on the manner in which radio can hurt attendance, were it to run un- bridled from purely a film point of view. The networks, on this score, there is reason to believe, were themselves confronted by a problem. Sponsored shows are made up of talent purchased by the advertising agencies who are under no commitment to discuss with the webs what shall or shall not be on their shows if the net- work censorship requirements covering good taste are met. It follows that any closely-knit arrangement between the film and radio industries could not be expected to hold, involving as it must, pledges to a point which the broadcasting systems could not deliver. . . . ▼ There was a way, on the other hand, and that way has been found. It embraces a more sym- pathetic understanding of the potential damage star-studded air shows might do to picture theatres. By consultation and by friendly interchange of advice, the understanding is the net- works have been quite success- ful in persuading the agencies to build their shows along lines which reliable opinion holds has helped the potential drawing power of players and films far beyond the point approximated in the past. It has been a rather obvious observation anyway that radio, adroitly used, can achieve its own obj'ective and, in so do- ing, prove of concrete value to motion pictures and their people as well. This has been launched and the probability is strong in- deed that it will continue. It is well, too. Motion pictures can- not wipe out radio. The air needs names and Hollywood has them. Cooperation was the way out and cooperation it appears destined to be. . . . . T T The publicity boys around town will be crowding this desk's telephone after they've had a chance to read this. But and regardless of all that, the truth of the matter is the first runs throughout the country are shaking their heads when their throats get hoarse and yelling when their vocal chords func- tion. Their excitement has to do with the product, or, to put it more succinctly, the lack of it. They want attractions for their theatres and, while they are get- ting all of the film they can use, it is not quite the same thing. . . . T Take a look at all majors' release schedules, they say. What's on them? And waiting for no answer, they quickly replv, "Nothing." Not interested in Easter or Decoration Day, it is now, this minute, that concerns them most. The conclusion of all this is obvious. If only a por- tion of the complaints holds to- gether, this looks the time of times for anybody with anything resembling an attraction to let the pyrotechnics go with a loud boom and much noise. It means a jump ahead of the competition, open arms from hungry first run operators and cash in the treas- ury. Those who think they have the answer on celluloid need not try convincing us. We don't run theatres. But there are plenty who do and they want something that counts to fill their playing time. . . . Kelly Back; Foreign Outlook Encouraging Vastly improved business conditions in South America and England were reported by Arthur Kelly, United Artists' foreign manager, on his re- turn to New York last night aboard the Berengaria, after a six months' trip covering 34,000 miles. Kelly said that no changes in the company's foreign distributing organ- ization were made during the trip, which was primarily an inspection vis- it to more than 20 of the company's distributing offices. He said that United Artists is maintaining its rep- resentation in Barcelona but has closed down all other offices in Spain for the duration of the revolution. Max Schmeling, heavyweight con- tender, turned the tables on the other celebrities arriving on the Berengaria by monopolizing the autograph hunt- ers and ship news men at the pier. Among the other arrivals were Lillian Fischer and Raymond Massey, both en route to Hollywood for work in new pictures, and William Wyler, di- rector, returning from a vacation in France and a visit to his home city, Mulhouse. Warners in National Ad Drive for "King Warners plans a nationwide bill- board campaign on "The King and the Chorus Girl," Mervyn LeRoy produc- tion. The drive will start March 15, with the posting of 24-sheets in 1,200 cities across the country. The cam- paign will last four weeks, giving the picture a three-week advance. In addition, an extensive fan maga- zine advertising schedule is planned on the picture. The 24-sheets also will be used by local exhibitors, who will snipe the sheets with announcements of the opening of the picture in their situations. The newspaper advertising budget on the film also is to be in- creased. H. M. Warner to Sail Harry M. Warner, just back from a vacation to Miami, will sail Satur- day on the Conte di Savoia. Sam E. Morris, head of foreign activities for Warners, will accompany the president of the company. Approves Palace Report Federal Judge Francis G. Caffey yesterday approved the final report of Referee Oscar W. Ehrhorn in the Pal- ace Amusement Co. bankruptcy pro- ceedings. The bankrupt was a Wis- consin corporation which operated theatres in that state up to Feb., 1933. The only creditor, Stadium Theatres Corp., will receive a dividend of $20,- 299 based upon its original claim of $227,568. Gates Motion Up Today The motion made by Eleanor Gates in her suit against Liberty Pictures and M. H. Hoffman to examine Hoff- man before trial to determine his con- nection with Liberty Pictures will come up today before Judge Charles B. McLaughlin. The action asks for $120,000 damages and an injunction, Miss Gates alleging that Liberty with- out her authorization advertised their picture, "Once to Every Bachelor," as being based on her story "The Search for the Spring." Wednesday, March 3, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY NRA Chiefly Aided Labor Report Finds {Continued from page 1) competition," the committee felt, "if only because some industries learned on their own account that some of i these things did not work." NRA attempted to cover more ground, and at greater speed than could possibly be covered effectively, the report charged. "Both manage- ment and labor went too far, with the result that many impracticable and unenforceable provisions were put into the codes to the detriment of the more worth-while provisions." On the whole, it was said, codes were more successful in closely knit in- dustries with a limited number of producers. No analysis of individual codes is attempted in the report, but the ac- tivities of the various boards and sec- tions of the NRA are carefully ana- lyzed, as are the results of the vari- ous steps taken to develop codes and secure enforcement. Fewer Firms to Be Included "If controls of the NRA type are to be tried again," the committee sug- gested, "the experience indicates that the attempt should be limited to a few important industries in order that proper standards of investigation and adequate supervision may be main- tained, and should be guided from the start by such definite principles and policies as NRA experience indicates are likely to stand the test of ap- plication. Under the type of policy finally adopted by NRA, if strongly adhered to, there is little chance that codes would be proposed in such large numbers as to create serious diffi- culties, but even that chance might well be guarded against." And, it was added, if trade prac- tice rules again are to be formulated, they should be initiated by the indus- tries rather than by the Government. Agnew and linger to Attend Para, Meet Neil Agnew, Paramount vice-presi- dent, and J. J. Unger, eastern division manager, are expected to join Adolph Zukor in attending the company's three-day conference of theatre part- ners and operators at Miami, follow- ing the M.P.T.O.A. convention there. Al Wilkie, Paramount publicity manager, leaves for Miami today, and will be followed next week by Robert M. Gillham, director of advertising and publicity. Paramount theatre men from all over the country and Canada will attend the meeting, which will fje presided over by Y. Frank Freeman, Paramount vice-president, and will be held at the Roney-Plaza, March 18-20. Hotel reservations already run to 100 rooms. Zukor Leaves Coast March 12 Hollywood, March 2. — Adolph Zukor will leave here March 12 for the M. P. T. O. A. convention at Mi- ami and the meeting of Paramount partners. He will then go to New York after which he plans to return here March 30. Navy's Film Costs $310,000 Annually Washington, March 2. — The an- nual cost of film programs for the U. S. Navy is about $310,000, it was disclosed today with submission to the House of Representatives of the an- nual appropriation bill for the depart- ment. The Government provides $85,000 toward that amount, the remaining $225,000 coming from the profits of the ship's stores in vessels and at navy stations, it was explained by Lieutenant Commander C. D. Kirk of the Bureau of Navigation. Each ship or station that shows the films is assessed at the rate of 30 or 35 cents per month, per man. This pays for the pictures and additional funds are drawn from the ship's stores profits from time to time for replace- ment of equipment. The present equipment now has an average of about six years and a replacement program has been initiated. "Amusement and recreation are con- tributory means of improving morale," Kirk said during hearings on the bill. "Motion pictures are considered the most important single source of recrea- tional entertainment, with athletics a close second. Both are important factors in the development of a high state of morale." The total cost of the equipment ac- quired by the navy was $650,000. Take Theatre Payroll Two men robbed the manager, his assistant and the cashier of the Pub- lic, 2nd Ave. and 4th St., Sunday night of a $2,100 payroll, it was re- vealed yesterday. The gunmen fled after binding and gagging the three. Greenthal on Coast Hollywood, March 2. — Monroe Greenthal, director of advertising and publicity for United Artists, arrived from New York yesterday by air. Harley Lunch Guest Of 20th-Fox Heads F. L. Harley, managing director for 20th Century-Fox in London, was guest of honor at a luncheon tendered by Walter J. Hutchinson, head of the foreign department, at the Hotel Plaza yesterday. Harley will sail to- day on the Berengaria with Russell Muth. Among those present were : W. C. Michel, F. S. Irby, Charles E. Mc- Carthy, Felix Jenkins, Leslie F. Whalen, William Sussman, E. S. Fraser, H. H. Buxbaum, Irving A. Mass, J. Carlo Bavetta, C. F. Minck, Sidney Towell, E. P. Kilroe, Wil- liam Kupper, Truman Talley, Clar- ence V. Hake, W. J. Eadie, William J. Clark, O. W. Bolle, S. S. Horen, Alan Freedman and Roger Ferri. Testimonial Dinner To Maloney of MGM Pittsburgh, March 2. — More than 350 gathered here last night in the William Penn Hotel at a testimonial dinner to John J. Maloney, M-G-M exchange manager, who is celebrating his 15th year with the company. At- torney Edward O. Tabor presented the guest of honor a gold watch, the gift of his friends, and Arch Dunsmore, director of education at the Western Penitentiary, gave him a humidor made by the inmates of the institu- tion in appreciation for Maloney's in- terest in the welfare of the prisoners. Rosey Roswell was toastmaster. The guests included Judges Frank Pat- terson, John Egan and George Moore. Fete Indiana Legislators Indianapolis, March 1. — Members of the Associated Theatre Owners of Indiana held open house at the Variety Club here tonight for members of the Indiana Legislature and their wives. More than 200 attended. W. C. Car- penter, Marc J. Wolf and Carl Niesse had charge of the arrangements. New Nebraska Taxes Are Aimed at Films (Continued from page 1) a gas tax proposal of six cents per gallon for old age assistance and re- lief. There are two bills pending ask- ing a 10 per cent gross film rental tax and a 10 per cent tax on theatre grosses. Two New Bills in Albany Albany, March 2. — Two bills af- fecting theatres have been introduced in the Assembly here by Nicholas Rossi, Democrat, of New York. The first bill seeks to prohibit the sale of an admission ticket unless a seat for the purchaser is actually available, violation of the ruling to bring a fine of $25 to $100. Rossi's second measure asks that a matron be required for every 25 children present in a theatre. The law now in force requires one ma- tron for each house. Will Await B.N. Complaints New Orleans, March 2. — No ac- tion against the continuance of Bank Night will be taken unless specific complaint is made, it was stated here today by District Attorney Charles A. Byrne. The games were barred yesterday by a decision of the State Supreme Court. Kill Another Censor Bill Boston, March 2. — A second cen- sorship bill has been killed by the Legislature. This one was sponsored by Jacob A. Riis of the Youth Foun- dation. The State Administration Committee gave leave to withdraw. Weil Starts Swing East Hollywood, March 2. — Joe Weil, Universal exploitation head, left today by plane for Dallas, St. Louis, Kan- sas City and Chicago. He will make brief stops at each city to check on the progress of the campaign for "Top of the Town." Hospital Deed Goes to Jesse H. Jones Will H. Hays, representing the industry, presents the deed to the hospital at Saranac Lake, N. Y., to Jesse H. Jones, chairman of the board, Reconstruction Finance Corp., in his capacity as treasurer of the Will Rogers Memorial Commission, in ceremonies at Fox Movietone Studios. Seated, left to right: Senator J. Henry Walters, RKO ; W. C. Michel, 20th Century-Fox ; Hays; Jones; H. M. Warner; Charles C. Moskowitz, Loew's. Standing, left to right: Arthur S. Cherouny ; Leopold Friedman, Loew's; Spyros P. Skouras, National Theatres ; Jules Brulatour, Eastman Kodak; Y. Frank Freeman, Paramount; Amon G. Carter, publisher, Ft. Worth Star Telegram; Capt. E. V. Rickenbacker ; Ed Kuykendall, M.P.T.O.A.; Harold Rodner, I Warners; George J. Schaefer, United Artists, and Major L. E. Thompson, RKO. A MERRY ROGUE'S GA JAMES SALLY EILERS MISCHA AUER Irrepressible Peck's Bad Boy of the screen! Mischievous, kissable miss adored by millions! He's in again! The gorilla man of "My Man Godfrey"! Thetipsy count of "Three Smart Girls"! 1 WE HAVE Directed by Alfred Werker NOTHER HIT-HIT-HOORAY! Again the NEW UNIVERSAL comes through (remember "My Man Godfrey" and "Three Smart Girls"!) with one of the swellest entertainments of the year! CDVI YOUR BOX OFFICE WILL Ell I S FALL IN LOVE WITH THEM! DAVID MARJORIE GATESON WARREN HYMER Wa t c h him! He's a comer! Where laughs are, there she is! Famous "dese. dose and dem" clown! OUR MOMENTS Associate Producer Edmund Grainger for the NEW UNIVERSAL! MOTION PICTURE DAILY New National Air Network Is Reported in Formation 6 RADIO Hearing Dates Set by FCC on New Stations By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, March 2. — Hearings on the application of the Johnson City Broadcasting Co. for a 1,200- kilocycle station at Johnson City, Tenn., will be held before an exam- iner of the F. C. C. at Johnson City, March 8, it was announced today. A number of other hearings have been scheduled for next week, to be held in Washington. On March 9 the tentative calendar calls for hear- ings before an examiner on the appli- cation of the Northern Broadcasting Co. for an 830-kilocycle station at Traverse City, Mich., to use 500 watts power ; H. A. Hamilton for a 1,420- kilocycle station at Spartanburg, S. C, using 100 watts night and 250 watts day; and Leonard A. Versluis for an 830-kilocycle, 500-watt day- time station at Grand Rapids. On March 10 examiners' hearings will be held on the applications of the North Georgia Broadcasting Co. for a 1,200-kilocycle, 100-watt day- time station at Rossville, Ga. ; James D. Scannell for a 1,420-kilocycle, 100- watt station unlimited time station at Lewiston, Me., and the Ogdensburg Publishing Co. for a 1,500-kilocycle, 100-watt unlimited time station at Og- densburg, N. Y. Examiners' hearings also will be held March 12 on applications of the Elmira Star-Gazette for a 1,200-kilo- cycle, 250-watt daytime station at El- mira, N. Y. ; Radio Enterprises for a 1,310-kilocycle, 100-watt daytime station at Lufkin, Tex., and Red- lands Broadcasting Ass'n for a 1,310- kilocycle, 100-watt daytime station, also at Lufkin, Tex. FCC Grants Five Station Licenses Washington, March 2. — Operating licenses -today were granted to five broadcasting stations by the Federal Communications Commission, as fol- lows : WSAU, Northern Broadcast- ing Co., Wausau, Wis., 1,370 kilo- cycles, 100 watts, daytime only; WWAE, Hammond-Calumet Broad- casting Corp., Hammond, Ind., 1,200 kilocycles, 100 watts; WGNY, Peter Goelet, Newburgh, N. Y., 1,210 kilo- cycles, 100 watts, WBAX, John H. Stenger, Jr., Wilkes Barre, Pa., 1,210 kilocycles, 100 watts, limited time ; and KCMC, KCMC, Inc., Texarkana, Tex., 1,420 kilocycles, 100 watts. At its regular weekly meeting the broadcast division also granted a con- struction permit to WJNO, West Palm Beach, Fla., to increase its day power to 250 watts ; authorized WKRC, Cincinnati, to operate on 550 kilocycles with 1,000 watts night and 5,000 watts day power, subject to reduction of day power to 1,000 watts when WOSU is operating; approved the voluntary assignment of the li- cense of KANS, Wichita, Kan., from Charles G. Theis, to the KANS Broadcasting Co. and authorized WCKY, Covington, Ky., to increase power to 10,000 watts. Hearings were ordered on a num- (Continued on page 7) {Continued from page 1) yesterday. Patterson's office reported that he was in Washington and was expected back here about Friday. High's office said he was "out of town," but was expected back either Friday or Monday. His whereabouts were not disclosed and it was said that he could not be reached prior to his return as he was "traveling." Inquiries at Goldman, Sachs were re- ferred to a partner of the investment firm. The official's secretary said that he was out of town, but expected back on Friday or Monday. At each office it was stated that it was not known whether or not the principals were traveling together. All previous attempts to form coast- to-coast chains in competition with NBC and CBS have ended in failure, with the exception of Mutual's. Back in 1934 Al Smith and Vincent Astor, representing a powerful Wall Street combine, bought WMCA from Donald Flamm and set up the Ameri- can Network. Some 20-odd stations comprised the network, which reached as far as St. Louis and Memphis. The web operated unsuccessfuly for a per- iod and finally was disbanded. Ed Wynn Web Recalled Shortly thereafter Ed Wynn formed his ill-fated Amalgamated Network, which operated for but two days. Wynn is reported to have invested and lost much of his personal for- tune in the venture. Most tragic attempt of all to formu- late a new national attempt was George McClelland's. He was the original manager of WEAF and later vice-president in charge of sales of the NBC network. When it became apparent that his attempt was to end in failure, McClelland committed sui- cide. Samuel Insull, former utilities ty- coon, made two attempts to form na- tional radio webs, both of which ended in failure. There is still talk of an additional coast-to-coast network supposedly to be formed by Warners and the Trans- american Broadcasting Co. This plan, it is understood, is still very much alive and may materialize shortly. New Fitch Program Ready "Fitch Romances" is the title of a new program which will be heard on a split NBC-Red network beginning March 13. Sponsored by the Fitch Co., the series will be aired from 11 :45 to 12 P. M., E.S.T. on the follow- ing stations : WEAF, New York ; WCAE, Pittsburgh; WTAM, Cleve- land; WWJ, Detroit, and WMAQ, Chicago. The series will feature Gene Arnold, the "Ranch Boys," and an instru- mental trio. Listeners will be asked to supply their personal romance stories for re-enactment on the pro- gram. L. W. Ramsey Co., Davenport, la., is the agency. Brown, Williamson on Derby Although confirmation still is lack- ing from NBC and Batten, Barton, Durstine and Osborn, it has been defi- nitely established that the Brown and Williamson Tobacco Corp. will spon- sor this year's running of the Ken- tucky Derby. Radio and Films The "Insiders' Outlook" column on page 2 today in- cludes an editorial discussion on cooperation between radio and films and the turn it has taken. Jennings in New Job With WSAI at Cincy Cincinnati, March 2. — Robert G. Jennings, for the past two years sales manager of WSAI, has been ap- pointed assistant manager in charge of sales and programs, according to William S. Hedges, general manager for Crosley Radio Corp. Hedges also has announced a new policy for WSAI, involving a series of civic, educational and historical programs about Greater Cincinnati. "Know Your City," a proposed edu- cational feature, will be broadcast from important factories and indus- trial plants. The station will use many remote lines and mobile units for civic events. Lines will be in- stalled in the City Hall to broadcast governmental affairs. Complete facilities of WLW have been placed at the disposal of WSAI. Set Series on Milkmen "Adventures of Dari Dan," serial- ized story of the life of milkmen, be- gins March 8, on the NBC-Red net- work, and will be heard for 15 minutes three times weekly at 5 P. M., E.S.T. This new series replaces "While the City Sleeps," which has been heard Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5 P. M., E.S.T. on the Red network for the past year. The sponsor is the same, Bowey's, Inc. Ken Robinson, assist- ant continuity editor of the NBC cen- tral division, is the author of the new serial. Wood Joins Taplinger Robert S. Wood, formerly associate editor of the old Evening World, and more recently editor of Radio Guide, has joined the Robert S. Taplinger publicity office as executive assistant to Taplinger. Wood is regarded as the dean of radio editors, having conducted the first daily radio column in a metro- politan newspaper. He also was an ex- ecutive of old WJZ when that sta- tion was formed back in the pioneer days of broadcasting. Taplinger Leaves Rosenthal Sylvan Taplinger, for three years assistant to Herbert Rosenthal, CBS program director, has resigned to ac- cept a post with Kated, Inc., to aid in producing the Kate Smith-A. & P. "Bandwagon" program. The resigna- tion becomes effective March 8. Fitzgerald Starting Series Ed Fitzgerald will start a series of 15-minute programs, Mondays through Saturdays, for the L. Bam- berger Store on WOR, beginning March 15. The series will be broad- cast from 9 to 9:15 A. M., E.S.T. Fitzgerald's contract is for 52-weeks. Wednesday, March 3, 1937 Chevrolet's Sunday Show Fades Apr. 11 The Sunday night Chevrolet series which is heard over CBS, will fade from the air following its broadcast on April 11. The account is handled by Campbell-Ewald. A note of irony is lent to this de- velopment by the fact that Chevrolet renewed its transcribed program al- most simultaneously with the cancel- ling of the "live show." Call Series "Spirit of America" Hollywood, March 2. — "The Spirit of America" will be the title of the series of 13 coast-to-coast programs on which Hollywood, leading divines and public figures will cooperate in the cause of philanthropy and toler- ance. NBC will air the program. They will be sponsored by the Radio Committee of All Faiths and the movement is headed by Dr. Everett R. Clinchy of New York. Liggett & Myers Adds Two Effective immediately, Liggett & Myers Tobacco Corp., sponsors of CBS programs featuring Andre Kos- telanetz and Nino Martini on Wed- nesdays, and Hal Kemp and Kay Thompson on Fridays, will add two stations to the outlets now carrying the programs. The stations are lo- cated in Dubuque, la., and Phoenix, Ariz. With the new additions, 93 sta- tions will carry the programs. Refuses Dictograph Review The U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals has decided that a subpoena calling for the production of records before the S. E. C. in connection with an investigation, is not reviewable. The court upheld U. S. District Court Judge Julian W. Mack, who refused to enjoin the commission in its in- vestigation of the sale of stock of the Dictograph Products Co., Inc. "Garden" Series to Start March 7 is the starting date for the "Your Garden" talks by John Zol- linger over WJZ for the Wright Seed Co. Al and Lee Reiser will furnish piano interludes. The program, placed through the H. B. Le Quatte adver- tising agency, will be aired from 11 :05 to 11:15 A. M., E.S.T. Delv Renews Berch Jack Berch, heard on WOR, has been renewed for another 13 week period by his sponsor, Delv cosmetic creams. Wilson Paramount Announcer Hollywood, March 2. — Don Wilson today was chosen as announcer for the "Paramount on Parade" program. PRIVACY, plus expert recording is guaranteed, when you build an Electrical Transcription in our Studios. UNITED ARTISTS and GAUMONT BRITISH and many others use this famous service. RADIO & FILM METHODS 101 Park Ave. New York CAledonia 5-7530 Wednesday, March 3, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY RADIO FCC Grants Five Station Licenses (.Continued on page 6) ber of applications, including one from the General Electric Co. for an inter- national short wave station near Bel- mont, Cal., to operate on 20,000 watts power, for programs designed princi- pally for the far east. It also ordered hearings on the applications of the Louisville Broad- casting Co., Louisville, for a 1,210 kilocycle, 250 watt daytime station ; WEAN, Providence, for increase of day power to 5,000 watts; WKOK, Sunbury, Pa., to move transmitter lo- cally and increase day power to 250 watts; WBRY, Waterbury, Conn., for increase of day power to 5,000 watts; WORL, Boston, for increase of power to 1,000 watts and increase to unlimited time; WSMK, Dayton, O., for increase of power to 250 watts night and 500 day; KQV, Pittsburgh, for increase of power to 1,000 watts; KFRU, Columbia, Mo., for increase of night power to 1,000 watts; Young People's Ass'n for the Propagation of the Gospel, Shark River Bay, N. J., for 640 kilocycles, 5,000 watts day- time station ; Valley Broadcasting Co., Youngstown, O., for 1,350 kilocycles, 1,000 watts unlimited time station; KOOS, Marshfield, Ore., for assign- ment of license from Pacific Radio Corp., to KOS, Inc.; WBNO, New Orleans, for assignment of license from Coliseum Place Baptist Church to WBNO, Inc.; Northwest Publica- tions, Inc., Duluth, for 580 kilocycles, 250 watt station; and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Salt Lake City, for international broadcast sta- tion with 50,000 watts power. Several Rejections The Commission announced the re- jection or dismissal of applications for new stations, as follows : Greater Muscle Shoals Broadcasting Co., Shef- field, Ala., Service Life Insurance Co., Omaha., Archie E. Everage and Alusia, Ala., D. L. Thornton, Cen- tralia, Wash. ; Wike and Studebaker, Baker, Ore. ; H. Wimpy, Albany, Ga. ; U. S. Broadcasting Co., Toledo and Columbus, O. Also denied were the applications of KUJ, Walla Walla, Wash., for power increase; WHAT, Philadelphia, for change of frequency and power in- crease; and WCAP, Asbury Park, N. J., for power increase. Authority was granted KIT, Ya- kima, Wash., to change frequency and night _ and day power ; KYA, San Francisco, was given an extension of time to May 15 to complete its new station. WGPC, Albany, Ga., was given a renewal of license as a result of the denial of the application of H. Wimpy for a station in that city. Phone Miss Duvbin In a Mass Interview Approximately 25 reporters from newspapers in and around New York today will interview Deanna Durbin, who is in Hollywood, via a long dis- tance telephone hookup at the Hotel Victoria. The interview has been arranged by Loew's and will start at 2 P. M. with each newspaperman to be given an op- portunity to ask two or three ques- tions. The answers will be received in the same room via an amplification system. i Radio Personals ► KIEL BARNEKOV, formerly of the Herald-Tribune, has joined the publicity staff at Campbell-Ewald . . . Walter Neff of the Neff-Rogow agency is now the daddy of a baby daughter . . . Paul Gregory, formerly of the WMCA announcing staff, joins the radio department at Benton and Bowles . . . Claudia Simmons, who recently appeared on the "Do You Want To Be an Actor" series, has been signed by Warners . . . Andy Iona's Hawaiians will be featured as guests on next Tuesday's Al Pierce show . . . Helen Morgan has been set for a "Showboat" appearance next Thursday . . . + Innes Harris, of the Irwin Wasey radio staff, off to Baltimore to con- fer with a prospective client . . . Charles Warburton of the production staff at NBC is doubling as announc- er on the transcribed "Inkspots" se- ries . . . Next week's "Beauty Box" production starring Jessica Drago- nette will be Franz Lehar's "Land of Smiles" ... Ed Mead has been added to the writing staff at Benton and Bowles . . . Harry Pasco, continuity chief at WMCA, has formed a class in Spanish instruction. Pasco is quite a linguist — speaks six languages . . . Bert LeBarr, WMCA sales execu- tive, now visiting Inter-City network stations in New England . . . + Harlan Eugene Reid sails for Eng- land today to cover the coronation. . . . Tommy Dorsey, the Scott quin- tet and the Blue Flames are this Sat- urday's "Swing Club" features on CBS. . . . Start of Ken Murray's new program for Campbell Soup has been advanced to March 31. Starting date originally was announced as April 7. . . . Judith Anderson and Walter Abel will headline Vallee's program to- morrow. . . . Al Young, WMCA an- nouncer, has shifted to the Edward Petrey Co., station representatives. . . . Wesley Vaughan replaces Gene Lester as soloist with Irving Aaron- son's orchestra, heard over WHN. + Myra Hess will be the guest solo- ist on the Ford "Sunday Evening Hour" Sunday, March 7. . . . Phil Lord is now en route west for a three-week vacation. . . . Inter-City network also will carry President Roosevelt's Victory Dinner address March 4. . . . Faculty members from Hofstra College, Hempstead, will match their knowledge against their students on WHN during the "Cur- rent History Exams" Wednesdav, March 3. . . . Florence Maxwell, WINS, leaves this week for a two- week Florida vacation. During her absence, Sylvia Press will conduct Miss Maxwell's "Mr. Reader" pro- gram. . . . + Philadelphia Town Pump Philadelphia, March 2. — KYW adds a book reviewer to the program listings, Warren Schutt airing his views. . . . Albert A. Cormier starts his third year as vice-president and general manager at WIP, having come here from WOR. . . . Allan Scott, WCAU newscaster, off for Florida. . . . Jan Savitt and his KYW bandmen will make the music for the Lehigh University Military Ball on March 6. . . . Norris West and Joe Gottlieb have taken over most of the production jobs on the dramatic shows produced at WCAU. . . . Anice Ives, WMCA women's club director, returned to her former stamping grounds for a guest shot over WIP. . . . The Three Naturals, singing in- strumentalists, replace the Meister- singer, singing violinist, on the Iowa Soap show over KYW. . . . Wayne Cody, WFIL "Jolly Man," passes his 1,500th broadcast for the kiddies. Hollywood Town Pump Hollywood, March 2. — Harry Savoy off the Eddie Cantor program, quieting reports he would get the steady comic spot . . . Billy Shea, film cutter, was interviewed about faces on the cutting room floor by Jimmy Van- deveer, KHJ's roving reporter tonight at 7:15 P.M. P.S.T. . . . Jack Benny, Don Wilson and Kenny Baker will check out for New York Tuesday naght directly after Benny's guest air- ing on Ben Bernie's American Can show . . . Tom Harrington, producer of the Benny program, will fly back. Phil Harris and orchestra will prob- ably be unable to make the trip due to film work at Paramount . . . Paul Lewis, CBS concert artist, here . . . Lila Lee will do an ether dramatiza- tion of Bret Harte's "Tuolomy" as her initial weekly stint over KECA Thursday from 9:30 to 10:00 P.M., P.S.T. . . . Cliff Arquette, radio comedian, is being screen tested by Paramount and Radio . . . KECA starts a new weekly program Tuesday titled "Masterpieces" under the direc- tion of Raine Bennett. It is a musical program and will go on the air at 7 :45 P.M., P.S.T. ... On the strength of a single appearance in "Hollywood Extra," a KFI series, Kimboi Grant has been signed by Radio Pictures. . . . Siegel Ad Head at KFWB Hollywood, March 2. — Sam Siegel has been named publicity director of KFWB. He replaces Jean Armand who resigned when Haven MacQuar- rie left to concentrate on the Chase & Sanborn hour. Trotta Names Ampa Awards Committees Vincent Trotta, chairman of the Ampa committee on the annual awards, has named two sub-commit- tees, one to select judges for the awards and the other to make arrange- ments for the exhibition. The committee to select judges is headed by Paul Gulick and includes Mort Blumenstock, S. Barret McCor- mick, Gordon White and Trotta. The exhibition committee is headed by Paul Benjamin. Howard Hughes Gets Harmon Air Award Washington, March 2. — Howard R. Hughes today received from the hands of President Roosevelt the Har- mon International Trophy as tJie world's outstanding aviator during 1936. The trophy, awarded by the Ligue Internationale des Aviateurs, was donated by Clifford Burke Harmon, pioneer aviator, and is awarded to per- petuate the memory of the Lafayette Escadrille. Writers' Guild Is Dissolved on Coast Hollywood, March 2. — The Screen Writers' Guild became officially dead yesterday. The guild filed a certifi- cate of dissolution with the county clerk's office stating that all debts have been paid. The guild was engaged in a con- troversy with producers over a long period, in connection with an attempt to organize the screen writers. The guild lost out in its fight, chiefly as a result of the action of producers in giving five and seven-year contracts to writers. Mrs. Alta Baker Dies Spokane. March 2. — Mrs. Alta Baker, 31, wife of Al Baker, man- ager of the Fox, is dead here follow- ing an operation. She had been con- fined to a sanitarium for three years. Baker took the body to her home in Kansas City, Mo. Robert Rosenthal Dead Robert Rosenthal, agent general for Paramount distribution in Switzer- land, died suddenly on Monday, ac- cording to word received yesterday by John W. Hicks, Jr., vice-president in charge of foreign distribution for Paramount. Mrs. Jack Robbins Dead Boston, March 2. — Mrs. Jack Rob- bins, wife of the former Advance Trailer executive, died this week at the Beth Israel Hospital. In Warner Trailer Post Los Angeles, March 2. — Arnold Albert, exploitation director for the Warner circuit in the western zone, has left that post to become assistant to Sanford M. Abrahams, trailer pro- duction head at the company's Bur- bank studios. No successor has yet been appointed. Albert was identified with the Warner home office publicity and advertising department before tak- ing over the theatre exploitation job. Wall Street Marked Increases on Board Net High Low Close Change Columbia 36% 37% + % Columbia, pfd. . . 45 45 45 + 54 5 4% 4% + 54 Consolidated, pfd.. . 17 1654 17 + % Eastman Kodak 16954 16954 16954 +1% Eastman, pfd. ... 16154 16154 16154 +1 Gen. T. Equip. . 30% 3054 3054 + % Loew's, Inc 8054 78 80 +254 Paramount 26% 26 26% + % Paramount 1 pfd. 185 184 185 +1 Paramsunt 2 pfd. 2454 24 24 + % 9 m 8% 8% RKO 9 m + % 20th Century-Fox. 35% 35% +1 20th Century, pfd. 4354 43% 4354 -% Warner Bros. . . . 15% 15% 15% + % Curb Off Slightly Net High Low Close Change Grand National . 354 354 3% -% 2 2 2 21% 2154 21% 5 4% 4% - % Universal Pict. ... 1454 14% 1454 - % Little Bond Activity Net High Low Close Change Keith B. F. 6s '46 98% 98% 98% Loew's 354s '46... 190 99% 100 + % Paramount B""way 3s '55 75 75 7S Paramount Pict. 6s '55 109% 10054 100% — % Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 98% 98 98% ..... (Quotations at close of Mar. 2) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, March 3, 1937 i Purely Personal ► NL. NATHANSON and the • missus, back from Miami, at "21" yesterday, to Toronto shortly and back to Florida for the M. P. T. O. convention. J. Robert Rubin lunching with Gilbert Miller whose play, "The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse," opened the Hudson last night. Sylvia Sidney had a date with Herb Cruik- shank and Irving Hoffman, who had to tear himself away from Helen Morgan to keep it. Willard Mc- Kay started out by his lonesome, but shortly thereafter was joined by Les- lie E. Thompson, Herman Robbins, Charles B. Paine and Dave Pal- freyman. Seen here and there, as well, were Jerry Morris and Cecelia Auger; Jack Connolly, who sails the end of April to handle coronation coverage for Pathe News ; Jack Pearl, his wife and Mrs. Ed Sulli- A. W. Smith, Jr., yesterday lunched with Buck Wilder, Virginia independent circuit owner, at the Tav- ern. Wilder is spending a few days in town renewing acquaintances. At another table Bill Powers, George Weeks and James Davidson talked about G.B. product in National The- atres. The Monday Knighters were represented by Charles Moses, Mitchell Klupt, Harry Shiffman, Henry Brown, Leo Justin, Morris Jacks and Irving Wormser. Joan Eberson discussed theatre electrical work with Charles Weinstein. Harry C. Arthur and Irving Lesser took a liking to apple dumplings, while Charles Leonard and Rodney Bush talked about Walter Wan- ger's advertising program. Anna Rosenthal, legal head of Grand Na- tional, had Elizabeth North as her guest. J. J. Milstein grabbed a quick bite and left early. Marvtn Schenck was sporting his newly acquired Miami tan. Mary Pickford, Glenda Farrell, Ruth Chatterton, Winifred Shot- ter, Gilbert Miller, Hassard Short and Max Baer are sailing to- day on the Berengaria. TO LOS ANGELES FLY "FIRST-CLASS' SLEEP Overnight in new FLAGSHIPS Over the all-year Southern Transcon- tinental Route, in NEW 14-berth Flag- ship Sleepers; the most luxurious, quietest, longest-range planes. Fly on the AMERICAN MERCURY, 3 stops only. Phone VAnderbilt 3-2580 or your travel agent Ticket Office — 45 Vanderbilt Ave. mom AIRLINES inc. Ingenious Crime Play Well Turned; A Cinch for Films Murder with charm, with criminal psychology and pathology tossed in to make it further intricate, took place on the comfortably filled stage of the Hudson Theatre last night. It had to do with Dr. Clitterhouse, an amaz- ing fellow who tired of the routine of private practice for something more stimulating scientifically. What do thieves think about as they go about their pilfering? Does their blood pressure jump? Do their nerves tingle ? Dr. Clitterhouse did not know. He did not believe medical science knew and so he set out on a one-man crime wave to find out. Four burglar- ies came and went and even the doc- tor's good friend, Chief Inspector Charles of the Yard never suspected what might happen under an apparent- ly normal veneer when it scratches it- self into action. With the Law as Accomplice The eminent doctor even turns to the inspector for Scotland Yard's triple A recommendation of the saf- est "fence" in London. That contact once established, Clitterhouse, at last, is face to face with the genuine ar- ticle. In fact, he is it. This gives him opportunity to take blood tests and to otherwise disport himself scientifically to the mystification of his gang. When he and his notebook have had their fill, his guinea pig ex pedition is over. But Kellerman, the "fence," is sus- picious and, by remembering his re- spectable youth as a watchmaker, plants a paper contraption under the telephone dial which turns informer by revealing the number Clitterhouse always calls from crime headquarters. The other end, quite naturally, is his office on the more discreet side of the tracks. Finally in Too Deep At any rate, Clitterhouse discovers there is no such crime as the perfect one when Kellerman makes an appear- ance demanding not only the notes from which were to spring the Clitter- house treatise but that the doctor go in for safe-cracking. Not much left to do but to drop heroin in Keller- man's whiskey, take him off to the country and drop him in the river. But on the body is found the doctor's telephone number and the net closes in. Comes Sir William Grant, K C. and a friend, to hear the story and to stake his reputation on freedom for the doctor through the casual ob- servation he must have been mad. And thus, off goes Clitterhouse to the Yard, the inference being this is one genteel murderer who will escape punishment for his crime. It sounds strange, perhaps, to de- scribe such a proceeding as enter- tainingly and thoroughly diverting, we're sorry — no, we're glad — but they are and vastly so. Sir Cedric Hard- wicke is quietly amusing and very competent, as usual, as the experimen- tal medico. The cast, each in its way, is made up of jewels of per- formance under Lewis Allen's stage direction and the successful Gilbert Miller's production aegis. This is the play by Barre Lyndon which was such a success in London and will be here. It is too ingenious and too Drop Sherman Bail In Union Fund Case {Continued from page 1) discharged on recommendation of Irv- ing Mendelson, assistant district attor- ney, in a 22-page recommendation. Sherman's attorney, Hyman Bushel, said that within the next month he would move for a dismissal of the in- dictment and that the discharging of the bail was preliminary to such a motion. Sherman was president of 306 from February, 1933, to the summer of 1934. He was accused of taking the money from the union bank account and plac- ing it in safe deposit boxes in the Guarantee Trust Co. The boxes were rented in the name of Charles Beck- man, the financial secretary, and access also was given to Charles Hyman, who was then treasurer. Subsequently, the money was withdrawn from the boxes and it is charged it was turned over to Sherman. Sherman claimed the money was used for organization and rehabilitation. When pressed for an explanation Sherman is said to have told members of the union it was none of their business what had been done with the money. However, when different members of the union were questioned by Mendelson, they were unable to present facts showing that Sherman used the money for any but union purposes. S. & C. -Empire Deal To Date from Jan. SI (Continued from page 1) according to an official of the theatre organization, were granted in line with Sam D. Cocalis' plan to boost sal- aries where employes show their worth. A compulsory savings plan whereby all employes of the Cocalis Amuse- ment Co. put away $2.50 a week is meeting with approval of approxi- mately 55 theatre managers and home office workers, it was stated. Under the plan, the Cocalis circuit contrib- utes a similar amount to the individ- ual savings account. Last year, each employe collected $255. Asked whether the circuit was amen- able to an amalgamation of Empire with Local 306, a circuit executive stated that such a move would be beneficial to the organization. Local 306 recently absorbed Allied M.P. Operators and it was reported that efforts would be made to consolidate Empire in the group. The Empire-S. & C. deal which expired Jan. 31 was for five years. completely well wrought to have any other future. Warners ultimately will place "The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse" on cellu- loid as part of their arangement made with Miller some months ago and in- cluding "Tovarich." Under the code, of course, Clitterhouse will have to pay for his crime unless the boys in San Fernando Valley can think up another way out. We rather hope they do. Clitterhouse is too nice a bird to have his neck stretched. May Consider Films Act in This Session (Continued from page 1) introduced during this session of Par- liament. He said he has noted the suggestion that payments for foreign films re- leased in England should be balanced by payments for British films for ex- port. Urges Divided Quota London, March 2. — F. G. W. Chamberlain, a member of the Bristol Branch of the C.E.A., has suggested in a letter to the Board of Trade that, in any revision of the Films Act, the quota should differentiate between first and second features, and that one first feature should have the value of two second features. He claims that this would prevent American companies using low class British films for quota. Approve New Trade Groups in England (Continued from page 1) sisting of four producers, three studio owners, and two members represent- ing each of the other sections, to draft a constitution, which is planned to embrace every unit engaged in pro- duction, including American companies who produce in England. It is considered probable that the F. B. I. Film Group will disappear, and that the new organization may affiliate with the F. B. I. The present Film Group consists of producers only. Michael N. Kearney, present head of the Film Group, is expected to be selected as secretary of the new or- ganization. Allan Messer Named To G.B. Directorate (Continued from page 1) board, 20th Century-Fox was given the right to appoint another director. Their original choice, Sydney Wright, an attorney and director of M-G-M and Empire Films, is said to have been rejected at the instance of Os- trer. It was pointed out further that if Messer, who presumably is representa- tive of the 20th Century-Fox inter- ests, had been named earlier, the dis- tribution deal with C. M. Woolf might not have won the approval of the board, since the 20th Century-Fox in- terests are known to have been in accord with Maxwell in opposition to the Woolf arrangement. Gainsborough Has Loss London, March 2. — Gainsborough Pictures, subsidiary of Gaumont Brit- ish, has reported a loss of £98,000 for the year 1936. Flash Previews "The Man Who Found Himself — Ordinary fare, telling of a young doctor's mental and professional re- generation. Marks the debut of Joan Fontane. "The Wedding of Palo" — Filmed in the Arctic regions, this is a light, ethnological study of Eskimo life and love. These pictures will be reviewed in full in a coming issue of Motion Pic- ture Daily. Alert. Intelligent the In All Branches MOTION PICTURE DAILY The Leading Picture Industry VOL. 41. NO. 52 NEW YORK, THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 1937 TEN CENTS LT.O. Takes No Action on Local Games Situation "Status Quo/' Attorney Declares No action was taken yesterday by the I.T.O.A. on the local game situation when members of the or- ganization met at the Astor Hotel for what was presumably intended to be an agreement in view of recent decisions by Loew's and RKO to abandon the policy. Within the past few weeks both major circuits have hiked admissions in a number of Greater New York houses and before many more weeks games will be a thing of the past. The I.T.O.A. contention has been that members would discontinue vari- ous types of games provided the major circuits would do likewise and at the same time boost admissions. At yesterday's meeting, a committee reported to the membership on Loew's and RKO moves, but as far as the independent association was concerned the situation is in "status quo," ac- cording to Melvin Albert of Weis- man, Celler, Quinn, Allen & Spett. He made the statement to Motion Picture Daily after attending the Astor session. Albert was responsible for bring- ing representatives of Loew's and (Continued on page 23) Nebraska Test Suit Set for Bank Night Lincoln, Neb., March 3. — Paul Chaney, representative of Attorney General Hunter, was ordered today to start a test action against Bank Night. He conferred in Fall City with Ray Coffin, president of Allied Prod. ; Ralph Blank, head of Central States ; Evert Cummings, head of Tri- States and S. P. Halpern, Minneapo- lis attorney, who will represent the- atres. The conference was to determine (Continued on page 23) Oregon Bans Chance Games of All Kinds Salem, Ore., March 3. — Reversing action taken earlier in the week, the Senate has passed a bill prohibiting all games of chance, including pinball and slot machines. The vote was 17 to 13. Having been passed by the House, the measure now has gone to the Governor. Radio— Pages 24-25 Maxwell Seen In Open Fight With Ostrers Scores Move of Ostrers To Quit Producing By BRUCE ALLAN London, March 3. — A virtual declaration of war between John Maxwell and the Ostrers in the di- rectorate of Gaumont British is indi- cated in the course of an interview with Maxwell published today in the Financial News. An open fight for control of the company was implied in Maxwell's statements. It was indicated here today also that trustees for the debenture holders of G. B. may call a meeting of the holders before endorsing the deal with C. M. Woolf for G. B. distribution, which was opposed by Maxwell. Maxwell, referring to the move for the scrapping of production and dis- tribution by the company, which was initiated by the Ostrers, declared : "There has been nothing quite like it since the Chinaman burned down his house to roast the pig." Speak- ing of the Woolf deal, he said: "It may make it possible to treat the large trading loss as a nonrecurring one payable out of capital, and make (Continued on page 6) Columbia 6-Month Profit Is $629,771 Columbia Pictures Corp., for the six months ended Dec. 26, 1936, reports a net profit after all charges and pro- vision for Federal income and other taxes of $629,771.93, which compares with a net for the corresponding six months of 1935 of $781,272.83, after all deductions. For the three months ended Dec. 26, 1936, the net profit after all charges was $500,513.84, which was equal to $1.51 per share on the common stock. The net for six months was equal to (Continued on page 21) One Independent Hollywood, March 3.— In the midst of a wrangle over the troublesome business of inter-studio borrowing of tal- ent an irate producer gave this new definition of an in- dependent producer: "Louie Mayer is the only real independent producer. He doesn't have to ask any- body for anything." RKO Net for '36 Reaches $2,514,734 RKO and subsidiaries had a con- solidated net profit for the 53 weeks ended Dec. 31, 1936, after all charges and provision for estimated Federal taxes, of $2,514,734.73, which com- pares with a consolidated net profit for 1935 of $684,732.96, according to the fourth report of the trustee, Irv- ing Trust Co., to the U. S. District Court, filed yesterday. The statement is preliminary to the audited report, which is expected to show little change. The report showed a very substan- tial gain in net profit of theatre oper- ations, reaching $1,414,886.99 for 1936, which compares with a profit for 1935 (Continued on page 26) New Union May Call Sit-Down in Detroit Detroit, March 3. — A sit-down strike of shippers, poster clerks and inspectresses seems iminent here with the formation by the Detroit and Wayne County Federation of Labor of a new organization which will be known as the Inspectresses, Shippers and Poster Handlers Union. It is believed that the strike will start Friday morning. The num- ber of applications for membership (Continued on page 23) 'Lost Horizon 9 in Notable Broadway Roadshow Debut First night regalia, which is oneumbia executives, the picture repre- way of saying high hats and furs.senting an investment of $2,000,000. was paraded in wholesale last night Perhaps less, but not much, for the formal New York opening There was the usual traffic jam of "Lost Horizon," the much-dis-and much excitement at the Globe, cussed Frank Capra version of theHigh executives of virtually all of novel by James Hilton. It was anthe major companies were glimpsed important event in the lives of Col- (Continued on page 26) Warners Plan 60 Features NextSeason Same Total of Shorts as This Year Is Set Warners will produce 60 features next season and the same number of shorts as the current season, Harry M. Warner, president, told Motion Picture Daily yesterday. The com- pany is continuing the First National brand, he said, and half of the output will bear this name. Production budgets for the first group of 1937-38 product have been set up and a number of new season's films are now in work, Warner stated. The outlay for the new program will be increased appreciably over the $20,- 000,000 spent for this season's sched- ule. Details in this connection will be completed when Warner returns to the coast in the near future. Jack L. Warner is now finishing up the few remaining pictures on the 1936-37 pro- gram, the president added. Production in England may be in- creased from 20 to 26, Warner said. He will sail Saturday with Sam E. Morris on the Conte di Savoia. There is no intention on the part of Warners to invade the English ex- hibition field, Warner said in deny- ing reports which have cropped up from time to time that the company was planning such a move. He ad- mitted having offers to enter the field, but decided against it. In addition to England, Warner and Morris will visit Italy, Denmark, Nor- way, Sweden and France. They will be gone about seven weeks on "a general business trip." Industry to Fight Joining Berne Group The industry will oppose adherence by the United States to the Berne Copyright Convention, subject to cer- tain revisions, until after the Con- vention members hold their special meeting at Brussels, according to Edwin P. Kilroe, chairman of the (Continued on page 26) Dickstein to Amend Alien Actors Bill By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, March 3. — Amend- ment of the alien actor bill to meet the objections to the proposed quota system was promised today by Rep- resentative Dickstein as the House Immigration Committee offered a (Continued on page 21) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, March 4, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 March 4, 1937 No. 52 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN. Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc.. Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and tF Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at Rockefeller Center. New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco. New York." All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Company. Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley Publi- cations: MOTION PICTURE HERALD. BETTER THEATRES, TEATRO AL DIA, INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. . „ HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Sts. ; Boone Mancall. Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave., C. B. O'Neill, Manager. „ WASHINGTON: Albee Building, Bertram F. Linz. Representative. AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan 5; Philip de Schaap, Representative. BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 Kanl&r-u, Budapest II; Endre Hevesi. Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientes 2495; N. Bruski, Representative. HELSINKI: Fredriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszlo, Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square, W. 1; Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address, Quigpubco, Lon- don. MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins St.; Cliff Holt, Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart, Representative. MONTEVIDEO: P. 0. Box 664; Paul Bodo, Rep- resentative. MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern, Rep- resentative. PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre, Repre- sentative. PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1; Harry Knopf. Representative. RIO DE JANEIRO : Caixa Postal 3358; A. Weiss- man, Representative. ROME: Viale Gorizia; Vittorio Malpassutl, Rep- resentative. SHANGHAI: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Build- ing, 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler, Repre- sentative. STOCKHOLM: Kungsgatan 36; Ragnar Allberg, Representative. TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi. Chiba-Ken; H. Tominaga, Representative. VIENNA: Nuestiftgasse, 55; Vienna VII; Hans Lorant, Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign S12. Single copies: 10 cents. "Meade's Woman" at $28,000 in 2nd Week "John Meade's Woman" at the Paramount garnered approximately $28,000 in the second week at the Paramount with Guy Lombardo and his orchestra on the stage. The fig- ures are about $13,000 less than the first seven-day gross. "Green Light" at the Strand tal- lied about $18,000 in the second week. It is now in its third stanza. The Rialto took in approximately $6,800 on "Man of the People," while the Rivoli ended the first week of "Man Who Could Work Miracles" with $22,000. "Maid of Salem" opened big at the Paramount yesterday. By 3 P. M., the management estimated 11,000 per- sons had visited the theatre. This was said to be about 500 admissions ahead of the first day of "The Plainsman." Set 20th-Fox Dividends Cash dividends of Z7l/2 cents per share on the preferred and 50 cents per share on the common were de- clared yesterday by the board of di- rectors of 20 Century- Fox. Both divi- dends will be payable March 31 to stockholders of record March 19. SEC Reveals Heavy Trading In Paramount By CLARENCE LINZ Washington, March 3. — Heavy trading in Paramount stocks by Hemphill, Noyes & Co., indirect owner, in January were reported to- day by the Securities and Exchange Commission in its semi-monthly sum- mary of the transactions of officers, directors and principal stockholders. During the month, the commission disclosed, the company's transactions resulted in the sale of 118,300 shares of common secured through exchange or conversion and the disposition of 16,900 shares of six per cent con- vertible first preferred acquired in the same manner. The report showed that Hemphill, Noyes & Co. were short 6,300 shares of common at the close of the month, but subsequently covered itself by the conversion of 900 shares of first preferred. Harris Acquisition Shown The only other trades in Para- mount reported were the acquisition of 100 shares of common by Duncan G. Harris, New York, who held 200 shares at the end of the month, and the acquisition of 200 shares of six per cent convertible second preferred by Austin C. Keough, New York, who held 223 shares of second pre- ferred and 59 shares of common at the close of the month. A report on the holdings of Stanton Griffis, New York, director, showed him in possession of 1,000 shares of common, 1,000 shares of first pre- ferred and 1,000 shares of second pre- ferred at the close of the period. The commission made public the report on the holdings of officers and directors on Jan. 27, when the Para- mount registration became effective, showing that Barney Balaban, W. B. Cokell, John W. Hicks, Jr., Fred Moorhardt, officers, and Stephen Cal- laghan, Harry O. King and Adolph Zukor, directors, held no equity se- curities. Y. Frank Freeman held 1,000 shares of common; A. Conger Goodyear, 1,000 shares of common, 600 shares of first preferred and 1,000 shares of second preferred; John Hertz, through Lehman Brothers, 6,000 shares of common and 8,000 shares of second preferred and, through a trust, 300 shares of first preferred; Henry Herzbrun, 209 shares of common and 83 shares of second preferred; Charles A. McCul- loch, 1,500 shares of first preferred, and Earl I. McClintock, 100 shares of second preferred. Cohn's Transactions Listed A December report on Columbia Pictures showed that Harry Cohn dis- posed of 100 common voting trust certificates by gift, reducing his hold- ings to 70,491, and Jack Cohn by ex- change disposed of 11,992 purchase warrants and acquired that number of voting trust certificates, bringing his holdings to 38,570. A report on Consolidated Films Industries showed that James E. MacPherson, New York, sold 1,000 shares of $2 cumulative participating preferred and later covered his sales by purchases, leaving his holdings un- changed at 1,640 shares. Acquisition of 15,000 shares of Grand National Films common was reported by Kirk W. Todd, Pitts- burgh, director, while the Chase Na- tional Bank reported further liquida- tion of 20th Century-Fox stocks held under escrow agreement, disposing of 438 shares of common and 876 shares of $1.50 cumulative preferred; the bank at the close of the month held 351,909 shares of common and 703,- 818 shares of preferred. Warner Holdings Reduced Harry M. Warner reported the making of a gift of 32,500 Warner op- tional six per cent convertible deben- tures, reducing his holdings to 1,404,- 000, and Samuel Carlisle, New York, reported the sale of 200 shares of common, reducing his holdings to 1,300 shares. A report of the holdings of officers and directors of General Theatre Equipment Corp. on Jan. 27, when its registration became effective, showed no equity stocks held by M. V. Car- roll, W. E. Green or R. B. Larue, officers, or by Robert L. Clarkson, Chester W. Cuthell, Daniel O. Hast- ings or Hermann G. Place, directors. The report showed that the Chase National Bank held, beneficially, 181,- 213 shares of common and 2,965 sub- scription warrants ; Seton Porter, director, 530 shares of common; Ed- ward C. Delafield, director, 200 shares of common, and Ralph N. Harder, director, 100 shares of common. Advertising Guild May Take Ampa Men Formation of the American Adver- tising Guild and establishment of a special division for film and theatre publicity, advertising and exploitation men is seen as a move to replace Ampa. At a special meeting Tuesday night in a Times Square hotel, approxi- mately 40 persons identified with the film business attended. Discussions re- volved around setting up minimum salaries, specified working hours, col- lective bargaining and recognition from producers and distributors. Until officers are named and divi- sions of various industries outlined, those attending the meetings are in- clined to be reticent. However, de- velopments are expected within the next few weeks with a formal an- nouncement of the organization's plans. Moss Speaker at Ampa Paul Moss, license commissioner of New York, will be the guest speaker at the Ampa luncheon meeting at the Hotel Edison today. He will speak on Bank Night. Para. Offer to Expire Holders of Paramount 20-year six per cent sinking fund debentures have been notified by Barney Balaban, pres- ident, that the company's offer for an exchange of these for an equal amount of three and one-half per cent convertible debentures of 1947 will expire March 9. Delay Loew Board Meet Loew's board of directors meeting scheduled for yesterday was called off due to lack of a quorum. The next session is slated for April 7. David Bernstein, vice-president and treasurer, is due back from a southern business and vacation trip about March 15. Resume Fox Probe, But Adjourn Early Atlantic City, March 3. — The proceedings before Federal Referee Robert E. Steedle here in the bank- ruptcy of William Fox were resumed here today after a postponement of several weeks. After a short session, the hearing was adjourned to March 30. By that time it is expected Fed- eral Judge John Boyd Avis in Cam- den will have decided the contempt citations filed by Referee Steedle against Mrs. Eva Fox, the bankrupt, and Herbert Leitsteen, family book- keeper, for refusing to answer ques- tions. Today, Wyllys S. Newcomb of Hughes, Schurman & Dwight of New York, counsel for some of the large creditors, obtained from Murry C. Becker of New York, one of Fox's counsel, documents demanded previ- ously. These, which Newcomb intro- duced into the record, include the cer- tificate of incorporation and other let- ters and exhibits involving that enter- prise. They serve to trace investments Fox made in developing early talking picture and sound film technique 10 years ago. Cocalis Negotiating For 12 or 14 Houses Sam D. Cocalis, who is operating 21 of his own theatres in addition to supervising the Springer & Cocalis circuit of 23. units, is understood to be negotiating for a group of 12 to 14 theatres in the local area. A deal is expected to be signed within the next few weeks. Involved in the 14 houses are sev- eral small independent circuits and acquisition of these units would solidify the 44 situations he now con- trols. Financial backing for the new expansion move is said to be set with only minor details left before the ad- ditional units change hands. Kelly Urges B Films Be 'Ploughed Under' Arthur W. Kelly, vice-president in charge of foreign distribution for United Artists, suggested yesterday that Class B pictures be "ploughed under," following his return from a six-month trip covering Europe, South America and South Africa. "There's more money to be made on big pictures now than ever before," Kelly declared. Business is on the upgrade everywhere, he said, but the public is "shopping around for its en- tertainment." Cheap pictures are suf- fering from competition of the native- made product, which is making un- usual progress, especially in the Spanish-speaking market, he declared. Confer on Zukor Jubilee Salt Lake City, March 3.— Con- ferences on the Adolph Zukor Jubilee are being held here by Charles M. Regan, Paramount's western division manager ; Hugh Braly, Rocky Moun- tain division head; Myke Lewis, Pacific coast division manager, and Branch Manager Frank Smith. Another for Brandt Harry Brandt has closed a deal to take over the new 600-seat theatre which is to be constructed at 23rd St. and Ninth Ave. — And YOU Get the Biggest Easter Entertainment of Your Show Life! . . . 50 million Frenchwomen can't be wrong! He turned his throne into a love seat —so he ain't gonna reign no more! Every girl has her day she had her knight! His art was the talk of Europe- especially his etchings! - I HE WROTE IT! Story by Groucho Marx and Norman Krasna And He's Going To Play For Big Stakes In Starring for the First Time In America The Idol of the Continent FERIMD GRMET And Their Royal Hi-De-Highnesses JOAN BLONDELL-EDW. EVERETT HORTON and Alan Mowbray • Mary Nash • Jane Wyman Kenny Baker* Luis Alberni • Shaw and Lee Songs by Werner R. Heymann and Ted Koehler A MERVYN LEROY PRODUCTION for WARIER BROS. id wasn't that a dainty dish to set before the kina? MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, March 4, 1937 Maxwell Seen In Open Fight With Ostrers (.Continued from page 1) it possible for the preference share- holders to get dividends, and thus ob- viate their having votes." He revealed the details of the Woolf arrangement, calling it a salv- age operation, with General Film Dis- tributors, the Woolf company, to pay £130,000 annually for G. B. distribu- tion and lease of the printing plant, which is "rather less than yielding a profit at present." Pointing to the General Film Dis- tributors' guarantee of £600,000 on the distribution of nine G. B. films, Max- well said: "Unfortunately, that is £177,000 less than was estimated in the recent calculations." Asked if the directors who dis- sented from the plan consider that production could have been continue'd by G. B., Maxwell said: "Undoubt- edly. The present administration failed, but that does not mean that there are no brains in Britain. Also skilled people could be obtained from the United States." Tells of U. S. Negotiations He revealed that 20th Century-Fox and M-G-M had asked 48 hours in which to make a proposal for assist- ance to G. B., but that the Ostrers re- fused. Past G. B. production costs were double those stated for the eight pictures included in the Woolf deal, Maxwell indicated, and added that distribution could have been continued for a year on G. B. pictures, and that supplies could have been obtained from outside. "My own company offered to sup- ply 10 pictures a year free of risk," he stated. Another British producing company with important backing also offered product, but was refused after a week's delay, he said. The dissenting directors, he de- clared, represent 57 per cent of the ordinary capital, and the others less than one per cent. The deal means there will be no dividends in years, he said. Kane's Status Revealed The election to the directorate of Allan Messer was revealed yesterday as a move to balance the power in the board, since Messer is an Ostrer nominee, and Robert Kane, head of 20th Century-Fox production in Eng- land, was quietly elected to the board recently, without it being generally known. Kane was deputized to act for him by Sidney R. Kent, president of 20th Century-Fox. With reference to the United States, Maxwell said : "There are no contractual obligations, but merely a pious expression of the intention to send pictures for distribution. Most British production companies, includ- ing General Film Distributors, gave such assurances voluntarily months ago. Trade paper advertisements of G. B. and General Film Distributors an- nouncing that the latter will collect and deliver all films for the former, are taken here as a move on the part of the Ostrers to rush matters, but the opinion here is that their position is desperate. MOTION PICTURE DAILYS HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Call It a Day ( Warners) Hollywood, March 3. — Here is a smart adaptation of a smart stage play. Very humorous, it is brimful of those comedy elements which amuse all types of audiences. Telling a gay and airy story of the romantic adventures which befall a staid English family in the course of a day, the film is staged in a manner which makes all principals stars and offers each minor character the opportunity to participate in the joviality. A natural for word-of-mouth build-up, the picture has plenty of showmanship potentialities for some sparkling campaigns. In the spring, when fancies are said to turn to love, Ian Hunter, a dutiful husband, is hard put to escape the wiles of Marcia Ralston, an actress. Frieda Inescort, his wife, is pushed into a giddy affair with Roland Young by Alice Brady, who is having a hectic time giving him the cold shoulder. Olivia de Havilland, her elder daughter, is in the throes of an exotic love with Walter Wolfe King, an artist, but is stymied by him and Peggy Wood, his wife. Peter Willies, adoles- cent son yearning for Continental adventure, falls for Anita Louise, the charming next door neighbor. Bonita Granville, the child, wor- ships any artistic muse whether it be high art or motion pictures. Their adventures are chock-full of entertainment quality that will make any audience feel good. When a change is sought in the affairs of the family, attention is centered on the antics of the three servants, Elsa Buchanan, Una O'Connor and Beryl Mercer, also on the household cat and the neighborhood dog. Being free from the British atmosphere which makes difficult the selling of an English story in this country, no one need worry that "Call It a Day" won't do good business here and meet with popularity among the American masses. Even those who deliberately avoid English pictures should go for this one. Casey Robinson's adaptation of the Dodie Smith play is continuously clever as it concentrates on the com- edy elements. Archie Mayo directed skilfully, giving exhibitors and audiences worthy merchandise. Production Code Seal No. 2,872. Running time, 90 minutes. "G." "Nancy Steele Is Missing" {20th Century-Fox) Hollywood, March 3. — Because this covers a period of 20 years, its effectiveness is lessened and much power is lost. George Marshall, director, who undoubtedly was conscious of this problem, has saved much time by planting his action skilfully. Nevertheless, the general effect is the losing of sympathy for the characters who never seem to become living people. During the Wilson era, Victor McLaglen kidnaps the infant daugh- ter of Walter Connolly, a munitions magnate. Before he can negotiate for a ransom, McLaglen is arrested for a felonious assault previously committed. The baby is left with a respectable couple while McLaglen is jailed in the same cell with Peter Lorre to whom, during the follow- ing 20 years of his incarceration, he gradually divulges the story of the kidnapping. Upon McLaglen's release, Connolly befriends him and June Lang, the daughter, who is now fully grown. Lorre arranges to collect a ransom while McLaglen battles with his conscience. When Lorre finally completes the deal, McLaglen, now fully repentant, tells Connolly the truth and returns to prison for life as Miss Lang goes back to her parents. The screenplay by Gene Fowler and Hal Long, from the story by Charles Francis Coe, concentrates on drama as the main theme, using a prison break as one means of inserting a punch. The well-chosen cast includes Robert Kent, Shirley Deane, Granville Bates and Jane Dar- well in addition to the principals. The picture can best be sold as a kidnapping story different from others which preceded it. Production Code Seal No. 3,012. Running time, 85 minutes. "G." (Additional Reviews on Pages 22-23) "Maid of Salem," yesterday morning's opener at the Paramount, was previewed by wire from Hollywood on Jan. 22. "Fire Over England," previewed by wire on Jan. 11 from the coast, will open this morning at the Radio City Music Hall. "The Great O'Malley," opening tomorrow morning at the Strand, was re- viewed from Hollywood by wire on Dec. 4. "Love is News," tonight's preview at the Roxy, was previewed from the coast on Feb. 16. "Outcast," now current at the Rialto, was reviewed on Jan. 28th by wire from the coast. Newsreels Prepared For Coronation Day London, March 3.— The British Of- fice of Works has allocated key posi- tions covering the entire line of march in the Coronation procession, for the accommodation of newsreel apparatus. If there is room all newsreels will have places for their cameras. If room is lacking in certain important posi- tions, the footage obtained in those spots will be passed to all other com- panies. The actual ceremony in Westmin- ster Abbey will be filmed by one or two cameras if permission is obtained, as is expected, but the footage will be available to all reels. Individual reels also will have their own private sta- tions, using all available cameras. Pathe declares it will use 30. Arrangements have been made to deliver prints of the Coronation films by plane to 70 cities on the day of the ceremony. Already engaged for the flights are Captain Mollison, Scott Brook, Llewellyn Rose and Beryl Markham. The six star pilots will be competing for the Gold Cup on the fastest flight under sealed handicap. Mollison will participate unless he is signed for the delivery of the prints by plane from here to the United States for Movietone News. Seek "Cissy" Testimony A motion for examination before trial of Columbia Pictures and Harry Cohn, president, will be heard today before N. Y. Supreme Court Justice Charles B. McLaughlin, in connection with the suit brought by Jack Curtis and Charles Allen of Curtis and Allen against Fritz Kreisler and Charles Foley. Curtis and Allen are asking for brokers' commission amounting to $3,750, due them on the sale to Colum- bia Pictures of the film rights of the defendants' opera known as "Cissy," which were sold 'for $37,500. The ac- tion has been set for trial on March 19, 1937. Court Testimony Ordered N. Y. Supreme Court Judge Lloyd Church signed an order yesterday di- recting that testimony of Charles B. Mintz, George Stalling, Earl Hurd, Ted Fears, Bill Nolan and Jack King, who are now in Los Angeles, be taken before trial of the suit of Pedro Llanuza against Columbia Pictures, Winkler Film Corp., Charles B. Mintz, Walt Disney and United Ar- tists. The plaintiff alleges that in 1931 he conceived the idea of characterizing screen personalities in animated shorts which he submitted to Columbia who agreed not to use the idea without paying him. The purpose of taking the testimony in Los Angeles is to prove that the idea was not an original one. Churchill on Coast Hollywood, March 3. — E. J. Churchill, head of Donahue & Coe, New York advertising agency which handles national copy for a number of United Artists producers, arrived from the east today. Delay Ohio ITO Meeting Columbus, March 3. — The meeting of the I. T. O. of Ohio, scheduled for Tuesday, to discuss bills pending in the legislature, has been postponed un- til next Tuesday. ME AND MY SHADOW SAY CASTS HIS SHADOW! The wise little fellow is right again this year! Sing Tra-la-la and DOUGH-Re^Mi for the Biggest M-GM Hits of Histor^ee! Whee! Start on next page! a 10,000 M-G-M SHOWMEN ARE SAYING TODAY: There's only one thing that matters— PICTURES!" u AND WHEREVER FILM MEN MEET THEY AGREE: There's only one com- pany can be depended on to make them!" ft ■ ■ ■ "DON'T LOOK NOW, LEO, BUT THERE'S SOMEBODY WANTS TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT 'MAYTIME'! " * % ***** J Jeanette Mac DonaldmNelson Eddy th JOHN BARRYMORE wi To make a greater picture than either of their previous hits — "Naughty Marietta' or "Rose Marie was the task 01 Metro - Gold wvn M ayer. It was no easy matter to repeat such memorable triumphs but the completed picture, a sensa- tion at its Coast preview, is the answer. To the romantic stars, Miss MacDonald and Mr. Eddy; to the unfailing producer Mr. Hunt Stromberg of "San Francisco ' and "Great Ziegreld fame (to mention just two of his many hits); to Director Robert Z. Leonard (Z. for his "Ziegfeld'' direction); to Mr. John Barrymore, Mr. Herman Bing, and the great Cast; to all whose efforts for so many months contributed to the making of the picture Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer offers its sincerest salute of admiration and gratitude, echoed by thousands of showmen the world over. In appreciation of the importance of "MAYTIME" M-G-M has taken full page ads in national magazines and newspapers to launch what is destined to be one of the greatest box-office attractions of our time. And the parade of JVf-G-.M hits inarches merrily on and on and on! UK a On the next page is news about the picture that Director W. S. Van Dyke was busy making while you were cleaning up with his East hit- After The Thin Man.'7 He never misses! You'll see that we're (next page) Whether your patrons live here 1 or here I They'll get the same thrill here ( because M-G-M has co-starred two flaming stars |, This selling « all fan magaxine^ Get ready! Get set. AS GREAT AS Dust off the Hall of Fame for another M-G-M masterpiece! This is the first award given to "Captains Courageous/7 There will be many more be- fore the year is over! Leo Townsend, oui Hollywood editor, pre- sents the placque oi Modem Screen's Award of Merit to the all-male cast of "Cap: it to^onej? its^ Spencer Tracy, monthly award sidered a signal honor, CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS' To all those who workec brilliant picture, we tender c Again Modern Screen singles out the outstanding picture oi the m; distinguished Award of Merit. Only those pictures rc"e the medal whicl offer you the best in entertainment value. These about-to-be-release< are the tops in acting, scenario, direction and photography — productio; of leading your screen fare for the year. By. watching for our month you will never spend a dull evening in the theatre. It's certified enli Great credit is due the robust direction of Victor Fleming together Lee Martin's excellent script. You who enjoyed the original Rudyai tale will not be disappointed, for all the tang and Eavor has been reiai "s a faithful transcription of a much beloved story. Modern Screen's Medal Award Picture, "Captains Courageous," an M-G-M production. MUTINY ON the BOUNTY ! THE CAST: Freddie BARTHOLOMEW Spencer TRACY Lionel BARRYMORE elvyn OUGLAS Produced bjrLOUIS D. LIGHTON has been two years in production and costs PpRStune to make could stand alone in an entire season and bring fame to any company. It is but one of^M--G-'M,s amazing group of springtime attractions ! Carry on ! A DAY AT THE RAGES (just you wait!) And another BIG ONE! But BIG! (Turn please) V ill '1 . f ' ' 1 .1* ~ A cAoO ^rttsV^o" ft ry.e 0*r Unquestionably Clark Gable's greatest role, more dramatic than Blackie Norton in "San Francisco," more powerful than his Fletcher Christian in "Mutiny on the Bounty." And Myrna Loy is perfect for the celebrated co-starring role, the girl for whom he surrendered the destiny of a nation! His Mightiest ROAR Since 'San Francisco CLARK GABLE MYRNA LOY You thought "San Francisco" was exciting — but wait! This picture which has been months in the making and nears comple- tion in the skilled hands of John M. Stahl will thrill you to the finger-tips. So great it is being advertised in leading national magazines in addition to all fan magazines. Something to watch for indeed! {The next page is last, but not least While the mobs are packing in to see "Maytime" keep your screen and lobby alive with M-G-M's springtime hits! It's great to be an M-G-M Showman! mm of Welcome on the mat at Poli Theatre, Worcester. They cant miss the com- ing hits pasted on the lohhy floor. Lobby display sells Shea's Buffalo as the home of hits. f. ipSbSde OF EnJCvrriEnr Thursday, March 4, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 21 Dickstein to Amend Alien Actors' Bill (Continued from i>aae 1) crowded hearing room its current ver- sion of "Personal Appearance." The star of the show was Fern Andra, nee Pruenzel, former wife of Ian Keith, honorary baroness of a German state, a "midwest gal," in her own words, who made good in Central Europe and was formerly the owner of her own German producing company. An amended bill now being whipped into shape by Dickstein will eliminate the requirement for an "equal trade" of talent and will provide for the unlimited entry of artists from coun- tries which do not discriminate against Americans. A flat embargo, however, may be imposed on the entry of actors from countries which do not permit the stage appearance of American talent. The bill would retain the provision permitting entry, without regard to other sections of the act, of artist's of "outstanding ability." It also would retain the highly disputed pro- vision that it would be necessary for producers desiring to import talent to show that similar type and ability could not be obtained from among the ranks of American artists. Actress Tells of England Miss Andra reviewed her history, told of difficulties encountered when she went to England to make a pic- ture in 1930. Throughout her stay in England, she said, she was "harassed" by the home office. This was after she was forced to abandon her studio in Germany. "America would be just as great if there were no Europe to send pictures to," she declared in explanation of the statement that fewer pictures are exported than is generally believed. Questioned sharply by members of the committee as to her experiences abroad, Miss Andra finally admitted she was opposed more to the restric- tions imposed on Americans by Euro- pean countries than in barring the entry of aliens into this country. More details of the socalled "claque racket" in opera were revealed by Evelyn Brandtt representing the Grand Opera Artists Ass'n, who urged enactment of the bill to protect an "infant industry." A total of $13,000,000 annually is being spent to employ the 11,500 per- sons now on the roll of the theatre project, about 25 per cent of whom are actors, it was declared by Agnes Cronin of the WPA. No difficulty would be encountered in administering the bill as it is pro- posed to amend it, said Thomas J. Finucane, of the legal division of the immigration and naturalization service. There will be one more appear- ance, on March 9, Dickstein said fol- lowing today's hearing, and on that day talent "bigger than any that has yet appeared" will perform. Opposes Dickstein Bill William Morris has sent a tele- gram to Congressman Dickstein at Washington opposing passage of the alien actor bill on the ground that it would stir up retaliatory measures by foreign governments and in the end injure American talent. The telegram says an exchange of international talent "always has been 4 Purely Personal ► JANET GAYNOR arrived from the coast yesterday, accompanied by her mother, Mrs. Laura Gaynor,io remain one month on what is her first visit here in several years. She has just completed work in "A Star Is Born." • Edward Golden, general sales manager for Monogram, is due back the end of the week from a tour of several exchange centers. • Heck Everitt, southern district manager for Republic, is due from Charlotte today for conferences with J. J. Milstein. • Charles R. Rogers changed his traveling plans for the fourth time and now is not expected here from the coast until some time next week. • Harold Rodner and A. P. Wax- man will leave shortly for the coast on behalf of the Will Rogers Memorial Fund. Jack Benny is scheduled to arrive in New York by train Saturday morn- ing. • John Barnes of the London staff of Quigley Publications sailed for England yesterday on the Berengaria. • Joseph Buloff, actor, has signed an actor-manager contract with the William Morris Agency. • Edward Schnitzer, eastern district manager for Republic, will return tomorrow from Boston. • Roy H. Haines, eastern sales head for Warners, is due back from Boston today. • Al Wilkie left yesterday for Miami and will be there several weeks. • Michael Ruden left yesterday for a six-week vacation at Miami Beach, Fla. Louis Schine was in from Glovers- ville yesterday. Sol Edwards returned yesterday from Albany. • Barney Balaban has returned to New York from Chicago. DEANNE DURBIN yesterday was invited to attend the World's Fair in Long Island in 1939. The invitation was extended by John S. Bodkin of the Queens Evening News, who was one of the reporters attending the transcontinental telephone interview arranged by Loew's in connection with "Three Smart Girls." Miss Durbin said she would be glad to attend if in New York at the time. • Ned Depinet and Jules Levy en- tertained Eddie Silverman of Chica- go at luncheon yesterday. The place was "21" where also were Jack Cohn, M. A. Schlesinger and Percy Phil- lipson. • M. G. Felder, head of Theatre Profit Sharing Co., will leave today for Chicago, Davenport, St. Louis and other cities en route to the coast. He will be gone three weeks. • Gilbert Miller started his ferry across the Atlantic yesterday. Sailing on the Berengaria, he is due back as soon as March 28. • Si Seadler is all set to leave by plane for the coast today if nothing turns up at the last minute to change his plans. • Mack D. Weinberger, sales mana- ager for General Pictures, gets back today after a tour of eastern key cities. • H. Pierce of United Detroit The- atres flew to Detroit yesterday after a short visit here. • Howard Hughes will be the prin- cipal speaker at the Advertising Club luncheon today. • Henry Brown will sail today on the Quirigua for a 17-day West Indies cruise. • William Wyler left for the coast yesterday via American Airlines. • George Jessel arrived on the coast yesterday via American Airlines. • E. W. Hammons will return from Hollywood today. • Milton C. Weisman flew in from Miami yesterday. of great artistic and financial help to all American interests." Sunday Bills Hit Snags Boston, March 3. — The Maine Leg- islature has turned thumbs down on the annual attempt to legalize Sunday shows. Oppose Missouri Censors Jefferson City, Mo., March 3. — A large delegation of women, mem- bers of the Better Films Council and other women's organizations, attended a hearing today on the film censor bill and opposed it. See End of St. Louis Bill St. Louis, March 3. — The Board of Aldermen is expected to accept the recommendation of the Board of Es- timate and Apportionment that Alder- man L. E. Couplin's censorship bill be dropped. Columbia 6-Month Profit Is $629,771 (Continued from page 1) $1.77 per share on the common, which compares with $2.29 per share on the profit for the six months ended Dec. 28, 1935. These figures are after al- lowing for deductions equal to the dividend requirements of the present outstanding preferred stock. No pro- vision has been made at this time for the tax on undistributed profits, the report noted. The balance sheet shows current as- sets of $10,733,690.16 and current lia- bilities of $1,739,758.60. Working capital was reported at approximately $9,000,000. Gross income from rentals and sales of films and accessories for the six months amounted to $9,234,154.85. The earned surplus at Dec. 26, last year, is given at $4,300,382.02. Short Subject "India on Parade" (Fitzpatrick-M-G-M) More superb views, done in the well known FitzPatrick manner, and en- hanced by the FitzPatrick narrative which weaves a blend of poetic infor- mation. The Taj Mahal, at Agra, is captured in fine Technicolor composi- tions and there are other colorful scenes about the Maharajah of Ba- roda's palace. A fine job through- out. Production Code Seal No. 3,- 068. Running time, 9 mins. "G." Lou Gehrig Signed By Principal Prod. Hollywood, March 3. — Lou Gehrig, baseball star, has been signed by Sol Lesser's Principal Prod, at a reported figure of $2,500 weekly to play with Richard Arlen in "Trail Blazers," work to start immediately following the completion of the baseball season. Release will be through 20th Century- Fox. Negotiations for Gehrig's appear- ance in a series of Tarzan films will be resumed by the athlete and Christy Walsh, manager, following the first film's conclusion. These announce- ments were made today at a lunch- eon tendered sports writers by Gehrig and Walsh at the California Club. Gehrig stated that his films commit- ment will not interfere with his diamond career. Salt Lake Gets Premiere Salt Lake City, March 3. — The world premiere of "She Met Him in Paris," Claudette Colbert's latest star- ring vehicle, now being filmed, will be held here on a date as yet undecided, it was revealed today by Harry David, general manager of Intermountain Theatres. A big celebration is being planned here for the opening. Sun Valley, where the film is being shot, is linked with the Paramount studios by teletype. A long distance record is claimed for this type of communication. Wall Street Uneven Trading on Board Net High 3&A Low Close Change 37% 3m +1 Columbia, pfd. . . . 44 44 44 —1 Consolidated 5 5 + % Consolidated, pfd. 16% 1674 - A Eastman Kodak . 170 169 169 - 54 Gen. T. Equip. . 30% 3m 30% + % 8154 80 80% + y 26% 255^ 2SM -% Paramount 2 pfd. 24J4 2354 23% - % Pathe Film 9Vs m 854 - 'A RKO 9 m 9 + 54 20th Century-Fox. 3654 35% 3554 - 'A 20th Century, pfd. 4454 4454 4454 +154 Warner Bros. . . . 15% 1554 1554 - 54 Little Curb Movement Net High Low Close Change Grand National ..3% 354 354 Sonotone 2 2 2 Technicolor 2154 1954 20 —154 Trans -Lux 4% 454 4% No Bond Changes Net High Low Close Change Keith B. F. 6s '46 985/6 98% 98% Loew's 354s '46. . . . 99% 99J4 9954 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 100% 10054 10054 RKO 6s '41 pp.... 118 118 118 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 98% 98% 9854 (Quotations at close of Mar. 3) 22 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, March 4, 1937 "Avenue" Sets Kansas City's Pace, $14,500 Kansas City, March 3. — "On the Avenue," with which the Tower started under complete Fox Midwest ownership, took the big money, $14,- 500, over the line by $7,500. It was moved to the Fox Uptown for a second stanza. In spite of rain Friday and Satur- day, snow Sunday, and cold all week, and the Better Homes & Flower show at the Municipal Auditorium, which drew 85,000 by Friday, other first runs showed more box-office strength than for several weeks. "Sea Devils" proved the winning feature on a double with "Criminal Lawyer" at the Newman, where the take was $300 over the $7,000 standard. "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney" went $100 over the $11,500 line at the Midland. "The Great O'Malley" and Ethel Waters stage show disappointed the Main- street, but managed to do $200 more than $9,000 par. A special midnight show for negroes Feb. 24 helped. "One In A Million" took $3,400, $600 shy of average at the Uptown, in its fourth Kansas City week. Total first run business was $46,000. Average is $38,500. Estimated takings : Week Endinq Feb. 25: "THE GREAT O'MALLEY" (W.B.) MAINSTREET — (3,100), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Stage: Ethel Waters and her "Swing, Harlem, Swing" show, with the Three Brown Sisters, Whitie's Six Lindy Hoppers, Derby Wilson, and "Sunshine" Sammy. Gross: $9,200. (Average, combi- nation bill, $9,000) "THE LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY" (M-G-M) MIDLAND — (4,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $11,600. (Average, $11,500) "SEA DEVILS" (Radio) "CRIMINAL LAWYER" (Radio) NEWMAN — (1,900), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,300. (Average, $7,000) "ON THE AVENUE" (20th-Fox) TOWER— (2,200), 25c-40c, 7 days. Stage: Buddy Doyle, Marcy Brothers & Beatrice, Kirby & Duval. Gross: $14,500. (Average, $7,000) "ONE IN A MILLION" (20th-Fox) UPTOWN— (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days, 4th week. Gross: $3,400. (Average, $4,000) "Chan" Dual Only Oklahoma Grosser Oklahoma City, March 3. — "Charlie Chan at the Opera," on a dual with "Mind Your Own Busi- ness," was the only attraction to get into the profit column. The gross at the Liberty was $3,300, up by $800. "Gold Diggers of 1937" at the Cri- terion and "Men Are Not Gods" at the Midwest failed to get steamed up. The former fell $600 below average, while the latter ended up $800 in the red. Total first run business was $10,- 900. Average is $11,500. Estimated takings for the week ending Feb. 27: "GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937" (W. B.) CRITERION— (1,700), 10c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $4,400. (Average, $5,000) "MEN ARE NOT GODS" (U. A.) MIDWEST— (1,500), 10c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $3,200. (Average, $4,000) "CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA" (ZOth-Fox) "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS" (Para.) LIBERTY— (1,500), 10c-25c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $3,300. (Average, $2,500) MOTION PICTURE DAILY5 HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "The Man Who Found Himself" {Radio) Hollywood, March 3. — Cast names here are not overly strong. The motivating story is not unique as it details a young doctor's mental and professional regeneration. But as the film presents the flying hos- pital as a new angle and introduces Joan Fontane as a promising screen personality, it possesses a merit that should please the average audience. On the whole, the characters are believable and the situations in which they are involved are logical. The four writers who collaborated on the adaptation have done a good job with Alice Curtis' original, "Wings of Mercy." In New York, young Doctor John Beal, who loves to fly, becomes involved in scandal when the plane crashes and his young woman com- panion is killed. Berated by his tradition-worshipping father, George Irving, Beal hits the hobo trail, to be found by Philip Muston, an aviator, who gets him a mechanic's job at a west coast airport. Under an assumed name, he meets and falls in love with Miss Fontane, a flying nurse, who, after learning his real identity, is instrumental in helping the boy get a new grip on himself. A train wreck occurring, Beal flies an ambulance to the scene of the accident. There, finding his father exhausted from tending the injured, Beal, aided by Miss Fon- tane, returns to his status as a doctor to complete a life-saving opera- tion. Reinstated in his father's respect, Beal and Miss Fontane continue treating the wreck victims. Miss Fontane demonstrates she has the personality and talents pre- saging popularity. Beal, Huston and Irving are effective as featured supports and Jane Walsh, Frank W. Thomas, James Conlin, Diana Gibson, Stanley Andrews and Billy Gilbert check in with standard performances. Lew Landers' direction is credible. His use of minia- tures adds to film's production value. Production Code Certificate No. 3,026. Running time, 65 min- utes. "G." "Circus Girl" (Republic) Hollywood, March 3. — There is plenty of excitement, for the young- sters especially, in this yarn of a four-cornered romantic tangle against the background of the circus, featured by some excellent trapeze work, and the climactic scene of a broken rope high above a cage of growling lions. It is first rate material of its type for the subsequents and dual spots generally. John H. Auer's direction maintains the pace satisfactorily. The screenplay of Adele Buffington and Bradford Ropes from the Cosmo- politan story by Frank R. Adams, opens the romantic complications immediately, as Donald Cook and Bob Livingston, trapeze team, are both obviously in love with June Travis. It is equally apparent that she loves Cook, or thinks she does, despite the fact that he is involved with Betty Compson, lion tamer. When Livingston accuses Cook, after the latter marries Miss Travis, Cook knocks him out. Blinded by blood in the course of their act, Livingston drops his partner, and Cook is finished as a trapeze artist. The climax comes when Miss Travis returns to work with Livingston. Cook stages an act where Livingston performs over a cage of untamed lions and cuts a rope so that Livingston will fall. There is real suspense as the rope breaks, Livingston holds on somehow, and Cook goes up to rescue him, then himself falls among the lions. Livingston and Miss Travis complete the film in the expected fashion. Production Code Seal No. 3,044. Running time, 63 minutes. "G" "Paradise Express" {Republic) Hollywood, March 3. — An adventure type of action film, with a shot of romance and considerable heroism, this should do the trick in a dual spot, or where the youngsters look for their action diet. When a grouchy old jerkwater railroad owner gets into financial difficulties through the unfair competitive tactics of a trucking company run by racketeers, a receiver is appointed. When the receiver, Grant Withers, arrives, he is faced with the united opposition of the entire town, including Dorothy Appleby, who is the road owner's granddaugh- ter and secretary. It takes little time for Withers to win the approval of the girl, and a little longer time to gain the help and goodwill of the town's mostly unemployed railroad workers. The methods of the trucking company, (.Continued on pane 23) 'Holiday" and Waring Smash Detroit Draw Detroit, March 3. — "Stolen Holi- day," with the help of Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians, sent the Michigan gross up to $28,300, over normal by $8,300, in what was a generally dull week among first runs. "When You're in Love" took $22,- 400 at the Fox, with the help of a stage show. "The Green Light" reached $12,200 at the United Artists and was held over. Total first run business was $79,000. Average is $70,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 25 : "THE WOMAN ALONE" (G. B.) "HOLY TERROR" (20th-Fox) ADAMS— (1,770), 10c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,800. (Average, $5,000) "WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE" (Col.) FOX— (5,100), 15c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Sa- lici Puppets, Pat O'Malley, Billy & Bever- ly Bemis, Gene Sheldon, Joyce Reimer. Gross: $22,400. (Average, $20,000) "STOLEN HOLIDAY" (F. N.) MICHIGAN— (4,100), 15c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians, Poley McClintock, Rosemary Lane, Pris- cilla Lane, Johnny Davis, Fern, 3 Fellas, Gene Conklin, Larry Collins, Charles New- man, Scotty Bates, McFarland Twins. Gross: $28,300. (Average, $20,000) "WANTED: JANE TURNER" (RKO) "THE CAPTAIN'S KID" (F. N.) STATE— (3,000), 10c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,300. (Average, $5,000) "THE GREEN LIGHT" (W. B.) UNITED ARTISTS— (2,070), 15c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $12,200. (Average, $10,000) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) MADISON— (2,000), 15c-65c, 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $10,000) "Legion" Dual Gets Providence Honors Providence, March 3. — The Ma- jestic and Strand were the only two houses downtown to reach par for the week, the former garnering $7,200 with "Black Legion" and "Wings of the Morning," while the Strand just hit its $6,500 average with "Bulldog Drummond Escapes" and "A Doc- tor's Diary." The Majestic average is $7,000. "The Holy Terror" at Fay's came close to the $7,000 par, catching $6,900, aided by a stage show. Loew's State did only $8,100 with "Devil's Play- ground" and "Women of Glamour" and the Albee was $1,000 down at $6,000 with "You Only Live Once" and "The Mighty Treve." The weather was warm and gener- ally fair. Pro boxing was the chief opposition. Total first run business was $34,700. Average is $39,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 18: •BULLDOG DRUMMOND ESCAPES" "A DOCTOR'S DIARY" (Para.) STRAND— (2,300), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $6,500) "BLACK LEGION" (W.B.) "WINGS OF THE MORNING" (20th-Fox) MAJESTIC— (2,400), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,200. (Average, $7,000) "THE HOLY TERROR" (20th-Fox) FAY'S— (1,600), 15c-40c, 7 days. Stage: "Stars of Tomorrow" Revue. Gross: $6,900. (Average, $7,000) "DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND*' (M-G-M) "WOMEN OF GLAMOUR" (Col.) LOEW'S STATE— (3,400), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,100. (Average, $12,000) "YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE" (U.A.) "THE MIGHTY TREVE" (RKO) RKO ALBEE— (2,300), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $7,000) Thursday, March 4, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 23 I.T.O. Takes No Action on Local Games MOTION PICTURE DAILYS HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW {Continued from pane 1) RKO to License Commissioner Paul Moss' office several weeks ago. He complained that the circuits were not playing the games in compliance with the law. This brought a denial from C. C. Moskowitz of Loew's. Claiming he was unauthorized to act on behalf of the I.T.O.A., when the question of dropping games was put to him, Albert said that Harry Brandt was the only one who could make an official decision. He said this would be done as soon as Brandt returned. The I.T.O.A. president got back from Florida yesterday and two efforts to reach him were unavailing. While they would not be quoted for publication, two important independ- ent circuit operators who are not members of the exhibitor unit told Motion Picture Daily they would not eliminate games. The attitude taken by these men is that they in- tend to run their businesses as they see fit. With games only a minor topic, members of the I.T.O.A. haggled mostly about inviting the major cir- cuits to join and getting delinquents to pay up dues. There was a heated discussion on the proposed invitation to major theatres and when the ses- sion broke up the men were still un- decided what stand to take. Affiliated circuits, however, have refused to join the organization from time to time, but have contributed financially to committees set up to fight adverse legislation. Nebraska Test Suit Set for Bank Night (Continued from faae Vi whether or not theatres would abide by the ruling that Bank Night is illegal. The theatre men told Chaney they would not halt the games, so the action was ordered prepared immedi- ately. "Paradise Express" (Continued from pane 22) which include tossing cars off the tracks, breaking rails to cause the wreck of a train and the death of its crew, and similar tactics to hold the local freight business, engages the active attention of Withers. The film climaxes with a race of train against trucks to Paradise, whereby the film gets its ambiguous title. The train wins, of course, and Winters does likewise with the girl's affections. The race gives the film closing punch. Allan Vaughn Elston and Paul Perez did the original from which Jack Natteford and Betty Burbridge wrote the screenplay. Joseph Kane directed. Production Code Seal No. 2,983. Running time, 62 minutes. "G." New Union May Call Sit Down in Detroit Drop St. Louis Bank Night St. Louis, March 3. — St. Louis city and county nouses have dropped Bank Night, Screeno and other games as a result of the ruling of Circuit At- torney Franklin Miller, but it is flour- ishing elsewhere in eastern Missouri. Dispute Stops Show Salt Lake City, March 3. — Fifteen hundred patrons of the Paramount here were forced to leave the theatre when a dispute between Manager Earl McClugs and A. B. Marcus, manager of the stage show, Continental Revue, caused the discontinuance of the per- formance. Each manager charged the other with failure to live up to terms. Seven hundred patrons lined up at the box-office and received refunds. Grade Fields Sails Southampton, March 3. — Gracie ields sailed for New York on the Queen Mary today en route to the M-G-M studio. Ben and Mrs. Goetz are passengers on the same liner. "White Bondage" {Warners) Hollywood, March 3. — A melodrama of the deep south, this film deals with a timely social-economic problem as the thematic back- ground for a human interest romance. The topic is share-cropping. Be- cause of its topical news value, the subject should attract some attention in metropolitan areas and be particularly interesting in rural communi- ties where people are familiar not only with the difficulties of wresting a living from the soil, but also know the avarice of greedy land owners. Against well-produced backgrounds, plantation owners Joseph King and Virginia Brissac defraud tenant farmer share-croppers of their rightful part in the cotton harvest. A tri-cornered romantic conflict involves Croppers Howard Phillips and Jean Muir and Outlander Gordon Oliver. As the farmers rebel and burn part of the crop, cir- cumstances contrive to make it appear that Oliver is a spy in the em- ploy of King and Miss Brissac and that he tipped off that Phillips started the fire. There ensues a stirring bloodhound chase through the canebreaks and Phillips is captured. The farmers, erupting into mob fury, determine to lynch Oliver, but Miss Muir, who has been held prisoner by Miss Brissac, arrives in time to stay its wrath. Oliver's life safe, the plantation owners are forced to share their profits with the farmers and, as Oliver drives off to new adventures, Miss Muir and Phillips envision a happier life together. Although produced on an economy budget, the picture is well acted and directed. Work of the players is convincing and Nick Grinde has managed to balance human and social economic drama with thrills and action. Production Code Certificate No. 2,845. Running time, 60 min- utes. "G." (Continued from fiaoe 1) in the new union could not be ascer- tained nor could statements be ob- tained from the principals involved. It is reported that the new union will demand the following wage minimums : Shippers, $40 a week ; as- sistant shippers, $32.50 ; poster clerks, $35 ; inspectresses, $24, with time and a half for overtime and double time for Sundays. Branch managers are refusing to discuss the matter, but it was learned that an attempt will be made to ser- vice theatres with film from Chicago and other nearby cities if the strike materializes. A uniformed policeman is stationed in the Film Exchange Bldg. day and night but no trouble has developed so far. The industry here had its first taste of a sit-down strike last Friday when inspectresses, shippers and pos- ter clerks quit on the premises of 20th Century-Fox for three hours. Leter Sturm, exchange manager, ef- fected a quick and amicable settle- ment. "Parole Racket" (Columbia) Hollywood, March 3. — Striking a headline note, in that it deals with the evils of the parole system, and at the same time with the shakedown terroristic methods of racketeers and their "protective asso- ciations," this film is lively fare, having a full quota of melodramatic action and the expected romance. It should be eminently satisfying for dual bills and in subsequent spots. The girl reporter who becomes more than friendly with the detec- tive, Rosalind Keith works with Paul Kelly in his effort to track down the leader of the racketeering gang which seems to recruit its ranks through generous use of paroles. The opposition of the girl's editor, Thurston Hall, turns to assistance when Kelly makes him see that glorifying gangsters makes the work of the police that much more difficult. Kelly, a lieutenant, permits himself to be demoted and caught in the act of taking a bribe in order to get into the penitentiary. There he finds how paroles are speeded, gets one himself, joins the gang, and finally reaches the top man, capturing a few others en route, after hectic moments of automobile chases, gun battles and the like. Meanwhile Miss Keith renders editorial assistance and considerable aid to the romance which completes the film. C. C. Coleman, Jr., directed from an original by Harold Shumate. Production Code Seal No. 3,050. Running time, 61 minutes. "G." Re-Sign Sidney Lantield Hollywood, March 3. Sidney Lan- field has been given a new term con- tract by 20th Century-Fox. Stallings to Marry Soon Laurence Stallings and Louise Vance, fashion commentator for Mov- ietone News, will be wed March 10. A.F.L. Beats C.I.O. in Hub Boston, March 3. — Shipping and inspection departments of exchanges here last night were granted charters by the A.F.L. at a meeting held in the Hotel Bradford. Addresses were delivered by John Fenton, local or- ganization representative, and by other labor leaders. Another meeting will be held next week, at which time officers will be elected. The action of the A.F.L. frustrates the attempt of John L. Lewis to organize exchange employes. Another of Lewis' C.I.O. meetings is sched- uled, but the A.F.L. claims that it has the registration of more than 90 per cent of the employes who would be affected by the Lewis action. Federation registration fees of $2 are reported to have been paid in the majority of instances. The labor coup was effected largely by the fast work of Local 182, M. P. Operators' Union, presided over by Thad Barrows and which recently gained national recognition by its op- position to the 2,000-foot reel. Meetings of the C.I.O. about two weeks ago attempted to organize re- winders, shippers and inspectresses. This set off the spark which culmin- ated in today's development. Portland Operators Get Raises Portland, March 3. — Local 159, M. P. Operators, I.A.T.S.E., has secured a 10 per cent increase in wages from all independent houses here. Nego- tiations with the circuits are still in progress. Daley Inquest Held Los Angeles, March 3. — -Coroner Frank Nance today conducted an in- quest into the death of George Daley in the projection room at Universal where a screening showed the sequences with the explosion of the bomb which killed the one-time Marine. Akim T amir off Signed Hollywood, March 3. — Akim Tam- iroff, who recently completed a role in "Her Husband Lies," has been given a new contract by Paramount. MOTION PICTURE DAILY NBC Adds 30 New Stations Since Jan. 1, Recap Shows Thirty stations have been added to the NBC chain since Jan. 1, 1936 and 20 stations have been granted power increases during this period, it is re- vealed in NBC's latest promotional booklet. The 30 new stations are : WABY, Albany; KOB, Albuquerque; KGNC, Amarillo; KERN, Bakers- field; WNAC, Boston; WICC, Bridgeport; WEBR Buffalo; WCSC, Charleston ; WCOL, Columbus ; KVOD, Denver ; WGBF, Evansville ; WGL, Fort Wayne; WOWO, Fort Wayne; KMJ, Fresno; WFBC, Greenville, KARK, Little Rock; KECA, Los Angeles; WFEA, Manchester; WTCN, Minneapolis; KLO, Ogden ; KEX, Portland; WEAN; Providence; KGHF, Pueblo ; KFBK, Sacramento ; KJR, Seattle ; KGA, Spokane ; KGBX, Spring- field; KWG, Stockton; WBOW, Terre Haute, and WSPD, Toledo. The power increases and the stations : Daytime Watts City Station From To Baltimore WFBR 500 1,000 Billings KGHL 2,500 5,000 Buffalo WBEN 1,000 5,000 Cedar Rapids WMT 2,500 5,000 Des Moines KSO 1,000 2,500 Detroit WW J 1,000 5,000 Indianapolis WIRE 1,000 5,000 Los Angeles KECA 1,000 5,000 Madison WIBA 1,000 5,000 Memphis WMC 2,500 5,000 New Orleans WSMB 500 1,000 Oklahoma City WKY 1,000 5,000 Providence WJAR 500 1,000 Seattle KOMO 1,000 5,000 Syracuse WSYR 250 1,000 Evening Indianapolis WIRE 500 1,1 New Orleans WSMB 500 1,1 Providence WJAR 500 1,< Raleigh WPTF 1,000 5,1 Syracuse WSYR 250 V « RADIO New Shows On the Air "School Days of the Air" Hollywood, March 3. — Gus Ed- wards seems successfully to have brought his famous old vaudeville skit, "School Days," to the air as a smart, snappy and refreshing variety show which should start any one of its 19 kids who make up the program on the road to bigger things. The members of the classroom are introduced in rhythmic rhyme by the teacher and, without a break in the show, go into their specialized enter- taining. Outstanding among the young- sters are a wisecracking tot, Tommy Bond, who reads his lines like a vet- eran, a chap named Tony Pagliacci, who is equally facile, imitating Baron Munchausen and Joe Penner and a hot musical duo consisting of an ac- cordion and banjo. Edwards is the kindly and tolerant professor who lets the kids run away with the show. Eddie Cantor, Bobby Breen and Orchestra Leader Jacques Renard in- augurated the list of guest artists which will appear every week. Milton Berle and his gang will appear next week. Bert Fiske and his KFWB orchestra provide a class musical back- ground. With a little bit of polishing up "School Days of the Air" should an- nex a host of listeners. The program goes on Monday nights at 8:15 P. S. T. over KFWB and local affiliate stations running a half an hour. A sustainer. Spot Announcements to WMCA Maxwell House Products Co., through the Advertisers Broadcast- ing Co. has signed for a four-week series of spot announcements over WMCA, beginning today. The an- nouncements will be read each Thurs- day. Also contracted for a daily series of spot announcements on WMCA is the Stag Laundry Co. beginning March 8 for 13 weeks. The deal was handled direct. New Series for Griffin The Griffin Manufacturing Co. will sponsor a new series of programs over NBC's basic Blue beginning May 17, from 7 to 7:30 P. M., E.D.S.T. The program will be known as "The Grif- fin Melody Clock" and will feature Hugh Barrett, Jean O'Neill, Barry McKinley and an orchestra. The con- tract is for 52 weeks, and was placed through Bermingham, Castleman & Pierce. Vincent Richards Signed Vincent Richards, who last season broadcast the country's important ten- nis matches over WOR and Mutual, has been re-signed for the same du- ties this season. He is under exclusive contract. 7hz £c^t/!i#ta>iu A DIVISION OF RADIO EVENTS, I N C. /j 535 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. Ct <%adur Script fm £»&uf \ 1 __ / Set March 10 for Test of Air Power New Castle, Del., March 3. — The National Wireless Power and Light Corp. set next March 10 as the date for the demonstration of the "feasi- bility of the use of transmission of electric power and light by wireless" from the company's laboratory at Deemer's Beach near here. The demonstration was originally scheduled for March 1, but due to a faulty tubd was postponed. John C. Roberts, inventor, says the demon- stration will be held on that date unless failure of the tube to arrive necessitates a further postponement. In that event the demonstration will be held about March 15. Pipe in Yankee Network New Haven, March 3.— WICC moves its New Haven Teacher's League program from 7:30 to 7:15 P. M. Tuesday night, to make room for a new 7:30-8 P. M. Yankee net- work variety commercial, sponsored by First National Stores and emanating from Boston. The Teachers' League discussions on WICC are confined to parent-teacher relations. The League uses WELI for The Town Hall of the Air, Sundays at 4 P. M. when controversial subjects are discussed in forum style by prominent leaders. Berlin to Salute Virginia Richmond, March 3. — A Berlin station will salute Virginia with a program starting at 7 :30 P. M., E.S.T., March 12, the Virginia Cham- ber of Commerce has been informed. Five NBC Programs Sign Off This Month Five NBC programs leave the air- ways this month. They are: "Real Silk," featuring Edwin C. Hill, March 28; "Melody Matinee," sponsored by Smith Bros., March 28 ; "Modern Ro- mances," sponsored by Modern Maga- zines, March 31 ; "Musical Toast," sponsored by the Kreuger Brewing Co., March 22; and "Bambi," spon- sored by General Foods, March 22. Lily Pons Replacing Nino Martini on CBS Lily Pons will replace Nino Martini on the Wednesday Chesterfield Cig- arettes program over CBS beginning April 14. Martini is leaving to fill concert and film engagements. Miss Pons formerly broadcast on the Chesterfield hour but left it last spring for the filming of "That Girl from Paris." LeQuatte, Named by Ad Group H. B. LeQuatte, head of the agency bearing his name, has been named chairman of the Program Committee for the Advertising Federation of America's annual convention which will be held in New York June 20 to 23. LeQuatte is vice-president of the Federation and an official of A.A.A.A. Benny from the Waldorf Due to the unprecedented demand for tickets, Jack Benny's two programs from New York will be aired from the grand ball room in the Waldorf Astoria, instead of from the large show studio in Radio City. Thursday, March 4, 1937 FCC Sets Calendar Of Public Hearings Washington, March 3. — The F. C. C. today made public a tentative cal- endar of hearings for the final half of March, as follows : March 15 : Applications of H. O. Davis, Mobile, Ala., and Seaboard Investment Co., Inc., Montgomery, Ala., for new stations to operate on 610 kilocycles with 250 watts night and 500 watts day power; Waterloo Times-Tribune Publishing Co., Water- loo, la., 1,370 kilocycles daytime sta- tion with 100 watts power, and Har- old Thomas, Pittsfield, Mass., 1,310 kilocycle station with 100 watts night and 250 watts day power. March 16: Applications of Troy Broadcasting Co., Inc., Troy, N. Y., and Utica Observer-Dispatch, Utica, N. Y., for 950 kilocycle daytime sta- tion with 1,000 watts power, and Ar- thur H. Croghan, Minneapolis, for 1,- 310 kilocycle daytime station with 100 watts power. March 22: Applications of Radio & Television Research Co., Los Angeles, for 1,570 kilocycle station with 1,000 watts and Southern Broadcasting Corp., New Orleans, for 1,200 kilo- cycle part-time station with 100 watts ; station WJBW, New Orleans, for in- crease of time and increase of day power. March 23: Applications of KDON, Del Monte, Cal., for change of fre- quency and increase of power ; Salinas Newspapers, Inc., Salinas, Cal., for 1,- 390-kilocycle daytime station with 250 watts power ; Bend Bulletin, Bend, Ore., for 1,310-kilocycle unlimited time station with 100 watts night and 250 watts day power, and Fayette Broad- casting Corp., Uniontown, Pa., for 1,- 420-kilocycle daytime station with 250 watts. To Hear Porto Rican Plea March 24: Applications of Juan Piza, San Juan, P. R., for 1,500-kilo- cycle unlimited time station of 100 watts night power, 250 day; Lou Poller, Scranton, Pa., for 1,370 kilo- cycle daytime station, 250 watts pow- er; Ann Arbor Broadcasting Co., 1,500-kilocycle unlimted time station with 1,000 watts, and station WSPA, Spartanburg, S. C, for change of fre- quency from 920 kilocycles to 880 kilo- cycles and increase of power. March 26: Applications of Geral- dine Alberghane, Pawtucket, R. I., and Bay State Broadcasting Corp., Provi- dence, for 720-kilocycle station, 1,000 watts, and station WHBB, Selma, Ala., for increase of time and volun- tary assignment of license. The commission, en banc, will hold a hearing on March 16 to take up the applications of WLTH, WBBC, WVFW and WARD, Brooklyn; WEVD, New York, and the Brook- lyn Daily Eagle, all seeking full time on the 1,400-kilocycle band. Each of the Brooklyn stations is seeking the facilities of the others, the Daily Eagle is seeking a construction per- mit, and WEVD is seeking the facili- ties of the Brooklyn group. Receipt of applications for two new broadcasting stations was revealed to- day by the F. C. C. Requests for new stations were filed by the Enterprise Co. for a new 1,400 kilocycle, 500 watts unlimited time sta- tion at Beaumont, Tex., and by the Southern Minnesota Broadcasting Co. for a 920 kilocycle station at Roches- ter, Minn., to use 1,000 watts at night and 5,000 watts day. Thursday, March 4, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY RADIO 25 4 Radio Personals ► PAT KELLY, NBC chief of an- nouncers, will replace Milton J; Cross on the 'Sidewalk Interviews" program beginning next Monday . . . Elizabeth Palmer, wife of NBC's Frank Healey, has been signed for pictures by 20th Century-Fox and I leaves for Hollywood March 17 . . . Al Pierce and several members of his "gang" left yesterday by plane for Detroit . . . Stuart Canin, 10-year old violinist who started the "feud" between Jack Benny and Fred Allen, and Sam (Schlepperman) Hearn will guest appear on Benny's program Sun- day night ... Lucy Monroe, heard on "American Album of Familiar Music," will sing at the Victory Ball in Washington tonight . . . Princess Catherine Radzi- will will be interviewed on Douglas Allan's WINS program today at 2:15 P. M. . . . Charles Martin, radio exec- utive at the Biow agency and producer of the Philip Morris "Thrill of the Week" and "It Might Have Happened to You" will publish the scripts in book form . . . Peggy Harmon has been added to the script writing staff at Benton and Bowles . . . Dale Carne- gie, in addition to Helen Morgan, will guest appear on next week's "Show- boat" production . . . + Russ Walker, World - Telegram news commentator, has joined WHN as a staff announcer . . . Pinky Tomlin screen comic and song writer, arrived in New York this morning . . . Louis Massey and the "Westerners," who leave their present commercial, "Dude Ranch" this week, will start a vaude- ville tour March 23 . . . Another who will start a personal appearance tour beginning April 1 is Zinn Arthur and his orchestra, currently heard on WHN . . . Stepin Fetchit and Belle Baker will guest appear on the Nash- Lafayette "Speedshow" this Saturday . . . "Four Sons of Satan," who have been broadcasting over WKBB, Du- buque, will join Vince Travers NBC sustaining series this week . . . + Don Albert's orchestra joins Jay C. Flippen's WHN "Airfinds" program today . . . Betty Lawford, now ap- pearing in "The Women," will be Radie Harris' guest star on WHN to- morrow at 8 P. M. + St. Louis Town Pump St. Louis, March 3.— -W9XD, aux- iliary station of KSD, owned by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, will carry the Paramount program at 11 A. M., C.S.T., Sundays because KSD is un- able to put them on at that time . . . Woody Klose, program director for WTMV, East St. Louis, spoke yester- day before the Junior Advertising Club . . . KWK is preparing to celebrate its 10th anniversary March 17 with a show to be put on at the Municipal Auditorium and aired over the Mutual network . . . Paul Phillips, continuity editor for KMOX, is back as his desk after a week's illness. F. T. C. Confers on Music Trade Rules Washington, March 3. — Members of the trade practice conference division of the Federal Trade Com- mission today held an informal dis- cussion with John G. Paine, chairman of the board of the Music Publish- ers' Protective Ass'n on proposed trade practice rules for the music in- dustry. Officials of the commission said that while some concrete suggestions have been offered as to the practices to be covered by the codes they have not yet been whipped into shape suffi- ciently to permit consideration at a hearing. When the full set of rules has been submitted, the commission will study them to determine whether they meet its requirements and then will call a public hearing at which all inter- ested persons may present their views. Underwood Quits CBS Hollywood, March 3. — Loyal Un- derwood, one of the original announc- ers with CBS, concluded 13 years with the company Wednesday when he re- signed to become a free lance pro- ducer. News Series Planned By American Tobacco The American Tobacco Co., spon- sors of the "Hit Parade" series heard on both NBC and CBS, this week auditioned Edwin C. Hill for a new news series which will probably be placed on CBS at an early morning hour. Lord and Thomas arranged the audition and are planning the series. It has been learned also that George Washington Hill, president of the American Tobacco Co. is now con- sidering a series of sports broadcasts to supplement the "Hit Parade" pro- grams. The sports involved are said to be football in the fall and probably horse racing in the winter. The pro- grams, if they materialize, will be heard on all three national networks. Counselor" Program Dropped at Columbus Columbus, March 3. — Because of protests from Publicity Associates, New York, who claimed priority rights to the idea and title of "The Family Counselor," previously used by Allen Grigsby, New York, in the "Checkmaster Plan," local station WBNS, which recently inaugurated a program of similar theme and title, has withdrawn it. The local airing was sponsored by the First Saving & Loan, and featured Dr. Roy Burk- hart, pastor, as the "counselor." Houston Gets Radio Theatre Houston, March 3.— The old Pal- ace, vacant for some time, has been remodeled and made into a Radio theatre for KTRH, The Houston Chronicle station. The theatre will seat 1,200. Admission will be by card, given upon request to the station. Hastings Joins KDB Hollywood, March 3. — Louis Weiss, manager of KHJ, has ap- pointed Don Hastings to manage KDB in Santa Barbara, a Don Lee outlet. Hastings was formerly pro- gram director for WBBM, Chicago and a radio writer in the same city. KIRO to Jump to 5,000 Watts Seattle, March 3. — Station KIRO will increase its full-time output from 1,000 to 5,000 watts, H. J. Qillan, man- ager, stated today. The station will become a part of the Columbia system in the fall. Police Object Denver, March 3.— Claiming the script of the dramatiza- tion of the killing of a gun- man by Denver police was garbled and misleading, Chief of Police George W. Marland has demanded that his de- partment be allowed to read and censor future scripts dealing with like events in which police officers are used as characters. Marland charged the script, broadcast over KLZ, pictured Denver police as "hicktown detectives," made them out as- perfume sniffers and gas meter readers, and pictured Denver as a capital of crime. Police Warnings Go on Air Kansas City, March 3.— Safety announcements made by police to err- ing pedestrians and automobilists from the police safety car on down- town streets are to be broadcast over WHB. Each Friday afternoon the policemen in charge of the car will go on the air over microphones in- stalled in the car. The car is equipped with a loudspeaker for calling atten- tion of traffic violators to their mis- deeds. L. A. Police Cooperate Hollywood, March 3. — KMTR "Radio Bureau of Missing Persons" is receiving the full cooperation of local police and legal authorities. Last Sunday's initial airing of the "bureau" found Los Angeles County District Attorney Fitts in the role of volun- teer counselor on the program. To Join National Police Chain Oklahoma City, March 3. — KGPH, the sheriff-police radio station will become part of the national chain of police radio stations when it moves into the courthouse following the com- pletion of its new "CW" transmitter. Tulsa will have the only other station of the kind in this territory. Legislators Go On Air Hartford, March 3. — "Capitol Hill," a program of interviews with repre- sentatives in favor of or against cer tain bills, broadcast from the legisla tive chambers, is attracting WTHT listeners. Cedric Foster, the station's director of public relations, and Moses W. Burkman, Times political editor, direct the program on Tuesday, Wed- nesday and Thursday mornings at 11 Harper Named Radio Editor Hollywood, March 3. — Jim Harper has been appointed new radio editor of the Evening and Daily News here. He succeeds Ken Frogley, who has been promoted to head a new weekly publication financed by these papers of which final details have not yet been set. Harper, formerly with the Robert Taplinger office, will be sue ceeded by Ray Buffum, now with KFWB. Will Lecture on Taxation Norfolk, March 3. — Ten lectures on taxation are to be delivered by City Manager Thomas P. Thompson over WTAR. John N. Sebrell, city attor ney, also is scheduled to speak April 7 on another tax problem. The talks are sponsored by the Virginia League of Municipalities. Take Bids for WFIL Philadelphia Studio Philadelphia, March 3. — Bids have been asked from contractors for the construction of WFIL's new studios. WFIL is the local outlet for Mutual. The new studios will cost an esti- mated $200,000 and will be ready for occupancy by July. Horace Trum- bauer is the architect, with chief en- gineer Frank Becker supervising con- struction. Witmer in Detroit On Ford's Programs Roy C. Witmer, NBC vice-president in charge of sales, is now in Detroit conferring with Ford officials regard- ing the status of the Friday evening NBC Ford program, "Universal Rhythm," which, it has been reported, will either be considerably revised or replaced entirely by a new program, due to Ford's dissatisfaction with re- sults achieved by the series. The con- tract for this program expires March 26. It is believed that the Tuesday evening CBS Ford series, "Watch the Fun Go By," will be treated in a like manner. Witmer is expected back in New York today with definite word as to the fate of the NBC series. To Air Baseball Opening The opening of the American League baseball season, April 19, fea- turing the game between the Wash- ington Senators and the Philadelphia Athletics, at Washington, will be broadcast on the NBC-Blue network, beginning at 2:45, E. S. T. Signs for Cincy Reds' Games Cincinnati, March 3. — WSAI, NBC outlet in the local Crosley stu- dio, will this year for the first time air the Cincinnati Reds' ball games, under a contract signed with General Mills through the Knox-Reeves Agency, Minneapolis. Last season's games were broadcast over WCPO, Cincinnati Post station, under spon- sorship of Socony- Vacuum, and it is expected that both that station and the previous sponsors will again par- ticipate this year, since the agreement gives General Mills the privilege of sharing the programs and including other stations. Sunday games will not be broadcast as was done previously. Powell Crosley, Jr., president of the two Crosley stations here, also is president of the Cincinnati Reds. Six Stars for "Parade" Guest artists for the current month on the Lucky Strike "Hit Parades" are as follows : Carole Lombard, March 6, CBS; Philip Merivale, March 10, NBC; Sydney Rayner, March 13, CBS ; Jane Wyatt, March 17, NBC; Margot Gra- hame, March 20, CBS; Lanny Ross, March 24, NBC; Enzio Pinza, March 27, CBS ; Miriam Hopkins, March 31, NBC. The circulation of news- papers and magazines afSIiated with WHN on radio tie-ups total more than one million! BfflmyifrM dial loio "W M.G-MM.OEW'S 26 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, March 4, 1937 RKO Net for '36 Reaches $2,514,734 (Continued from pane 1) of $87,063.19, and losses of $741,718.55 and $1,253,598.07 for 1934 and 1933, respectively. The increase in theatre operating profit was attributed in large part to an attendance increase during the year approximating 10 per cent. The theatre figures do not include the results of operations of the various subsidiaries of Orpheum Circuit, Inc., managed by Stadium Theatres Corp., as pledgee. The gross income of theatre operat- ing subsidiaries during 1936 showed a continued gain, the report states, run- ning approximately $1,900,000 over 1935, while total operating expenses, exclusive of Federal income, excess profits and undistributed surplus taxes, rose less than $300,000. The consolidated statement shows income from theatre admissions of $21,081,465, from film rentals and sales of $25,327,832, and from rents and other income of $2,741,351, for a total of $49,150,649. The consolidated net profit is taken after all charges, including accrued interest on RKO's secured six per cent gold notes, 10-year six per cent gold debentures and $1,118,500 of its extended six per cent gold notes, but before providing for dividends in ar- rears on the seven per cent cumulative preferred stock of Keith- Albee-Orphe- um Corp., a subsidiary. Subsidiaries Profit Listed . Net profit of RKO Radio Pictures, Inc., and its subsidiaries for 1936 after all charges amounted to $1,088,384, as compared with net profit for 1935 of $777,183. The charges included an interest accrual of $763,079, an in- debtedness to RKO. Gross receipts were reported nearly twice the total of 1932. RKO Pathe Pictures, Inc., since merged with RKO, showed a loss for the year of $195,051, after all charges, while Pathe News operations for the year resulted in an unaudited net profit of $352, against a net profit in 1935 of $5,907. The report states that during the two and one-half years from July 1, 1934, to Dec. 31, 1936, the fixed in- debtedness of RKO and its subsidi- aries was reduced to $4,216,356, in- cluding the payment of $1,125,208 in principal amount of RKO's secured six per cent gold notes, and interest on indebtedness was paid in the aggre- gate amount of $3,545,175. During the same period, the cash of RKO increased from $4,696,904 to $7,955,974. Reorganization Hearing Mar. 18 The report indicates that the hear- ing on the RKO reorganization plan will be held March 18. The only change in the status of the funded deft of the company since the filing of the previous report last July was in the secured six per cent gold notes of the company. On June 30, last, $900,000 in principal amount of the secured notes remained out standing. Since then additional pre- payments have reduced the aggregate principal amount outstanding to $700,- 000 on Dec. 31, 1936 and to $600,000 on March 1st, last. The hearing on the show cause order on the petition 'Lost Horizon 9 in Notable Broadway Roadshow Debut Metropolitan Photo Service Broadway was jammed in the vicinity of the Globe last night where "Lost Horizon" made its formal New York debut as a roadshow. (Continued in the audience and prominently on deck, of course, was the Columbia's home-office staff, headed by Jack Cohn. The company completely refur- bished the house for the picture. The entire front was changed and re- decorated in chromium and glass, with a brilliant electric light display and a new marquee. The old box- office at the entrance was removed. Supplanting the less regal hangings of the Dillingham era, in the inner lobby was an exhibit of photographs from page 1) and art studies of the costumes of "Lost Horizon," which were made during the preliminary research work before the picture was started. Extensive changes also were made in the interior. All the boxes were removed, which increased the seating capacity by 50 seats and gave an un- obstructed view of the stage from any part of the house. New seats were installed, the entire theatre re- painted, and the stage given a new curtain of old gold damask. New sound equipment adorned the booth. by the trustee to make payment in full of all secured notes outstanding is set for March 11, according to the report. Under the terms of an agreement now in preparation, the action of Rogers, Prod., Ltd., against RKO, which resulted in a claim filed of $350,- 000, will be settled at $15,000. The report indicated that while the operations of the active Orpheum sub- sidiaries have shown steady improve- ment since 1933, the combined opera- tions of the subsidiaries still resulted in a net loss in 1936. The report indicated the total of claims filed against RKO as of Dec. 31, last, at $55,121,179. Decision Reserved In Plea on Orpheum U. S. District Court Judge Murray Hulbert reserved decision yesterday on the motion made by the preferred stock- holders' committee of the Orpheum Circuit, Inc., to reverse the order of Referee Oscar W. Ehrhorn which pro- vided for the sale of Orpheum assets to the Stadium Theatres, Inc., an RKO sub- sidiary, for $700,000 and rejected the offer of $2,000,000 made by the stock- holders for the same asset. Ehrhorn's order also rejected the stockholders' petition to compel Marcus Heiman, trustee of Orpheum, to intervene in the RKO reorganization proceedings and to bring an action to set aside an alleged fraudulent transfer of assets of Stadium and to compel the start- ing of a suit against the officers and directors of Orpheum for alleged mis- management. Isidore Kresel, attorney for the preferred stockholders holding $1,- 600,000 worth of stock charged that the Federal Court was being used by RKO interests as an instrument to perpetrate a fraud on Orpheum in- vestors. He also charged that Or- pheum assets had been subjected to mismanagement so that the value of Orpheum properties decreased from $20,000,000 in December, 1928, to $3,000 in January, 1933. California Interests Heard Samuel Zirn, representing a Cali- fornia committee of preferred stock- holders and California Electric Co., a creditor, also requested that Ehr- horn's order be reversed. He stated that he would make an important mo- tion in the proceedings on March 10, but declined to reveal its nature. Edward Hanlon, who appeared on behalf of the trustee, pointed out that Orpheum was a voluntary bankrupt and that stockholders had no standing in court. He asserted that the credi- tors had the right to decide which offer they preferred and that Kres- sel's offer was contingent on the suc- cess of the law suits. He also stated that the creditors regarded the Sta- dium offer as mathematically best under the law, but said the trustee has no right to intervene in the re- organization proceedings. He claims that Kressel's charges of fraud were Industry to Fight Joining Berne Group (Continued from paae 1) copyright committee of the M. P. P. D. A., Motion Picture Herald will say today. The State Dep't at Washington _ is understood to have modified its orig- inal stand for immediate adherence, and is now giving serious considera- tion to the value of delay until after the Brussels meeting, which was to have been held last summer, but has been postponed indefinitely. It was in- dicated at that time that the mem- bers desired American cooperation and apparently were willing to make such reasonable revisions as requested. The Duffy copyright bill pending in the Senate provides for immediate ad- herence, but a subcommittee of the Foreign Relations Committee has been named to study the matter of adher- ence. Kilroe has expressed the be- lief that Congress will not act on the measure during this session, because of the press of other legislation, de- spite that fact that hearings on the bill have been set tentatively for this month. Three changes in the Berne Conven- tion which Kilroe has indicated are necessary to American adherence are permission to change an author's work after it has been acquired for produc- tion ; requirement that a record of an idea be in existence at the time a copyright is issued, as opposed to the present rule permitting the copyright- ing of an oral idea, and designation of the person or organization which has the legal right to bring suit for copy- right infringement as the author of the copyrighted material. Film Men to Tour Europe Film industry representatives are to be invited to make a trip to Euro- pean capitals with the National Re- search Council's Division of Engi- neering and Industrial Research. About 100 men are expected to go. Laboratories in a number of coun- tries will be visited. The trip will start May 14 on the Champlain. Josephson in N. H. House Gilbert Josephson, operator of the World on West 49th St., has taken over the Lincoln, New Haven. He will open it March 11 as an art thea- tre in conjunction with the foreign lan- guage department of Yale University. ambiguous and were not backed up by any evidence. O. C. Doering, appearing for the Irving Trust Co., trustee of RKO, also asked the court's approval of the sale. He claimed that if stockholders of all subsidiaries of RKO came into the reorganization proceedings it never would be completed. He said that if Orpheum stockholders did suc- ceed in intervening in the reorganiza- tion, they would get nothing in any event. Jules C. Randall, representing the largest creditor, Phillip Snyder, stated that the creditors accepted the Stadium offer because they felt they would get the most money in the shortest time. Judge Hurlburt stated at the outset that he was a stockholder in the Van Beuren Corp., an RKO subsidiary, but all attorneys agreed that he was qualified to act in the proceedings. All sides were given until March 16 to prepare briefs. Alert, Intelligent the In In All Branches MOTION PICTURE DAILY The Leading Motio Picture Industry VOL. 41. NO. 53 NEW YORK, FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 1937 TEN CENTS Moss Pleads For an End of Chance Games Tells Ampa Industry Has No Need for Stunts Paul Moss, license commissioner, yesterday pleaded for the elimination of Bank Night and other games and added that "the time has come to stop cheap ballyhoo and circus stunts." As guest speaker at the Ampa lun- cheon, Moss opened his prepared speech with the statement that "I am jealous of the prosperity of thea- tres in America." He then proceeded to quote figures from a newspaper ad- vertisement which reported weekly at- tendance at 88,000,000 and gross re- ceipts as $965,000,000. "The worst calamity that can befall this industry is not to stand together. The industry doesn't need dishes or Bank Nights," he said and then paint- ed a verbal picture of the financial outlays for new theatres, "magnificent houses," which never were built for Bank Nights. Moss touched briefly on the history of games in the local area, the test cases in each borough and how the practice started with giving away $10 and built up to a weekly award of $3,500. He said he has been working on this subject for two years and was "happy that Loew's, Century and RKO circuits are dropping the games." He said he hoped the smaller houses would follow. "There were many ways of getting {Continued on page 4) Blank Pact Extended 60 Days During Deal A. H. Blank's present theatre oper- ating agreement with Paramount was extended yesterday to May 6 to pro- vide additional time for negotiation of a permanent operating arrangement between Blank and the company. The extension is for 60 days from to- morrow, the day on which the present agreement was to have expired. Efforts are being made to consoli- (Continued on page 4) Sabath Probe Action Set Back by Illness Washington, March 4. — The ill- ness of Representative Sabath of Il- linois today made necessary post- ponement by the House of considera- tion of the resolution extending the life of the bondholders' investigation. The measure was laid aside and will be brought up upon Sabath's re- turn to the capitol. Duals Ruling Sustained in Phila. Again Anti-Trust Charge vs. Six Majors Stands Philadelphia, March 4.— Major companies defending conspiracy charges on double features here received an- other setback today when the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals, sitting in Philadelphia, reaffirmed its decision of Jan. 16, 1936, that six defending com- panies were violating Federal anti- trust laws by their methods to stop exhibition of double feature programs. In addition to upholding the decision, Judges Joseph Buffington, J. J. War- ren Davis and J. Whitaker Thompson dismissed a petition for a rehearing. In a brief opinion, the court reiterated its (Continued on page 11) Columbia Sues on Jean Arthur Pact Los Angeles, March 4. — Columbia Pictures today filed suit against Jean Arthur and Paramount Pictures, Inc., Attorney Lester William Roth assert- ing that on Nov. 27 Miss Arthur no- tified Columbia that she would no (Continued on page 11) Hays Will Celebrate 15 Film Years Today Will H. Hays celebrates the 15th anniversary of his association with the industry today by playing host to his office associates here at a buffet luncheon at 1 P. M. at M. P. P. D. A. headquarters. Hays became the head of the M. P. P. D. A. on March 5, 1922. Aside from the midday luncheon, the day will be "business as usual" for the "General." By last night, he had already scheduled the usual working day's number of appointments for to- day. Congratulatory wires began pouring in on Hays yesterday. Paul Muni, Luise Rainerand 'Ziegfeld9 Academy Winners Hollywood, March 4. — Paul Muni was declared the best actor, Luise Rainer the outstanding actress and "The Great Ziegfeld" the leading film achievement for 1936 in the ninth an- nual awards of the Academy of M. P. Arts and Sciences at the Biltmore Bowl tonight. Muni garnered the statuette for his performance in "The Story of Louis Pasteur," while Miss Rainer walked off with top honors in the actress' division for her role in "The Great Ziegfeld." There were no "write-in" ballots this year. Tickets for the 1,150 seats in the Biltmore Bowl were sold out long be- fore the doors were opened. A virtual "Who's Who" in Hollywood turned out for the occasion at which George Jessel acted as master of ceremonies. There were no speeches other than Frank Capra's institutional remarks. The event was broadcast locally as spot news. Warners came out on top in a re- capitulation of awards, tallying nine winners. M-G-M was second with five, Samuel Goldwyn took two, RKO and Columbia one each. Walt Disney and Hal Roach received statuettes in the short subject division. Douglas Shearer was given a statu- ette and plaque for the most outstand- ing technical development since 1930. This boosts M-G-M to six mentions. Capra took first in the directors' category for his work on "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town." Walter Brennan got a statuette for best performance by an actor in a supporting role. The picture in which he played was "Come and Get It." Gale Sondergaard, who played in "Anthony Adverse," ranked first in the division for the outstanding supporting actress. "The Story of Louis Pasteur" by Sheridan Gibney and Pierre Collings was cited as the best original story. The same writers and picture captured (Continued on page 11) Today's Radio News — Pages 10-11 IATSE Drive On Exchanges To Be Pushed Preliminary to Move for Theatrical Closed Shop Current organizing activities among film exchange employes will be ex- tended to all exchange centers by the I.A.T.S.E. as a preliminary move in the union's drive for a closed shop in the nation's theatres, it was learned yesterday. Organizing of exchange employes is out in the open in both Detroit and Boston, while secret organizing activi- ties are known to be under way in other exchange centers, as well, among bookers, shippers, inspectresses and other service classes of exchange em- ployes. Unionizing of theatre em- ployes from the front to the rear of the house and the extension of the I.A.T.S.E. to the thousands of non- union projection booths in small cities and towns throughout the country is to be pushed as fast as the exchange employes are organized. Under the union's current strategy, any exhibitor or circuit which refuses to negotiate with representatives of the projectionists' or theatre service employes' organizations would find it difficult to obtain film service from unionized exchanges. Such theatres would be declared "unfair to organized labor" and union exchange employes would be asked to refuse to book, in- spect or ship film or advertising ma- terial to such houses, it was learned. Thus, every theatre in the country (Continued on page 4) Asks Extraordinary Meet of GB Holders By BRUCE ALLAN London, March 4. — -Charles Nor- don, representing a committee of Gaumont British ordinary share- holders, has requested an extraor- dinary general meeting of sharehold- ers. It was indicated here that the company cannot refuse such a re- quest. G. B. distributors apparently were (Continued on page 4) North Dakota Senate Passes Allied' s Bill Minneapolis, March 4. — Allied's bill to force distributors to give up theatre circuit ownership has passed the North Dakota Senate, 37-9, ac- cording to word received here by Al Steffes, and a clincher motion has been passed making it impossible to (Continued on page 4) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, March 5, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Refietered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 March 5, 1937 No. 53 Martin Quiglev Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN. Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor . JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published dally except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Qulgpubco. New York." All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- cations: MOTION PICTURE HERALD, BETTER THEATRES. TEATRO AL DIA, INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building. Vine and Yucca Sts. ; Boone Mancall, Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave., C. B. O'Neill, Manager. WASHINGTON: Albee Building. Bertram P. Linz, Representative. AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan 5; Philip de Scbaap, Representative. BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2. Berlin W. 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 Kaplai-u, Budapest II; Endre Hevesi, Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientes 2495; N. Bruski. Representative. HELSINKI: Fredriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszlo, Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square, W. 1; Bruoe Allan, Representative. Cable address. Qulgpubco, Lon- don. MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins St.; Cliff Holt, Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart. Representative. MONTEVIDEO: P. 0. Box 664; Paul Bodo. Rep- resentative. MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern, Rep- resentative. PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre, Repre- sentative. PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2. Prague 1; Harry Knopf. Representative. RIO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 3358; A. Weiss- man, Representative. ROME: Vlale Gorlzia; Vlttorio Malpassutl. Rep- resentative. SHANGHAI: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Build- ing, 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler, Repre- sentative. STOCKHOLM: Kungsgatan 36; Ragnar Allberg. Representative. TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi. Chiba-Ken- H. Tomlnaga, Representative. VIENNA: Nuestiftgasse. 55; Vienna VII; Hans Lorant, Representative WARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Sillei. Representative 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Skouras Heads West For Product Talks Spyros Skouras, vice-president of National Theatres ; Edward Zabel, his assistant; William T. Powers, film buyer, and Milton Hossfield, assistant to Powers, left for the coast yesterday to confer with John D. Clark, general sales manager for 20th Century-Fox, and Herman Wobber, western division sales head, on a product deal for 1937-38. The National Theatres' men will be away about two weeks. The cir- cuit is a subsidiary of 20th Century- Fox with S. R. Kent as president. The negotiations will be the first to get under way on next season's output. "Barrier" at Criterion "The Great Barrier" has been booked into the Criterion beginning March 18. G. B. may have to change the title for American release be- cause of possible conflict with the Rex Beach novel, "The Barrier." Plans House at Resort Atlantic City, March 4. — Harry A. Greenberg, Philadelphia's theatre operator, plans a $50,000 house in the Negro section here, it was revealed to- day by the city building inspector. MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW Maytime" (M-G-M) Hollywood, March 4. — Splendidly produced, embellished with a musical score and content seldom approached for quality, "Maytime" is film merchandise of superior merit. It is a triumph for all concerned in its production and it may be anticipated that the public will greet its release with enthusiasm. While essentially a class feature, it is not lacking in elements necessary to evoke popular attention. Giving promise principally because of its musical merit, quality production and worthy star names in supporting roles, it will become a box-office attraction of considerable importance. Supplementing the music values, which vary from operatic and sym- phonic selections to melodious folksongs, rendered by Jeanette Mac- Donald and Nelson Eddy with chorus and orchestra, the film tells a human interest story of drama, romance and love. Intelligently directed by Robert Z. Leonard with a view to engaging maximum audience at- tention, his efforts not only enable Miss MacDonald and Eddy to sing in a manner surpassing their previous appearances, but also increase their statures as dramatic and romantic artists. Similarly, John Barry- more presents a worthy performance. The work of the supporting cast is also of high caliber. So transcribing the play of Rida Johnson Young that an air of mod- ernism is attained, Noel Langley's screenplay seeks to capture the fancy of those appreciating the finer things, but does not ignore the elements required to impress ordinary folks. Herbert Stothart's adaptation and direction of the original Sigmund Romberg music is masterful. The production technique is calculated always to emphasize the tone motiva- tion and gives ample evidence that neither time nor money was spared to create an attraction which should add to the prestige of M-G-M. Thematically, the film is a romantic drama with prologue and epilogue accompanying Miss MacDonald's narrating of her life story to Lynne Carver as a means of helping the girl to choose between love and a career. The price of Miss MacDonald's climb to operatic fame was her marriage to Barrymore. Acclaimed in the court of Napoleon as a great prima donna, the star is the idol of Europe. Then she meets and falls in love with Eddy, a student singer. Their romance, menaced by Barrymore's suspicion, nevertheless blossoms. Years pass and the lovers part. When finally Miss MacDonald comes to America, Eddy has been chosen to sing opposite her in opera. Under the spell of their music the story of their love is evident to Barrymore. He kills Eddy. In the epilogue, a disillusioned and motherly MacDonald joins Eddy in another world. Miss Carver forswears her career for the love of Tom Brown. By any analysis this is a prestige film. Exploitation which takes for its key the intelligence, sincerity and effort which are evident throughout the production, and which further capitalizes on the strength of the name values and the quality of the music, should produce the desired financial results. Hunt Stromberg produced. Previewed without production code seal. Running time, 130 min- utes. "G." Hold Burial Rites For /. /. McCarthy Burial services for J. J. McCarthy, head of the Advertising Advisorv Council of the M. P. P. D. A., who died Feb. 25, in Beverly Hills, Cal., were held yesterday afternoon at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Mt. Pleasant, N. Y. Father Leo Madden of the Church of St. Augustine, Larchmont, McCarthy's parish church, officiated. The body arrived from the coast yesterday morning accompanied by Mrs. McCarthy and E. W. Hammons, president of Educational Pictures, who was a brother-in-law of McCar- thy's and was vacationing on the coast at the time of the latter's death, and Mrs. Hammons, a sister of Mrs. Mc- Carthy. Will H. Hays, Clayton Sheehan and Walter Moore were among those who met the body on its arrival at Grand Central Station. Among the 75 or more persons who attended the services were Mrs. Mc- Carthy, Mrs. Mary McCarthy Gil- man, a sister ; Florence Handy, a sis- ter-in-law ; E. W. Hammons and mother ; Maurice McKenzie, Carl Milliken, C. C. and Mrs. Pettijohn, Roy Norr, Lester Thompson, Joel Swensen and Mary King, all of the M.P.P.D.A. ; Jack and Mrs. Connolly, Wayne and Mrs. Pierson, Charles Christie, Saul E. Rogers, Jacob Wilk, Judge John Cahill, Fred Zweifel, John and Mrs. Powers, Jack Skirball, Mrs. Louis Weber, Mrs. Hattie Silverman, Sid and Mrs. Silverman, Joseph Pin- cus, William Ferguson, Phil De An- gelis, Sam Fox, Pete Harrison, George and Mrs. Atwell, John and Mrs. Krimsky, George Cohan, Jr., Father Joseph A. Daley and Mrs. James F. Looram. Marcella Arnold Killed Pasadena, March 4. — Marcella Arnold, 26, a stunt player, was killed here today in an automobile collision during the filming of a scene for War- ners' "The Hobo and the Princess." Court May Approve New Plan for Roxy Federal Judge Francis G. Caffey may approve the plan of reorganiza- tion for the Roxy as submitted by the first mortgage bondholders' commit- tee which provides that the theatre be leased to 20th Century- Fox for a per- iod of 20 years. The motion on the calendar for this afternoon is for Judge Caffey to de- cide on the fairness and feasibility of the plan. A few objections are ex- pected which might result in a slight alteration of the plan, dated Dec. 17, 1936, but with revised operating figures as of Jan. 7, 1937. In the event 20th Century-Fox se- cures the theatre, Artco will continue to manage under a long term agree- ment. No pact has been signed, but this is understood to be a formality. Executives of 20th Century-Fox are satisfied to continue the present pol- icy and are cognizant of the job done by Harry C. Arthur, Jack Partington and Irving Lesser since Artco entered into a deal with Howard S. Cullman, trustee, about four years ago. When Artco took over the house, the average weekly take was $7,000. This average today runs better than $40,000. Repairs will be made shortlv. Continues Roxy Accountants Federal Judge Francis G. Caffey signed an order yesterday authorizing Howard S. Cullman, trustee for the Roxy, to continue the employment of Barrow, Wade, Guthrie and Co. as accountants in the Roxy reorgani- zation proceedings and allowed the accountants $2,000 as fees. NSS to Use Unit Men For Trailer Service Hollywood, March 4. — Unit men henceforth will cover the major stu- dios for National Screen Service, un- der the direction of Herman Robbins, president, and Tom Bailey, newly ap- pointed manager. Under the new policy, a trailer layout will be made on the picture script and home office ad campaign. When edited each pic- ture will be cut to a 300 feet maximum on "A's" and 200 feet on "B's." Staff additions include Gene Fox, Jim Marjorell and Walter Temple, working in the studios with Jim Stein- heimer and Bill McGrath. Daly Again Presents His Copyright Bill Washington, March 4. — The Daly Copyright Bill, one of several which were considered last session during the hearings of Representative Siro- vich's Patents Committee, has been re-introduced by the Pennsylvania Congressman, making three such measures which have been submitted to the House. Representative Sfrovich, however, has not yet filed his version of the proposed new copyright law and it is not expected any hearings will be called until he has done so. Diamond Dinner Guest Baltimore, March 4. — Sam Dia- mond, 20th Century-Fox salesman, was guest at a dinner given by 59 exhibitors and exchange men at the Hotel Emerson. He was presented a silver table service. Diamond will be married Saturday in Philadelphia to Mae Segal. 4 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, March 5, 1937 Moss Pleads For an End of Chance Games (Continued from pane 1) theatres to abandon- games, but I did not want to harrass exhibitors," he said. "It is true that the policy has lifted many theatres out of the red in depression days, but with pros- perity here again games have become a nuisance." He pointed out that with two features and shorts games are an annoyance to many patrons. Moss stated he was sympathetic to exhibitors' problems and invited thea- tre men to call upon him and use his services when they are in trouble. Gordon White, president, invited questions from the members and guests. Edward Goldstein, local agent for Bank Night, was grimly silent when one of the members asked the commissioner why games were not put to an end in churches. Moss' reply was that he did not license churches. After the meeting, Moss' attention was called to the fact that the I.T. O.A. had failed to act Tuesday on abandoning games despite the decision of Loew's, RKO and other circuits. Moss said he believed the unit would do something about it soon. Circuit Drops Games New Orleans, March 4. — United Theatres, with 18 houses, is the first to drop Bank Night and other prize giveaways as a result of the decision of the Louisiana Supreme Court mak- ing them illegal. Attendance fell off slightly the first night of their ab- sence. Asks Extraordinary Meet of G.B. Holders (Continued from page 1) closing finally today, with books, charts, contracts and like material being carried across the street to the offices of C. M. Woolf, with whose General Film Distributors G. B. has just completed a distribution deal. More than 300 of the G. B. distribu- tion staff are completing their duties and leaving immediately, it is under- stood. The action is seen here in some quarters as irregular, in view of the fact that the debenture holders have not yet voted their consent to the Woolf distribution arrangement. Trans-Lux in London London, Feb. 26. — The first Trans- Lux theatre in England — and in Eu- rope— will be opened on March 11 at Southampton by Capital and Pro- vincial News Theatres, Ltd., con- trolled by Norman J. Hulbert, M. P. Selznick Board Finishes Hollywood, March 4. — Meetings by the Selznick International board were concluded today. Routine matters only were discussed with no formal an- nouncement made. John Hay Whit- ney, chairman, will leave by plane for the east immediately. Warner Player Injured Hollywood, March 4. — Marie Wil- son, Warner contract player, was crit- ically injured in an auto accident to- day and rushed to a hospital. IATSE Drive On Exchanges To Be Pushed (Continued from pane 1) would appear to be affected by the I.A.'s current organizing drive in film exchanges. Despite the fact that there are estimated to be only 8,000 or 9,000 exchange employes who would be the objects of unionization, this personnel presumably could shut down any theatre, anywhere in the country, through a successful strike. Thus, they are viewed as the instrument through which 100,000 theatre em- ployes may be unionized. Organizing of the exchange em- ployes was attempted last year in New York, Boston and Washington without success. The organizing drive is reported to have lost much of its force at that time through internal labor politics stemming from the clash between William Green and John L. Lewis. In addition, legal contests di- rected against the Wagner-Connery Act discouraged pressing the organiz- ing move at that time. An effort to organize theatre ser- vice employes unsupported by the LA. T.S.E., however, was made here three years ago and collapsed within six months. The same employe classi- fications are involved in the current organizing move. They are ushers, cashiers, doormen, ticket takers, jani- tors, porters and scrubwomen. So serious and so imminent is the drive believed to be that the M.P.T.- OA. is gathering information on its progress in all sections of the country and the subject will be one of the principal subjects of discussions at the exhibitor organization's national con- vention in Miami, March 16 tON 18, it was learned. Reports will be made and discussion led by the convention committee on labor relations, which is headed by Fred Wehrenberg of St. Louis, chairman of the board of M.P.T.O.A. Say I.A. Favors Court Reform Washington, March 4. — The I.A.T.S.E. of the U. S. and Canada tonight was named by Labor's Non- partisan League as one of 26 national and international unions which are joining in an active campaign on be- half of President Roosevelt's judiciary reform program. The announcement was made by Major George L. Berry, president of the league, who is also the Presi- dent's coordinator for industrial co- operation. Albany In An Ad Row Albany, March 4. — An advertising row has broken out here between the- atres and newspapers. Theatres have stopped using space in the Knicker- bocker Press and Evening News, Gannett papers, but are continuing to use Hearst's Times-Union. Astor Closes Two Deals Astor Pictures has closed deals with Savini Films of Atlanta and Selected Pictures of Cleveland for the distribution of the series of eight Tom Tyler pictures. Para. Rentals Up Paramount rentals for Jan- uary and February ran 27 per cent over the same period for last year largely as a result of the Zukor Jubilee, accord- ing to Neil F. Agnew, vice- president in charge of sales. Blank Pact Extended 60 Days During Deal (Continued from pane 1) date Paramount's Tri- States Circuit of about 30 houses with Blank's own operations of 35 to 40 houses on a long term basis with Blank heading the unified operations. Indications are that the arrangement will be worked out within the next month or six weeks and will then be submitted to the Paramount board of directors for approval. Blank's present agreement is the last of the Paramount theatre operating partnerships which includes an option whereby Paramount may repurchase the partner's 50 per cent interest in the circuit. This would be eliminated under the new agreement, according to present plans. North Dakota Senate Passes Allied Bill (Continued from pane 1) reconsider the measure at any future time. A Minnesota House committee also has recommended the bill for pass- age. Abram Myers Elated Abram F. Myers, general counsel of Allied States, in a wire to Mo- tion Picture Daily yesterday from his headquarters in Washington, de- clared the action of the North Da- kota Senate in passing the theatre- production divorce bill, "marked a milestone in the struggle of independ- ent theatre owners for economic free- dom and of the public of community freedom in the selection of film en- tertainment." The action "foreshadows success" in other states, he said. "Let exhibi- tors unite in congratulations and thanks to Al Steffes for his splendid work," the wire concluded. Passes in Indiana House Indianapolis, March 4. — The In- diana House today passed by a vote of 72-9 the Allied bill for divorcement of producer-distributors from circuit theatre ownership. W. C. Carpenter of Associated The- atre Owners of Indiana led propo- nents of the bill. It now goes to the Senate. Fighting Tax in Texas Houston, March 4. — Houston the- atre operators minimize chances for passage of the proposed tax on ad- missions of 25 cents and more re- ported in committee at Austin. How- ever, it is known that leaders of the larger Texas circuits and indepen- dents are cooperating against the measure. No state tax is levied on admissions at present, but the state takes_ 20 per cent of all Bank Night drawings to add to the old age pen- sion fund. 4 Purely Personal ► ««P)EAC" AYLESWORTH'S re- -■--'tirement as chairman of the board of RKO to assume an executive post with the Scripps-Howard news- papers was signalized last night by an all-male party on the third floor of West 52nd St.'s most noted establish- ment— "21." About 55 RKO execu- tives foregathered for the event and the merrymaking ran long and mer- rily what with good cheer flowing gen- erously and much scurrying about of captains and waiters. • Harold Hendee, RKO research de- partment head, spoke the other night before Hunter College students on "Authenticity in Motion Picture Pro- duction." • Carlton Hoagland, former play producer, is now a member of the eastern talent department at 20th Cen- tury-Fox under Joe Pincus. • Harry Bryman, former Trinidad head for M-G-M, is in New York previous to his sailing for England and a vacation there. • R. K. Hawkinson, Latin Ameri- can manager for RKO, left this week on the Oriente for visits to Cuban and Mexican offices. • Fritz Lang left Wednesday for a sightseeing tour of the south, particu- larly Georgia. He plans to be back in a week. • William Wilson will be the man- ager of Gilbert Josephson's Lincoln, New Haven, which will be opened next week. • Helen Flint, who went to Holly- wood to play in "Step Lively, Jeeves" for 20th Century-Fox, is back in town. • Neil F. Agnew and J. J. Unger will leave for Miami and the M.P. T.O.A. convention on March 16. • Rube Jackter of Columbia will be back on the job Monday after a three- week sojourn in Miami. • Nell and Lynn Farnol sail on the Conte di Savoia tomorrow for a short holiday abroad. • Leo Spitz, president of RKO, is due in New York from Hollywood shortly. • Mack Gordon and Harry Revel, songsmiths, are here from the coast. • George W. Weeks will attend the M. P. T. O. A. convention in Miami. • Si Fabian returned yesterday from a two-day trip to Albany. Sam Krellberg has gone to Miami for a vacation. • Sylvia Sidney off on a southern vacation. _ Margaret Lindsay is a Hollywood visitor. • Si Seadler left for the coast last night. * . — 1 THE NEW UNIVERSAL GAVE YOU MV MAN GODFREY "3 SMART GIRLS" Ill Watch the Big National Release Date! It's a Date with the New Universal! Q U I C L PUBLIC E Y A T I O N S MOTION PICTURE HERALD International weekly journal of the motion picture industry. Member Audit Bureau of Circulations. Edited by Terry Ramsaye. MOTION PICTURE DAILY Swift accurate spot news from the world's film centers every 24 hours. Edited by Maurice D. Kann. BETTER THEATRES Devoted to maintenance, equipment, construction and operation of motion picture theatres. Published every four weeks as section 2 of Motion Picture Herald. Edited by George Schutz. FAME The Box Office Check-up, an audit of personalities in the world of entertainment. Edited by Terry Ramsaye. INTERNATIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC Reference annual covering every department of the motion picture industry, including biographies of "1 3,000 players, directors, artists, writers, technicians and executives. Listing corporations, officers, financial structures, production titles, producing and distributing personnel, theatre circuits. Edited by Terry Ramsaye. TEATRO AL D I A Published in Spanish and circulated to the industry in the Spanish speaking countries of the world. Issued quarterly and devoted to maintenance, equipment, construction and kindred phases of motion picture theatre operation. Edited by Pablo Colon. OP Quigley publications present a practical perspective of motion picture activities all over the world in a continuous cycle of publications, daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annually. With offices and correspondents throughout the world, Quigley Publications are international in scope and are acknowledged the dominant business journals of the motion picture industry. MARTIN QUIGLEY, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher Publication Offices: ROCKEFELLER CENTER, NEW YORK HOLLYWOOD 9 CHICAGO # LONDON Postal Union Life Building 624 South Michigan Avenue 4 Golden Square Friday, March 5, 1937 MOTION PICTURI DAILY "On Avenue" Holdover Hit In Cleveland Cleveland, March 4. — "On the Avenue," at the Allen for a second week after a big first week at War- ners' Hippodrome, continued to lead in a week of big business. It grossed $9,500. This is just $500 under dou- ble average. "Green Light" went 50 per cent over the Warner Hippodrome aver- age to a take of $15,000. It was moved to the Allen for a second week. "Head Over Heels in Love" on the RKO Palace screen with a stage show headed by Al Trahan grossed $18,000. This was $3,000 over par. "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney" with $17,000 on the week was $2,000 bet- ter than par and won a second week at Loew's Stillman. Washington's Birthday was a big day at all downtown houses and was largely responsible for the increased take. The weather was spotty with heavy snow in the mid-week. The heaviest competition was the Al Sir- rat Grotto Circus at the Public Audi- torium. Total first run business was $63,500 Average is $51,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 26: "ON THE AVENUE" (2<>th-Fox) ALLEN— (3,300), 30c-3Sc-42c, 7 days, 2nd week downtown. Gross: $9,500. (Av- erage, $5,000) "THE LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE— (3,400), 30c-35c-42c, 7 clays. Gross: $17,000. (Average, $15,000) "A DOCTOR'S DIARY" (Para.) LOEW'S STILLMAN— (1,900), 30c-35c- 42c, 7 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $6,- 000) "HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE (G.B.) RKO PALACE— (3,100), 30c-42c-60c, 7 days. Stage: Al Trahan and Park Ave. Revue. Gross: $18,000. (Average, $15,000) "GREEN LIGHT" (F.N.) WARNERS' HIPPODROME— (3,800), 30c-35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $15,000. (Aver- age, $10,000) Franklin vs. Warner Action Is Settled An action brought by the Franklin Theatrical Corp., Ltd., against War- ner Bros. Pictures, First National Pictures, Vitagraph, Inc., and Vita- phone Distributing Corp. was settled by stipulation of the attorneys in Fed- eral Court yesterday. The action was for $300,000 triple damages under the Sherman anti-trust law. The plaintiffs operate theatres in Hawaii and signed a contract with Warners in 1934 for 19 pictures. They claim they spent $500,000 in prepar- ing for the exhibition of the pictures, but Warners broke their contract ty signing with Consolidated Amusement Co., a rival exhibitor, and as a result the plaintiff was compelled to use in- ferior pictures and suffered the loss of patronage. A. /. Balaban Due From Europe April 1 A. J. Balaban is due back from an extended vacation at Luzerne, Swit- zerland, on April lj following which he is expected to confer with associ- ates in Chicago on a purchase of a half interest in F. & M.'s holdings in St. Louis. Preliminary negotiations were started about two months ago by Arthur Greene, I. B. Perlman, Jules Rubens and Sam Meyers, who are as- sociated with Balaban, and Harry C. Arthur, head of F. & M. activities in St. Louis. On March 28 the Ambassador, St. Louis, will drop vaudeville for the sea- son. Grand National Men Ready for Big Drive An eight-week billing drive for Grand National's sales force will get under way tomorrow, Edward Peskay, general sales manager, stated yes- terday. From the results obtained four district managers will be ap- pointed, he said. At the present time Sol Edwards is the eastern division head and James Winn, western sales manager. Although the company was previ- ously scheduled to take over the Edu- cational studio in Hollywood on April 1, the transfer will take place next Wednesday. Edward Alperson, presi- dent, plans to put into work immedi- ately eight new pictures. The group of films to be released during the billing drive are: "23^ Hours Leave," "Girl Loves Boy," "Killers of the Sea," "Navy Spy," "Arizona Days," "$1,000 Bill," "Some- thing to Sing About," "Dynamite" and "Grand Canyon." The last named picture will be Richard A. Rowland's first for the company. "Dynamite" is the title of the second James Cagney film. Schertzinger will produce "Something to Sing About" and Low- ell Thomas will narrate the descrip- tive lines for "Killers of the Sea." Orders Cohn Testimony Justice Charles B. McLaughlin in N. Y. Supreme Court granted by de- fault yesterday the request of Jack Curtis and Charles Allen, theatrical agents, the appointment of a commis- sion in Los Angeles to take the de- position of Harry Cohn, president of Columbia. The plaintiffs are suing Fritz Kreisler, the violinist, and Charles Foley for $3,500, charging that they were to get 10 per cent of the $37,500 which the defendants got [for the picture rights on the operetta "Cissy," which was sold to Columbia. Justice McLaughlin, when the defendants failed to answer the motion, ap- pointed a Los Angeles attorney, Mil- ton Black, to take Cohn's deposition. Expunges Boston Met Claim Federal Judge Alfred C. Coxe ex- punged the $2,500,000 claim of the Boston Metropolitan Playhouse, Inc , in the Paramount Publix reorganiza- tion proceedings. The claim was based upon alleged mismanagement by Paramount of the Metropolitan in Boston. The disallowance was made as a result of the settlement reached on July 6, 1936. Schulberg Judgment Entered Sacramento, March 4. — Judgment today was entered in Superior Court here against B. P. Schulberg for $14,443 in back income taxes and $1,520 for interest. Kalmenson Takes Albany Ben Kalmenson, central district manager for Warners, has added Al bany to the group of exchanges under his supervision. This branch was formerly a part of the eastern district which included New York, Boston and New Haven. The latter three ex changes are being operated out of the home office since Roy H. Haines was promoted from eastern district man ager to eastern sales head. Homer Hifey Quits G. N. New Orleans, March 4. — Homer Hifey, Grand National branch man ager, has resigned to rejoin the Warner sales force in Buffalo. Hunt for Kidnapper On in Coast Studios Los Angeles, March 4. — Four U. S. Dept. of Justice operatives are working as extras here in a part of the nationwide move to track down the kidnapper of 10-year-old Charles Fletcher Mattson of Tacoma. Cooperation of Motion Picture Daily and other trade publications has been asked by J. H. Hanson, spe- cial agent, who has requested publica- tion of a drawing believed to be a likeness of the wanted man and made from measurements. A reward of $10,000 is out for information leading to the arrest of the kidnapper. Would Up Lincoln Scale Lincoln, March 4.— Attempt to raise prices here for Sunday matinees and ultimately to raise prices through- out town is being undertaken by Bob Livingston, manager of the Capitol, and Milton Overman, city manager for Westland Theatres. M-G-M Re-Signs Four Hollywood, March 4. — M-G-M has signed new contracts with Edna May Oliver, Claudine West, who collab- orated on "The Good Earth" ; Clar- ence Russell, singer, and George Zucco, who played the psychiatrist in "After the Thin Man." Third Quin Story Set Hollywood, March 4. — A new story for the Dionne quintuplets has been prepared at 20th Century-Fox. The film, which will be the third for the quins, is expected to go into work in June. "GreenLight" Boston Leader With $35,000 Boston, March 4. — "Green Light" showed the way here with a $35,000 gross at the Metropolitan. The Canova Family was on the stage. The take was over average by $13,000. "Camille" at Loew's Orpheum and State followed close with high grosses. The Orpheum went $7,500 over aver- age to $19,500. The State grossed $17,800, over par by $6,800. "Crim- inal Lawyer," with George White's "Scandals" on the stage featuring Willie and Eugene Howard, drew $27,000 at the RKO Boston. This was above the line by $6,000. "On the Avenue" at the RKO Mem- orial drew $17,000 single feature. "Lloyds of London," second run with first run "Clarence," at the Para- mount drew $9,600, above par by $2,600. The same program drew $6,500 at the Fenway. Hockey games and the Sunday snow trains and Lent have not affected thea- tres. Total first run business was $116,- 300. Average is $88,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing Feb. 25 : "LLOYDS OF LONDON" (20th-Fox) "CLARENCE" (Para.) FENWAY— (1,392), 30c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $4,500) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) LOEW'S ORPHEUM— (2,970), 25c-45c- 65c, 7 days. Gross: $19,500. (Average, $12,- 000) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE— (3,537), 25c-45c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $17,800. (Average, $11,000) "ON THE AVENUE" (20th-Fox) RKO MEMORIAL— (2,907), 25c-50c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $17,000. (Average, $12,000) "GREEN LIGHT" (W. B.) METROPOLITAN— (4,332), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage - Canova Family. Gross: $35,- 000. (Average, $22,000) "LLOYDS OF LONDON" (20th-Fox) "CLARENCE" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (1,793), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $9,600. (Average, $7,000) "CRIMINAL LAWYER" (RKO) RKO BOSTON— (3,246), 35c-5Sc-75c, 7 days. Stage: George White's "Scandals" with Willie and Eugene Howard. Gross: $27,000. (Average, $21,000) Joins Franklin Circuit San Diego, March 4. — Harry Hart- man, who was southern California dis- trict manager of Fox West Coast in 1932, has left for Honolulu to take charge of three theatres of the J. J. Franklin circuit there. Joins March of Time Gunther von Fritsch, M-G-M shorts director, has been named a director on the March of Time staff. He will head the fourth production unit work- ing in the domestic field. W. M. Richardson, former U. A branch manager in Atlanta and up to now special representative for Grand National in the field, has been named New Orleans exchange head by Ed- ward Peskay, general sales manager. Goldstein Goes to "U" Boston, March 4. — Jack Goldstein, who set up an independent publicity office here following his resignation as exploitation manager for United Artists, has joined the publicity staff of Universal. Wall Street Most on Board Have Losses Net High Low Close Change Columbia 39 3654 3654 — 1% Columbia, pfd. . . . 44% 43% 44% + % Consolidated 5T/s 5 5 Consolidated, pfd.. 1754 1654 16% — % Eastman Kodak ..16854 16854 168J4 + % Gen. T. Equip. ... 3054 2954 30 — % Loew's, Inc 80% 78% 78% — 2'A Paramount 25% 2554 2554 — % Paramount 1 pfd.. 181 180 180 —5 Paramount 2 pfd.. 23% 23% 23% — 54 Pathe Film 8% 854 8% — % RKO 9 8% 8% — }4 20th Century-Fox. 36 35% 35% — % Warner Bros 1554 1554 15% + % Curb Drops Lightly Net High Low Close Change Grand National . . 3% 354 354 — % Sonotone 2 2 2 Technicolor 20 19% 19% — % Trans-Lux 4% 4% 4% Paramount Only Bond Rise Net High Low Close Change Loew's 354s '46.... 100 9954 9954 — % Paramount Pict. 6s '55 100% 100% 10054 + % Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 98% 9854 98*4 — % (Quotations at close of March 4) 10 RADIO MOTION PICTURJE DAILY Friday, March 5, 1937 4 Radio Personals ► THE wives of NBC's press depart- ment's Tom Riley and Bill Neel presented them with a boy and girl, respectively this week . . . Rubinoff, it is understood, may sign a picture contract for one production with 20th Century-Fox . . . Ted Black of the NBC news desk, is a flu victim . . . "Red" Nichols and his orchestra leave for Chicago to open at the College Inn March 19. They will have a CBS wire . . . Benay Venuta, Glenn Hunter and George Rasely will be Ted Hammerstein's "Music Hall" guests next Tuesday . . . Margaret Daum, soprano, has been signed to a two-year contract by CBS Artists Bureau . . . Rudolf Friml, Jr., son of the composer, makes his network debut as an orchestra leader via NBC March 30 . . . Shirley Ross will be Ken Murray's vocalist on the latter's forthcoming CBS series . . . Bob Elson, WGN's sports commen- tator, leaves for California tomorrow to visit baseball training camps. He will broadcast from the coast . . . Sidney Lumit of "Eternal Road" and Tommy Gavin of "White Horse Inn" will be Frankie Basch's guests over WMCA this Sunday at 7 :45 P. M Lee Kirby, WBT announcer, is in a Charlotte, N. C, hospital . . . Ken- neth Collins, vice-president of Gimbel Bros, and William Robinson, advertis- ing director of the New York Herald- Tribune, will address the members of the Boston Advertising Club Tuesday, March 9. The addresses will be broadcast over WMCA and Inter-City stations at 1 :15 P. M. . . . Maria and Ray, song duo, will be heard over WHN Saturdays at 6:45 P. M., be- ginning tomorrow . . . "Cheerio" will celebrate his 10th anniversary on NBC next week . . . Fannie Hurst will guest appear on "We, the People" this Sunday at 5 P. M., E. S. T. . . . San Francisco Town Pump San Francisco, March 4. — NBC oldtimers are watching for the new CBS serial, "Pretty Kitty Kelly," with keen interest because Frank Dahm, scripter of the new air show, was formerly program director at KPO here . . .Mark Dunnigan has left KYA, local Hearst station, for NBC. He will be replaced as technician by F. L. Christman . . . Ernie Smith, KYA sports commentator, has left for Mexico, on his first vacation in 10 years . . . Jim Morgan, KSFO pro- duction manager, talked on "Radio Methods of Operation" before a local school . . . Joy Storm of Ralph Brun- ton's Northern California Broadcast- ing System has left for Hollywood. His successor as production manager of KWQ, San Jose, has not been named . . . Bill Fuller, another NCBS staff member, has just been married. Seek Statements on Paid Indorsements Washington, March 4. — A bill to require that personal endorsements of articles during broadcasting pro- grams be accompanied by a statement that the endorsement is paid for, if such is the case, has been introduced in Congress by Representative Ma- loney of Louisiana. The measure has been referred to the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. English Television Range Is 25 Miles London, Feb. 26. — Sir Walter Womersley, assistant Postmaster General, has declared in the House of Commons that the average range for good reception of television is 25 miles, although the actual maximum distance varied with direction. Extension of the television service is planned for an early date by the Post Office and British Broadcasting Corp. Expenditure of £170,000 on new telephone cables in Middles- borough is partly inspired by tele- vision requirements, and may indicate this area as the next to have a trans- mitting station. The ultimate plan is for interlinked stations at London, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle. Louisiana Hearing Denied New Orleans, March 4. — The State Supreme Court has refused a rehearing in the case of Hello World Broadcasting Co., Shreveport, against the International Broadcasting Co. in its suit for damages, recently before the court in this city on an appeal from the Shreveport District Court. Burns, Allen in McGee Spot When Burns and Allen switch over from Campbell Soups to Grape Nuts for General Foods Corp., they will be found in the NBC-Red 8 to 8:30 P. M., E. S. T., the period now occu- pied by "Fibber McGee and Molly," who broadcast for the S. C. Johnson Co. The time period for their new program was set yesterday by Young and Rubicam, agency handling the ac- count. "Fibber McGee and Molly," in turn, will take over the 9 to 9:30 P. M., E. S. T. NBC-Red period now occu- pied by Warden Lawes' program for Sloan's Liniment, which leaves the air shortly for the summer period. A definite starting date for Burns and Allen will be set in a few days. To Demonstrate Recording Ralph C. Powell, sales promotion manager of the Presto Recording Corp., will demonstrate recording equipment to representatives of south- ern radio stations and advertising agencies in Charlotte, N. C, March 9-10; and at Atlanta, Ga., the follow- ing two days. Stations WIBX, WAAT, WJJD and CHNS installed Presto equipment during the month of February. Fisher Competition Soon The 1937 competition of the Fisher Bodies Craftsmen Guild will be broad- cast over CBS beginning March 10 from 7:30 to 7:45 P. M., E. S. T. Additional broadcasts will be aired March 12, 17, and 19. W. A. Fisher, president of the Fisher Body Co. and vice-president of the General Motors, will announce the details of the com- petition on the initial program. Loan Firm Signs Series The Madison Personal Loan Co. be- gins a Monday through Saturday se- ries on WHN, effective Monday. The contract is for one year and the pro- grams will be heard midnight to 12:15 A. M. The AIsop Radio. Recording Co. is the agency. Four Times Daily Beginning March 10, "Vic and Sade" will be on the air four times daily for the one sponsor, Procter & Gamble. At present they are heard from 11:30 to 11:45 A. M., E.S.T., on the NBC-Blue; from 3:30 to 3:45 P. M., E.S.T., on the NBC-Red; from 10 to 10:15 P. M., E.S.T., on the NBC-Blue. Their new period will be heard from 7:45 to 8 P. M., E.S.T., on WEAF, New York, and WMAQ, Chicago. The Compton agency handled this account. "Time" Series May Be Dropped Shortly The "March of Time" air con- tract expires early in April, and ap- parently CBS has been notified that the program will not be renewed, for it has been learned that the network's time salesmen are now endeavoring to sell the period currently occupied by the dramatized news period. Roy Larsen, Time's executive in charge of the program is away on business and could not be reached for a statement yesterday. It is said the sponsor no longer feels it necessary to keep the program on the air, now that its latest publica- tion, Life, and the screen "March of Time" are definitely launched. French Protest on Propaganda by Air Paris, March 4. — The current radio policies of the Popular Front Gov- ernment of Leon Blum are opposed by a majority of the radio listeners of France, it is indicated by the early results of a poll of listeners, the first of its kind to be held in a country where radio is a Government monop- oly. Nearly 2,000,000 ballots have been cast. The vote actually is for listeners' representatives on the management councils which supervise the prepara- tion of programs. The management councils consist of 30 members, of which one-third are popularly elected and the remainder are appointed by the Government. The results are seen as a public protest against the extent to which the Popular Front Govern- ment has inserted political material into radio programs, even coloring news broadcasts. Two main parties are in the field, the Radio-Family, representing the Right parties, and the Radio-Liberty, a Left group. YMCA to Sponsor Series Los Angeles, March 4. — "Fron- tiers of 1937" is the title of a series of seven programs to be broadcast under the sponsorship of the Y. M. C. A. in cooperation with educational institutions, from KFI-KECA, begin- ning tomorrow at 9:30 P. M., P. S. T. The first broadcast, "Social Fron- tiers," will have Dr. Emery Bogar- dus as speaker. Herman Melville on Air Los Angeles, March 4.— "Men of Destiny" is the title of a dramatiza- tion to be broadcast by Herman Mel- ville, author of sea books, from KHJ and other Don Lee-Mutual sta- tions Sunday, 11 :30 to 12, P.S.T. Tastyeast on Again In Its Dizzy Whirl No program of memory has had as many vicissitudes as the Tastyeast series. Originally it starred James | J. Braddock ; then the "Jesters" ; back ' to Braddock; back to the "Jesters." An announcement that it had been signed for 52-weeks was followed al-. most immediately by an announcement I that it was to be canceled as of last Tuesday, and now a contract renewal' for 13 weeks, again with the "Jest- ers." The present contract for the series is of March 2, on a one-time per, week basis, each Tuesday from 7:15 to 7 :30 P. M., E.S.T., on NBC-Blue. The Peck Advertising Co. is the agency. College Band Goes on Air Oklahoma City, March 4. — A[ series of weekly broadcasts of re- hearsals of the 70-piece Oklahoma City University band to familiarize high school band members in Okla- homa, New Mexico and Texas with contest numbers for the coming Na- tional School Music Competition Fes- tival has been inaugurated by WKY. The series will be continued for 13 weeks with the band rehearsing the numbers in the college auditorium under the direction of James Nielson at 3 P.M., M.S.T., Fridays. WCPO Building Antenna Cincinnati, March 4. — A new trans- mitter, with an antenna 199 feet above the five-story Daylight Bldg. in subur- ban Mt. Adams, on top of which it will be located, is being built by WCPO, Cincinnati Post station. Studios and offices will remain in the Hotel Sinton. Renew on "Thatcher Colt" The Packers Tar Soap Co., spon- sor of "Thatcher Colt Mysteries" series, has renewed the program for another 26-week period, effective April 4. The program is heard Sun- days from 2:30 to 3 P. M., ES.T., on NBC-basic red network stations. KTUL to Have 2 New Shows Tulsa, March 4. — Two new com- mercial shows, featuring United Press news features, start on KTUL this week. "Women in the News Today," for S. G. Holmes & Sons, begins March 1; "Movie Pictorial," for the Froug Department store begins the following day. Morris, Disney Lined Up Hollywood, March 4. — Chester Morris will be interviewed by Elza Schallert over NBC on March 5. Walt Disney has been lined up by Miss Schallert to tell all on the March 12 broadcast. Iowa Newscasters Married Des Moines, March 4. — Two news- casters of KSO and KRNT were re- cently married. Wayne Varnum mar- ried Gladys Cox of Chicago and Bene- dick Hardman was married to Marian Tayzant of Dallas. No wonder every sports fan is a WHN listener —More sports are on WHN than any other N. Y. station. DIAL 1010 i AFFILIATED with wm w M-G-M • LOEWS / I ii 'III IhmilMtll-ll IILUgin — Ivlwlwi :riday, March 5, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY II FCC Sets New Hearing Dates For Stations By CLARENCE LINZ Washington, March 4. — Additional hearings were today scheduled by the F. C. C. as follows : March 29: Before an examiner — contest of Continental Radio Co., Hearst Radio, Inc., and the U. S. 'Broadcasting Co. for a new 1,310- kilocycle station in Washington, D. C, 'to have 100 watts night power and 250 watts day; contest between West [Texas Broadcasting Co., Faith Broad- casting Co., Inc., and Wichita Broad- casting Co., for a new station in : Wichita Falls, Tex., on either 620 or 1,380 kilocycles, 1,000 watts ; and ap- plication of Robert R. McCulla, Oak Park, 111., for 1,500-kilocycle, 100- watt daytime station; station KRKO 1 for change of frequency to 1,420 kilo- cycles and increase of power to 100 watts night, 250 watts day, and KFPL, Wichita Falls, Tex., for change of fre- quency to 1,500 kilocycles. March 30: Before an examiner — ap- plications of stations, WJBW, New Orleans, for renewal of license, and WMIN, St. Paul, for change of fre- quency to 1,360 kilocycles and increase of night power to 250 watts. Carthage Power Increase Asked March 31 : Before an examiner — ap- plication of William W. Ottoway, Port Huron, Mich., for 1,370-kilocycle, 250-watt daytime station ; Malcolm H. Clark, Amarillo, Tex., for 1,500-kflo- cycle, 100-watt station, and station WCAZ, Carthage, 111., for increase of power to 250 watts. April 1 : Before the broadcast divi- sion— application of station KGGC, San Francisco, for increase of time ; Smith, Keller and Cole, San Diego, for 1,200-kilocycle, 100-watt daytime station; John S. Allen and G. W. Covington, Jr., Montgomery, Ala., for 1,210-kilocycle, 100-watt daytime sta- tion, and Clarence C. Dill, Washing- ton, D. C, for 1,390-kilocycle unlim- ited time station. April 2: Before an examiner — ap- plications of W. W. Hartman Co. (Waterloo Daily Courier), Waterloo, la., for 1,420-kilocycle, 100-watt sta- tion ; Vancouver Radio Corp., Van- couver, Wash., for 880-kilocycle, 250- watt daytime station; Charles Porter and Edward T. Eversole, Festus, Mo., for 1,420-kilocycle, 100-watt daytime station ; and stations WABY, Albany, N. Y., for increase of day power to 250 watts, and WSCC, Charlotte, N. C, for change of frequency to 600 kilocycles and increase of power to 250 watts, nights, 1,000 watts day. WBRY Has Catholic Hour New Haven, March 4.— WBRY is presenting a new Catholic hour Thursdays at 7 :30 P.M., E.S.T., under the auspices of the Knights of Colum- bus and the Catholic parishes of the city. A tentative form is a question box, with eight priests participating. Sign Mrs. Roosevelt For 13-week Series Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt has been signed for a series of 15-minute programs by the Lamont Corliss Co., makers of Pond's cosmetics. The series will begin some , time in April and will be heard over NBC, time and day to announced later. Mrs. Roosevelt's talks will be in- formal discussions of interests close to her heart, and will include also comments on current subjects of news interest and stories about the domes- tic side of White House life. The contract is for 13 weeks, and the compensation will go direct to the American Friends Service Com- mittee of Philadelphia, Mrs. Roose- velt's favorite charity. The contract was placed through J. Walter Thomp- son. Mrs. Roosevelt previously broadcast commercially in 1932 and 1933. Then she was reported to be receiving $4,500 per broadcast, of which $1,000 was retained by her agent, the bal- ance to charities. It is believed that her present price is $2,000 per broad- cast. The present contract was placed direct. Lawyers to Attend Television Showing Members of the Communications Committee of the New York' County Lawyers' Ass'n will witness a tele- vision demonstration this afternoon at NBC. A. L. Ashby, vice-president and chief counsel of NBC, will be in charge of the demonstration, which will take place in the board room on the sixth floor of Radio City. Charles Evans Hughes, Jr., president of the association; Robert C. Morros, past president, and 30 members of the committee will attend. Col. Manton Davis, vice-president and general counsel of RCA, will be televised in a brief address. Jean Sablon and Jean O'Neill will enter- tain. Prior to the demonstration O- B. Hanson, NBC chief engineer, will give a brief technical talk on sight and sound broadcasting. Craven, Byington on "Hotel" Hollywood, March 4. — Frank Craven and Spring Byington have been set for the March 12 broadcast of "Hollywood Hotel." Ian Hunter will also be on the pro- gram in a preview of "Penrod and Sam." KDYL Seeks More Power Salt Lake City, March 4 — KDYL has asked the F. C. C. for an increase in power from 1,000 watts to 5,000 watts daytime, with the night time continuing at 1,000 watts. Ap- proval of a transmitter site south of the city also has been asked. Kemp of CBS on Coast Hollywood, March, 4. — Arthur J. Kemp, CBS sales representative, ar- rived from New York today for a week's conferences with western ex- ecutives. Academy Tops To "Ziegfeld" Muni, Rainer (Continued from page 1) another honor for the outstanding screen play. Jack Sullivan, assistant director on "The Charge of the Light Brigade," led his division. Shearer, who last year took leading honors for the sound recording in "Naughty Marietta," came through again for his work on "San Francisco." Ralph Dawson of Warners is an- other repeater. Last year his film ed- iting of "Midsummer Night's Dream" was signally honored and this year his efforts on "Anthony Adverse" won him similar recognition. Tony Gaudia, who garnered cinematography bou- quets with "A Midsummer Night's Dream," scampered off with another statuette for the photography in "An- thony Adverse." Leo Forbstein, who handled the mu- sical scoring of "Anthony Adverse," was awarded the nod in that divi- sion. "The Way You Look Tonight," written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields for RKO's "Swing Time," was declared the best song. Richard Day is another repeater for his art direc- tion in "Dodsworth." Last year he took honors for "Dark Angel." Dance direction went to Seymour Felix for "A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody" number in "The Great Zieg- feld." The short subject awards were as follows : Color, "Give Me Liberty," Vitaphone; 1,000-3,000 feet in black and white, "The Public Pays," M- G-M ; cartoons, "Country Cousin," Walt Disney; 1,000 feet or less, "Bored of Education," Hal Roach. Disney and M-G-M also won awards in this field last year. A complete listing of the awards follows : Best Actor Paul Muni in "The Story of Louis Pasteur." Best Actress Luise Rainer in "The Great Ziegfeld." Best Production "The Great Ziegfeld" (M-G-M), pro- duced by Hunt Stromberg. Best Direction Frank Capra for "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town." Best Actor, Support Walter Brennan in "Come and Get It." Best Actress, Support Gale Sondergaard in "Anthony Ad- verse." Best Original Sheridan Gibney and Pierre Collings for "The Story of Louis Pasteur." Best Adaptation Sheridan Gibney and Pierre Collings for "The Story of Louis Pasteur." Short Subjects (Color) "Give Me Liberty" (Vitaphone) (Cartoons) "Country Cousin" (Walt Disney- U. A.) (1,000 to 3,000 Feet) "The Public Pays" (M-G-M) (1,000 Feet or Less) "Bored of Education" (Hal Roach- M-G-M) Assistant Director Jack Sullivan for "The Charge of the Light Brigade." Music (Best Song) "The Way You Look Tonight" in "Swing Time" — Music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Dorothy Fields. (Best Scoring) "Anthony Adverse" (Warners) Leo Forbstein. Film Editing Ralph Dawson for "Anthony Ad- verse." Dance Direction Seymour Felix for "The Great Zieg- feld." Technical Awards (Art Direction) "Dodsworth" (Goldwyn-U. A.) Rich- ard Day. (Cinematography) Tony Gaudio for "Anthony Adverse" (Warners) (Sound Recording) "San Francisco" (M-G-M) Douglas Shearer. Phila. Dual Ruling Is Again Sustained (Continued from pane 1) conviction that Harry and Louis Per- elman, original plaintiffs in the case which was launched before Judge George Welsh, in 1934, had proved the companies were in conspiracy. Judge Welsh originally handed down his conspiracy decision on Jan. 31, 1925, and was twice sustained by the Circuit Court on appeals by the de- fending companies. Today's decision said in part: "The question narrows down to one fact — whether the conspiracy was proved. We have made a careful ex- amination of the record. Our con- clusion is that there was sufficient evi- dence before the learned district judge (Welsh) to sustain his finding that the conspiracy charged in the bill was proved. We discover no grounds for departing from our views as set forth in the opinion of the court heretofore filed. The petition for rehearing is dismissed and the decree of the district court is affirmed." The next step is not yet outlined by the majors, but it is believed the case will be carried farther because of possibilities that the decision might pave the way for both civil and crimi- nal action against the defendants. During the original hearing of the case, theatre owners whose contracts were cancelled by the defendants be- cause they double featured, claimed heavy financial losses and intimated they might sue for redress. After the Welsh decision, B. M. Golder, counsel for the Perelmans, asked a Federal grand jury investiga- tion of the activities of the major companies. Without granting the re- quest, Judge We'sh made Golder ap unofficial investigator to report on the situation. No such report has been publicly announced so far. Companies affected by the ruling are Vitagraph, Inc., RKO Dist. Corp., Paramount Pictures Dist. Corp., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Dist. Corp., Fox Films Corp. and United Artists. Columbia Sues on Jean Arthur Pact (Continued from page 1) longer work with the company despite the existence of a one-year contract and that simultaneously the actress " signified her intention of working for Paramount.- Columbia asks that the court inter- pret the actress' contract and, if there be violation, enjoin her from working for any other studio for a year and further asks that Paramount be en- joined from employing her for a simi- lar period. Carole Lombard SINGS for the first time in "Swing High, Swing Low/' Carole Lombard * Fred MacMurray SWING HIGH, SWING LOW with Chariot Butterworth, Jean Dixon, Dorothy Lamour A Paramount Picture Directed by Mite h* II le I sen Fred MacMurray PLAYS THE HOT TRUMPET in "Swing High, Swing Low." Charles Butterworth BANGS THE HOT PIANO in "Swing High, Swing Low." Dorothy Lamour, the Jungle Girl, TEARS INTO THE SWING HIT "PANAMANIA. Alert, Intelligent the Inc in All Branches MOTION PICTURE DAILY The Leading Motior Picture Industry OL. 41. NO. 54 NEW YORK, SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 1937 TEN CENTS Appeal Court Revokes Phila. Duals Ruling Memo Calls First Order An "Oversighf Philadelphia, March 5. — The U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals today re- voked its order of Thursday denying defendant distribution companies a rehearing of the Perelman case in- volving the use of contract clauses restricting double featuring. The court's memorandum, recalling its order of Thursday, ascribed the fil- ing of the erroneous order to "an oversight." No further explanation of the incident was made or was ob- tainable. As a result of the court's action to- day, the defendant distributors, peti- tions for a rehearing of the Perel- man case will be given further con- sideration by the court and the status of the case becomes the same as though no order had been entered on Thursday. The court's memorandum handed down today accompanied a copy of the order filed on Thursday and read : "The accompanying per curiam hav- (Continued on page 3) Douglas MacLean Is Out of Grand Nat'l Hollywood, March 5. — Douglas MacLean has severed his connection with Grand National. MacLean stated today that he will make a new affilia- tion with one of the major companies in the near future and added that no ill feeling accompanied or caused his departure. Edward L. Alperson stressed that he had urged MacLean to remain with the company, saying that his work had contributed to two of the com- pany's chief box-office successes — "Great Guy" and "23^ Hours' Leave." 20th-Fox Planning Five New Branches Five new branch offices will be constructed by 20th Century-Fox in the near future. Negotiations are under way for sites and are expected to be closed shortly. The cities in- volved are Buffalo, New Haven, Al- bany, New Orleans and Minneapolis. The Denver exchange this week moved into a new two-story building. Ground has been broken in Soho Square, London for a new building to house the company's home office in England. Momand Suit Is Dropped by Circuit Court Way Left Open, However, For Filing New Suit Denver, March 5. — The U. S. Cir- cuit Court of Appeals yesterday is- sued an order that the case of A. B. Momand, suing film distributors and certain theatre companies doing busi- ness in Oklahoma, should be thrown out of the U. S. District Court, but has left the way open for Momand to file a similar suit, since the case was dismissed "without prejudice." Momand, operating theatres in Oklahoma, charged that because of combinations and agreements between distributors and exhibitors he had been unable to secure films at an equitable price. The court order is : "The order is reversed with instructions to va- cate the order and enter an order dis- missing the amended petition without prejudice. Each party will pay his own costs." The circuit court did not consider the merits of the case, but concerned itself only with the order of the U. S. District Court, in which the case (Continued on page 3) Studios Are Active With 36 in Work Hollywood, March 5. — Eleven fea- tures and three shorts were finished last week, while work was started on six features and two shorts. In work were 36 features and three shorts, with 20th Century-Fox and Warners tied in the lead with six each; M-G-M, Universal and Para- mount followed with five each, Co- (Continued on page 3) Will H. Hays was swamped with congratulatory messages and floral tributes from industry and public fig- ures throughout yesterday, his 15th anniversary as head of the M.P.P.D.A. He observed the day by arriving at his office at 8 :30 A. M., coming up on the same elevator with Dave Pal- freyman, who opens the office every morning. Thereafter, Hays spent the day about as usual, pausing only at mid- All Smiles It was a case of all smiles throughout the "March of Time" organization yester- day. That subject was ac- corded a special award at the Academy dinner in Holly- wood Thursday night for "an outstanding and new con- tribution to the year's in- dustry." This was a special classi- fication which first made its appearance four years ago when Walt Disney was so designated for having created the Mickey Mouse character. Woolf Inquiry By U.K. Gov't Seen Possible By BRUCE ALLAN London, March 5. — The possibility of an inquiry by the British Govern- ment into the deal whereby C. M. Woolf's company, General Film Dis- tributors, will handle Gaumont Brit- ish distribution, and the latter will drop production at the Shepherd's Bush studio, is seen here. The basis of the belief is a series of questions which Sir Arnold Wilson will put to Walter Runciman, presi- dent of the Board of Trade, in the House of Commons on Monday. Sir Arnold will ask what action the Government proposes to take with regard to the agreement in view of the fact that the deal involves the closing of the G. B. studio and the consequent unemployment resulting as production and distribution forces of G. B. will be dropped. He will also inquire of Runciman (.Continued on page 3) day for a buffet luncheon with staff members in the board room at M.P. P.D.A. headquarters, which permitted him to dictate six letters to Julia Kelly, his secretary, between sand- wiches and business conversation with his staff heads. The sole "outsider" who attended the luncheon was Cort- landt Smith of Pathe News, who was the first secretary of the organization and who, with Hays and Miss Kelly, {Continued on page 3) Brandt Suing On Loew Plan Of Split Week Five Distributors Also Named in Complaint A complaint charging conspiracy and breach of contract was filed against Loew's circuit and five New York exchanges yesterday in the N. Y. Supreme Court by Weisman, Quinn, Allen and Spett, attorneys, on be- half of 36 theatres in the Brandt cir- cuit, in connection with recent action of Loew's in running better product on a five-day "weekend" in local houses. The previous customary split was four days and three days. The action, in which the Brandt circuit is complainant, actually is an outgrowth of the strong objection voiced by independent theatre oper- ators in New York recently to the Loew plan, through the I.T.O.A., of which Harry Brandt, head of the circuit, is president. The complaint named, in addition to the Loew's circuit, M-G-M Pic- tures Corp., Paramount Prod., and Paramount Pictures Distributing Corp., Columbia Pictures, Universal (Continued on page 3) Herman Schoenstadt Is Dead in Chicago Chicago, March 5. — Herman Schoenstadt, 86, film pioneer who started as an exhibitor 30 years ago, died here today following a long ill- ness. Schoenstadt, who was promi- nent in civic and political affairs, built up a circuit of 20 theatres now operated by his sons, Henry and Arthur. Funeral services will be held at Furth Funeral Parlors on Monday at 1 :30 P. M. Name Special Master To Hear Roxy Action U. S. District Court Judge Francis G. Caffey yesterday appointed Addison S. Pratt as special master to hear the objections to the plan of reorgan- ization proposed by the bondholders' protective committee in the Roxy The- atre reorganization. He also stated that he was considering making a spe- cial request to the S. E. C. to investi- gate the plan in order to protect the stockholders' rights. More than 200 Roxy investors were present in the (Continued on page 3) Radio News — Page 4 Hays 15th Year in Films Brings Flood of Tributes MOTION PICTURE DAILY Saturday, March 6, 1937 Comedy Starts Well, Sags; Margaret Perry Stands Out i Purely Personal ► 2 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 March 6, 1937 No. 54 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and ^holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at Bockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco. New York." All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc. Address all correspond- ence to tho New York Office. Other Quigley publi- cations: MOTION PICTURE HERALD, BETTER THEATRES, TEATRO AL DIA, INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Sts. ; Boone Mancall. Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave., C. B. O'Neill, Manager. WASHINGTON : Albee Building. Bertram F. Linz. Representative. AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan 5; Philip de Schaap, Representative. BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest II; Endre Hevesi. Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientes 2495; N. Bruskl. Representative. HELSINKI: Predriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszlo, Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square. W. 1; Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address, Quigpubco, Lon- don. MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins St.; Cliff Holt, Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269: James Lockhart, Representative. MONTEVIDEO: P. O. Box 664; Paul Bodo. Rep- resentative. MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern, Rep- resentative. PARIS: 29 Hue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre, Repre- sentative. PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1; Harry Knopf, Representative. RIO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 3358; A. Weiss- man. Representative. ROME: Viale Gorizia; Vittorio Malpassuti, Rep- resentative. SHANGHAI: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Build- ing, 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler, Repre- sentative. STOCKHOLM: Kungsgatan 36; Ragnar Allberg, Representative. TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken; H. Tominaga, Representative. VIENNA: Nuestiftgasse, 55; Vienna VII; Hans Lorant, Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; H. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. "Love" Gets $72,000 2nd Music Hall Week When You're in Love" tallied $72,000 in its second week at the Music Hall. "Fire Over England" opened there Thursday to mild busi- ness. The second week of "Camille" at the Capitol ended with approximately $30,000. "Green Light" at the Strand in its third week garnered about $15,000. "The Great O'Malley" got off to a fair start yesterday. "Woman Alone" and a stage show at the Roxy grossed $36,000. "Love Is NeWs" opened to good business there yester- day. Lesser Seeks New Site Hollywood, March 5. — An agent for- Sol Lesser is seeking a site for a new $400,000 studio for Principal Prod. The Lesser executive personnel today moved to General Service Stu- dios and the writing staff to the old Multicolor plant. No Strike in Detroit Detroit, March 5. — The expected strike of film shippers, poster clerks and inspectresses here failed to ma- terialize today. It is understood, however, that the matter is far from settled. By PLAYBOY It is Margaret Perry, dipping into character work with a distinction that belies her years, who was the standout at Henry Miller's Theater last night. There a piece called "Now You've Done It," by Mary Coyle Chase opened, but failed to quite live up to the letter of its designation. In a family circle that reminded of the harum-scarums in "You Can't Take It With You," Walter N. Greaza, platitudinous Rotarian, finds himself on the verge of a nomination for Congress. Evelyn Varden, his mother, and Jane Bancroft, his sister, are pleased. Barbara Robbins, his wife and slavey, is, as well, which the others might have discovered had they bothered to inquire. Miss Varden, in her amiable flutterings, that same day finds Miss Perry, fresh out of reform school and on probation, in the family circle as a newly acquired maid. Miss Perry, it appears, was Madame Evelyn's Price and Waterhouse, was unashamed of sex and, in her plain and honest manner, knew a great deal about men. As a matter of fact, she re- membered faces so well that she called by their intimate, nocturnal names the senator upon whom Greaza was de- pending for political support, and his henchman, to boot. On a platform of the sanctity of the American home and, the circumstances being what they turn out to be, the senator recognizes the embarrassing politics of the situa- tion and Greaza seems safely on his way to Congress. Love Enters, Edgewise As a secondary theme, more or less dragged in by the ears, is love finding its way to Miss Robbins' side through the extraneous character of the state boss's son, on the scene to look Greaza over. Off to a more sparkling and humor- ous start than its playwright was suc- cessful in maintaining, "Now You've Done It," meaninglessly named, begins to slip in the second act and well nigh spends itself completely in the third. But Miss Perry's surprisingly different performance as the little tough through whom more humanity and un- derstanding coursed than her tonier companions is excellent. In variable measures and mostly on the side of the other performers, this also applies to the cast at large. Miss Varden and Miss Robbins were particularly good as was Greaza; Junior Eric Burtis, natural and appealing as the young grandson, and Jack Tyler as Muggsie, Miss Perry's boy friend. The house of joy background upon which most of the laughs depend counts this off the boards as film ma- terial. This could be altered to make it something more acceptable for Hollywood and the code, but any re- write would change the flavor and make of it something which it is not now. Rogers Arrives Sunday Charles R. Rogers, Universal vice- president in charge of production, will arrive tomorrow. Surprise Party for Laub Enoch G. Laub was given a sur- prise party in honor of his 70th birth- day by 60 members of Universal's ac- counting department on Thursday. And At Scarsdale Scarsdale, N. Y, March 5. — "History Is Made at Night," shown here tonight at the Scarsdale Theatre, is a sophisticated story of a Parisian headwaiter's love for the wife of a neurotic American shipping magnate. It is beautifully produced and builds up to a climax in which an ocean liner, on its maiden voyage, crashes into an iceberg. The scenes on shipboard are reminiscent of the Titanic disaster and are impressive in the extreme. Produced by Walter Wan- ger, the film features Charles Boyer and Jean Arthur in the principal roles. Six Theatres Fined In Chicago for B. N. Chcago, March 5. — Six theatres here, the Oakland, Cosmo, Highland, Grove, Capital and Halfield, today were fined $15, including costs, in Justice Sonsteby's court for operating chance games. The cases were ap- pealed and will be heard May 3 to- gether with 46 others. Today's proceedings complete the planned prosecution of Bank Night here. Omaha Subsequents Win Omaha, March 5. — Through the in- tervention of Mayor Dan B. Butler, smaller neighborhood houses in the co- operative Bank Night here won an argument from five of the larger houses and were allowed to continue holding Bank Night matinees. Butler wrote Evert R. Cummings, Tri- States district manager and chair- man of the Bank Night group, warn- ing "drastic steps would be taken" to end Bank Night unless the smaller houses could hold matinees. Change Minds on B. N. New Orleans, March 5.— A change of front on the Bank Night situation manifested itself here today when several houses reversed their decisions to abandon the games. A number of exhibitors here are planning a protest to Governor Leche and Mayor Maestri while others have suggested that admission prices be raised to the point where the increase will provide for the fines incurred By operation of the policy. Bans Game Insurance Wheeling, W. Va., March 5.— Branding Bank Night insurance a racket, Police Chief Albert Megale has banned operation of the scheme in Wheeling and threatened heavy fines and jail terms for its operation. To Honor Wehrenberg St. Louis, March 5.— Stage acts from local theatres will feature the Variety Club's testimonial dinner party in be given in the Gold Room of Hotel Jefferson March 12 to Fred Wehrenberg, president of the M. P. T. O. of St. Louis, eastern Missouri and southern Illinois. EC. GRAINGER is due today from • a 10-day tour of Feiber & Shea houses. Jack Shea returned earlier in the week from a visit to a number of the circuit's units. • Joe McConville and Louis Astor, Columbia sales executives, left yester- day for Miami. They will be gone two weeks. • Norman H. Moray is in Milwaukee today for conferences on Vitaphone short product. • Otto Kruger will be among the coast departures today. • Howard Hughes flew to Miami yesterday. • Monte Banks is due from the coast today. Quick Action Seen On Missouri 2% Tax Jefferson City, Mo., March 5.— Passage of the two per cent sales tax bill is expected daily. The tax will have the same base as the present one per cent levy, but with the tax on advertising and transportation elim- inated. Metal tokens will be substituted for the present "milk bottle caps." Date Kansas Adjournment Topeka, March 5. — Final adjourn- ment of the Kansas Legislature has been set tentatively for March 20, with March 17 as the final day for consideration of bills. Senator McDonald's bill to legalize horse racing and pari mutuel betting has been killed. Meet on SRO Ruling Chicago, March 5. — Exhibitor leaders here, including John Bala- ban, Aaron Saperstein, Henry Schoenstadt, James Coston, Morris Leonard, Edward Silverman and others, conferred today with Herman H. Bundesen, city health commis- sioner, regarding the enforcement of the health ordinance which prohibits standees in theatres. The exhibitors submitted a plan which they say will permit standees without crowding. Executives at Opening Among those attending the pre- miere of Walter Wanger's "History Is Made at Night" at the Scarsdale Theatre, Scarsdale, last night were A. W. Smith, sales manager of United Artists ; Harry Buckley, vice- president ; Harry Gold, E. A. Silver- stone, Walter Gould, John Wright, Rodney Bush, eastern representative of Wanger; Frank Shea of Feiber & Shea, and Matty Fox of the Skouras circuit. Schaefer in Hollywood Hollywood, March 5. — George J. Schaefer, arriving here today for the United Artists meeting tomorrow, stated that "America today is enter- tainment hungry as never before" and that "despite the fact that ad- mission prices are below 1929 levels, gross receipts are advancing." Saturday, March 6, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Anniversary Tributes Pour In Upon Hays (Continued from page 1) helped to open the M.P.P.D.A.'s first office on March 5, 1922, in the Guar- anty Trust Bldg. at 520 Fifth Ave. vHays left the office around 6:30P. M. with two brief cases filled with "home- work" under his arm. Among the messages received were those of Darryl F. Zanuck, Jesse L. Lasky, Academy of M. P. Arts & Sciences, by Frank Capra; Morgan Walsh, president, I.T.O. of Northern California; Frank "C. Walker, Martin Quigley, Senator Henry F. Ashhurst of Arizona, Eugene Chrystal of East- man Kodak, Ed Kuykendall, president, M.P.T.O.A. ; William Le Baron, Ma- jor Edward Bowes, Albert D. Lasker, Amon Carter, George Young, pub- lisher, Los Angeles Examiner; Wil- liam C. de Mille, Leo Spitz, Adolph Zukor, Jack L. Warner, Ned E. Depi- net, Harry Buckley, E. M. Fay, Wil- liam Goetz; B. B. Kahane, Morns Loewenstein, president, M.P.T.O. of Oklahoma; Walter Wanger, Fred Wehrenberg, chairman, M.P.T.O.A.; Sidney R. Kent, Lenox R. Lohr, pres- ident, N.B.C.; Hal Roach, Winfield Sheehan, Rupert Hughes and Charles R. Rogers. Also Nicholas M. Schenck, Sam Briskin, Spyros Skouras, Martin Mul- lin, Sam Pinanski, Sam Goldwyn, Robert Gillham, Charles L. O'Reilly, Chris Dunphy, Joseph H. Brennan, president, Allied T. O. of Massachu- setts ; Secretary of State Cordell Hull, J. Robert Rubin, R. H. Cochrane, M. A. Lightman, M. C. Moore, presi- dent, Southeastern T. O.; Secretary of Commerce Daniel C. Roper, Sena- tor Frederick Van Nuys of Indiana, Irving C. Jacocks, Jr., president, M.P.T.O. of Connecticut; Admiral William D. Leahy, chief of naval operations; Robert X. Williams, Jr., president, Tri-States M.P.T.O., and Congressman Sol Bloom of New York. Brandt Suing On Loew Plan Of Split Week Ex- (Continued from page 1) Pictures and the Big U Film change and United Artists. It was explained at the office of the Brandt attorneys yesterday that the change in the week's split con- stituted a breach of contract, although a designation of the specific number of days which should make up a "weekend" is not noted in rental con- tracts. The contention was that it has always been understood that the split is four days and three days, and that pictures are sold to all theatres with that understanding. The basis of the conspiracy charge, it was said, was the fact that the five distributors named had sold pic- tures to Loew's on a basis which permitted the circuit to play pictures on a five-day "weekend." Charles C. Moskowitz, head of Loew's theatres in New York, de clared late yesterday that he knew nothing about the action. Woolf Inquiry by Government Likely (Continued from page 1) if he is aware that three persons, through the ownership of 5,000 shares in Metropolis and Bradford Trust, G. B. holding company, control the £12,000,000 G. B. corporation. Sir Arnold further will ask if the Gov- ernment will consider the dissolution of Metropolis and Bradford in order to restore control to British share- holders, "who are anxious to cooper- ate with American producers in mak- ing the film industry in this country efficient." The questions are considered es pecially important in view of the fact that Sir Arnold is a member of the Moyne Committee and also of the Board of Trade's own Films Act Advisory Committee. New Rochelle Kameo Acquired Loew's yesterday acquired the Kameo, New Rochelle, from Rosen- bloom and Fagin. This is the second unit for the circuit in the city, the other being Loew's, which is being operated with Proctor's, in a pool- ing arrangement between Loew's and RKO. Loew's will take possession of the Kameo about Easter and will insti- tute a dual feature policy. It is likely this house will be made part of the pool. Name Special Master To Hear Roxy Action Circuit Court Drops The Momand Action Studios Are Active With 36 in Work and Ohio Bans "Promise?' Cleveland, March 5. — The Ohio censor board has banned the Amkino film, "A Greater Promise" as being "harmful." Local critics who saw it at a private screening expressed the opinion that there is ndthing objec- tionable about the picture. (Continued from page 1) lumbia had four and Goldwyn Republic one each. Being edited were 41 features and 15 shorts. In preparation are 41 and three. Pictures just started are: "One Hour of Romance," "War Lord," "Footloose Heiress," "The Story of Emile Zola" and "Paul Price" at Warners ; "Oh, Doctor," at Universal, and "Big Business" at 20th Century- Fox. Of the pictures just finished, Para- mount had three ; Republic and 20th Century-Fox, two each and Warners, Universal, Radio and Columbia, one each ; in work were : Republic and Warners, three each ; Columbia, Par- amount, Radio, 20th Century-Fox and Universal, two each ; being edited : Paramount and Warners, eight each ; Columbia, seven ; M-G-M, six ; 20th Century-Fox, five ; Republic, three ; Hal Roach, two ; Universal and Ra- dio, one each. In the shorts division, Columbia had one finished, one starting, one shoot- ing, one in preparation, one editing; M. G. M., eight editing; Radio, one finished, one shooting, one preparing, one editing; Warners, one starting, one shooting. (Continued from page 1) courtroom where the hearing was held. Caffey said at the outset that he had been deluged with letters from stockholders. He declared he knew very little of the standing of the actual facts and suggested than an S. E. C. recom- mendation might be of assistance to them. He said hearings would be held to determine whether the corporation was insolvent and what rights the stockholders had if insolvency were proved. Judge Caffey declared that he was sending the matter to special mas- ter for a full hearing because he ex- pected the hearing to be lengthy and that he was too busy to hold it him- self. He said he was. instructing the special master to proceed with the de- layed hearing and to report promptly. Any attempt to delay the hearings will be punished by an assessment of costs, Caffey said. Pratt was named because of his familiarity with the Roxy pro- ceedings and Caffey felt (that his knowledge would expedite a decision. Caffey expressed satisfaction with the appraisals which were filed and insist- ed that sworn testimony relating to the value of the assets be taken before the master. He praised the bondhold- ers' committee which presented the plan for coming forward with the first concrete plan after five years of ef- fort and said that their services had been of the "utmost assistance." Object to Delay Delay in the proceedings was pro- tested by representatives of several groups. Samuel Kramer, representing 10,000 shares of Class A stock, was given permission to intervene on be- half of the stockholders. Caffey said his order will provide that one week's advertising in the New York Post pre- cede the hearing. George Goodman, representing $200,000 of first mort- gage bonds, was denied permission to intervene. Caffey set March 12 for a hearing to determine certain technical ques- tions relating to the deposit agreement with the protective committee. The note holders' protective committee re- quested permission to send a letter to note holders relating to their claim against Fox Theatres Corp. which had been allowed in the Fox Theatres receivership at $700,000. Judge Caffey ordered all objections to the plan to be written and filed with the special master before hearings began. (Continued from page 1) was dismissed because of the refusal of Momand to amend his petition, or portions of it, as ordered by the court. The case was transferred to Den- ver because of the death in Oklahoma City on the opening day of the hearing of U. S. Circuit Court Judge Tilman Johnson. Momand's mother, Loretta L. Mo- mand, has filed suit in Boston, her home, for triple damages, against film distributors, who have asked that the case be transferred to Oklahoma City for trial. Mrs. Momand sued in her home city because she could secure service on all defendants there. The distributors point out that excessive costs would be necessitated if trial were held in Boston. Mrs. Momand operated a theatre in Shawnee, Okla., and charges "unlawful combination and conspiracy to restrain and to monopolize interstate trade and com- merce in motion picture films." Calvert on Coast Hollywood, March 5. — Lowell V Calvert, general sales manager, Selz- nick International, arrived here today for a week of conferences with David Selznick and Henry Ginsberg. Appeal Court Kills Phila. Duals Ruling (Continued from page 1) ing been filed through an oversight, the same is now recalled and the case held for further consideration upon a reargument, which is now ordered." The mistaken filing of an order of a court is unusual, but not unknown, in legal circles. Ordinarily, it is traceable to an error of a clerk. The Thursday order reaffirmed the court's decision of Jan. 16, 1936, that the six defendant distributors violated the anti-trust laws in the use of the restrictive clauses against double featuring. In addition, the order de- nied the defendants' petition for a re- hearing of the case, and affirmed the order of the district court. The memorandum revoking the order came as defendants were con- sidering the advisability of applying to the U. S. Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari for a review of the Lina Asks Judgment Lina Pictures filed a motion yes- terday for a summary judgment in the N. Y. Supreme Court in its ac- tion against First Division Exchanges, Inc. The plaintiff claims that pursu- ant to an agreement made in Septem- ber, 1933, Principal Distributing Corp. rented to the defendant a num- ber of prints. Subsequently, Principal assigned its rights in the films to the plaintiff, but the defendant has re- fused to return the prints. The plain- tiff demands the return of the prints and $5,000 damages. Distributors and Alladin Pictures Corp. The action is based on the al- leged conversion of certain negatives which were delivered to the H. E. R. Laboratories, who were to strike off prints when requested to do so by the plaintiff. H. E. R. subse- quently sold these negatives for money due them by the plaintiff, which was allegedly without authorization of the plaintiff. Approves Motion for Bill N. Y. Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Church yesterday granted a motion for a bill of particulars to be submitted in the action brought by Lina Pictures Corp. against the H. E. R. Laboratories, Garrison Film Feher Files New Motion Friedrich Feher filed a motion in N. Y. Supreme Court yesterday to strike out the evidence in a counter claim which was set up by the For- tune Film Corp. in Fehrer's action for $7,500. Feher claims that in November, 1936, he agreed to furnish a stage show to be used in conjunc- tion with "The Robber Symphony" and was to get $2,500 for such per- formance. The performance was de- layed from time to time and although Feher did receive $2,500 for his per- formance eventually, he is suing for $7,500 because of the delayed appear- ance. Fortune's counter claim alleges that the plaintiff attempted to induce Concordia Films, Inc., to terminate its contract with Fortune for the rights of exhibiting the picture, "The Robber Symphony" and asks for $125,000 damages. RADIO MOTION PICTURE DAILY Saturday, March 6, 1937 4 Radio Personals ► ARTHUR PRYOR, radio execu- tive at Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn, is back at his desk after a two-week vacation and business trip . . . Ralph Kirberry yesterday cracked up his airship in a forced landing near Chester, N. Y. . . .Fred Astaire will offer the musical score from his new RKO picture, "Shall We Dance," on his March 9 broadcast over NBC . . . Will Oakland and his orchestra now set for an WHN wire . . . Mary Small leaves today for a vaudeville appear- ance at the Keith theatre in Bos- ton . . . CBS Has a Dividend Of 50 Cents a Share The board of directors of CBS yes- terday declared a quarterly cash divi- dend of SO cents a share payable March 26 to holders of record March 17. The board will apply to the N. Y. Stock Exchange for the listing of its stock since there are now more than 5,000 CBS stockholders. At a meeting on May 24, the direc- tors will authorize an increase in the number of shares of the corporation's stock in order that it may be split two-for-one. CBS officials who sat in at yester- day's board of directors' meeting re- fused to comment when queried, but it is understood one of the matters discussed at the meeting was whether CBS would purchase bonds for the New York World's Fair, or finance the cost of the erection of a CBS building and a display at the Fair. Studio Air Program To Start March 15 Hollywood, March 5. — Following several postponements, General Mills' broadcasts over NBC from studio sound stages will start Monday, March 15, with a program emanating from the set of 20th Century - Fox's "Unchosen." Donald DeWolf of NBC has de- signed a special portable studio built into a trailer to facilitate the studio broadcasts. Cowan Entertaining Rubey Cowan, NBC artist bureau executive, who recently announced his resignation to accept a position with Paramount, today will tender a fare- well luncheon to his network col- leagues at the Cafe Loyale. Those who will attend are George Engels, Dan Tuthill, Frank Jones. Sam Ross, L. J. Fitzgerald, Robert Smith, Ches- ter Stratton, Raymond Porrier, Vance Babb, James Stirton, Ed Sickels, Tim Sullivan, John Potter, Ruby Bloom, Jack Von Tilzer, Ernest Cutting, Ed DeSalisbury, Fred Niblo, John Bax- ter, Alfred Cook, and the Misses Frances King, Ethel Gilbert, Rubey Smith, and Geraldine Fenrich. Radio Dealers Return Four hundred and fifty New York and New Jersey radio dealers re- turned last night from Bermuda, where they spent a week as guests of the General Electric Corp. G. E. executives who accompanied the dealers are Ernest H. Vogel, C. M. Wilson, Earle Poorjian and Lee Williams. Hearst Asks FCC for 2 Booster Stations By CLARENCE LINZ Washington, March 5. — Plans of Hearst Radio for two booster stations outside of Washington, to operate with 250 watts power synchronously with the proposed new Hearst station in the capital, were revealed today by the F.C.C. Applications filed by Hearst dis- closed that the stations are desired in the event its application for a new station to operate on the 1,310 kilo- cycle channel is granted. The avail- ability of the frequency now used by WOL will depend upon the commis- sion's approval of WOL's application for a change to 1,230 kilocycles. The commission also revealed that applications have been received from John Stewart Bryan, Petersburg, Va., for a new station to operate on 1,210 kilocycles with 100 watts power at night, 250 watts day, and from C. W. Moses, R. W. Workman and J. Allan Moses, Hobbs, N. M., for a station to operate on 1,500 kilocycles with 100 watts power. Other applications received by the commission include requests from stations KMLB, Monroe, La., for a frequency change to 620 kilocycles and increase of power to 500 watts ; WDSU, New Orleans, for power in- crease to 5,000 watts, and KGAR, Tucson, Ariz., for frequency change to 1,340 kilocycles and increase of night power to 250 watts. Corliss Program Renewed "Husbands and Wives," NBC-Blue series heard Tuesdays from 9 :30 to 10 P. M., E.S.T., has been renewed for 26 weeks by Lamont Corliss Co., sponsors of the program. Get Press Rights Columbus, March 5. — Writers and special events men of radio stations within the state, upon application from their headquarters, now are accorded the same rights and privileges on the General Assembly floor during legis- lative sessions as are granted the press. This is a new departure in Ohio, although previously the state allowed special broad- casts from the legislative sanctums. This, however, ex- cluded writers of the air. NBC Will Broadcast Sun Eclipse June 8 NBC, in arrangement with the Na- tional Geographic Society and the U. S. Navy, will broadcast exclu- sively a description of the total eclipse of the sun from Enderburg Island in the Pacific Ocean at 2:15 P. M., E.D.S.T., Tuesday, June 8. Announcers, engineers, and four tons of equipment will leave for Honolulu early in May on board a navy minesweeper, and thence to the island aboard the cruiser Quincy. Dr. Lyman J. Briggs, chairman of research for the Society, is in charge of the expedition. The NBC per- sonnel for the trip will be announced later. "Billy and Betty" Renewed "Billy and Betty," Sheffield Farms five-a-week NBC-Red serial, has been renewed for another cycle on the air, beginning March 22. New Shows on the Air "Hollywood Hotel" Last night's "Hollywood Hotel" measured up to its usual high stand- ard. The regular "Hotel" standbys : Fred MacMurray, Frances Langford, Igor Gorin, et al, portioned out song and music during the first half of the proceedings ; Victor McLag- len, Peter Lorre, Walter Connolly and June Lang occupied the latter half with scenes from their recently completed picture, "Nancy Steele Is Missing." Additionally, Louella Par- sons unexpectedly brought to the mike Academy Winners Luise Rainer and Paul Muni, who expressed their pleasure and thanks for the honors. "Nancy Steele Is Missing," as a picture, hasn't been seen by your re- porter. Judging it by last night's episodes, however, it is a production packed with power and suspense. The story need not be told here, but we'll wager that a goodly percentage of those who listened in won't rest until they have seen what happened after McLaglen, Nancy's kidnapper, is shot by Lorre when the former at- tempts to burn the one bit of evidence that links Nancy to her father, Con- nolly. That's when the story ended last night. Preceding the reenactment, Warden Lewis E. Lawes of Sing Sing Prison characterized the film, which he had previewed, as a "fine, honest and thrilling picture." "Hollywood Hotel" is presented Fridays from 9 to 10 P. M., E.S.T., on CBS. Campbell's Soups sponsors. Banner "Tell Us Your Story" Philadelphia, March 5. — Every one is believed to have one good story in him. At least, that has been the contention of many pulp magazines. J. B. Ford & Son of Wyandotte, Mich., is now giving the listening pub- lic a chance to get its story off its chest all in the interests of Wyan- dotte Cleanser. The theme selected for the thrice weekly dramatization by the Wyandotte Players rates the sender $25, with no box covers or facsimile necessary for the entry. When caught, the prize-winning synopsis concerned a paroled prisoner who fell in love with the judge's daughter, proving his worth when he saved the jurist from a gangster's gun. As a dramatic interpolation it hardly deserved serious attention. The writing and acting rattle along at a slipshod pace that never hits a re- sponsive chord, no worse probably than the average. Announcer Al Moore lauds the product with a dra- matic fervor that makes the playing cast sound limp and languid. The program is aired by WABC for a split CBS network on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, 2-2:15 P. M., and appeal is undoubtedly for the rural listener rather than the ur- banite who is used to better shows. Interview Discloses Jack Benny9 s Plans Chicago, March 5. — Jack Benny, in an interview with Motion Picture Daily here today, said that he will do two more pictures for Paramount after which he will sign a new pact with the same company for three years during which time he will make two pictures annually. Benny will broadcast here follow- ing his return from New York. "Barrier" Retitled To Avoid a Conflict G. B. has changed "The Great Bar- rier" to "Silent Barriers" to avoid any conflict with Paramount's "The Barrier," a Rex Beach story. Reports from Toronto yesterday were to the effect that a writ had been served upon Arthur Lee, vice-presi- dent of G. B., but this was denied both at G. B. and Paramount. At Paramount it was stated that the pos- sibility of title conflict had been called to the attention of G. B. in the hope that the matter would be arranged. "Silent Barriers" will go into the New Criterion on a two-a-day basis Thursday, March 18. It opened Feb. 26 in Montreal and will be released in 10 Canadian cities March 25. To Film Abbey Ceremony London, March 5.— Permission has been granted by the British Govern- ment for the filming by the newsreels of the Coronation ceremonies in West- minster Abbey. Technical supervision of the Abbey takes will be in charge of Sir Gordon Craig, general manager of Fox Movietone News in England, and W. J. Gell of Pathe News. Gordon Jennings Injured Hollywood, March 5. — Gordon Jennings, head of Paramount's special effects department, is in the hospital with a broken back as a result of a plunge down the mountainside slide at Big Bear Lake while working on "High, Wide and Handsome." Wall Street Board Revives; Most Gain Net High Low Close Change . 36y2 36 36 - 54 Columbia, pfd. .. . 45 45 45 + 54 5 V/t VA -a Consolidated, pfd. • 1656 1654 1654 Eastman Kodak . 171 169 171 +254 Gen. T. Equip.... 161J4 161 161 +1 3054 3054 3054 + 54 81 7954 8054 +256 2554 25*6 2556 + 56 Paramount 1 pfd.. 181 179 181 +1 Paramount 2 pfd. 211/$ 23J4 237^ + 54 Pathe Film m 0 854 m 3554 m RKO 854 3554 20th Century-Fox. 36 + 56 10054 10O54 10054. + 54 Warner Bros 1554 1S54 1554 - 56 Curb Rises Fractionally Net High Low Close Change Grand National ... 356 354 354 Sentry Safety .... 54 54 54 . Sonotone 2 2 2 Technicolor 2056 1954 2056 + 56 Trans-Lux 5 4% 5 +56 Little Bond Change Net High Low Close Change Loew's 354s '46 ... 9954 9954 9956 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 10054 10056 10056 —56 RKO 6s '41 pp... 118 118 118 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 9854, 9856 9856 — 56 (Quotations at close of March 5) Alert, Intelligent the In In All Branches MOTION PICTURE DAILY Motio Picture Industry VOL. 41. NO. 55 NEW YORK, MONDAY, MARCH 8, 1937 TEN CENTS Film Industry Drive Is Not CLO.S9 Plan Denial Follows Report Of Boston Union By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, March 7. — No drive against the film industry is contem- plated by the Committee for Indus- trial Organization, headed by John L. Lewis, it was declared at C. I. O. headquarters here yesterday, follow- ing receipt of reports that a C. I. O. union was being sponsored among film employes in Boston. Officials of the C. I. O. explained that they are being deluged with ap- plications from new organizations for C. I. O. affiliation, and that, wherever such application is made, the new union is affiliated with some existing body wherever possible, as in the case of the Foundation pen workers in De- troit who temporarily have been taken over by the automobile union. The C. I. O. is not sponsoring these developments from Washington, it is said, but is naturally not discour- aging groups of workers who form {Continued on page 2) Cabinet Seeking to Save Australia Act Sydney, Feb. 9. — (By Air Mail Via London.) — According to talk in the lobbies, the Cabinet is determined that the Quota Act shall not develop into a complete failure or that the local production industry should be allowed to languish. The chief secre- tary is making arrangements for a round table conference with producers and distributors and other interested parties and he has expressed confi- dence that constructive decisions will be reached. Meanwhile distributors repeatedly (Continued on page 8) Legion Approves All Of 18 New Pictures The National Legion of Decency in its list of new pictures for the cur- rent week approved 18 reviewed fea- tures. Of the total number 14 were called unobjectionable for general patronage and four unobjectionable for adults. The new films and their classification follows : Class A-l, Unobjectionable for General Patronage — "Circus Girl," "Fair Warning," "Fire Over Eng- land," "Fury and the Woman," "Gam- bling Terror," "I Promise to Pay," (Continued on page 3) Offered Nation GB Shares, Ostrer Claims in Rebuttal By BRUCE ALLAN London, March 7.— The Ostrers' voting shares in Metropolis and Brad- ford Trust, holding company of Gaumont British, were offered to the nation in 1931, it was revealed yes- terday by Isidore Ostrer at a press conference at his flat in Park St. here. He declared it was necessary for him to reply to the concentrated at- tacks on his policies in the manage- ment of G. B. by the shareholders' committee representing what he called an unimportant minority, and by cer- tain directors, questions in the House' of Commons, and "ill-informed gossip concerning my nationality." He hit at John Maxwell, who is opposing the Ostrers on the directo- rate, although he did not name him, in a reference to "frustrated ambi- tions" behind attacks at a time when the position of the company was enor- mously strengthened by a deal which would wipe out the overdraft and help theatres, he said. He declared the deal was emphat- ically in the national interest, and in proof of that statement read a letter dated May, 1931, from Lawrence Messer, G. B. attorney, to the Board of Trade in which Messer said, "the danger of control prejudicial to the public weal could be permanently (Continued on page 8) Tax Advocates Cite Nebraska Giveaway Lincoln, March 7. — Legislators are using the prevalence of Bank Night and other prize giveaways as an argu- ment for passage of pending tax bills. One calls for a 10 per cent tax on (Continued on page 3) He's Against "So you've editorially come out against Bank Night and games of chance, have you?" remarked a sales ex- ecutive yesterday. "I'm opposed to giveaways, too. We've been giving our pictures away for years." Circuits Plan Long Fight on Theatre Bills Extended litigation reaching ulti- mately to the U. S. Supreme Court will be resorted to by affiliated circuit interests in resistance to the Allied States measures prohibiting theatre ownership or operation by any inter- est affiliated with a producer or dis- tributor, it was revealed on Saturday through inquiries made among circuit executives. Inasmuch as the Allied measures, if and when enacted by the various states, would not become effective un- (Continued on page 31 Pandro Berman Signs New Contract at RKO Hollywood, March 7. — Bringing to an end speculation over his future association, Pandro S. Berman, the so-called "white-haired boy" of the RKO production roster, has signed a three-year contract with the studio. Columbus Found America; O'Brien Locates Tuckahoe By J. M. JERAULD When a bus load of critics and fan magazine writers starts for Tuckahoe via the West Side Highway and Riverside Drive the bus turns off at the entrance to the Hendrik Hudson Drive. Buses are not allowed on New York and Westchester parkways, it seems. Then what happens ? The bus stops at Broadway and Dyckman St., which is just another place if the driver hap- pens to come from New Jersey, as this one did. But this is no problem for Ken O'Brien of the United Artists publicity department. When Ken chaperones a party up to Tuckahoe for dinner and up to Scarsdale to see a preview of "History Is Made at Night," it's chaperoned and history is made. "Turn right on Two hundredumpty umph street," said Ken, "and then go up Jerome Ave." "Jerome Ave.?" queried the driver. About that instant a woman in the (Continued on page 11) Expect 1,000 At Convention Of M.P.T.O.A. Para. Delegates Also to Attend Meeting Registrations for the M.P.T.O.A. national convention which opens in Miami March 16 are expected to ap- proximate 1,000, it was estimated by the exhibitor organization on Satur- day on the basis of hotel reservations already made. The total registration will be swelled by the meeting of Paramount theatre operators which opens im- mediately following the M.P.T.O.A. convention. Most of the delegates to the Paramount meeting will arrive in Miami in time to attend the exhibitor organization's meeting. All of the 21 display booths in the convention hall have been reserved. The convention program is still in- complete in several details but present program plans call for a meeting of the executive committee of the or- ganization following a registration period on the opening day. The board of directors will meet immediately after for the annual election, with the first business session being called to order in the afternoon by Mitchell Wolson, general chairman of the con- vention arrangements committee. Addresses of welcome by Governor (Continued on page 3) Approves Extension Of AudubonMortgage Circuit Judge Martin T. Manton signed an order on Saturday authoriz- ing Milton C. Weisman, receiver of Fox Theatres, to enter into an agree- ment with the Bank For Savings for an extension of the $655,000 first mort- gage held by the bank on the Audubon in New York. The mortgage is due May 1 and (Continued on page 3) Declares Mass. Dog Racing Run by Gangs Boston, March 7. — Leland C. Bick- ford, radio news editor for the Yankee Network, charged that gangdom con- trols Massachusetts dog racing and demanded that the entire state Racing Commission be removed, at a hear- ing before the legislative committee on Legal Affairs. Bickford thus climaxed a campaign of several (Continued on page 11) More Radio — Pages 10-11 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, March 8, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Rcgiitercd U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 March 8, 1937 No. 55 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN. Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A CRON, Advertising Manager Published dally except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc.. Martin Quigley. president; i Colvin Brown, vice-president and Itreasurer. 1 Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- ■oe at Rockefeller Center, New York Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Qulgpubco. New York." All content! copyrighted 1931 by Quifley Publishing Company, Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- cations: MOTION PICTURE HERALD, BETTER THEATRES, TEATRO AL DIA, INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Su. ; Boone Mancall. Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Mlohlgan Ave., C. B. O'Neill, Manager. WASHINGTON: Albee Building, Bertram F. Linz. Representative. AMSTERDAM: Zuidor Amstellaan 5; Philip de Schaap. Representative. BERLIN: Steulerstrasee 2, Berlin W. 35: Joachim K. Butenberg, Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest II; Endre Hevesi, Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientea 2485: N. Bruskl. Representative. HELSINKI: Fredriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszlo, Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square, W. 1: Bruce Allan Representative. Cable address, Qulgpubco, Lon- don. MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings. 191 Collins St.: Cliff Holt. Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269: James Lockhart Representative. MONTEVIDEO: P. O. Box 664: Paul Bodo. Rep- resentatlve. MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8: Beatrice Stern, Rep- resentative. PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre, Repre- sentative. PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1; Harry Knopf. Representative. BIO DE JANEIRO: Caiia Postal 3358: A. Weiss- man, Representative. ROME: Ylale Gorizla; Yittorio Malpassutl. Rep- resentative. SHANGHAI: Rooms 38-41. Capital Theatre Build- ing, 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koebler, Repre- sentative. STOCKHOLM: Kungsgatan 36; Bagnar Allberg, Representative. TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka. Ichikawa-shi. Chiba-Ken; H Tomlnaga, Representative. VIENNA: Nuestlftgasse. 55; Vienna VII; Hans Lorant, Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Sillel, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Activities of Shea Continuing in Ohio Cleveland, March 7. — The Shea circuit continues activity in this area. E. C. Grainger, general manager, con- ferred with Bill Skirboll, landlord of the Union, New Philadelphia, this week and arranged for renovation of the house, including installation of a cooling plant. Shea, meanwhile, will renovate the Bijou, its other house in that town. The Strand, Fremont, is being reno- vated for reopening Easter Sunday. This is the circuit's second house in the town, the first being the Para- mount. There and in New Philadel- phia, Shea is a partner with the Para- mount circuit. Operation of the Palace, Dennison, is the latest move in Shea activities in this area. Ten New "King" Dates Ten additional dates for "The King and the Chorus Girl" have increased Easter Week bookings to 99, accord- ing to Warners. The new theatres penciling in the film are the Earle, Washington ; Warner, Milwaukee ; Capitol, Madison ; Sheboygan, She- boygan; Warner, Memphis; Majestic, Beloit; Stanley, Baltimore; Boyd, Philadelphia ; Victory, Dayton ; Vir- ginian, Charleston. The picture will open at the Strand March 27. Insiders' Outlook By RED KANN Mr. G. A. Atkinson, The Era, London. Dear Mr. Atkinson, Cutting through the set for- malities of open correspondence, may we up to you and remark you were talking quite through your hat in your "Mr. Chamber- lain Should Tax Hollywood" editorial on February 24. You urge that Hollywood should pay for the privilege of trading in England, like British trade. You place America's gross in Great Britain at $70,000,000 annually. That both- ers you and it persuades you to suggest to Mr. Chamberlain a new field for taxable purposes. You want Hollywood to sub- scribe its share to your nation's defense schemes and think "she can well afford to pay $25,000,- 000 for the safeguarding of her trade in Britain." Your general conclusion is that Hollywood should pay for it, if England is to be made safe for her films. It is our reaction, in the first or second place — it doesn't mat- ter which — that you indulge in an editorial subtlety, so-called, when you compute America's yearly gross at the $70,000,000 you cite. You overlook, for instance and, of course, deliberately, the fact that this is bulk, if the figure in- deed is correct. You slide not so neatly or so cleverly over the truth of the matter which is that millions of those dollars are paid out annually in British wages for British subjects. You forget, not by accident naturally, that, in the aggregate, the American companies are compelled to spend millions of dollars every calendar year to make or to cause to have made British pictures to meet the Films Act. You gloss over an indisputable observation in failing to note a basic truth which is that Ameri- can pictures, despite the obstacles planted in their path, continue to furnish the backbone product, and thus the profit, of the rank and file of English exhibitors. Wherefore, it follows that with- out this flow of product, the British exhibition industry would fall upon sad, lean and hungry days. You need not take our words for it. You might delve into the official hearings of the Moyne committee for substantiation. Or faster and better, perhaps, stop any exhibitor you like at the Trocadero. You might even turn to the Ostrers and Gaumont British. Surely, you've heard of them. In the event that you have not, we should gladly undertake an intro- duction through the mails or by cable. Yours, etc. . . . T T The Westbrook Pegler type- writer, for which we have a siz- able respect, let the keys fly the other day on burlesque and the strip-tease, referring back to the actual Minsky burlesque before the Dickstein committee in Washington on the bill designed to curb alien actor importations. Since, in this day, motion pic- tures find themselves linked with the strip-tease by background and by contract anyway, lend eyes to Pegler: "Not even in Barcelona or Madrid, a little more than a year ago, was it possible to buy into a public performance as wantonly and defiantly foul as the common American strip- tease which is now presented openly in the so-called burlesque houses. And certainly no scabby gutter-bum performing in a tourists' brothel in a Mediter- ranean port could delve any lower for his humor than some of the comedians engaged in the burlesque business Burlesque has created a theatrical sewer in one New York street which for- merly was a decent amusement center and made it a levee dis- trict which decent people have placed out of bounds. It is rapidly rotting Broad- way— which is a hard trick for any conventional form of sin— and the respectable men and women of the stage have been compelled to stand by and ac- cept as fellow-artists a corps of performers who in any other nation with a pretense of respec- tability would be segregated in a restricted district." A Gypsy Rose Lee by another name, the G-string will still be there. . . . ▼ T Motion Picture Daily, No- vember 25, 1936: Stockholders of Loew's will approve a five year employ- ment contract for Nicholas M. Schenck, the first he has held, at the home office on Dec. 8. The contract will begin Jan. 1 next. Motion Picture Daily. Dec 9, 1936: Stockholders of Loew's at their annual meeting yester- day approved a five-year per- sonal contract for Nicholas M. Schenck, president. . . . Now and as early as this, rumors that he will become chairman of the board and Al Lichtman, president in his stead. If Loew's properly can be alluded to in terms of one individual that man is Schenck. Untrammeled by banker interference, certainly Schenck, of all the executives in Suit Charges 2 With Improper Deductions Salem, Mass., March 7. — Ware Theatres, Inc., of Beverly, have filed a bill in equity in the Superior Court here against Glover Ware, treasurer, and Guy Richards, attorney, claiming improper deductions have been made without right from money of the cor- poration. The company operates the Ware in Beverly, which is now leased by R M. Loew. As a result of an attach- ment last April 6, it is charged the respondents caused funds of the cor- poration to be deposited in a Salem bank and have refused to make an ac- counting, the bill states. An account- ing is requested. Theatre Sued on Films RKO Distributing Corp., Van Beuren Corp. and 20th Century-Fox Film Corp. filed a suit Saturday in U. S. District Court against the Amusement Parkway, Inc., Isidore Liebman and Edward Stiegal, who operate the Parkway in New York. The complaint alleges that in Decem- ber and January the defendants ex- hibited without license four pictures. "Under Your- Spell," "Bugles from Bluegrass," "Mollie Moo Cow" and "Robinson Crusoe." They demand $250 damages for each unauthorized showing. Ramona Davies Seeks Appeal Ramona Davies on Saturday filed notice of appeal to the Appellate Divi- sion from an order by Supreme Court Justice Joseph M. Callahan which de- nied her application for a temporary injunction against Paul Whiteman. Artists' Management Bureau, Inc. and Jack Levin. Miss Davies, a pianist and vocalist, claimed her March, 1934, contract with Whiteman was void and that the defendants were interfering with her efforts to obtain employment elsewhere. Whiteman answered that the plaintiff had no right to work for anyone other than himself. Justice Callahan denied the motion for a tem- porary injunction on Feb. 16. Film Industry Drive Is Not CJ.O.'s Plan (Continued from page 1) organizations and seek C. I. O. af- filiation. However, it was said, the film industry already is highly organ- ized and it is not the policy of the C. I. O. to intrude itself in such in- dustries. This also applies to the building trades, the railroads and other industries where existing unions take care of practically all workers. this industry, is qualified to talk about his company, its plans and his own future. He denies these rumors and his denial, therefore, finds us content, as it should you. . . . T T Paramount advertising in the New York dailies: "They're dancing in the aisles at the Paramount Theatre where Benny Goodman and The Maid of Salem' are breaking all attendance rec- ords !" Designed, no doubt, to en- courage further meritorious ef- fort from the studio. . - MOTION PICTURE DAILY At This Point, a Speech Considerably after the midnight hoar, the farewell party arranged by RKO executives for M. H. Aylesworth, who resigned as chairman of the board to join the Scripps-Howard organization, was thriving. It was held at "21" where the atmosphere gets more rarefied the higher one goes, this function being given on the third floor of the establishment. Left to right: Rex Cole, Jules Levy, resting his chin on his hand; Major Leslie E. Thompson, slightly doleful; Malcolm Kings- burg, slightly happy; Aylesworth, slightly serious; Ned E. Depinet, slightly rem- iniscent; Nate Blumberg, slightly amused, and Courtland Smith, slightly reflective. ' Monday, March 8, 1937 4 Purely Personal ► TT 7 ALTER WANGER has pur- W chased Clarence Budington Kelland's Saturday Evening Post , serial, "Stand-In." He hopes to have Leslie Howard for the principal role. • Anna Weiss, secretary to Harry M. Warner, is recuperating at home after a short stay at the Post Gradu- ate Hospital. She recently tore several ligaments while leaving the home office building. • Charles Armour, fashion designer, left by plane yesterday for the coast where he has been engaged as stylist for "Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1938." • Gracie Fields, who arrives today on the Queen Mary, will be tendered a cocktail party by 20th Century-Fox at the Waldorf tomorrow afternoon. • Bernard Waldman, Sidney Kauf- man and Charles Armour, writers three, left for the U. A. studios yes- terday via American Airlines. • Joe Weil, Universal's exploitation director, returns today from the coast and way stops made in connection with "Top of the Town." • Archie Mayer, general sales man- ager of Du World, has left on a tour of circuits in the middle Atlantic states. • Martin Gosch, in charge of radio publicity for Warners, has returned to Los Angeles. • Roy Haines has returned from a trip to the Warner branches in Buf- falo and Boston. • Herb Ochs is back from a tour of the Warner west and midwest branches. • Vinton Freedley flew to Boston over the weekend on his new show, "Miss Quis." • Milt Kusell left via American Airlines for Memphis and Dallas yes- terday. • Cyril and Mrs. Von Baumann are off to South America again this week. • Charles Koerner, RKO district manager, returned to Boston yester- day. • Sam Rinzler and Morris Kutin- sky are back from Miami vacations. Polly Moran has arrived in town and is stopping at the Edison. Carl Leserman didn't go to the coast after all. Monty Banks arrived from the coast Saturday. Hal Wallis is due from the coast this week. Leo Spitz is due from the coast tomorrow. Expect Thousand at MPTOA Convention (Continued from page 1) Fred P. Cone and Mayor A. D. H. Fossey are scheduled, with a response by M. A. Lightman, past president of M.P.T.O.A. Annual reports of the president and other officers and an- nouncement of committees will con- clude the first session. A reception will be given in the Miami Biltmore in the evening by officers and directors. Theatre technical subjects will be discussed at the morning session, March 17, which will be followed by the official convention luncheon and an afternoon session on theatre operating problems and policies, including new merchandising ideas and discussions of admission scales, giveaways and "B" pictures. On the final day of the convention committee reports will be received on the music tax, the M.P.T.O.A. trade practice program, labor developments and legislation and taxation, among other subjects. The afternoon session will consist of addresses by prominent industry and public personalities and the installation of officers. It will be followed by the annual banquet. New Haven, March 7. — Connecti- cut exhibitors who will attend the M.P.T.O.A. convention at Miami in- clude Meyer Bailey, New Haven; Lucy Flack, Milford ; Irving C. Jacocks, Jr., Branford; Adolph G. and Mrs. Johnson, Hamden ; Edward G. and Mrs. Levy, New Haven; Arthur H. and Mrs. Lockwood, Middletown; Louise Markuna, Milford; Albert E. and Mrs. Robins, Hamden ; Samuel H. and Mrs. Rosen, New Haven ; Ed- ward J. and Mrs. Stuart, Lakeville, and Max Tabackman, West Haven. Adrian Rosley Dead Hollywood, March 7. — Adrian Ros- ley, 47, screen actor and formerly on the New York stage, is dead here of a heart ailment. He was most re- cently in "The King and the Chorus Girl" and "The Garden of Allah." His widow survives. Tax Advocates Cite Nebraska Giveaway (Continued from page 1) admissions and another for 10 per cent of film rentals. "If an exhibitor sees fit to entice attendance at his theatre by offering to give away from $25 to $3,000 a night, I don't see why he should squawk about these bills," says Sena- tor Tracy Frost. While the bills are pending exhibi- tors are seeking injunctions in court to prevent interference by the At- torney General on enforcement of lottery laws. Senator William F. Haycock, who owns the Star at Callaway, Neb., ob- jects to these court actions. "It seems to me," he says, "a very poor policy to go to court at this time. Here we are faced with more detri- mental show business legislation than in any recent session. The business can hardly look to the general public to believe it is poverty stricken and would be put out of business by more taxes." Giveaway Tax Is Passed Little Rock, Ark., March 7. — Senate Bill 337, to regulate and tax as a medium of advertising the giving away of prizes or other things of value, has been passed by the Senate. The vote was 26 to 0. Approves Extension Of AudubonMortgage (Continued from page 1) Weisman said that if an extension were not agreed upon the theatre would be lost through foreclosure. The new agreement provides for an extension to May 14, 1942, upon pay- ment of $15,000 on account of the principal and $5,000 annually there- after. The present interest rate of 2 percent will continue for the first year but will be raised to 3 percent for the second year, 3^ percent for the third and fourth years and 4 percent for the fifth year. 3 Circuits Plan Long Fight on Theatre Bills (Continued from page 1) til "after 1939," which means Jan. 1, 1940, at the earliest, there is little possibility of a final determination of the legal status of the measures for another four or five years. Circuit executives cited this in answer to questions of what they were doing, or proposed to do, about the theatre divorce measure which has been passed by both houses of the North Dakota legislature and is in various stages of progress in four other states. The substance of the answers was that all available legal defenses would be resorted to at the proper time and that, in the event the measures are de- cided ultimately to be valid and en- forceable law, the situation would be met accordingly. The Allied measures will be a subject of discussion at both the M. P. T. O. A. and Paramount theatre operators' national meetings in Miami next week. Passed Also in Indiana In addition to having been passed by both houses of the North Dakota legislature, the Allied measure has been passed by the lower house in In- diana, has been reported out of com- mittee and is awaiting a vote in Min- nesota, and has been introduced in the Ohio and Wisconsin legislatures. Paramount, which has about 12 of North Dakota's 80 theatres, is the only affiliated circuit affected in that state. There are estimated to be only seven or eight affiliated theatres out of Indiana's 250, and about 80 out of Ohio's 800 theatres. The propor- tion of affiliated theatres runs much higher in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Paramount has theatre interests in all five states. Queried on the company's attitude toward the legislation, par- ticularly in North Dakota, where the measure now is virtually a law, Y. Frank Freeman, head of Paramount's theatre department, conceded that the legislation was of grave concern to the company and would be fully dis- cussed at the Miami meeting. He said that no plan of opposition had been devised by the company and that he had not sought a legal opinion on the constitutionality of the measure. Legion Approves All Of 18 New Pictures (Continued from page 1) "Lost Horizon," "Puerto Nuevo" (Spanish), "Samvetsomna Adolf" (Swedish), "Silks and Saddles," "Szenacio" (Hungarian), "Wedding of Palo," "What Price Vengeance" and "When's Your Birthday." Class A-2, Unobjectionable for Adults — "The King and the Chorus Girl," "Michael Strogoff," "Murder Goes to College" and "Nancy Steel Is Miss- ing." Waxman on Rogers Drive The A. P. Waxman Publicity Bureau has been retained to handle the forthcoming campaign for the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital, which is under the supervision of Major L. E. Thompson of RKO and Harold Rod- ner of Warners. Making 24-Sheet History in 1200 Cities T| EXTRA! EXTRA! Arran gements can be made for playdate snipes, at your exchange! Veek with an Unprecedented 30-Day Drive! • - " " v "*" Another phase of the gigantic 8-week ad- vance build-up for the Easter Week release \ a / a d M F R RROS of this "certain box-office champion"* fromWAKNtri DHUO. *Motion Picture \ Daily THE N. Y. CROWDS SHOUT "I SHOUT FIRE ! THE REV HOT! THE MUSIC HALL I DAILY NEWS RATES "FIRE OVER ENGLAND" AND "LOST HORIZON" AS HIT OPENINGS OF THE WEEK, ADDING: Exciting picture . . . thrilling spectacle . . . William K. Howard did an excellent job with the historical pageantry and the spectacular battle Scenes. — Kate Cameron, Daily News I URGE YOU TO SEE IT BECAUSE IT REPRE- SENTS ONE OF THE FINEST PICTURES THAT HAS COME OUT OF ENGLAND!... A spectacular, beautifully acted and directed and eloquent film... skilled direction, magnificent photo- graphy, superb acting, and thrilling war effects ... — William Boehnel, N. Y. World Telegram AS FINE A FILM AS ANY "Fire Over England" thriller 1 vividly colorful canvas, pal an American master, has I the screen . . . Lyrical love 1 . . . Yes, at the Music Hal as well as adventure! drama—Tremendous, s| scenes of breath-tak — Regina Crewt ALEXANDER KORDA Erich Pommer's rich product > . . It is dignified, sound, c well played. A handsome production, impressively cast, mounted, accented and costumed. — Rose Pelswick, N.Y. Evening Journal prese E"! THE N. Y. CRITICS, TOO, VS AND EDITORIALS ARE ( OFFICE IS HOTTER YET! \S SEEN. . A wide and u hand of stinguish e screen ma nee :. .Epic ility, try. an the solid virtues ied, extremely gent, N.Y. Times THE FILM SHOULDN'T BE MISSED . . . Splendid cast . . A colorful, sound and exciting melodrama . . . Knit compactly into a stunning melodrama, distin- guished for direction, inspired acting, dazzling pictorial effect and lavish mounting . . . "Fire Over England" is a truly good picture which carries deep significance hinted by its lofty title ... It is fine and exciting ! — 8/and Johansson, Daily Mirror Resplendent pageantry and skillful acting . A work of pictorial distinction... The direc- tion of the work has been intrusted to William K. Howard, and he has done splendidly... He has concentrated on fashioning a lavish spectacle... A handsome show. — Howard Barnes, N.Y. Her.-Trib. , magnificent production ... The sweep of its back- ground makes it well worth seeing! — Eileen Cree/man, N. Y. Sun ^^^^ V |"VC" tof *3r° his r°MEN tfre d ^e ate to Ve»<* Vvere fieVd tt to cYvaf - . Bdt^ote at ts^e Casa ^° -r\vts pVaia, ^ ote. vacate 1 rtvost v • n toe taVe^- at da^ce totvt t^ See you at the NATIONAL CONVENTION MIAMI BILTMORE HOTEL, MARCH 16-17-18 For information and reservations address Convention Manager, Miami Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables, Florida. 10 RADIO MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday. March 8, (937 i Radio Personals ► MARY BRIAN, Lee Tracy and Segovia, Spanish guitarist, will be featured guests on Bing Cros- by's Kraft "Music Hall" broadcast March 11 Josef Hofman will be the guest soloist on the General Mo- tors concert program March 14. . . . Meredith Willson, west coast musical director for NBC, will air an all- request program for O. O. Mclntyre Sorrow at 6 P. M., E. S T on the Blue • "Professional Parade guests this Wednesday will include Gonzales & Robaine, Jim Lyons Gm- gersnap, Murray Wood and Maude Runyon. ... "Morning Serenade," WOR pro- gram has been revamped completely, and hereafter will feature Barry Mc- Kinley and a "name" band. Series is sponsored by Levitt Bros. . . . Duke Ellington will hold down the Ctfb "Swing Club" spot this Saturday. Mildred Hunt, of the networks, will be heard today with Louis Kats- man's orchestra on WINS. . . . WMCA will carry President Roose- velt's "Fireside Chat" tomorrow eve- ning through the courtesy of NBC. Jimmy Fidler starts his new series for Procter and Gamble March 16, from 10 :30 to 10 :45 P. M., E. S. T., on the Blue. . . . + New Haven Town Pump New Haven, March 7. — Lillian Kaye, contralto, will be featured on the Chamber of Commerce WBRY pro- gram Tuesday at 12:45 P. M., E.S.T. WELI will put on a chorus of 12 Yale men next Sunday at 4 P. M., E.S.T. ... A new commercial on WELI is "Time to Relax" at 2:30 P. M., E.S.T., Fridays. It is spon- sored by Malley's and Matrix Shoe. Deyer, Cornell, Newell, Inc., is the agency . . . Eddie Weaver has a new spot on WICC, 15 minutes of straight organ music at 8:45 P. M., E.S.T., Fridays from the Taft Grill. Gerry Guidice, pianist, also will be used at times . . - Vera Cruse has returned to the Taft Grill with Eddie Weaver over WICC Tuesday and Friday nights at 11 :20 to 11 :50, E.S.T. . . The Sentinels, male quartet, will re turn to WELI next month. + Salt Lake Town Pump Salt Lake City, March 7.— KSL has closed a deal with F. W. Gray Co., distributors of Waverly Oil, for daily news broadcasts. . . . The In- dependent Coal & Coke Co. has re newed a twice-a-week schedule with KSL. . . . S. S. Fox, president and general manager of KDYL and John M. Baldwin, chief engineer, to the coast on business. Civic leaders are participating in a discussion of community problems on a program called "Public Forum," which goes on the air at 7 :45 P. M., M. S. T., Wednesday nights. . . . KDYL is installing new control room apparatus. Complete Two Slide Films Radio & Film Methods, Inc., have completed two slide film productions for Petroleum Heat & Power Co. The productions are a part of "Petro- Nekol's" promotion campaign. They are entitled "Industrial Installations" and "A Trip Thru the Factory." CBS Concentrating Further On Hollywood for Programs Hollywood, March 7. — CBS, in keeping with the general production trend, will concentrate further on Hollywood as a point of program origin under specific instructions of William S. Paley, head of the system. He is seen as the influence behind word from Donald W. Thornburgh, coast vice-president, that production shows will supplant the usual late evening dance bands and subordinate air fare in the expectation of attract- ing an augmented audience. The program budget of KNX, therefore, will be stepped up, this permitting Charles Vanda, coast pro- gram director, to proceed at once with the introduction of new major pro- grams in keeping with the policy. In further line with Paley's instructions, Hollywood is being combed for new talent. Lud Gluskin is holding "open house" for local audition seekers. The first impact of the departure for CBS takes the form of word from KNX of three changes. "Fiesta" will be heard on Thursdays at 10 P. M., P. S. T. Formerly it was aired Sat- urday morning. "White Fires" has been shifted to Wednesdays at 10 P. M. and "On the Air with Lud Gluskin" is to be heard Tuesdays, 9-10 P. M., beginning next Tuesday. Another late-hour program will be a humorous feature to be called "The Insomnia Club," directed by Hal Ray- nor. A new daily news bulletin, 9:45- 10 P. M. and designed to embrace the California area, will work into the new setup for which Vanda is pre- paring other novelties. ''Smelf' of Fish Marinette, Wis., March 7.— It may sound fishy, but the City Council here has ap- proved the request of Val Schneider, commercial man- ager of WHBY and WTAQ, Green Bay, to broadcast the Menominee-Marinette smelt carnival. No one knows exactly when the smelt will run, but experts predict they will be on their way the first week in April. Coronet Air Series Will Start Tuesday Coronet Magazine will be repre- sented on the air with a new WOR program beginning Tuesday from 8 to 8:30 P. M., E.S.T. Within the next few weeks the program will be extended to include additional sta- tions on the Mutual network. The program will be entitled "Coronet on the Air," and will feature Deems Taylor as commentator and Robert Ambruster's orchestra. Dram- atizations, largely of stories and articles appearing in Coronet, will be presented as well as other features. Batten, Barton, Durstine and Osborn is the agency. To Cooperate with Charities Local stations and networks will co- operate with the Catholic Charities when the organization's drive sets in the first week of April. Among those who met with Catholic Charity heads at an informal luncheon last Friday to discuss radio plans were Paul White and Don Higgins of CBS; John John- stone, WOR-Mutual; Clay Morgan, Wayne Randall and Vance Babb, NBC, and Larry Nixon and Dick Fishell, WMCA. Renew Hawley Contract Remington Rand, through Leeford Advertising Agency, has renewed Mark Hawley's Transradio news readings over WOR, beginning Wednesday, March 9. Lux to Feature Dietrich The "Lux Radio Theatre" March 15 will feature Marlene Dietrich in "Desire," film in which she appeared last season with Gary Cooper. Downey Sets English Tour Morton Downey sails for London early in April to make a series of personal appearances in England. Martha Deane Adds Sponsor Beginning March 16, Martha Deane will add the Atlantis Sales Corp. to her list of sponsors on WOR. She will broadcast Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 2:45 P. M., and Saturdays from 11 A. M. to 12:30 P. M. J. Walter Thompson is the agency. "Love" Replaces "Penrod" "Hollywood Hotel's" scheduled ve- hicle for this Friday's broadcast, "Pen- rod," has been cancelled. The sub- stitute production will be "Love Is News," with Tyrone Power and Loretta Young in the lead roles. Set New WOR Series "Romance and Rhythm" will be the title of a new weekly series starting tomorrow at 7:15 P. M. over WOR. The program will feature Nat Brusi- loff's orchestra, Jack Arthur, Evelyn Case and two choral groups. Store Customers on Air Philadelphia, March 7. — WDAS is doing a remote control for the Central Stores shows. A microphone is planted at the bargain counter, satisfied customers being called upon, 3 Networks Bill $5,562,187 In February: NBC Is Leader Network billings for February on NBC, CBS, and Mutual totaled $5,562,187.36. NBC time sales, totaling $3,295,782, are the highest booked for the month in the network's history. The Red network accounted for $2,273,973; the Blue gross was $1,021,809. The accumulative January and February gross, $6,837,781, represents a gain of 26.7 for the corresponding period last year. CBS billings were $2,264,317, an increase of 18.6 percent over February, 1936. The combined January and February billings for the year aggregated $4,642,937, an increase of 21.9 per cent over the similar period last year. Mutual's basic station total was $154,344.38. The supplementary station billings totaled $47,743.98, aggregating a total for the month of $202,088.36. Offer Film Set Blueprints The Bigelow-Sanford Carpet Co.'s new transcribed series, aired as "Hol- lywood Room Recipes," is offering blueprints of ideally decorated rooms from current motion pictures. Co- lumbia, M-G-M, Paramount, RKO, 20th Century-Fox, Universal and Warners are cooperating with the sponsor. The plan, according to all concerned, is an ideal example of joint exploitation, from which studios and sponsor profit equally. WIBA Gets Two New Series Madison, Wis., March 7. — The Klinke Hatchery is the new sponsor of a half-hour program each Sunday at 12 noon, C. S. T., over WIBA, featuring Tony Salerno and his or- chestra, which has been a station at- traction for the past six years. "The Country Church," featuring Josiah Hopkins, is now also being heard over WIBA each Sunday at 4:30 P. M., C. S. T., under the sponsorship of Frautschi's, Inc. "A Sacred Mu- sical," under the direction of the Rev. Bernard Rom, is a new sustaining program each Sunday at 10 P. M., C. S. T. Program Breaks for News Philadelphia, March 7. — Breaks in programs to scoop the dailies on news flashes are the newest spots to be commercialized, following the trend in station breaks, weather re- ports and time signals. Bachman Chocolate Manufacturing Co., of New York, will sponsor two daily news flashes on WFIL. The news dispatch will be a 10 word headline followed by 20 words of commercial copy. The feature starts March 29, set for 26 weeks by the E. W. Hellwig Agency. Ask Priority on Title Cincinnati, March 7. — William S. Hedges, vice-president and general manager of Crosley Radio, has asked KFWB, Hollywood, WWSW, Pitts- burgh, and other stations to discon- tinue the title "For Men Only," which WLW has used for over a year on a sustaining program. The Pittsburgh station has agreed to drop the title and similar action is expected from the coast station. Monday. March 8. 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAI LY Marconi to Address Meeting in Chicago Senator Guglielmo Marconi will ad- dress the fourth annual Chicago Tribune Woman's Congress at Chi- cago in an international broadcast from Rome, March 11. His address, "Significance of Modern Communica- tions," will be heard on the NBC-Blue from 4 to 4:15 P. M., E.S.T. Senator Marconi's talk will high- light a series of addresses at the Con- gress. Other speakers who will be heard during the two-day meeting will be Newton D. Baker, former Secre- tary of War; Senator Gerald P. Nye of North Dakota; Mrs. Grace Morri- son Poole, Dean of Stoneleigh Col- lege; Mrs. R. Campbell Lawson, president of the Federation of Women's Clubs, and Mrs. Stephen S. Wise, president of the Women's Di- vision of the American Jewish Congress. KDKA to Have Court Debate Pittsburgh, March 7. — B'Nai B'rith will sponsor a radiiS debate over KDKA on President Roosevelt's proposed court reforms. Nathan M. Katz will contend for the reform, M. Leon Tolocko will oppose. The de- bate will be aired Tuesday, March 9, at 10 P. M., E. S. T. Foster May on Vacation Omaha, March 7. — Harry Burke, program director, and Announcer John K. Chapel are taking turns do- ing WOW's news broadcasts while News Editor Foster May vacations in Mexico with Mrs. May. Burns, Allen to Lux Burns and Allen have been set to appear on the Lux "Radio Theatre" presentation, March 29. They will offer "Dulcy." Wall Street Gouts Hold on Board Net High Low Close Change 36 3654 + 34 Columbia, pfd 45 45 45 + Vs Consolidated, pfd.. 16% 16% 16% Eastman Kodak.. 173 172 172 +1 General Theatre Loew's, Inc 3054 3054 3054 -54 8054 80 80 Paramount 2654 25S/8 2654 + Vi Paramount 1 pfd. 185 1813/4 185 +4 Paramount 2 pfd. 2454 235^ 2454 + % Pathe Film 854 m + Vs. RKO 9 844 m 4- Vs 20th Century-Fox. 36% 3534 36% + % 20th Century, pfd 45 45 45 + 54 Warner Bros 16 1554 16 + 54 Warner Bros , pfd 64 64 64 +1 Curb Up Slightly Net High Low Close Change Grand National.. 3>4 354 Sentry Safety . n 54 Yt + Vs Sonotone 2V* 2 2 Technicolor Trans Lux 2054 5 19% 5 2054 5 + V» Small Bond Changes Net High Low Close Change Loew's 354s "46. . . 99% 99J4 99% + 54 Paramount Pic- tures 6s '55 1005/g 1005^ 100% + 54 RKO 6s '41 pp.... 11754 11754 11754 — 54 (Quotations at close of March 6.) Broadcast Lure "Annie Oakleys" to broad- casts are a greater lure than similar offers to film houses, the New York Mirror has discovered. With film passes as the bait in a crossword puzzle feature, the reader response averaged 1,200 solutions per week. Some weeks ago the offer was altered to tickets for broadcasts, and the re- turns have been averaging 2,000 per week. Declares Mass. Dog Racing Run by Gangs (Continued from page 1) months against current dog interests in Massachusetts. He introduced photostatic copies of criminal records, quoted from police journals, and submitted rogues gallery pictures of individuals who, he charged, were not only employed in important positions at Massachusetts tracks but were part owners and in- fluential with the state Racing Com- mission. Dog racing profits have re- placed dwindling prohibition incomes in many instances, the Yankee Net- work newsman declared. Gangsters are prominent in dog racing here and generally control the industry in this state, he said. Florentine Donato Joins WDAS Philadelphia, March 7. — Florentino Donato, brother of Giussepi Donato, sculptor, has joined the WDAS staff as director of the station's Italian laguage programs. The post was re- linquished by Charles Borelli. WPG to Use Witte's "Static" Atlantic City, March 7. — Lawrence E. Witte, radio columnist for a syndi- cate of South Jersey newspapers, is set to air his "Static" chatter over WPG on Saturdays. He has been doing it over WDEL, Wilmington. Shirley Ross with Murray Hollywood March 7. — Shirley Ross has been signed for the featured vocal spot on the Ken Murray show which will start April 1 for Camp bell's soup. This program succeeds Burns and Allen. Transcribe RCA Service Talks Camden, N. J., March 7. — A tran- scribed radio series to reach the ser vice men is being arranged by Lord & Thomas for RCA distributors, ac- cording to F. B. Ostman, service man- ager. A test of this new method of holding service meetings was made recently in the Philadelphia area over WIP. Columbus Found America; O'Brien Locates Tuckahoe (Continued from page 1) Rename Philco Securities Dover, Del., March 7.— Philco Se- curities Corp., Ltd., changed its name name here to Pecos Securities Corp. The Corporation Trust Company is agent for the concern. dark remarked: "He sounds just like popeye, the Sailor." And he did. "Sumbuddy tol' you to say that," growled Popeye. Neon lights and fruit stands and baby carriages went by the windows. Stops were made for traffic lights. A United Artists tenor sang "Sweet Adeline." Music helps maintain the suspense when there is no dialogue. On the 16th, or maybe it was the 18th, stop for a traffic light some win- dow shopper who wasn't listening to the music spotted a Jerome Ave. sign under an elevated railroad and the bus driver turned left. More scenery went by. Apartment houses gave way to a big cemetery. Woods appeared. Jack Harrower spotted the Empire City Racetrack. He lives up that way and knows it when he sees it — even at night. For a long stretch the street lights were amber colored. The only jar- ring note after several miles of fast riding was a red light. Charlie Leon- ard saw a Tuckahoe Road sign while the driver waited for the light to change. After going down hills in second and up hills in first and stopping to ask pedestrians the best way to get to Murray's everybody was surprised — including Popeye — to find the sur- rounding gloom pierced by a red neon sign with these letters — Murray's. Those who ordered turkey got tur- key. Those who ordered squab got turkey. Those who ordered ice cream got ice cream. Those who ordered apple pie got ice cream. It was a system. In the course of time O'Brien stretched his left arm and squinted at his wrist watch. "We can just about make it if we leave now," he an- nounced. Outside, Popeye cleared up all wor- ries about the route. "I ast a guy the way," he explained. "It's all set." Somebody in the back of the bus asked: "Did you have your spinach?" Popeye ignored the question and turned right when told to do so by Monsieur O'Brien. He was an ac- commodating chap, that driver. In no time at all the bus was going up hills — hills is the word. "That guy didn't say nuthin' about no mountains," the driver remarked, as he shifted gears again. After the bus had reached the sub- stratosphere Ken decided to turn left and the bus returned to sea level. Then he got out and asked one of the natives about the local geography. The native was helpful. The picture was very interesting. It finished at 10:30. The bus passengers filed out. No bus — not even a taxi ! Ken toured the neighborhood on foot. When he came back he said: "I found the bus, but I can't find the driver." The theatre ticket-taker is an ob- serving chap. "Did he have a cap? And a sweater? And gray pants?" He did. "Well, he's inside." Ken looked around with an usher's flashlight until he found the driver. When he saw all his passengers wait- ing on the sidewalk the driver hurried up in surprise and asked : "Didn't you guys know there was another fea- ture ?" Good old double features. Flash Preview "A Family Affair"— A family prob- lem story suggestive of "Ah ! Wilder- ness," this is a tale of community politics. This film will be reviewed in full in a coming issue of Motion Picture Daily. Urges Dropping Censor Cleveland, March 7. — Abolition of the Ohio state censor board is advo- cated by The Press in an editorial. MOTION PICTURE DAILYS HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW <(Quality Street" (Radio) i Hollywood, March 7. — This production completely captures the delicacy of Barrie's novel of pre- Victorian coquetry. It lags at the start, but the situations build as the action progresses, finally culminating in a degree of hilarity that will surprise moderns with its humor of the past generation. Credit for the mirth is largely due to the direction of George Stevens who maintains the old lavender atmosphere while driv- ing home the comedy that is as new as any modern farce. ^ Katharine Hepburn gives her finest performance since "Little Women and the picture should be a factor in recapturing her dwindling follow- ing. Franchot Tone, as the object of Miss Hepburn's affections, gives a properly restrained performance, and Fay Bainter, Estelle Winwood, Florence Lake, Cora Witherspoon and Eric Blore, the main supporting players, charm with their winning characterizations. f The Pandro Berman production should do much to appease Sir James admirers who have suffered through less sympathetic screen interpreta- tions of his works. In this connection credit is due Allan Scott and Mortimer Offner for their screenplay. Exhibitors will find the appeal of this film general and need not hesitate to go after the younger generation in their exploitation. Production Code Seal No. 2,722. Running time, 81 minutes. "G." MOTION PICTURE DAILY The Leading Motio Picture Industry NEW YORK, TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 1937 TEN CENTS Alert. Intelligent In All Branches VOL. 41. NO. 56 j Says Ostrers Are in Secret | 20-Fox Deal Nordon Pressing M. & B. Ownership Question By BRUCE ALLAN London, March 8. — In a letter to the press C. L. Nordon, attorney rep- resenting a group of shareholders of Gaumont British who are protesting the current actions of the directorate, makes the accusation that there is a secret agreement between the Ostrers and 20th Century-Fox to defeat Article 89A of the company bylaws, which prohibits voting by foreign in- terests in shareholders' meetings. Nordon, in the letter, continues to press the question of the real owner- ship of Metropolis and Bradford Trust, holding company which has a controlling interest in G. B. He de- clares that the public knowledge of these facts may make necessary the {Continued on page 6) Central States Plan For Expansion Gains Omaha, March 8. — Central States Broadcasting Co. plans for increasing its circuit to four stations brightened this week with Examiner Melvin H. Dalberg's recommendation to the F.C.C. that the company's application to construct a 100-watt, 500-kilocycle unlimited time station be granted. C.S.B.C. was forced to seek this permit because of an unusual station setup. The company operates KOIL, which is licensed in Council Bluffs, and KFAB and KFOR, both licensed in Lincoln. All of KOIL's programs and most of KFAB's originate in the Omaha studio, however. C.S.B.C. long has wanted to move KOIL's transmitter to Omaha, but this would leave Council Bluffs with no radio outlet. Hence the necessity for the small station. Petrillo Orders New Chicago Music Rules Chicago, March 8. — James C. Petrillo, president of the Chicago Federation of Musicians, today set new union rules for "canned music" in radio broadcasts and theatres. Since Feb. 1 no union musician in Chicago has been permitted to make a recording because of P'etrillo's order. Under the new regulations records (Continued on page 12) More Radio— Pp. 10-12 Para. Directors' Trial Off to Fall Trials of two suits against former directors and officers of Paramount, which were instituted by the Para- mount trustees during the company's reorganization proceedings which seek the recovery of millions of dollars for the company were postponed by Jus- tice Isidore Wasservogel yesterday to next fall on the petition of attorneys for the defendants. The first of the suits is based on Paramount's repurchase of its own stock which had been issued to various interests in the acquistion of theatres throughout the country from 1927 to 1931. When issued, the stock carried guaranteed redemption prices which, in most instances, was greater than the market value of Paramount stock at the redemption date. The action seeks to recover for Paramount several mil- lions of dollars, primarily representing the difference between the market value of the stock and the greater amount at which it was actually re- deemed. Trial of this action, which (Continued on page 6) /. P. Skelly of RKO Is Dead in St. Louis Joseph P. Skelly, manager of ex- change operations for RKO Radio, died suddenly yesterday in the com- pany's St. Louis exchange following a heart attack, according to word re- ceived at the home office last night. Skelly, who had been with RKO for the past 12 years, left New York last Thursday on a tour of the com- pany's exchanges. He is survived by a wife and several children. The body is being returned to the family resi- dence in Brooklyn, where funeral ar- rangements will be made today. "Earth9' Fifth Week Gross Hits $17,900 Approximately $17,900 was taken in during the fifth week of "The Good Earth" at the Astor on a two-a-day policy. The Globe, which opened last week with "Lost Horizon," is also do- ing capacity business. "Maid of Salem" and Benny Good- man at the Paramount are doing a smash business. Saturday and Sun- day saw the theatre packed at all (Continued on page 2) Universal Directors In Routine Meeting The Universal board of directors held what was described as a routine meeting yesterday following: the ar- rival from the coast of Charles R. Rogers, vice-president in charge of production. Officials of the company stated that (Continued on page 2) Net Is $919,515 Consolidated Film Indus- tries and subsidiaries yester- day reported net profit of $919,515 for the year 1936 after all charges, which com- pares with a net profit of $1,- 077,450 in 1935. Monogram's Plans About Set — Golden The distribution organization for Monogram Pictures is taking shape rapidly and may be completed during the next few weeks, Edward A. Gold- en, general sales manager, said yes- terday on his return from the coast. Golden further discussed Mono- gram's initial schedule while on the coast and reported that the company would have five pictures completed by June 1. Two productions have been completed now. Plans for the com- pany's first sales meeting will be com- pleted by the end of the week, with indications that it will be held some time in May. The new distribution setup will be patterned after the original Mono- gram distributing organization, with probably 20 to 24 franchise holders. It was reported that the company will own its New York, Philadelphia and Washington exchanges outright. W. Ray Johnston, Monogram presi- dent, conferred all day yesterday on final details of the company's financing program, the basis of which was set some time ago. High Court Refuses Aleo graph Petition By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, March 8. — The U. S. Supreme Court today refused to take any further interest in the patent controversy between the Aleograph Co. and Erpi, refusing the request of the former that it either grant a re- hearing of the issue or order a writ of mandamus ordering the lower court to vacate the injunction obtained by Erpi against the bringing of further suits. The case is one of several highly in- volved suits touching upon matter of interest to the film industry, and (Continued on page 6) Huffman Drops Auto Giveaway in Denver Denver, March 8. — With the drop- ping by Harry Huffman of the weekly Ford car giveaway, all major coop- erative giveaways among Denver theatres are out. Huffman has given away 148 Fords through his seven houses, with a (Continued on page 6) Seeks Repeal Of All Taxes Upon Tickets Representative Peyser Introduces Bill By CLARENCE LINZ Washington, March 8. — The re- peal of all admission taxes was sought today by Representative Peyser of New York in a bill filed in the House, as Representative Doughton of North Carolina, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, following a White House conference, said no new tax on undistributed profits, comes up istration this session. Doughton indicated that if income tax collections, bolstered by the new tax on undistributed profits, come up to expectations, it may be possible to drop all of the nuisance taxes this sum- mer. Under the Peyser bill, the admission tax would be abolished 30 days after the enactment of the measure. Robert Mochrie Made U. A. Sales Executive Robert Mochrie, former eastern and Canadian sales head for Warners, yes- terday joined United Artists sales force, as expected. Mochrie will have the southern district under his super- vision. Following his resignation from Warners about a month ago, Mochrie took a three and a half week vacation in Europe. He returned on the Wash- ington last Friday. The post he has taken over has been open several months. He will work directly under A. W. Smith, Jr., general sales man- ager. Mochrie and Smith worked side by side at Warners until Smith re- signed several months ago. Dr. Giannini Meets With UA Executives Hollywood, March 8. — George J. Schaefer, Arthur W. Kelly, Monroe Greenthal and Samuel Goldwyn con- ferred here today with Dr. A. H. Giannini in the first of a series of United Artists company meetings of stockholders, producers and distribu- tors. Today's meeting treated the general realignment of casts and bud- gets for the coming season's product. A meeting will be held tomorrow with producers' representatives. The main discussion will start on Wednes- day. Dr. Giannini tonight entertained at his residence, having as his guests (Continued on page 4) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, March 9, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 March 9, 1937 No. 56 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager 'Storm Over Patsy", Guild Latest, Entertaining Fare Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc.. Martin Quigley, president; Colvln Brown, vice-president and ■ '"publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at Rockefeller Center. New York. Telephone Circle 7 310u. Cable address: ;M«wb«.»" York " All contents copyrighted 1937 by Qulglr* Publishing Company. Inc. Address all correspond, fnce to tho New York Office. Other Quigley PUbU- SS£:' MOTION PICTTJBE HEBAUXBETTER THEATRES, TEATRO AL DIA, INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building. Vine and Tucca Sta. : Boone Mancall Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave.. C. B. O Nelll. WASHINGTON : Albee Building, Bertram F. Linz. Representative. „ ... AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan o; PhlUp de Schaap, Representative. , BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 3d; Joachim K. Butenberg, Bepresentative. BUDAPEST: 3 Kaplar-u. Budapest II; Enure Kevesi, Bepresentative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientes 2495; N. Bruskl. Representative. „„,,.. T i HELSINKI: Fredriksgatan 19C: Charlotte Laazlo. Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square. W. 1; Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address. Qulgpubco, Lon- MELBOUBNE: Regent Theatre Buildings. 191 Collins St.; Cliff Holt. Bepresentative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269: James Lockhart, Representative. _ MONTEVIDEO: P. O. Box 664; Paul Bodo. Rep- resentative. _ MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern, Rep- resentative. PABIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre. Repre- sentative. PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1: Harry Knopf, Representative. RIO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 3358; A. Welsa- man. Representative. ROME: Viale Gorizia; Vittorio Malpassutl. Bep- resentative. SHANGHAI: Room3 38-41. Capital Theatre Build- ing. 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler, Repre- 86nt3tlV6 STOCKHOLM: Kungsgatan 36: Ragnar Allberg. Representative. TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi. Chiba-Ken; H. Tominaga, Representative. VIENNA: Nuestiftgasse, 55; Vienna VII; Hans Lorant, Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Sillei. Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. To Hold Kennebeck Mass Omaha, March 8. — -A requiem high mass for John E. Kennebeck, late managing director for Paramount in Australia, will be held at the Sacred Heart Church here Friday. Kenne- beck died in Australia on Jan. 23 following an appendicitis operation. The body has arrived here. Rites for Edward Horn Funeral services for Edward Horn cameraman and a partner in the for- mer Tremont Film Laboratories, who died in Miami Saturday, will be held tomorrow at 1 1 :30 A. M. at the River side Funeral Chapel. MITCHELL MAY, Jr. CO., INC. • INSURANCE Specialists To The Motion Picture Industry 75 Maiden Lane, N. Y. City 510 W. 6th St., Los Angelw, C«l. By PLAYBOY The inability of a somewhat down- at-heel Irish shopkeeper to pay the required license fee for her mongrel dog, and the ramifications of that fail- ure on the political future of big- little politician in a small Scotch town, his marital status and the ro- mance of a hot-headed reporter and the politician's young, attractive wife, form the meat of this rather entertain- ing, but unimportant fifth production of the 19th season of the Theatre Guild, unfolded at the Guild last night. Adapted to English and a Scotch town by James Bridie from the orig- nal German play, "Sturm in Wasser- jlass" by Bruno Frank, "Storm Over Patsy" offers a handful of note- worthy performances, good staging and not a few laughs, albeit it re- quires approximately one and a half acts out of three to get itself well along. Offers Hollywood Embryo There is a possibility for the screen here, but it will require a measure of working over on the germ of a film idea. For the screen there is a lively opportunity for good comedy in the final act, a courtroom scene where Leo G. Carroll as the judge walks away with the honors. Highlighting the cast is Sara Allgood, old timer of the Abbey Theatre, once again dem- onstrating handsomely her ability to evoke laughter and sympathy at the same time, in her role of Patsy's owner, while Patsy, Colonel in real life, is quite an accomplished perform- er, caninely speaking. Claudia Mor- gan as the politician's wife, Roger Livesey as the young reporter, who cannot stand cruelty, either to ani- mals or women ; Ian McLean, as the dignity-cloaked petty politician, look- ing to Parliament, and Brenda Forbes, as the wife of the owner of the news- paper for which the reporter works, all contribute to making a fair com- edy a great deal better than it might otherwise have been. McLean came from the London cast of the play, there called "Storm in a Teacup." The shopkeeper's tearful appeal to spare her dog falls on entirely deaf ears when she speaks to the provost, but the reporter, there for an inter- view, gets sufficiently riled to write a story which blasts the provost out of an election, the woman into a small fortune in contributions, and the pro- vost's wife squarely into the waiting arms of the reporter. It is rather good fun, thanks to a neat plot idea and an excellent cast. Philip Moeller directed and the set- tings were designed by Aline Bern stein. Hotel Sit-Down in D. C. Washington, March 8. — Culinary employes and waiters of the Willard Hotel instituted a sit-down strike here at 6 P. M. in protest against the hotel's non-recognition of the union Variety Club is unaffected by the move which is expected to spread to the Washington and Mayflower. Recommended New Haven, March 8. — Theatre News, local weekly film movie guide, recom- mends that those studying films would do well to read "Decency in Motion Pic- tures," by Martin Quigley. Universal Directors In Routine Meeting < Continued from page 1) the proposed increase in Universal's 1937-38 schedule, involving production of 52 to 60 features, was not dis- cussed at the board meeting, but un- doubtedly would be discussed among Rogers, J. Cheever Cowdin, R. H. Cochrane and James R. Grainger dur- ing the next few days. It was .also stated that the indicated probability of Universal handling physical dis- tribution of G. B. pictures in this coun- try, as a result of the recent alliance of Gaumont British with C. M. Woolf, was not discussed at the board meet- ing. Rogers, who was accompanied to New York by Mrs. Rogers and his ex- ecutive secretary, William Pierce, plans a stay of 10 days or two weeks. Churches Protest Bill Wilmington, March 8. — A cru- sade in opposition to any legislation which w ould allow* Sunday exhibition in this state is under way in many Protestant churches in the state, it was reported today as six Wilmington congregations joined the opposition to the Sunday shows. Seven more of the city's churches will take action next Sunday. Others, while strongly against the legislation, do not wish to bring such matters before their con- gregations. The resolution protesting the Sun- day film bill was submitted to all Protestant churches for action by the Anti-Saloon League, W.C.T.L1. and Lord's Day Alliance. The action taken by the congregations and Sun- day schools will be submitted to the State Legislature at Dover. The bill, which seeks to permit Sunday exhibition in Delaware after 2 P. M.. was introduced in the As- semblv last week. "Earth" Fifth Week Gross Hits $17,900 Not Hit by Fire General Register's output of ticket machines will be unaffected by a stubborn fire which on Sunday raged through the nine-story factory build- ing_ at 81 Prospect St., Brooklyn, which houses the company's plant. General Register's space was not touched by the fire, which blazed for five hours and killed one fireman. (Continued from page 1) times, according to the management, which adds it is expected the current show will set new attendance records. The second week of "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney," at the Capitol was good for $28,920. "Strangers on a Honeymoon" is the next attraction for the Criterion, following "Woman of Glamour," on Thursday. The second week of "Man of Affairs" at this theatre ended with about $5,000, which is approximately half of the first week's take. "The Man Who Could Work Miracles" in its second week at the Rivoli got $15,000. "His- tory Is Made at Night" will open at this house March 27. "Whirlpool" Ready Soon "Whirlpool." the French film "Remous," will shortly be ready for national release. Arthur Mayer and Joseph Burstyn are the distributors. Flash Preview "Trouble in Texas" — A Tex Ritter vehicle telling the story of a strug- gle against racketeers who invade Texas rodeos. This film will be reviewed in full in a coming issue of Motion Picture Daily. Story Buying Active Hollywood, March 8. — Story buy- ing is general among the major studios at present in preparation for the spring sales convention announcements. Latest buys are: RKO — "Highway to Romance," unpublished novel by H. L. Gates ; "The Seeing Eye," an original by William J. Cowan. Paramount — "The Ascending Dra- gon," by Frederick Jackson, acquired by B. P. Schulberg. M-G-M— "Blue Blood," by Myles Connolly," and "When the Devil Drives," bv Wvndham Gittens. Miss Marion Tells How Hollywood, March 8. — "Writing and Selling Film Stories" is the title of a book just completed by Frances Marion, recently elevated to producer- ship by Columbia. She obtained from Samuel Goldwyn permission to use the script of "The Adventures of Marco Polo," completed by Robert E. Sherwood, as the first Gary Cooper vehicle for Goldwyn. The script will be included in the volume, to be pub- lished next autumn by Covici. Close Monogram Deal Kansas City, March 8. — Consoli- dated Film Distributors, headed by W. L. Norris and H. P. Humston. have contracted for distribution of Monogram pictures in western Mis- souri and Kansas beginning with the new season. Monogram will be the distributing company's chief lineup for the new season. To Trade Show "History" United Artists will hold a trade showing of "History Is Made at Night" tomorrow morning at the Astor Theatre. Invitations have been sent to the foreign and fan press, ex- hibitors and circuit heads in the local territory. Heineman in Portland Portland, Ore., March 8. — William J. Heineman, western district manager for Universal, en route to Seattle and the east, stopped off here for confer- ences and golf with Gordon C. Crad- dock, local Universal manager. Woit Leaves RKO Hollywood, March 8. — Charles Woit, comptroller at RKO, has re- signed his post and stated that he will take a lengthy vacation before considering a new association. No successor has been named. MOTION P1CTURI DAILY Tuesday, March 9, 1937 Oklahoma City Spot Starts Vaude Policy Oklahoma City, March 8. — The Warner here, which has been open only two days a week for the past year, has resumed full time opera- tion, with vaudeville and films four days each week, and dual bills the remaining three. A 10-piece orchestra will be featured with the stage show. Prices will run from 20 cents to 3? cents. ihe move coincided with the open- ing of T. B. Noble's new State. The Liberty price has been dropped from a 55-cent top to 35 cents, and has discontinued vaudeville during the first four days of alternate weeks. It will play duals following the per- manent closing of the Capitol. Western Vaudeville Gain Lincoln, Neb., March 8. — L. J. F'inske, division manager of the J. H. Cooper Enterprises ot Nebraska and Colorado, says the Colorado houses have joined Wilbur Cushman's vaude- ville circuit. Spots in Pueblo, Colorado Springs and brand Junction are in eluded. Mrs. Rabwin Is Signed Hollywood, March 8. — David O Selzmck, president of Selznick Inter national, has appointed Marcella Ban- nett Rabwin his executive assistant. Mrs. Rabwin had been associated with Selznick for seven years before re- signing six months ago to take a Eu- ropean vacation from which she has just returned. Raise Albany Prices Albany, March 8. — A rise in ad mission prices at the RKO Palace, a Fabian house, and at Warners' Strand, from 25 to 30 cents minimum adult and from 40 to 50 cents maxi- mum, has been instituted. Rebuilding Two Kutcher & Cohen, operators of the Manor, Livingstone Manor, and Rialto, Monticello, are rebuilding the two theatres. Joe Hornstein has been awarded contracts for both jobs. Lease New Haven House New Haven, March 8. — The Craw ford Clothing chain has leased the Globe Bldg. housing the theatre for 20 vears. Ihe theater will close April 1. 'Weather or No' Changed Hollywood, March 8. — Columbia has chosen "Let's Get Married" as the title for the film previously called "Weather or No." The Tavern MEETING PLACE of the INDUSTRY MAKE THIS YOUR LUNCHEON — DINNER — SUPPER CLUB 158 W. 48th St. Toots Shor 4 Purely Personal ► VICTOR SHAPIRO, publicity pur- veyor for Major Prod., planes to New York today from Hollywood on a two-week vacation. He will return to the coast to be on hand when Emanuel Cohen starts another cycle of three, individually starring Gary Cooper, Mae West and Bing Crosby. • Gradwell L. Sears, Carl Leser- man and Hal Wallis are due to leave for the coast Thursday. Mrs. i^eserman will accompany her hus- oand, while Mrs. Sears will leave today from San Antonio, Tex. • J. Robert Rubin arrived yester- day on the coast from New York, fie will meet Imicholas M. Schenck [here. Al Lichtman is already there tor the seasonal production confer- ences. • Charles Leonard is holding down the fort in the U. A. publicity, adver- tising and exploitation departments during Monroe Greenthal's ab- ence on the coast. • Rube Jacter and Leonard Picker of Columbia returned yesterday from Miami vacations. Max A. Cohen, head of Cinema circuit, got back from Hollywood, Fla. • Elmer Hynes, exhibitor of Roa- noke, Va., visited Roy Haines at Warners yesterday. Hynes is here for the Ohio State dinner. • Mrs. Max Minzesheimer, the for- mer Mrs. Marcus Loew, is en route from one Hollywood to another — California to Florida. • Nate Manheim returned to his desk at Universal yesterday after an absence of several days spent nursing a cold. • Tom Murray will leave in 10 days for Terell, Tex., where he is operat- ing a number of theatres for a bank. • Milton Blackstone is back on the job after an operation on his left arm at Park East Hospital last week. • Edward A. Golden, Monogram sales manager, has returned from the coast where he visited his family. • Joe Lee returned to his desk yester- day at the local 20th Century-Fox exchange after a Miami sojourn. • Norman H. Moray is due in Win- nipeg tomorrow to confer on Vita- phone shorts and trailers. • Harry Shaw, New England dis- trict manager for Loew's, is in At- lantic City vacationing. • Arthur Gottlieb, president of DuArt Lab., will arrive in Holly- wood today. • Joe Miller, Columbia Buffalo branch manager, is in town for a few days. • Lionel Houser's original, "World of Women," has been purchased by RKO. • Willard C. Paterson is off for a rest. GRACIE FIELDS, Engilsh comed- ienne for whom 20th Century-Fox will give a party at the Waldorf- Astoria this afternoon, was delayed in arrival from England. She had been expected yesterday on the Queen Mary, but the ship will not get in until this morning. • Max Richter, president of Con- solidated Amusements, is back from a California vacation. The circuit will open the new 600-seat Esquire at 44th St. and 8th Ave. during Easter Week • Roland Young, who was recently signed by Hal Roach for the leading role in "Toper," has left for Holly wood. Constance Bennett also will appear in the film. • Jack Fruchman, assistant to Joe Davis, cashier at the local .Paramount exchange, is now chief accountant at the company's Washington branch. • Harold Hendee, director of re- search for KKO, will address Fran cis Taylor Patterson's film class at Columbia University tonight. • Leo Spitz will stop off in Chicago en route here from the coast, which may delay his scheduled arrival in New York by a day or two. • Sidney Lumet, now playing in "The Eternal Road," has signed an actor-manager contract with the Wil- liam Morris Agency. • Herb Ochs, assistant to Gradwell L. Sears, will represent Warners at the forthcoming M. P. T. O. A. con- vention in Miami. • Ben Goetz and Benny Thau will arrive this morning on the Queen Mary, which will dock a day later than scheduled. • Otto Bolle, assistant to C. V Hake, will leave tomorrow for South Africa to make a survey for the com pany. • Elizabeth Palmer, recently signed by 20th Century-Fox, will report at the studios on March 26. • Don Pallini, dance originator, is planning a two-reeler, production on which is to start shortly. • Lillian Worth and Edythe Zell have sold "Headline Huntress" to 20th Century-Fox. • S. R. Kent will celebrate his fifth year as president of the 20th Century Fox on March 28. • Karl MacDonald of the Warner foreign department is in South America. . . . Denver Harry Golub, president of the Rocky Mountain Screen Club, has announced that the new club rooms in the Cosmopolitan Hotel will be opened March 13. The rooms are be- ing redecorated. Mike Gieseking's big smile these days is caused by a new son at his house. Mother and boy are doing well. Mike is an RCA engineer. Gene Gerbase, manager of the Denver Sheffield-Republic exchange, is on a business trip in the western part of Colorado, and he may go on to Dallas. • . . Indianapolis R. R. Bair, circuit head; V. U. Young, head of Theatrical Managers, Inc., and Maurice Rubin of Michi- gan City, in Florida vacationing. Harry and Mrs. Van Noy of An- derson off to Hollywood on a delayed honeymoon. • . Omaha Dan B. Lederman, formerly with several Omaha exchanges here, but now associated with 20th Century- Fox in the Philippines, visiting old friends here. J. D. Petty of the Fox at Beatrice, Neb., has been transferred to Spring- field, 111. Succeeding him at Beatrice is Jack Maes, formerly of Emporia, Kan. Dr. Giannini Meets With UA Executives (Continued from page 1) Jack Schlaifer, Kelly, Greenthal and James P. Mulvey. Budgets Boosted on U. A. Films Hollywood, March 8. — Monroe Greenthal of United Artists, and Loew's, through the medium of long distance telephone today, doubled the advertising budget for "History Is Made at Night." Playdates for the film have reached a total of 182. A goal of 200 has been set. Samuel Goldwyn today stated that he has increased to $1,500,000 his bud- get for "Hurricane." Republic Men to Meet Hollywood, March 8. — With the completion of production on "Hit Pa- rade," Nat Levine's last film at Re- public, Herbert Yates and Moe Siegel. studio production executive, are here for reorganization conferences. Wall Street Trading Uneven; Many Off Net High Low Close Change Columbia 36 3SJ4 35% —1 Columbia, pfd 4554 45 45 Consolidated 5 5 5 + lA Consolidated, pfd.. 1654 1654 1654 — % Eastman Kodak ..172 169 169 —3 Eastman, pfd 160 160 160 —1 Gen. T. Equip. ..3054 29 29 —154 Loew's, Inc 79% 78% 79% — 54 Paramount 26% 25% 26% — % Paramount 1 pfd.. 186% 185% 186% +1% Paramount 2 pfd.. 24% 24 24 — % Pathe Film 8% &y2 8% — % RKO 9 m m — % 20th Century-Fox. 37% 35% 36% -f % 20th Century, pfd.. 4554 45 45% + % Warner Bros 16% 15% 1554 — 54 Little Movement on Curb Net High Low Close Change Grand National ... 354 35-6 3% Sonotone 2% 2 2 Technicolor 21% 2054 21% + % Trans -Lux 5 4% 4% — % Universal Pict. ... 14 14 14 — lA Bonds Drop Slightly Net High Low Close Change Loew's 354s '46. . . . 99% 99% 99% Paramount B'way 3s '55 75 75 75 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 100% 10054 10054 — % Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 98 98 98 — 54 (Quotations at close of March 8) What ace ym Pictures are good and getting better all the time ... people have money and they're spending it for entertainment ... and National Screen Service is always in the background with a seat-selling trailer for every picture you play. Its service organization (more than 900 strong) watches every booking... checks every playdate . . . making assurance doubly sure that a showman- ship trailer is on your screen at the right time every time. That's why NATIONAL SCREEN SERVICE nrize babv of the indnsfrv MOTION PICTURE DAILY 6 Says Ostrers Are in Secret 20-Fox Deal (Continued from page 1) Nordon committee's planned legal ac- tion to restrain the G. B. board from payment of the preference dividend, voted last week. It is understood that behind the Nordon accusation is the belief that if the Metropolis and Bradford setup is proved to be illegal, the Ostrers can be deposed from their position on the board of directors and their recent decisions thrown out. The two de- cisions which stirred G. B. share- holders to opposition were the voting of the preference dividend and the re- cent deal by which C. M. Woolf's General Film Distributors arranged to take over all G. B. distribution and G. B. has abandoned production at the Shepherd's Bush studio. The series of questions concerning the G. B. situation which were 'to have been asked of Walter Runci- man, president of the Board of Trade, by Sir Arnold Wilson in the House of Commons today, have been post- poned until tomorrow. English Talent Hits Foreign Importation London, March 8. — The British Variety Artists Federation today pro- tested to the Ministry of Labor against the importation of foreign talent com- petition, especially during the Corona- tion period. The protest was aimed directly at American talent. The federation outlined three de- mands : that local talent get employ- ment preference; that the split on en- tertainment programs should be 60 per cent British and 40 per cent foreign, and that every time two foreign acts get work in England, one British act should be hired in that foreign coun- try. A survey indicates that there are at present about 2,000 foreign artists playing at British theatres. Product of Germany Shows Sharp Decline Berlin, March 8. — The output of German films has decreased seriously since the advent of National Social- ism, the Hitler regime, four years ago, it was said in a sharp note of warning from Dr. Lehnick, president of the Reich Film Dep't. He declared that German pictures have been produced with an aim at making them "nationally character- istic." The world at large has ap- proved them, he said, but there has been too little production. The turn- ing point has been reached, Lehnick said, declaring that Germany's cul- tural characteristics must be pre- served but the output must not suffer. Lift Duty on Some Films Panama. March 8. — The Govern- ment of Guatemala has exempted from customs duties films of an educational nature or those concerning important international news events. The new regulations will permit the free entry of propaganda films from Germany and Italy. Too Obvious Rome, March 8.— The Ital- ian Government has with- drawn the film, "The Libera- tion of Malaga," made by the Luce Institute, the semi-offi- cial newsreel company, be- cause it showed too many Italian soldiers, officers and army trucks in Malaga, Span- ish city recently taken by the Insurgents. Production Census Planned in England London, Feb. 28. — The Census of Production Dep't. of the Board of Trade has circulated to British film producers, "for information only," a form asking for statistical information about their activities in various de- partments. It is emphasized that the form re- fers to the year 1937 and that it can- not be filled in immediately. The trade view is that, anticipating the adoption by the Government of the Moyne Committee's suggestion that a Census of Production be taken, the Board of Trade is issuing a warning in advance to producers of the facts and figures which will be required of them. The form asks details of the num- ber of employees under and over 18 years in the three departments of op- eratives, artists and administrative staff ; a return of artists and opera- tives in 12 specific weeks of the year ; a return of raw material used, year's output in number of films, length and cost, and other facts. High Court Refuses Aleograph Petition (Continued from page 1) started when Aleograph sued West- ern Electric and Erpi for alleged in- fringement of patents, the suits being decided in favor of Erpi and the de- cision upheld on appeal. Thereafter Erpi sought and obtained a permanent injunction against the filing of similar "harrassing" suits by Aleograph. Quigley Back Next Week George Quigley, fiscal agent for European interests which hold an option to acquire controlling interest in Keller-Dorian Colorfilm Corp., is scheduled to return next Tuesday on the Berengaria following conferences with his principals on the lifting of the option. No official report of the result of the conferences abroad had been received at the Keller-Dorian offices here up to yesterday. The supposition, however, is that action may have been postponed and an ex- tension of the option granted by Kel- ler-Dorian's European representatives. Open New K. C. Theatre Kansas City, March 8.— More than 800 industry members and the public attended the opening here by W. D. Fulton and Stanley Schwartz of the new $100,000 Brookside here The new theatre gives Mutual Thea- tres eight houses, seven of them in Greater Kansas City. Joseph Green has been named general supervisor for Mutual houses. Para. Directors' Trial Off to Fall (Continued from page 1) had been scheduled to start yesterday in N. Y. Supreme Court here, was postponed to Sept. 27. The second action seeks the recov- ery of "actual or potential" profits realized by the defendant directors and officers through participations in connection with a Paramount em- ployes' stock purchase plan, and also seeks the return of compensation of some of the defendants for the years 1927 to 1930, inclusive, in excess of "reasonable compensation." Trial of this action was postponed to October, without date. The suits are being prosecuted for the trustee by the law firm of Root, Clark, -Buckner & Ballantine. Grants Columbia Examination Justice Aaron J. Levy in N. Y. Sup- reme Court yesterday granted Ferdi- nand Voteur, a writer, permission to examine before trial officers of Colum- bia Pictures. The plaintiff has sued Columbia for $1,000,000 damages, charging that they rejected his play "Resurrection Morning" and then pro- duced a picture entitled "The Man Who Lived Twice" which was sub- stantially similar in plot to the plain- tiff's play. The plaintiff must advise the court within a reasonable time which officers of Columbia he wishes to examine. Denies Barrymore Motion Judge Robert T. Patterson in U. S. District Court yesterday denied the motion for a further bill of particu- lars in John Barrymore's action against Maurice Hotchner and John F. Finn, Jr. The action is for an accounting of $100,000 which Barry- more alleges he turned over to the defendants, his New York attorneys, who were to hold it in trust for him. The defendants answered that the money was used as directed by Barry- more and that a full accounting was given. They ask that they be au- thorized to use the $3,500 which still remains in their possession as pay- ment for legal services. Asks RKO Allowance William J. Donovan, attorney for the trustee in the RKO reorganization proceedings, filed a petition yesterday for an allowance of $85,000 for legal services rendered to the estate from July 2, 1936, to March 4, 1937. The petition sets forth that he had pre- viously received $140,000 and that in this period the office spent 3,680 hours in legal work. The petition also sets forth that claims aggregating $55,121,179 were filed against the es- tate. Connecticut Group Going New Haven, March 8. — Connecti- cut representatives at the Miami M. P.T.O.A. convention will include Meyer Bailey of the Whalley, Mrs. Lucy Flack and Louise Markune of the Capitol, Milford; Irving C. Jac- ocks ; Edward G. and Mrs. Levy, Adolph G. and Mrs. Johnson, Albert and Mrs. Robins of the Strand, Ham- den ; Arthur and Mrs. Lockwood of Middletown ; Samuel H. and Mrs. Rosen of Lakeville ; Edward J: and Mrs. Stuart of Lakeville, and Max Tabackman of West Haven. Tuesday, March 9, 1937 " ' i Huffman Drops Auto Giveaway in Detroit (Continued from page 1) weekly drawing for nearly three years. The Ford giveaway was in the ! courts during NRA days, and was j dropped for a time, but was rein- i stated as soon as the NRA was dis- j carded. The Huffman theatres are ! now left with only a grocery night at j the neighborhood Bluebird. Dave Cockrill of the Denham, who managed the cooperative Bank Night 1 among his house, Fox and Paramount ! houses here, is rebuilding his coop- j erative Bank Night setup. He has taken over the Alpine, a neighborhood house, and will tie it in with his Den- ham drawing, on a twice-a-week basis. Fox and Paramount withdrew from the cooperative Bank Night a few weeks ago. Fox houses will start a cooperative Bank Night drawing soon after Easter, using a new registration which will exclude tourists and persons out- ! side the Denver trade area. Hold Five in Game Quiz Buffalo, March 8. — Five men are being held for the Grand Jury here in connection with a Bank Night swindle whereby theatre operators and patrons are said to have been defrauded of thousands of dollars in the past five months. George Houston, booked for second degree grand larceny, is said by the police to have made a detailed con- fession, indicating that virtually every house in Buffalo and the surrounding area has been victimized by the gang. Information leading to the arrest was given the police by Albert J. Sargent, whose 17-year-old-son was approached by the gang. The questioning of other Bank Night winners and thea- tre managers led to the arrest of Houston and five other suspects. Claim Need of Bank Night New Orleans, March 8.— Oper- ators of neighborhood houses in New Orleans claim that they require the use of Bank Night in order to attract patronage, because the downtown houses have taken all the potential profit out of the product before it reaches the subsequent runs. Files Nebraska Test Case Lincoln, March 8.— Attorney Gen- eral Hunter of Nebraska today filed a test case on Bank Night against the Beatrice Theatre Corp., a F.W.C. sub- sidiary, and former manager Lewis B. Sponsler in the Gage County Dis- trict Court. Involved are the Fox and Rivoli, which have been using Bank Night since February, 1936. Hunter is seeking a temporary in- junction against the theatres and has asked the court to set a hearing date. He declared the state may undertake individual prosecutions but the multi- plicity of the suits would permit the game to go on indefinitely. Hunter recently ruled that Bank Night is a violation of the state lottery laws. Tax on Game Awards Passed Little Rock, Ark., March 8.— The House here has passed the Dillon bill, which imposes a tax of 15 per cent on Bank Night awards. The measure now goes to Gov. Carl E Bailey. : ARE YOU GIVING THEM THE LIGHT THEY MERIT ? The response of theatre patrons is ample justification for securing the best feature pictures obtainable. It proves that the theatre-going public seeks out the best. But the theatre patron is critical and is not satisfied with a good picture, poorly screened. Expensive features merit the best light. The best projection is provided by a steady, snow-white light of sufficient intensity on the screen for clear defini- tion in the presence of a comfortable level of supplemen- tary illumination. This means High Intensity Projection. Give your expensive feature the advantage of the best possible lighting, HIGH INTENSITY LIGHT It costs little but adds much to the satisfaction of your patrons FROM NATIONAL H.I. PROJECTOR and NATIONAL SUPREX CARBONS NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY, INC. Unit of Union Carbirf^? HI^N and Carbon Corporation CARBON SALES DIVISION, CLEVELAND, OHIO Genera! Offices: 30 East 42nd St., New York, N. Y. Branch Soles Offices: Hew York Pittsburgh Chicago San Francisco MOTION PICTURE DAILY 8 Holdovers Do Top Business On the Loop Chicago, March 8. — Holdover pic- tures did the best business in the Loop last week when "Good Earth," "Green Light" and "On The Avenue" proved to be the biggest money-get- ters in a dull week. "The Good Earth" on a two-a-day basis at advanced prices showed a profit at the Apollo. "Green Light" continued to pull after being shifted from the Chicago to the Garrick. "On The Avenue" was good at the Roose- velt. Extra publicity on the stage show helped the Oriental some to bring "The Great O'Malley" above average. Other houses, except the State-Lake which was over the line, found busi- ness much worse than expected. The Palace took a nosedive with "Head Over Heels in Love." Total first run business was $112,- 900. Average is $120,500. Estimated takings : Week Ending March 4: "THE GOOD EARTH" (M-G-M) APOLLO— (1,400), S0c-$1.50, 2 shows daily, 2nd week, 7 davs. Gross: $11,600. (Average, $9,000) "MAID OF SALEM" (Para.) CHICAGO— (4,000), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: "Casino Parisien" Revue. Gross: $29,000. (Average, $32,000) "THE GREAT O'MALLEY" (W. B.) ORIENTAL— (3,490), 35c-55c, 7 days. Stage: "King's Scandals" Revue. Gross: $15,500. (Average, $15,000) "HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE" (G.B.) PALACE— (2,509), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Vaudeville Revue. Gross: $13,500. (Average, $19,000) Week Ending March 5: "GREEN LIGHT" (W. B.) GARRICK— (900), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days, 2nd Loop week. Gross: $7,000. (Average. $6,500) "ON THE AVENUE" (20th-Fox) ROOSEVELT— (1,591), 35c-55c-75c„ 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $12,600. (Average, $11,- 000) "WOMAN ALONE" (G. B.) STATE-LAKE— (2,776), 20c-35c-40c, 7 days. Stage: Vaudeville Revue. Gross: $13,900. (Average, $13,000) "BELOVED ENEMY" (U. A.) UNITED ARTISTS — 3 5c - 55c - 75c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $9,800. (Average, $15.- 000) Revise Assessments Omaha, March 8. — The Douglas County Board of Equalization has allowed appeals on assessed valuations of the Brandeis and Orpheum here. The Brandeis, assessed at $383,340 in 1935 and $333,500 in 1936, was ad- justed to $357,900; the Orpheum, as- sessed at $402,255 in 1935 and $481,- 030 in 1936, was adjusted to $402,255. Al Somerby Celebrates Boston, March 8. — Al Somerby is celebrating the 45th anniversary of the Bowdoin Square. Several em- ployes at the theatre have worked there nearly as long as Somerby. Civic and theatrical personages have sent congratulatory wires. Imperial Closes Deal Cleveland, March 8. — Imperial Pic- tures of Northern Ohio yesterday signed the first contract in the terri- tory, for the entire season's lineup, with Ray Wallace, head of the Tri- Theatres, Inc., Alliance, O., circuit. "Miracles"Up In DuU Week On the Coast Los Angeles, March 8. — Only three attractions stood up in the face of the Santa Anita Handicap com- petition, and of the three "The Man Who Could Work Miracles" made the best comparative showing. It grossed $5,250 at the 4- Star, over normal by $2,000. "Love Is News" and "The Holy Terror" pulled $15,692, up by $1,692, at Loew's State, but was weak at the Chinese on a take of $11,942. "Son of Mongolia," Russian film, was $1,100 to the good on a take of $2,300 at the Grand International. Total first run business was $96,- 684. Average is $107,950. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 3 : "THE GOOD EARTH" (M-G-M) CARTHAY CIRCLE— (1,518), 50c-$1.50, 7 days, 5th week. Gross: $14,400. (Average. $17 000) "LOVE IS NEWS" (20th-Fox) "THE HOLY TERROR" (20th-Fox) CHINESE — (2,500). 30c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $11,942. (Average. $12,500) "THE MAN WHO COULD WORK MIRACLES" (U.A.) 4 STAR— (900), 30c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $5,250. (Average. $3.2501 "SON OF MONGOLIA" (Amkino) GRAND INTERNAT'L— (750), 35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $2,300. (Average. $1.2001 "WHEN'S YOUR BIRTHDAY?" (RKO) "BREEZING HOME" (Univ.) HILLSTREET— (2,700), 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average. $8,000) "LOVE IS NEWS" (ZOth-Fox) "THE HOLY TERROR" (2eth-Fox) LOEW'S STATE— (2,5001. 30c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $15,692. (Average. $14.0001 "WHEN'S YOUR BIRTHDAY?" (RKO) "BREEZING HOME" (Univ.) PANTAGES— (3,0001, 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $6,200. (Average, $8.0001 "MAID OF SALEM" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (3,595). 30c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week. Stage: Rube Wolf and his orchestra, F. & M. revue. Gross: $12,400. (Average. $18,000) "STOLEN HOLIDAY" (F.N.) "A MAN BETRAYED" (Republic) WARNER BROS. (HOLLYWOOD) - (3.000), 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average. $14,000) "STOLEN HOLIDAY" (F.N.) "A MAN BETRAYED" (Republic) WARNER BROS. (DOWNTOWN) — (3,400), 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $10,500. (Average, $12,000) WCTU Assails Block Booking at Meeting Springfield, Mass., March 8. — Block booking and blind selling ' of pictures came in for their share of critical attention from the W.C.T.U. at its annual winter conference here recently, Mrs. Alice Ropes, presi- dent, declared, "Every follower of Frances Willard should be interested in block booking and blind selling of films, by which local managers are forced to take the good and the bad together. Letters must be sent to Washington urging the repeal of block selling." The W.C.T.U. also assailed liquor and lotteries, and even cigarettes were the target of considerable verbal crit- icism in the meeting. Berman in Accident Detroit, March 8. — Harry Ber- man, Republic salesman, escaped in- jury, but his automobile was demol- ished when it was struck by another car on the highway near Mt. Pleasant. Conn in Exclusive Deal Hollywood, March 8. — Thirty-six exchanges will handle exclusively the product of Ambassador, Melody and Conn pictures under a new deal. Pinky Tomlin, Darro-Richmond and Kermit Maynard series will be among the releases and the producer is now in search of name players and directors for several specials designed to meet re-arranged schedules. New M-G-M, Roach Pacts Hollywood, March 8. — M-G-M has signed new contracts with Vir- ginia Bruce, Robert Montgomery, Betty Furness and Lynne Carver. Miss Carver was formerly known as Virginia Reid. Hal Roach has signed Roland Young to a long-term pact. Young is due from the east shortly. Eastern Allied to Meet New Haven, March 8. — Allied's eastern regional conference will be held at the Hotel Garde March 29. About 20 visitors from eastern units, including Nathan Yamins and Abram F. Myers, general counsel, are ex- pected to attend. A luncheon will precede the conference. Moss Plans Shape U p Philadelphia, March 8. — Plans for the testimonial dinner in observ- ance of Edgar Moss's 20th year in the local industry are shaping up. The event will be signalized by a dinner at the Warwick Hotel here April 19. Moss, of course, is district manager for 20th Century-Fox. Clark Quits Photophone Hollywood, March 8. — L. E. Clark has resigned as manager of record- ing for RCA Photophone, effective March 15. He will join the Dunning Process Co., color firm, for research and development work. E. Deacon and J. A. Milling, RCA sales repre- sentatives, are here for a short visit. "Eternal Mask" Booked "The Eternal Mask," prize-winning Swiss film, distributed in this country bv Arthur Mayer and Joseph Burstvn. has been booked into theatres in 11 cities, including Boston, Pittsburgh. San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle. Philadelphia and Detroit. It is sched- uled for Easter Week openings. May Do "Think" Series Following the showing of "What Do You Think?" at the Capitol, M-G-M. which produced the short, is consid- ering a series along the same line. Carey Wilson, who produced the sub- iect, is said to be looking for material for the proposed series. Mayor Renames Trendle Detroit, March 8. — Mayor Frank Couzens has reappointed George W. Trendle to the Detroit Fire Com- mission. Trendle has just completed his 12th year in that capacity and is president of the commission. Jack Graham Recovered Pittsburgh, March 8. — Jack Gra- ham, city salesman for RKO here, has resumed his duties after a three-week bout with pneumonia in Johnston. Pa. Graham went there early in Feb- ruary on business and was stricken. Tuesday, March 9, 1937 "WhenYou're" 2nd Week Hit, Seattle, Held Seattle, March 8. — "When You're in Love" continued as the top attrac- tion among first runs here in its sec- ond week at the Liberty, getting $5,900, up by $900. It was held for another week. "Maid of Salem," on a dual with "Off to the Races," grossed $6,850 at the Paramount. This was $850 to the good. The only other bill to get into the profit column was "Green Light" and "Clarence" at the Fifth Avenue, which grossed $7,100. Total first run business was $42,900. Average is $32,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 5 : "GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN" (W. B.) "DANGEROUS NUMBER" (M-G-M) BLUE MOUSE— (950), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week, extended run from Fifth Avenue. Gross: $3,200. (Average. $4,000) "GREEN LIGHT" (F. N.) "CLARENCE" (Para.) FIFTH AVENUE— (2,500), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $7,100. (Average, $7,000) "WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE" (Col.) LIBERTY— (1,800), 15c-25c-40c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $5,900. (Average, $5,000) "ONE IN A MILLION" (20th-Fox) MUSIC BOX— (950), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days, 9th week, extended run from Orpheum. Gross: $3,450. (Average, $4,000) "ON THE AVENUE" (20th-Fox) "CRACK-UP" (20th-Fox) MUSIC HALL— (2,275), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $4,900. (Average, $6,000) "WHEN'S YOUR BIRTHDAY?" (F. N.) ORPHEUM— (2,450), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Vaudeville and stage band. Gross: $6,400. (Average, $6,000) "BEWARE OF LADIES" (Republic) PALOMAR— (1,500), 15c-25c-35c, 7 days. Vaudeville headed by Borne Lawrence. Gross: $4,300. (Average, $4,500) "MAID OF SALEM" (Para.) "OFF TO THE RACES" (20th-Fox) PARAMOUNT— (3,050), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $6,850. (Average, $6,000) "O'Malley" Omaha High Gross $9,100 Omaha, March 8. — Three double bills at local houses resulted in good grosses. "The Great O'Malley," aided by a police lobby display, and paired with "Mama Steps Out" grossed $9,100, or $1,900 over average for the Orpheum. "Maid of Salem" and "Woman Wise" took $7,200, $1,700 over the Omaha's average. The Brandeis did $5,600, or $1,600 on the profit side, for "When You're in Love" and "Woman in Distress." Mild weather, spring market week which set a 20-year record for at- tendance and another large convention helped tilt the take despite Lent, which usually is a serious obstacle here. Total first run business was $21,900. Average is $16,700. Estimated takings : Week Endina March 2: "MAID OF SALEM" (Para.) "WOMAN WISE" (20th-Fox) OMAHA— (2,200), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,200. (Average, $5,500) Week Endina March 3: "WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE" (Col.) "WOMAN IN DISTRESS" (Col.) BRANDEIS — (1,200), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,600. (Average, $4,000) Week Endina March 4: "THE GREAT O'MALLEY" (W.B.) "MAMA STEPS OUT" (M-G-M) ORPHEUM — (3,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $9,100. (Average, $7,200) Tuesday, March 9, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 9 Looking 'Em Over "History Is Made at Night" (W anger-United Artists) "History Is Made at Night," previewed here, is a sophisticated story with Paris and New York backgrounds directed with the polish and eye for artistic detail that distinguishes most of Frank Borzage's efforts. Its appeal is directed to adults and the best box-office results probably will be obtained in large cities. The story is about an unhappy wife who decides upon divorce from her neurotic shipowner husband, played by Colin Clive. He tries to frame her with his chauffeur, but Charles Boyer, a headwaiter mas- querading as a burglar, steps through a window from a balcony and "kidnaps" the wife and her jewels. The wife is Jean Arthur. The chauffeur is found dead. To protect Boyer from a murder charge, Miss Arthur returns to America with her husband and is followed by Boyer. The story builds up to a big scene in which an ocean liner crashes into an iceberg. The story of the Titanic disaster obviously furnished the basis for the detail. Crowds mill about the lifeboats. Calmer passenger sing "Nearer My God to Thee." The emotional effects built up in this way are stirring. One of the best characterizations in the film is the work of Leo Carrillo as a chef and friend of Boyer. His comedy relief is a delight. The picture is a Walter Wanger production from an original by Gene Towne and Graham Baker. Gregg Toland did the camera work. It is high-class entertainment with plenty of name value to make the selling easy. If the story content were as strong as the talent that has been lavished upon it, the film would be a sensation. As it is, it ought to turn in satisfactory grosses. Running time, 97 minutes. "A." "The Wedding of Palo" (Palladium- J . H. Hoffberg) Following a vein somewhat similar to "Eskimo," this picture, which was filmed in Greenland by Knud Rasmussen, the late Arctic explorer, should be an interesting novelty. It has the dual qualities of being en- tertaining and educational. It is a light, ethnological study of Eskimos. The influence of the scientist-producer in the portrayal of racial customs, celebrations and the general struggle for life contrasts with the natural comedy of the imi- tative talents of children and the elemental love story that forms the base of the scenario. There is a particularly interesting sequence when a sha- man, or devil-doctor is called in to attend the wounded hero Palos. There are scenes, fine evidence of clever camera work, of hunting, kayak handling in heavy seas and tribal feasts. The dominant story thread weaves the romance of Navarana and Palo, which is threatened by Samo. The two youths have it out in a ridiculing contest after which Palo is wounded when he bests Samo. The girl and her family go off to their winter camp. They are followed by Samo, who establishes himself with the family. Later, Palo recovers and reappears after a rough sea voyage and claims Navarana. They set out and are pursued by Samo, whose kayak capsizes as he is about to upset the lovers' craft. The film is cast with native talent and their indifference to the camera makes for commendable acting. There is also native dialogue which is interpreted by panels, after the fashion of the silent films. Reviewed without production code seal. Running time, 82 min- utes. "G." "Green Light" At $9,000 Top I In Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, March 8. — With Lent failing to exert any influence, busi- ness continued good here, two hold- overs setting the pace. At the Ful- ^ ton, "On the Avenue" in its third week went over par by $3,000 to $7,500, while at the Warner "Green 1 Light," after its sensational week at 1 the Stanley, drew $9,000, over by $4,000. Both of these pictures stay 1 another week and the Fulton has hopes of running "On the Avenue" right through until Easter. There was only one disappointment, "The Great O'Malley," which did a slim $9,000 at the Stanley. "Maid of Salem" did $3,000 above average al $14,000. Weather conditions were perfect for business except for one day of rain. Total first run business was $44,000. Average is $37,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 4 : "MAN OF AFFAIRS" (G.B.) "HOLY TERROR" (20th-Fox) ALVIN— (2,000), 25c-40c, 6 days. Gross: $4,750. (Average, for 7 days, $5,500) "ON THE AVENUE" (20th-Fox) FULTON— (1,750), 25c-40c, 3rd week. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $4,500) "MAID OF SALEM" (Para.) PENN— (3,300), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $14,000. (Average, $11,000) "THE GREAT O'MALLEY" (W.B.) STANLEY — (3,600), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $11,500) "GREEN LIGHT" (W.B.) WARNER— (2,000), 25c-50c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $9,000. (Average, $5,000) "Outcast" Dualled Leads Providence Providence, March 8. — Every house in town equalled or exceeded its average gross, which is unusual for this time of year. The best take was garnered by the Strand, where "Outcast" and "Clarence" pulled in $7,200, which is over by $700. Both Loew's and the Majestic had par weeks. The former, with "When You're in Love" and "Sinner Take All," hit $12,000, and the Fay house was up to its $7,000 average with "On the Avenue" and "Off to the Races." The RKO Albee was $200 over with "We're on the Jury" and a revue, "World's Fairest on Parade," which did $7,200, and Fay's did the same, featuring "Penrod and Sam" and a Major Bowes unit. Total first run business was $40,600. Average is $39,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 4 : "PENROD AND SAM" (F.N.) FAY'S— (1,600), 15c-40c, 7 days. On stage: Major Bowes unit. Gross: $7,200. (Aver- age, $7,000) "ON THE AVENUE" (20th-Fox) "OFF TO THE RACES" (20th-Fox) MAJESTIC — (2,400), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $7,000) "OUTCAST" (Para.) "CLARENCE" (Para.) STRAND — (2,300) , 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,200. (Average, $6,500) "WE'RE ON THE JURY" (RKO) RKO ALBEE— (2,300), 15c-40c, 7 days. Or, stage: "World's Fairest on Parade," revue. Gross: $7,200. (Average, $7,000) "WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE" (Col.) "SINNER TAKE ALL" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE— (3,800), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $12,000) St. Louis Building Set St. Louis, March 8. — -Construction will start shortly in this territory on the New Warner exchange building at 3302 Olive St., and on Harry Blount's new theatre to be erected in Potosi. Bids will be taken in the near future for alterations and an addition to the house recently taken over by Nash- Halloway Theatres. The same circuit has contracted for a new house in University City. May Abandon Houses Catlettsburg, Ky., March 8. — Bruce Hall, operator of the Gates City and Reel, both badly damaged by the recent flood, is reported planning to abandon both houses, and retire from the business. Doster to Wilby-Kincey Montgomery, Ala., March 8. — W. A. Doster, veteran exhibitor, has joined Wilby-Kincey as manager of the Tivoli here, succeeding Ellsworth Dye, who has been promoted to as- sistant manager of the Paramount, succeeding James Howell, who be- comes manager of the Strand in Knoxville, Tenn. Oxford, Miss., Men Fined Oxford, Miss., March 8. — S. T. Lyles, Jr., and H. W. Roberts, man- ager of the Ritz, have been indictee) a second time for sponsoring Bank Night programs, and have been fined $20 each for allegedly violating the state lottery law. They appealed. 10 RADIO MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, March 9, 1937 FCC Sets New Hearing List During April Washington, March 8. — The F. C.C. today made public a tentative calendar of hearings for the first half of April, as follows: April 1. — Before an examiner, appli- cation of Pacific Acceptance Corp., San Diego, for a 1,200-kilocycle, 100- watt, daytime station. April 5. — Before an examiner, appli- cations of KROY, Sacramento, for a change of frequency to 1,340 kilo- cycles and increase of power to 250 watts, night, and 1,000 watts, day; KABR, Aberdeen, S. D., for change of frequency to 1,390 kilocycles and increase of power to 500 watts, night, and 1,000 watts, day; WSAU, War- sau, Wis., for increase of time ; Louis- ville Times Co., Louisville, for a new 1,210-kilocycle, unlimited time station on 100 watts, and Dr. William States Jacobs Broadcasting Co., Houston, for a 1,220-kilocycle, 1,000-watt, unlim- ited time station. To Hear Oklahoma Group April 6. — Before an examiner, con- test of Okmulgee Broadcasting Corp., Times Publishing Co. and Record Publishing Co. for a new 1,200-kilo- cycle, 100-watt, daytime station at Okmulgee, Okla.; applications of WEAU, Eau Claire, Wis., for an increase of day power to 1,000 watts, and KGA, Spokane, for a change of frequency to 950 kilocycles; also the application of Beaumont Broadcast- ing Ass'n, Beaumont, Tex., for a 1,420-kilocycle, 100-watt station. April 7. — Before an examiner, appli- cations of stations WBCM, Bay City, Mich., for an increase of day power to 1,000 watts; KADA, Ada, Okla., for an increase of time; KFVD, Los Angeles, for a change of frequency to 900 kilocycles, and KDB, Santa Bar bara, for a change of frequency to 1,220 kilocycles and a power increase to 500 watts. WGB1 Power Increase Asked April 8. — Before the broadcast divi sion, arguments on applications of Port Huron Broadcasting Co., Port Huron, Mich., for a 1,370-kilocycle. 250-watt, daytime station; Dallas Broadcasting Co., Dallas, for a 1,500- kilocycle, 100-watt daytime station; WMAS, Springfield, Mass., for a 560- kilocycle, 1,000-watt, unlimited time station, and WGBI, Scranton, for an increase of day power to 1,000 watts. April 12. — Before an examiner, ap plications of stations WSAY, Roches- ter, for an increase of time and of day power to 250 watts ; KYOS, Mer- ced, Cal., for a change of frequency to 1,260 kilocycles and an increase of time, and WBNY, Buffalo, seeking the facilities of WSVS, Buffalo; Fields, McCarthy Co., Poplar Bluff, Mo., for a 1,310-kilocycle, 100-watt, daytime station, and contest of Schuyl A jungle isn't the onlyi place a lion has power! / -WHN is the most! powerful independent' station in New York. ! ~ DIAL 1010 *FFILIAT*n _i>k WHN M-C-M* LOEW S xfei* Ten Stations in Southwest Join Mutual System Network Ten more stations, comprising the eight stations of the Oklahoma net- work and two Texas units, will be added to the Mutual coast-to-coast chain within the next five weeks. The additions, brought into the Mutual fold by Fred Weber, general manager of the web, will bring the number of stations on the Mutual chain to 51. The Oklahoma network will link with Mutual beginning April 1. The sta- tions include KGFG, Oklahoma City ; KCRC, Enid; KGFF, Shawnee; KBIX, Muskogee; KADA, Ada; KVSO, Ardmore; WBBZ, Ponca City; KASA, Elk City. The Okla- homa network was represented in the negotiations by its president, R. U. Porter, and its managing director, Glenn Condon. Beginning April 15, the two Texas stations, KTAT, Fort Worth, and WRR, Dallas, will be added for permanent Mutual service. KTAT is operated by the Tarrant Broadcasting Co., Raymond E. Buck, president. WRR is a municipal station, owned and operated by the city of Dallas. John Thornwald is managing director. Network dedicatory programs will be broadcast on the nights that the joinings are effected. The addition of the Oklahoma net- work marks the fifth regional chain to become part of the nationwide Mutual network. The other regional chains are the Colonial network in New England ; the Iowa and Centraf States Broadcasting Corp. in the middle west, and the Don Lee web on the Pacific coast. Hearst Radio Group To Observe Birthday New York State Broadcasting Sys- tem, the Hearst regional air chain, will celebrate the first anniversary of its formation April 28 with a two- hour program, it was learned yester- day. Bert Squires, head of the or- ganization, is now working on the program details. The stations comprising the web are WINS, New York; WABY, Albany; WIBX, Utica; WMBO, Auburn; WSAY, Rochester; and WBNY, Buf- falo. Eugene Boissevain Joins NBC Eugene Boissevain, husband of Edna St. Vincent Millay, has been signed for a series of sustaining pro- grams on NBC, to begin tomorrow. The program will be entitled "Micro- logue," and will consist of comment on current topics in the news. It will be carried over the Red network at 4:15 P. M., E.S.T. "Poe's Tales" Mutual Feature "Poe's Tales," a series of mysteries based on Edgar Allen Poe's works, will bow in as a sustainer on Mutual beginning Tuesday, March 16, from 10:30 to 11 P.M., E.S.T. The series will originate in the studios of WFIL, Mutual's Phila- delphia outlet. John Clark, WFIL's program director, is doing the adapta- tions. kill Broadcasting Co. and the Potts- ville News and Radio Corp., for a 580-kilocycle, 250-watt, daytime' sta- tion at Pottsville, Pa. April 13. — Before an examiner, ap- plications of Anne J. Levine, Palm Springs, Cal, for a 1,200-kilocycle station, with 100 watts night, and 250 watts day power; Springfield News- papers, Inc., Springfield, O., for a 1,120-kilocycle, 250-watt, daytime sta- tion ; station KIEM, Eureka, Cal., for an increase of power to 1,000 watts ; WHIS, Bluefield, W. Va., for an in- crease of night power to 1,000 watts ; WCHS, Charleston, W. Va., for an in- crease of night power to 1,000 watts, and KFXM, San Bernardino, Cal., for an increase of day power to 250 watts. Station Prices Too High — Patterson "The exorbitant prices being asked for broadcasting stations make the establishment of a new network next to impossible." That was the comment made yes- terday by Richard C. Patterson, former executive vice-president of NBC, when questioned concerning re- ports that a group headed by him had virtually completed plans for the formation of a new network. Pat- terson confirmed his interest in the establishment of a new network, but stated frankly that no material prog- ress on such a project had been made to date. "I've been trying to buy stations ever since I left NBC," Patterson said, "but have made no definite progress primarily because of the high prices placed on stations. My offer to WOR was rejected. WMCA wanted what we consider to be far too much. If you can tell us how we can get stations at a reasonable price you'll be doing us a favor." Asked whether the reports linking the names of Dr. Stanley High, head of the Good Neighbor League, and various financial figures, including a partner of Goldman, Sachs, with his activities were correct, Patterson said, "Yes, I've talked with them and with perhaps 15 or 20 others, as well. IT I ever get a network established, I'd like to have High with me. He was formerly with NBC, you know." "I have been trying and will con- tinue trying to get a new network started," he concluded, "but while the present prices continue to be quoted for stations very little of a definite nature can be accomplished. Up to now, I haven't even an option on a single station." Bill Lundell in New Post Bill Lundell, former NBC announc- er and head of special events, is now in charge of sales promotion for WINS. Nellie Revell Back on Air Nellie Revell returns to the air to- day on the NBC-Red after an absence of a few months. Miss Revell will be heard tonight at 5 P. M. on a 15-min- ute spot. WFIL Does* Air Study in Philadelphia Philadelphia, March 8. — In an attempt to establish its listening pref- erence in relation to its network affiliations, WFIL conducted a sur- . vey on the listening habits of radio owners in Philadelphia and surround- ing cities in the coverage area. The work was done by Ross Federal in- vestigators, 25 making a telephone check for seven consecutive days, con- tinuously from 7 A.M. to 10 P.M. Towns outside of Philadelphia cov- ered in the survey included Camden, Trenton and Wilmington, Del. WFIL is the local outlet for both the NBC blue and Mutual networks. Almost 20,000 Calls The study is considered the most comprehensive ever made by Ross in the local radio field, 18,840 telephone calls having been completed by the operators during the seven days. A breakdown shows that of 14,426 calls completed in Philadelphia proper, 5,551 listeners had their radio sets tuned in at the time of calling, 1,840 to WCAU (CBS outlet); 1,335 to WFIL; 1,267 to KYW (NBC red outlet); 486 to WJZ; 169 to WIP (Intercity outlet); 118 to WOR; WRAX, WPEN, WDAS (local in- dependent stations) and WLW (Cin- cinnati) grouped together had 146 listeners ; 28 to WEAF ;26 to WABC ; 35 to all other stations grouped to- gether; 72 did not know the name of the station to which they were listen- ing; and 41 refused to give the in- formation. Suburbs Also Included In the cities outside of Philadelphia, the tabulation showed that of 4,414 calls completed, 1,631 had their sets tuned in at the time of calling, 367 to WFIL; 344 to WCAU; 236 to KYW; 292 to WJZ; 94 to WOR; 58 to WEAF; 44 to WIP; 42 to WDEL (Wilmington) ; 37 to WTNJ (Trenton) ; WABC, WPEN and WDAS grouped together had 33 listeners ; nine to WCAM (part-time station in Camden) ; eight to all other stations grouped together; 58 did not know the name of the station to which they were listening ; and 25 refused to give the information. For the radio industry in general, the most significant figures in the study are those dealing with the num- ber of homes having radio sets. In Philadelphia proper, of the 14,426 completed calls, 14,032 had a radio in the home. Outside of Philadelphia, of the 4,414 completed calls, 4,207 had a radio in the home. Don Withycomb, WFIL general manager, announced that a printed presentation will be made of the sur- vey for distribution among the trade. He also pointed out that the study indicates that where the network mother stations were once the top rank in listener preference, local listeners are now supporting the Philadelphia outlets of the various net- works. More Radio — Page 12 Radio Acceptance OFFICE OF THE PRESIDES DONALD FUAMM ROAD CASTING NY inc. W M C A BUILDING BROADWAY AT 53"? STREET NEW YORK March I, 1937. Mr. M. D. Kann, Motion Picture Daily, Rockefeller Center, New York City. My Dear Mr. Kann: Here at WMCA we watch your publication rather closely — news every day helps us keep in closer touch with this rapidly growing and changing radio industry. I am glad to see that you have expanded the space devoted to radio. I'd suggest a further expansion of space — except that you seem to do a rather thorough job of coverage of the industry, proving the ability of your staff. It's much harder to condense than it is to expand. Keep up the good work. Sincerely yours, OP Donald Flamm. MOTION PICTURE DAILY ROCKEFELLER CENTER, NEW YORK 12 RADIO MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, March 9, 1937 Five Applications Are Listed by FCC Washington, March 8. — Receipt of an amended application from Arling- ton Radio Service, Inc., Arlington, Va., for a new broadcasting station to operate on 1,510 kilocycles, unlim- ited time, with 250 watts power, was revealed today by the F.C.C. The Virginia company originally sought to operate daytime only on 850 kilocycles. Other applications received by the commission included requests of the Key City Broadcasting Co. for a new station at Kankakee, 111., to operate unlimited time on 1,500 kilocycles with 100 watts power; also stations WKEU, Griffin, Ga., for increased time and change of frequency to 1,310 kilocycles ; KIUL, Garden City, Kan., for assignment of license from Garden City Broadcasting Co. to KIUL, Inc., and WBAA, W. Lafayette, Ind., for authority to install a new transmitter and increase power to 5,000 watts. i Radio Personals ► Ry-Krisp Reengages T alley and Koestner Hollywood, March 8. — Ry-Krisp has exercised its options on Marion Talley and Joseph Koestner for an ad- ditional 13-weeks period, carrying them over until June. The deal was negotiated by the NBC Artists' Bu- reau. Donald Danford and Evan Marschutz, president of Gardner Ad- vertising Co., were here for the sign- ing of the papers. They left to- night. Miss Talley and Koestner will leave the air for the summer, returning in the fall for an additional year of broadcasting. Night Editor of U. P. Contracted by CBS Alberto Zelameo, for the past 12 years night editor of foreign service at United Press, yesterday was signed by CBS as a special commentator for Latin-American broadcasts. Zelameo will broadcast daily, effective immedi- ately. In an attempt to improve reception in Latin-American countries, CBS is now changing its short wave fre quency. JO RAN SON, radio editor of the Brooklyn Eagle, now completing the manuscript for a book entitled 'Crime On the Air," for publication in the Spring . . . And while on the subject of tomes, Joe Keely, of N. W. Ayer & Son's publicity staff, in col- laboration with Howard Stephenson, has authored "They Sold Them- selves," now in the bookstalls . . . Larry Menkin, of WMCA's produc- tion staff, yesterday tendered his resig- nation . . . Dick Fischell, of the same station, leaves for a Florida vacation next week . . . + Lester Gottlieb, Mutual's publicity coordinator, back at his desk after a swing around the Mutual circuit . . . Polly Moran set for the Sealtest "Saturday Night Party" March 13 . Dave Casern, formerly head of WOR's publicity department yester- day joined the press staff at NBC . . Ted Church, NBC scribe, back in harness after a siege of grip . . . Martin Rackin, formerly with Meyer Davis, has been added to the WHN press staff. Rackin will handle spe- cial features for out-of-town news- papers . . . Josef Cherniovsky, former Univer- sal picture music head, has written a musical satire now being considered by his old studio . . . Walter B. Pit- kin will be the guest speaker on the Philadelphia Orchestra program next Friday night . . . James E. Sauter, of Air Features, back from Washington . Richard Himber has been signed for pictures . . . Jack Holt and Anne Shirley were heard on Jackie Coop- er's Mutual program last night and again Wednesday. . . . Fannie Hurst will speak over WOR this Thursday at 3:45 P. M. . . . NBC Starts Coast Expansion Hollywood, March 8. — The ex- pansion program of NBC is now in full swing here. Current facilities on the property now occupied by the company will eventually be doubled This move, according to Lenox R Lohr, president, reverses the organi- zation's former plans and indicates the purchases of more property and hold- ings here. Larry White is due here tomorrow to succeed Pete DeLima as head of the NBC Artists' Bureau. Large space in the NBC Bldg. is now occupied by the local office of J. Walter Thompson advertising agency. WHN Adds Two Series The Eastern Nu-Enamel Co through Neff-Rogow, has contracted for 54 100-word announcements on WHN, beginning tomorrow. The con tract is for six months. Additionally on WHN, the trans cribed Chevrolet series starring Ru binoff will be aired three times week ly at 6:15 P. M., beginning today Campbell-Ewald is the agency. Hollywood Town Pump Hollywood, March 8. — CBS's "Western Homes," with Tom Brene- man master of ceremonies, moves to Hollywood from San Francisco Mon- day. This is the first definite date. . . . Val and Ernie Stanton were on the Gilmore Circus over NBC Pacific Coast red Saturday night. . . . Doug- les Fairbanks, Jr., will be interviewed by Elza Schallert over NBC on March 19. . . . Harry Elliott, head of the CBS western news bureau, in Hollywood for a couple of days to look around. + New Haven Town Pump New Haven, March 8. — Gordon Bootery has renewed its WBRY con- tract after a few weeks' absence from the air. It's a Sunday Kiddie Revue. . . . WBRY's 12:30-1:30 amateur hour has been switched to a profes- sional variety show. Perelmutter- Doran are sponsors. . . . "Are Con- sumers' Cooperatives Democratic?" is the subject of a debate to be given on WELI Sunday at 4 P. M., E. S. T., the Teachers' Forum broadcast. . . . James Milne, WELI director, is or- ganizing a light opera company for the station. Dr. Vittorio Racca, research associ- ate of the Institute of Human Relations, Yale, will be guest of the Italian Civic Project on WICC Monday night from 8:15 to 8:30, E. S. T. Broadcasters Incorporate Dover, Del., March 8. — Metropoli- tan Radio Service, Inc., has been in- corporated here to engage in radio broadcasting. A capital of $100,000 has been listed. Incorporators are A. L. I. Lofland, Rebecca Dunn and Marian L. Chipman of Dover. New Shows On the Air "Pretty Kitty Kelly" "Pretty Kitty Kelly" is the title of the sobby serial which last night re- placed the adventure strip, "Renfrew of the Mounted" for the Wonder Bread Co. on CBS. Capsule criticism : Preposterous as to story, but capably presented. The story opens on board a tramp steamer bound for America out of Dublin. Patrick Conway, traveling steerage, no longer can stand the groans of the pretty girl locked in the cabin adjoining his, and sends for the ship's doctor. After a battle with a Mrs. Meekham, an old harridan in whose cabin Kitty is held prisoner, they find our heroine in a stupor, ap- parently drugged. Revived, Kitty, a "fair-haired, blue- eyed colleen," cannot tell them who she is. Amnesia, says the doctor. An orphan, says harridan Meekham. A kidnapped heiress, says Patrick Con- way. Bosh, says we. "Pretty Kitty Kelly" is offered Mondays through Fridays at 6:45 P. M., E.S.T. on CBS. CKY, CKX Manitoba Report Net Profit Winnipeg, March 8. — Net profit for Manitoba government-owned stations CKY, Winnipeg, and CKX, Brandon, for the last year was $13,857.52, ac- cording to a report tabled in the Mani- toba Legislature now in session. The stations are operated by the Manitoba telephone system. Profits for CKY, the Winnipeg 15,- 000-watter, was $16,437.76, including commercial time sold and remunera- tion from the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. for network shows carried. CKX, Brandon, working on a limited schedule with no commercials, suffered a loss of $2,580.24. Previous to last December, CKX. was on the air daily from 7 to 11 P. M. carrying all CBC features as sustainers, and for an hour at noon with no commercials. In Decembpr power was upped from 100 to 1,000 watts, new equipment installed, staff increased, and the schedule increased to 15 hours daily. Commercials are now beginning to trickle in. CKY, most powerful in Canada, at the same time increased its schedule from 11 to approximately 16 hours daily. New modern studios are under construction in the telephone buildine. although work was delayed recently by a $30,000 fire. Commercials for both stations, in- dividually or as a two-station net, are handled by Taylor, Pearson & Carson, Calgary, Alta. Petrillo Orders New Chicago Music Rules (Continued from page 1) may be made by local musicians but may not be used by any radio station unless the station, in its broadcast of the recorded music, retains the same number of musicians standing by as were used in making the record. Petrillo also hopes to enforce the rule forbidding theatres which charge more than 25 cents from using any sound film made here unless the the- atre employs the same number of musicians as were used in making the recording. Theatres charging less than 25 cents would be required to hire an organist or pianist. Since there are very few sound films made here, Petrillo hopes to extend his campaign to include union musi- cians in coast studios, so that no sound film could be shown unless the theatres met the union's terms. The action is seen as a move to stop broadcasts of recordings in local sta- tions. If players are actually used in these broadcasts it is expected the union head will approve the use of transcriptions for commercials and the like. As stations are now operating under annual contract with the union, no programs have been halted as yet. It is expected, however, that with the expiration of contracts the fight will come out into the open. Local officials are understood to feel the situation can be worked out with little difficulty. "Prof. Quiz" The past Saturday marked the first of the "Prof. Quiz" airings as a com- mercial. Previously the series had been offered by CBS as a sustainer. These "quiz" programs are great fun. Tricky questions are asked'of members of the studio audiences, and the sillier the answer the greater the chuckle. Not only for those in the studio, but for the listener-in as well. The reason for the appeal of "quiz" and "spelling bee" programs is ele- mental. Most folks have a perverted sense of humor ; therefore we laugh when a man slips on a banana peel, or when a person is smacked in the face with a custard pie. Remember the old screen comedies? It tickles most people, too, when a foolish answer is publicly given to a problem that at first hearing seems so simple as to call for snap answers. The answers are positively uproarious on occasion. Prof. Quiz is an anonymous gen- tleman who conducts the program. For the contest value, listeners are asked to send their favorite posers for a cash prize. Nash-Kelvinator sponsors. The series is offered Saturdays at 8 P. M., ES.T. Banner "Northern Lights" Cleveland, March 8. — "Northern Lights," sustaining program over WTAM, Thursday 11:30 to mid- night, E. S. T., featured Wally Pooler in the role of Joe Peno, Canadian trapper, in a 10-20-30-cent melodrama of other days, with a modern musical interlude by the Earl Rohlfs Quartet and Stubby Gordon's orchestra. The program was dramatically pro- duced in French Canadian dialect. This week's episode told how old Joe exposed the villain who almost won the village belle because he held her father's notes and reunited her with her sweetheart. The drama closed with Marion Nadea singing "Waiting at the Church." The program is alright for those who indulge in cheap melodrama, but I holds no interest for critical dialers. Alert, Intelligent the In In All Branches MOTION PICTURE DAILY The Leading VOL. 41. NO. 57 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1937 TEN CENTS Figure Seven Million Para. Debentures in Yesterday the Last Day; May Sell New Notes An estimated $7,000,000 of Para- mount's six per cent debentures were exchanged for an equal amount of the company's new three and one-half per cent convertible debentures up to yes- terday afternoon, the final day of the exchange period. A total of $15,000,000 of the new three and one-half per cent convertible debentures has been authorized and in- dications are that the balance of the new debentures will be sold private- ly and the proceeds used for calling in an equal amount of the outstanding six per cent debentures at par plus accrued interest. Paramount's annual report, which is expected to show a net of $5,500,000 to $6,000,000 for 1936, is expected late this month or early in April. Net for the year reflects the benefit of a (Continued on page 4) Sunday Bill Causes Fight in Delaware Dover, Del., March 9. — Theatre in- terests from all parts of the state are rallying to the support of a bill in the legislature here which would per- mit Sunday films, while protests are pouring in from churches against pas- sage of the bill. A. Joseph Defiore of Wilmington, president of the M.P.T.O. of Dela- ware and the Eastern Shore of Mary- land declared today that the experi- ence of other states does not show any decrease in church attendance, but that films have a good influence, on children particularly, in keeping them off the streets. In all 17 churches in various communities of the state have entered protests. Divorce Effective Year After Signing Distribution companies will be re- quired to divorce their theatre inter- ests in North Dakota within a year after Governor William H. Langer signs the bill as passed by the House and the Senate, if it is signed, it was stated yesterday by Bennie Berger, former president of the Independent Theatre Owners of Minnesota. The Senate late last week passed the bill by a vote of 39 to seven after the House had voted 76 to 30 in favor of it. Violations will be punishable by (Continued on page 4) Key Grosses Strong Despite Lent; Total is $1,849,622 Lent has failed to put the usual dent in first run grosses. All during February totals for the 29 key cities reporting to Motion Picture Daily were better than during the closing weeks of January. For the week ending Feb. 26-27 the total was $1,849,622, the best show- ing, with the exception of the two rush weeks following New Year's, since last September. One hundred and sixty-eight first runs were open. For the previous week, ending Feb. 19-20, the total was $1,621,495. That was the opening week of Lent. The gains for the closing week of February were fairly uniform throughout the country, being regis- tered in 21 of the 29 keys from which reports were received. They were : Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleve- land, Denver, Detroit, Houston, In- dianapolis, Kansas City, Louisville, Milwaukee, Montreal, New Haven, New York, Omaha, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Providence, San Francisco and Seattle. [Comparative tabulation on page 12J British Gov't Has No Power InWoolfDeal By BRUCE ALLAN London, March 9. — The British Government "has no power to inter- fere in the internal affairs of these companies," declared Walter Runci- man, president of the Board of Trade, in the House of Commons today, re- plying to questions by Sir Arnold Wilson relative to the Gaumont Brit- ish distribution deal with C. M. Woolf's General Film Distributors. Referring to the control of G. B. through alleged foreign domination of Metropolis and Bradford Trust, holding company controlling the ma- jority of the stock interest in G.B., Runciman declared in answer to _ a query from Sir Arnold that official data indicated that there are 12 direc- tors, of which 10 are British and two are American. Three individuals, all British, held the controlling interest in Metropolis and Bradford, Runci- man said. "The Government has no power to (Continued on page 8) M-G-M's European Plan Up for Talks M-G-M's production plans in Eng- land will be announced on the coast within the next week or so, following conferences in Hollywood among pro- duction and home office executives. Ben Goetz arrived yesterday on the Queen Mary to discuss the British setup. He will leave by plane either (Continued on page 8) French Unions Urge National Film Industry By PIERRE AUTRE Paris, March 1. — The creation of a French national film industry, vir- tually controlled by the Government, is advocated by the daily newspaper, Le Peuple, which is the official organ of the Confederation Generale du Travail, the French trade unions. The whole French industry has been stirred to vigorous protest by the pub- lication of the plan, having been aroused particularly by the statement published in connection with the plan that, "It is by taking the film industry from the hands of its present masters that it will be saved." Highlighting the plan is the na- tionalization of production, calling for the Government purchase by annuities of all studios and laboratories, and the construction of a new plant for the manufacture of raw stock. Pro- duction also would be nationalized under Government subsidy annually, (Continued on page 8) Ontario Will Drop All Ticket Levies Toronto, March 9. — Amusement taxes in Ontario, including those on theatres, will be totally abolished, Premier M. F. Hepburn stated today in his budget speech before the On- tario legislature. The elimination of the nuisance levies, which had brought $1,800,000 to the treasury during the past year, will be effective June 1. At that time Ontario will be Can- (Continued on Page 12) Asserts Radio Controls Most Music Talent Charge Made at Hearing On Dickstein Bill By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, March 9. — Allega- tions of monopoly of musical talent by the NBC and Columbia artists' bureaus, the indicated disapproval of the State Dept., and the asserted fear of reprisals by producers against actors appearing in favor of the legis- lation were the high spots today of the final hearing before the House Immi- gration Committee on the Dickstein Alien Actor Bill. Disappointed by the absence of the screen and stage stars whom he prom- ised last week would be present, Rep- resentative Dickstein called only John Additional developments in the radio field on pages 10 and 11. Farr Simmons, chief of the visa office of the State Dept., and gave additional time to Charles H. Freeman, New York concert manager. Although a number of others, in- cluding Gabriel Hess, counsel for the Hays organization, sought to be heard on the amendments which he wrote into the bill after last week's hearings, Dickstein refused to call any further witnesses, but said that the committee (Continued on page 11) Fox Theatres Loss Placed at $435,880 Fox Theatres Corp. showed a loss of $435,880 during the three and one- half-year receivership period from June 22, 1932, to Dec. 31, last, result- ing in a deficit at present of $35,298,- 413, according to the financial report of Milton C. Weisman, receiver, filed with the U. S. District Court here yesterday. Weisman placed a valuation of $9,- 596,699 on the company's assets. (Continued on page 4) Three New Speakers For MPTOA Meeting Three additional speakers may be added to the M. P. T. O. A. conven- tion program, which is now virtually complete, it was stated yesterday at M. P. T. O. A. headquarters here. Invitations have gone out to Sena- tor James J. Davis of Pennsylvania, (Continued on page 8) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, March 10, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 March 10, 1937 No. 57 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN. Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published dally except Sunday and Jiolidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc., Martin Quigley, president: Colvln Brown, vice-president and tr Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco. New York." All content, copyrighted 1937 by Qulglc- Publishing Company, Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- cations' MOTION PICTURE HERALU. BETTER THEATRES, TEATRO AL DU . INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Sts.; Boone Mancall. Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave.. C. B. O'Neill. \1 2113 gt?r WASHINGTON: Albee Building. Bertram V. Linz. Representative. AMSTERDAM: Zulder Amstellaan 5; Philip Oe Schaap, Representative. ..„ _« . u. BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 35: Joachim K. Butenberg. Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest u: Endre He\esi, Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientea 2495; N. Bruskl. Representative. _ , HELSINKI: Fredriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszlo. Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Bauare. W. 1; Bruce Allan. Representative. Cable address. Quigpubco, Lon- don. MELBOURNE : Begent Theatre Buildings. 191 Collins St.; Cliff Holt. Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart, Representative. MONTEVIDEO: P. O. Box 664; Paul Bodo. Bep- MOSCOW: PetrovskI Per 8; Beatrice Stern. Rep- resentative. PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre, Repre- sentative. PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2. Prague 1; Harry Knopf, Representative. RIO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 3358: A. Welsh- man, Representative. ROME: Vlale Gorizia; Vittorio Malpassutl. Rep- SHANGHAI: Rooms 38-41. Capital Theatre Build- ing, 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler, Repre- STOCKHOLM: Kungsgatan 36; Ragnar Atlberg, Representative, TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka, Ichlkawa-shl. Cnlba-Ken; H. Tomlnaga, Bepresentative. VIENNA: Nuestiftgasse. 55; Vienna VII; Hans Lorant, Bepresentative. WARSAW : Sienna 32; B. Slllei. Representative. 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 $6 In the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Roosevelt Sets Kennedy Washington, March 9. — President Roosevelt today nominated Joseph P. Kennedy, whose most recent film ac- tivity was as adviser to Paramount, as chairman of the new United States Maritime Commission. The group would exercise a jurisdiction over shipping similar to that of the Inter- state Commerce Commission over rail- roads. Two Plays Closing "Fulton of Oak Falls," which opened at the Morosco Feb. 10, closes Saturday night. "Red Hot and Blue," which opened at the Alvin Oct. 29, is now slated to close its New York run April 10. "Patsy" Is Screened "Storm Over Patsy," which opened at the Guild Monday night, has just been completed in an English film version by Victor Saville for Alex- ander Korda, under the play's title as played in London, "Storm in a Teacup." Heading the cast is Vivian Leigh and Sara Allgood, the latter featured in the cast of the Guild's production here. Motion Picture Daily's review, written before word of the film arrived, suggested there was a potentially entertaining film in the play. Insiders' Outlook By RED KANN LJ ARRY M. WARNER, now on the high seas, Italy- bound, left this behind him for the Apiil issue of American Maga- zine : Courage to fight against conven- tion and ascend above life's ordi- nary limitations is always bubbling to the surface of the human race. But the usual impulse is toward security, and the innovator is often distrusted. The great poets, the great playwrights, the magnificent artists of the Renaissance, all un- derwent a period of condemnation — the condemnation which so fre- quently comes to the new and un- tried. But scorn and even down- right hostility have never been able to still the pens and brushes that have something important to tell the world. There are no chains which can shackle genius and initiative for long, and surely it is better so. For genius and ini- ative, whether in individual cases sound or unsound, are the stimu- lants which keep our minds from retrogression. Ideas cradled in public disrepute have time and time again combined to change the face of the earth, to man's ulti- mate gain. Today initiative is as essential on the lower levels as in the strato- sphere where genius lives, and, in the business world, men with novel ideas are no longer regarded as suspect. An employee who waits to be told what to do is, in the long run, merely waiting for dis- missal. When we hire a worker in our business, whether a great actor or the humblest laborer, we set a market price on the least that we expect from him. If he exceeds our expectations, our en- thusiasm is boundless. Sound ideas and the energy to execute those ideas are the escala- tors on which an employee rises automatically to success. No em- ployer refuses to pay liberally for initiative. It is the one irreplace- able ingredient of progress. With- out it the doors of any business would be closed in a few short months. Sometimes a definite pattern of life, whatever its apparent advan- tages, can be a potent danger to a man's advancement. The main- tenance of the status quo in in- dustry or politics or in a nation is as impossible of achievement as the prolongation of an April day. The sun will not wait, nor will the world. Empires, religions, and great industrial establishments alike have toppled into oblivion for lack of elasticity to move with changing times. And a man who holds to a set pattern, who fails to realize that a blend of initia- tive and tenacity is indispensable, wakes one morning to find himself out of step with an era which long since passed him by. Hardening of the intellectual arteries is a dangerous ailment, both to its pos- sessor and to humanity at large. Petrified trees maintain the status quo, but they build no houses. From the head of the company daring to produce "The Story of Louis Pasteur," "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "Green Pas- tures," this commands respect . . . T T Minsky decorating the Con- gressional Record with the pro- nouncement that "stripping is definitely an American art," you might have thought, represented the epitome of something not quite clear. Now along comes Fern Andra, a Continental im- portation who cut no swath dur- ing her Hollywood period of em- ployment. It appears she went to England in '30 to make a picture and thereafter was "harassed" by her home office for reasons not divulged. Her over-all conclu- sion before the Dickstein commit- tee was that "America would be just as great if there were no Europe to send pictures to." Even if you grant the point, would the film industry be as great or as prosperous ? Fewer pictures are exported than is generally be- lieved, was another of her gems of loose talk, leading to the con- clusion obvious that Miss Andra might better confine her activities to acting. Others will take care of the international situation . . . T T A rapidly-narrowing, world, we are afraid, wherein freedom of action and speech are forever more challenged. The Spanish Insurgent government has banned all pictures acted or directed by names now included in General Franco's proscribed list. For in- stance, Paul Muni, Luise Rainer, Lewis Milestone, Frank Tuttle, Upton Sinclair, Clifford Odets, Liam O'Flaherty, Dudley Nich- ols, Humphrey Cobb, who had a thing or two to say about reac- tionary militarism in France dur- ing the World War, and Kenneth MacGowan. No official reason was announced, the assumption being an expressed approval or a sympathy for the Spanish Gov- ernment. Whether you agree or not, the right of individual opin- ion should continue to be an in- alienable one. Fascism and Hit- lerism, however, have their own ideas . . . T While the typewriter finds it- self dealing with despotism in government, cabled word from Berlin on the serious decline in German production impresses as ironic and not a bit unfunny. Dr. Lehnick, president of the Reich Film Department, is doing the complaining. Almost naively, he states German studios have been gearing themselves to an output "nationally characteristic," a step which he says the world has ap- proved. All very well for con- sumption within German, which (.Continued on Page 5) English Trade Was Affected By Abdication London, March 1. — The Abdica- tion of King Edward VIII "emptied theatres until the close of the year," says the annual report of the Cine— matograph Exhibitors' Ass'n just issued. When public events of any kind absorb the public's attention, it is added, "it is almost impossible to per- suade them to maintain their regular attendances." The report records an increase in the number of theatres in membership of the association of 197, this year's total standing at 4,145 as against 3,948. The association admits that a solu- tion has still to be found to the prob- lem of overbuilding and, after a reference to the Moyne Committee's suggestion of a films commission to handle trade problems hints that the problem of "redundant" theatres may "prove to be only capable of solution by legislation or by the trade as a whole." Cooperation with the British Broad- casting Corp. and with newsreel com- panies, to prevent television becoming a menace to the trade, is advocated. "Legislation dealing with British films is likely to be the main concern of this trade for at least the coming year," says the report in another pas- sage dealing with the association's representations to the Moyne Com- mittee. The Moyne recommendations, it says, "showed that a substantial amount of the evidence submitted by the General Council had been ac- cepted," but nervousness is expressed lest the boom in British production "might so suddenly exhaust itself that the numbers of British pictures . . . would be reduced." This factor, sug- gests the report, should have an important bearing on future quota legislation. Friars to Give Frolic The Friars' Club will hold a frolic at the Alvin on March 28 at 8:30 P. M. Talent already promised in- cludes : James Barton, Reginald Gor- don, Bob Hope, George M. Cohan, Bert Lahr, Jimmy Durante, Harry Hershfield, J. C. Flippen, Buster West, Rudy Vallee, The Three Swifts, Mels, Kirk and Howard, Vin- cent Lopez, Benny Fields, Eddie Davis, Gil Gary, Ken Kling, Harry Fisher, Jan Peerce, Paul Draper, Cross and Dunn, Smith and Dale. Skelly Services Friday Funeral services for Joseph P. Skelly, manager of exchange opera- tions for RKO, who died suddenly in St. Louis on Monday, will be held Friday from his parish church at Rockaway Ave. and Eastern Park- way, Brooklyn, at 10 A.M. The body is now at the funeral parlors of Feeney & Son, Brooklyn. MacLean May Join G. N. Hollywood, March 9.— Douglas MacLean is negotiating a deal with Edward L. Alperson for the produc- tion of four Grand National pictures annually. The final signing is ex- pected before the weekend. i MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, March 10, 1937 Figure Seven Million Para. Debentures in (.Continued from page 1) $2,500,000 special inventory reserve set up out of 1935 earnings and ap- plied in its entirety to 1936 opera- tions. Indications are that the company s common stock will be placed on a divi- dend basis in the near future to make conversion of the new debentures and the outstanding preferred stock at- tractive. The new debentures are convertible into common at $33 1/3 up to 1942 and at $40 a share there- after. Paramount B' way's 1936 Loss $326,991 The balance sheet of the Para- mount Broadway Corp. for the year ending Dec. 31, 1936, shows a net loss of $326,991.81. Income from opera- tions during 1936 was $923,500.40. Operating expenses, insurance, taxes, interest, leasing, depreciation and amortization totaled to $1,250,492.21. The deficit of 1936 compares with a net loss of $166,536.22 for 1935 and brings the company's total deficit, after the deduction of $39,213.75 for discount on bonds purchased and re- tired, to $454,314.28. W. E. Declares 60c Dividend The board of directors of Western Electric at its meeting yesterday de- clared a dividend of 60 cents per share on its common stock. The dividend is payable March -31 to holders of record at the close of business March 25. Skouras Promotes Fuchs Harry Fuchs, formerly manager of Skouras' two theatres in Port Ches- ter, has been promoted to supervisor of the circuit's Westchester houses. The territory includes the Scarsdale and Bronxville theatres recently taken over from Nick Paley and Jack Rosenthal. George Skouras has returned from a short vacation in Miami. TO CALIFORNIA OVERNIGHT To Los Angeles or San Francisco; in NEW 14-berth Flagship Sleepers, on the all-year Southern Transcontinental Route. Sleep in a comfortable berth. Phone VAnderbilt 3-2580 or your travel agent Ticket Office— 45 Vanderbilt Ave. AMERICAN AIRLINES inc. i Purely Personal ► BENNY BERGER, Bemidji, Minn., exhibitor and prominent in the af- fairs of Allied of the Northwest, is in town and sails for Europe today. Rube Jackter and Max Weisfeldt of Columbia had him in tow at The Tavern for lunch yesterday. • Bob Gillham will leave for Miami on Sunday. After attending the_M. P. T. O. A. sessions and a meeting of Paramount partners, he will go to Key West for a fishing vacation. • Jack Ellis, local RKO salesman and editor of the Reel, house organ of the M. P. Associates, is vacation- ing at Miami. The first issue of the Reel is now out. • William A. Johnston is in New York from Hollywood in connection with Hollywood Now, a new monthly publication which marks his latest enterprise. • Wadsworth Camp's magazine story, "West Coast Limited," has been purchased by Universal. The company has also bought William Rankin's "Washington Correspon- dent." • Lee Newbury, president of Allied of New Jersey, is sojourning in the south. The unit will hold a meeting next Tuesday, its first in months. • Roy E. Larsen, vice-president of Time, Inc., has returned from Holly- wood, where he received the Academy award presented for the "March of Time." • Hal B. Wallis gets in from the coast today and will head west to- morrow in company of Gradwell Sears and Carl Leserman. • Thomas Doods, chairman of At- lantic Films of London, sails on the Queen Mary today. Harry M. Goetz will be another passenger. • Helen O'Toole, the M. P. T. O. A. secretariat complete in New York, has left for Miami and the impend- ing convention. • Lillian Fischer, fashion adviser for "Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1938," left yesterday on the Century for the coast. • Leo Spitz will arrive from the coast today. He was due yesterday, but stopped over at Chicago to visit his family. • Helen Flint has arrived in New York to attend the opening at the Rialto of "Sea Devils," in which she appears. • Ed DePar, Warner cameraman, is in from the coast to take some special local color shots. • Glenda Farrell and Dorothy Mackaill sail today on the Queen Mary. • William Gedris of Ideal Seating, Grand Rapids, is visiting local dealers. • Arthur Loew has returned from a cross-country automobile trip. • Eugene Picker will return today from Miami. MEYER SCHINE who returned Monday from a five-week vaca- tion, at Miami, left yesterday after- noon for Gloversville. John May and George Lynch came down to meet him. May accompanied Schine back to the upstate city while Lynch will leave for the circuit's headquarters to- day. Louis Schine is now in Miami and on Sunday, Meyer will again head for the M. P. T. O. A. convention by plane. • William Honeywell (Bill) Mur- phy, Erpi's eastern sales representa- tive, returned to his duties at the home office yesterday after four weeks of the grippe and subsequent injuries when he sprained both ankles. • Edward A. Golden, general sales manager of Monogram, will address the M. P. Institute of Grover Cleve- land High School today. • Oscar Doob, director of advertis- ing and publicity for Loew's, is back from a three-week sojourn in Florida. • E. C. Mills, Ascap general man- ager, is expected back here next week from a trip to the south and far west. • Isidore Rappaport left for Balti- more yesterday after a short stay in town on bookings for the Hippodrome. • William J. Kupper, 20th Century- Fox sales executive, left via Ameri- can Airlines for Dallas yesterday. • George MacDonald, husband of Jean Parker, left for the coast yes- terday via plane. • S. R. Kent has returned from his Florida vacation. • Dave Palfreyman left last night for Miami. Hospital Drive Set For Start April 30 The annual drive to raise funds for the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital, Saranac, will be held during the week beginning April 30, according to Major L. E. Thompson. The following committees have been named by Major Thompson: Advisory— Will H. Hays, E. L. Al- person, R. H. Cochrane, Jack Cohn, S. R. Kent, George J. Schaefer, Nich- olas Schenck, Leo Spitz, H. M'. War- ner, H. J. Yates and Adolph Zukor. Distribution — Neil F. Agnew, John D. Clark, James R. Grainger, Jules Levy, J. J. Milstein, Abe Montague, Edward J. Peskay, William F. Rod- gers, Gradwell L. Sears, A. W. Smith, Jr., and George W. Weeks. Exhibitors — Joseph Bernhard, Harry Brandt, Y. Frank Freeman, Ed Kuykendall, Abram F. Myers, C. C. Moskowitz, George P. Skouras, Spyros Skouras, W. G. Van Schmus and Walter Vincent. Executive — J. Henry Walters, E. V. Rickenbacker and Harold Rodner. Munro May Visit U. S. Sydney, Feb. 9 (By Air Mail Via London)— It is reported that Charles E. Munro^ managing director of Hoyts and joint managing director of General Theatres Corp., will visit New York about the middle of the year. Consolidated Net at 23 Cents Per Share The 1936 net profit of Consolidated Film Industries, Inc., amounting to $919,515, as reported yesterday, is equal after all charges, including taxes and annual dividend require- ments on the $2 cumulative partici- pating preferred stock, to 23 cents per share on 524,973 shares of com- mon stock outstanding. This com- pares with a net profit of $1,077,450, equal to 53 cents per share, for 1935. Current assets Dec. 31, 1936, in- cluding $163,284 cash, amounted to ,448,842 and current liabilities, were $2,007,275. In a letter to stockholders Herbert J. Yates, president, states that the proposed recapitalization plan has been held up, pending a decision of the Supreme Court of Delaware on the validity of the plan. The manage- ment expects the decision about March 19, and will notify stockholders following the decision. Pending the decision, no dividends have been de- clared since the payment of $1 on the preferred on Dec. 31, last. Divorce Effective Year After Signing (Continued from page 1) $10,000 fine, one year in jail, or both, Berger said. A proposed amendment to provide for affiliated theatres re- taining their present interests with the understanding they cannot expand has been defeated, it was stated. Para- mount's partners have about 10 the- atres in North Dakota. A House committee in Minnesota recently recommended unanimous pas- sage of a similar bill. Another bill of the same kind has been introduced in the Senate there so that both bills will go before the same legislative bodies at the same time. Fox Theatres Loss Placed at $435,880 (Continued from page 1) against a book val°- of $10,091,171. Cash on hand amounted to $753,353. Investments in and advances to sub- sidiaries were listed at $28,693,904. The report stated that claims amounting to $26,634,741 have been settled for $5,714,858. Claims amount- ing to $6,873,354 are still undecided. Realization of assets resulted in a book loss of $9,057,573, according to the report. A loss of $39,347 for the six- month period ending last Dec. 31 was reported. 'Salem9 and Goodman $60,000 First Week The first week of "Maid of Salem" ended last night at the Paramount with approximately $60,000. Benny Goodman and his band are the stage attraction. The weekend matinee topped attendance records for any pic- ture, according to Bob Weitman. On Monday, from opening to 1 P. M., there were 9,700 customers, a new record for any matinee at the the- atre, he said. Goodman's appeal has been strong. He has been inviting the audience to dance in the aisles and on the stage. At a number of shows persons in the audience have accepted the invita- tion. The combination show will con- time for another two weeks. Wednesday, March 10, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY "Blonde" and Waring Wow In Cleveland Cleveland, March 9. — "Smart Blonde" and Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians were the big box- office draw of the week at the RKO s Palace. The take soared to $28,500, just $1,500 below double average. "Green Light" at the Allen for a second week downtown following a big week at Warners' Hippodrome, went 50 per cent over par to a gross of $7,500. Average is $5,000. "When You're in Love" finished the week at Warners' Hippodrome wtfth a par score of $10,000. Total first run business was $62,000. Average is $51,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 5 : "GREEN LIGHT" (F.N.) ALLEN — (3,300), 30c-35c-42c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $5,000) "MAID OF SALEM" (Para.) LOEWS STATE — (3 ,400) , 30c-35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $15,000) "THE LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY" (M-G-M) LOEWS S TILLMAN — (1 ,900) , 30c-35c-42c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $6,000) "SMART BLONDE" (W.B.) RKO PALACE— (3,100), 30c-42c-60c, 7 days. Stage: Fred Waring and His Penn- sylvanians. Gross: $28,500. (Average, $15,000) "WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE" (Col.) WARNERS' HIPPODROME — (3,800), 30c-35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Aver- age, $10,000) Insiders' Outlook (.Continued from page 2) | To Deny Brandt Charges A general denial of breach of con- tract and conspiracy charges filed by Harry Brandt against Loew's, M-G-M, Universal, Columbia and United Artists will be made when answers are returnable on March 25, it was learned yesterday. Answers are now being prepared by attorneys of the major companies. Wall Street Paramount Drops on Board Net High Low Close Change Columbia 3654 3534 36J4 + 34 Consolidated 434 434 434 — 54 Consolidated, pfd.. 16J4 1654 165-6 — Vi Eastman Kodak ..16854 168 168 —1 Eastman, pfd 161 15954 161 +1 Gen. T. Equip 2954 29 29 Loew's, Inc 8034 79'4 8034 + V& Paramount 2654 2534 25% — 54 Paramount 1 pfd.. 184 182 182 -^54 Paramount 2 pfd.. 24 2334 2334 — 34 Pathe Film 834 854 854 RKO &Vs &34 834 — 54 20th Century-Fox. 373/£ 3634 3734 + 34 20th Century, pfd.. 4654 46 4654 +1 Universal, pfd 102 102 102 +154 Warner Bros 1534 1534 1534 — Vt Warner, pfd 62 62 62 —2 Little Curb Movement Net High Low Close Change Grand National ..354 354 354 Sentry Safety .... % % % Sonotone 2 2 2 Technicolor 2134 2054 2054 — 54 Trans -Lux 5 4% Loeufs Only Bond Movement Net High Low Close Change Loew's 354s '46.... 9934 99 99 — 54 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 10034 10054 10054 Warner Bras. 6s '39 wd 9854 98 98 (Quotations at close of March 9) are controlled, boundaries, but in- effectual and wholly untrue in all others. For, while Germany has been doing a job in preserving national characteristics which the rest of the world continues to look upon with shock and alar- ums, the fundamental obligation, in a commercial sense, of turning out a product which entertains has been lost sight of almost en- tirely. For Lehnick, therefore, to declare Germany's "cultural char- acteristics" must be preserved while output does not suffer can only mean a further dissipation of money on the altar of the bloat- ed Nazi ego and the hastening of another Teutonic industry toward irrevocable collapse . . . T That Berlin is conscious of the antipathy toward its films on the outside is evident in the cloaking of the true origin of many of its pictures. A film actually pro- duced in France with a native cast does not make it French. There is reason to believe this is being indulged in as a regular practice, the money bags and the control tracing back to Germany by direct financing or through a French distributing agency, Ber- lin-paid. We say France as a case in point, but the nations bor- dering Germany on all sides are not ruled out. Consider "Amphi- tryon" where the Nazis were nabbed at their own trickery. Ef- forts to establish proof in other directions and with other films have been extremely difficult. The American exhibitor, as a conse- quence, is faced by circumstances, •neatly disguised and not readily susceptible of proof. If he is in- terested in warding off possible offense to any of his patrons, our suggestion is that he tread with extreme care and, where the is- sue is not entirely in the clear, to divert his energies to other lines . . . T T Those seven hundred children who went into a sit-down strike at Mexia, Texas, a few days ago in protest over a poor program of shorts suggest a number of possi- bilities. Not the least is the hope the idea does not spread around the land. If children, or adults for that matter, are to sit down and eventually get a refund every time they get an indifferent at- traction, grosses would hit the ground with a dull thud and seat replacements make the chair com- panies rolling in wealth. Yet at that, there is always a worse side. Grad Sears, for instance, knows of a house in Texas where the folks don't sit down. When dis- satisfied, they tear the seats from their floor sockets and carry them off. That's so they don't have to come back some other night . . . T T Now that J. J. Franklin's suit for $300,000 in triple damages under the Sherman anti-trust law has been settled by stipulation, some of your best known sales managers are slightly morose. Dealing with exhibition in the Islands, a trip to Honolulu would not have been so bad. At the proper season, of course . . . T T A forthcoming Grand National release is "Girl Loves Boy." Not far removed from "Boy Meets Girl," the Alex Yokel show, long a Broadway success and a camera job for the Warner lot. From this sort of apparent minu- tae much has been known to happen . . . Teacher Hits State Picture Censorship Columbus, March 9. — Censorship of films can be obtained more effect- ively by the public's refusal to patro- nize "objectionable" films than by state boards, declared Edgar Dale, film chairman of the Congress of Parents and Teachers, today. "I believe that picture censorship violates the principles of free speech," Dale said. "One of the implications of censorship is the concent that there are a few strong-minded, intelligent people who can view any picture with- out injury and that the rest are weak- minded." Van Schmus — UA Confer Hollywood, March 9. — W. G. Van Schmus today conferred with Dr. A. H. Giannini, president of United Art- ists, George J. Schaefer and other U. A. executives with the object of setting a deal for the company's prod- uct at the New York house. American Atlantic Films Formed Here Formation of American Atlantic Films, Inc., subsidiary of Atlantic Films, Ltd., of England, was an nounced yesterday by Thomas Dodds, chairman of the English board and president of the American company. Joan Du Guerny is vice-president and secretary of American Atlantic Films. Dodds will sail for England today on the Queen Mary after being here three weeks. He said his company planned to make two and possibly three more pictures this season. The first, "Thunder in the City," with Ed ward G. Robinson, was completed some time ago and is being handled by United Artists throughout the world except in the United States and Canada. Columbia is releasing in those territories. Discussions are under way with Loew's, Columbia and 20th Century- Fox for the additional films to be pro- duced, Dodds said. No deal will be signed until the English board ap- 802 to Ask Meeting On Shows with RKO Local 802 of the American Federa- tion of Musicians today will address a letter to Major L. E. Thompson of RKO requesting a conference with a view to a settlement of the demands of the music union, it was learned yesterday. The letter is in line with the decision reached at a monthly union membership meeting held Mon- day, to cease all picketing at New York theatres, in favor of concentra- tion on one circuit. The campaign, which has been car- ried on for the past five months, ad- mittedly has been productive of no results. It was said yesterday that if the letter to Thompson is not answered favorably within a "reason- able time," probably three or four days, picketing will be started by the union at 28 RKO houses in Greater New York. The minimum union de- mands, it was indicated, are for at least two orchestras in each of the five boroughs in which the 28 RKO houses are located. A union spokesman declared yester- day that the revision of the campaign plan on the part of the organization, and the complete withdrawal of pickets at New York houses will not be ac- complished for about one week. The purpose of the drive is to bring about the employment of musicians in film houses. There was considerable discussion at Monday's meeting as to the advisability of the new policy, but it finally prevailed. It is understood RKO was selected because it bought out the Keith-Albee circuit, once a major vaudeville circuit, and because RKO uses stage shows in other cities. Jacob Rosenberg, president of 802, re- vealed Monday that the executive committee of the A. F. M. had de- clined to extend the picketing drive to other cities, without the authorization of members at a national convention. Ascap Bill Is Amended Olympia, Wash., March 9.— The Senate has amended a House bill which aims to regulate Ascap. The bill would tax the association $3,000 for each county where royalties are collected for the playing of copy- righted music. It is estimated the bill, if passed, would raise $117,000 annually. Astor Gets Cartoons Astor Pictures Corp. has closed a deal for United States and territorial rights to a series of six Anson Dyer color cartoons featuring "Sam Small," a character popularized by Jack Hyl- ton and his band on the Real Silk radio programs. The first subject will be ready April 15. AFA to Have Party Members of the A. F. A. will hold a "Get-Together Party" at the Palm Gardens, Friday night at 8:30 P. M. proves of terms discussed, he said. The next picture will be "Fascina- tion." _ Robinson may make another for the company, Dodds said, provided a suitable story can be obtained. Miss Du Guerny will make a trip to the coast shortly in search of a number of players. Dodds plans two trans- atlantic trips a year, he said. "Thunder in the City" will have its London pre- miere at the Pavilion tonight. RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, March 10, 1937 French Unions Urge National Film Industry (Continued from page 1) as would the five newsreels now oper- ating in France. Private production would be con- trolled by means of Government censorship of all scripts before pro- duction. No studio would be rented to a producer if he could not furnish the license which the Government would give him following approval of a film script. Distribution would be controlled by the creation of an official organization for exportation and domestic distribu- tion, supplanting the existing com- panies. Exhibition control would take the form of supervision of composi- tion of programs, advertising, exploita- tion and the handling of receipts. A state institute of film technical affairs would supply staffs for studios and provide instruction in the work. A management council for the indus- try would include representatives of the workers, patrons and the "collec- tivity," political appointees who vir- tually would exercise complete control over the industry. As a beginning, the trade unions would nationalize immediately the two largest companies which are in receivership, G. F. F. A. (Gaumont) and Pathe Cinema. Kelly Enthusiastic On Foreign Outlook Hollywood, March 9. — Arthur W. Kelly, manager of foreign sales, United Artists, today told Motion Picture Daily that American films are not now confronted with serious international sales problems and that Hollywood, conscious of the poten- tialities of the foreign market, is planning production accordingly. Kelly plans an extended stay in New York following the close of the current meetings. FOR SVPZR-SPZIV VSt AIR EXPRESS Nation-wide. Covers the continent com- pletely. Delivers day and night to 216 key cities and points between in the United States and Canada. MR EXPRESS DIVISION It a i i. w a v V. x p ii 13 s s A. c; e n cry British Gov't Has No Power InWoolfDeal (Continued from pane 1) initiate special legislation of the type suggested," Runciman declared, re- ferring to a suggestion that the Gov- ernment by legislation forbid foreign domination. Asked why the Government had re- fused the Ostrer offer to turn his shares in Metropolis and Bradford over to the Government, which Ostrer declared last week he had made in 1931, Runciman declared, "I cannot answer that without notice." Ostrer Explains Loss London, March 9. — At the meeting here today of shareholders of Gains- borough Pictures, Ltd., a Gaumont British subsidiary, Mark Ostrer quoted the appeal of his brother, Isi- dore Ostrer, for Anglo-American reciprocity, and cited the disappoint- ing results of G. B. efforts in the United States. He declared, "It was not due to any lack of merit, but we were not accorded playing time in the most important situations, which are almost wholly controlled by American pro- ducing interests. The situation of the company would have been overcome if the anticipated revenue from the United States had been realized." The company reports and accounts were accepted. They showed a trad- ing loss for the year to June 30 last of £79,486. Interest, depreciation and other items bring the total debt to £97,930. It is declared several films did not realize the valuation placed upon them in the previous year's re- port, when a profit of £12,283 was declared and a dividend of nine per cent paid. The issued capital of the company, in which control is held by Gaumont British, is £156,250 and reserves are £20,743. Gainsborough is scheduled to make four pictures for distribution by General Film Distributors under the deal between G. B. and the latter company, which provides for half of production costs. Miss Fields Party Guest Gracie Fields, English comedienne, who arrived yesterday on the Queen Mary, was guest of honor at a cock- tail party given by 20th Century-Fox at the Waldorf-Astoria. About 200 newspaper and trade and fan maga- zine writers attended. Miss Fields will leave by plane on Friday for the coast to confer with studio officials. She is under contract to the company, but no definite plans for her film work have been made as yet. Orders Twickenham End London, March 1. — On the petition of Betty Balfour, the British screen star, a creditor for £59, Justice Ben- nett has made a compulsory winding- up order against Twickenham Film Studios, Ltd. There was a scheme for a voluntary winding-up of the com- pany on the basis of an offer for the studios from Julius Hagen, managing director of the company, which can- not now be applied. Kent Denies Sidney R. Kent, president of 20th Century-Fox, queried yesterday by Motion Picture Daily on the accusation made in London by C. L. Nordon, representing G. B. sharehold- ers, that the American com- pany had a secret agreement with the Ostrers, to permit 20th Century-Fox to vote in shareholders' meetings, de- clared, "I know nothing about it. So many ridiculous stories are coming over here from England that I haven't the time to deny them all." Nordon declared the al- leged arrangement was in- tended to defeat a company bylaw which forbids foreign interests from voting in shareholders' meetings. Ohio I. T. O. Planning Fight on Film Bills Columbus, March 9. — Directors of I. T. O. of Ohio, meeting here today, discussed ways and means of fighting the adverse film legislation now pend- ing in the House and mapped out plans for an organization membership drive for the purpose of gaining nu- merical strength and a united front. Specially considered today were bills calling for the placing of an extra operator in the booths of all theatres seating 300 and over, also the measure calling for a censorship fee of two cents a foot instead of the present $3 per reel. The change, it is claimed, would jeopardize the very business ex- istence of exhibitors in Ohio. Enact- ment of the former bill, it was said, would necessitate the paying of $600,- 000 extra in salaries. Three New Speakers For MPTOA Meeting (Continued from page 1 ) Robert H. Jackson, Assistant U. S. Attorney General, and Sol A. Rosen- blatt, attorney and former N.R.A. film code administrator, to address the clos- ing business session of the national convention, March 18. All have indi- cated that they will accept if their business schedules permit. Scattered delegations from New England, New York, Philadelphia and Washington start for Miami today and tomorrow, where the M. P. T. O. A. convention gets under way at the Miami Biltmore next Tuesday. The bulk of the delegates, with members of their families, however, will leave east- ern, northern and western points over the week-end. Attendance is being es- timated at double that for any previ- ous M. P. T. O. A. convention. B&K Men to MP.T.O.A. Chicago, March 9. — Walter Im- merman and Elmer Upton of B. & K. are planning to attend the convention of M. P. T. O. A. at Miami. Aaron Saperstein will also attend. Morris Leonard, president of the local asso- ciation, will not be able to make the trip. Studying Overseating London, March 1.— K. A. Nyman, chairman of the new C. E. A. over- building committee, is to tour areas in which the overseating problem is acute in order to plan action with local exhibitors. M-G-M's European Plan Up for Talks (Continued from page I) tomorrow or Friday and will remain in Culver City about two weeks be- fore returning to London. Arriving with him yesterday were Benny Thaw, Bob Ritchey, Fred Wil- cox and John Meehan. All are asso- ciated with M-G-M in one depart- ment or another. Nicholas M. Schenck is due in Hollywood tomorrow from Miami. J. Robert Rubin and Leopold Friedman of the home office legal department arrived at the studios Monday. Although production in England and preliminary plans for next season will be the main topic of discussion as soon as Schenck and Goetz arrive at the studios, it is learned that the six-year personal service contracts of Louis B. Mayer, Rubin and David Bernstein will expire Dec. 31, 1938. Renewal of these will not be taken up for some time. Bernstein is due the latter part of the week from Miami, where he has been vacationing the past few weeks. Canadian Statistics Show Films' Revival Toronto, March 9. — Official film statistics throughout Canada for 1935, just released, show a general revival. Paid admissions totaled 116,976,500 and box-office receipts were $27,173,- 400, apart from amusement taxes, as compared with 107,718,000 admissions and $25,338,100 in receipts for 1934. This advance was despite the fact that the average admission price in 1935 was 23.2 cents as compared with 23.5 cents in 1934. Per capita expenditure for film en- tertainment in 1935 was $2.48, com- pared with $2.34 in 1934. The per capita expenditure is still much lower than in the peak year of 1930, when it was $3.77. Approximately 900 theatres were operated in Canada during 1935 as against the present total of 1,033 at the beginning of 1937. At the end of 1935 the combined seating capacity of all theatres in the Dominion was slightly in excess of 500,000 and each seat was occupied almost five times each week. Definite figures as to attendance and receipts for 1936 will not be com- piled for some months, because re- ports from individual centres have not been received. Discussions Begun On "U" Production Universal's production plans for next season are now being discussed here by the company's home office and studio executives. They will continue for about a week. Charles R. Rogers, production head, did not visit the home office yesterday due to a cold he contracted on his way east. He said he will remain here for 10 days, at which time he expects to have details in connection with the new production program lined up. Canadian to MPTOA Toronto, March 9. — Canada will be represented at the annual conven- tion of the M. P. T. O. A. at Miami, by N. A. Taylor, director of the I. T. O. of Canada, which was or- ganized last year with headquarters in Toronto. Technicolor has already given its customers complete indemnification from all liability, damages and expenses which they may incur arising from the pending suit brought by Tricolor in the following language: Technicolor hereby agrees to indemnify and save the Producer i free and harmless from all suits, claims, damages and/or other liability and expenses which may arise directly or indirectly out of or by reason of the fact that such negatives and /or prints are pro- i duced, used, sold or leased under Technicolor's method of photo- graphing and manufacturing pictures in color. The Producer agrees (and all the foregoing provisions in this paragraph set forth are upon the condition) that the Producer shall give Technicolor prompt written notice of all such actions, suits or claims for infringements and opportunity to defend the same through Techni- color's own counsel and to control such defense and the Producer shall, at the request of Technicolor, give Technicolor all informa- tion in its possession or under its control with reference thereto and all reasonable assistance and cooperation. Technicolor agrees to reimburse the Producer for any cost and reasonable expenses incurred by the Producer in furnishing such information or in giving such assistance and cooperation. To all distributors and exhibitors Technicolor now hereby extends the same indemnity and protection with reference to the pending suit of Tricolor, Inc., vs. Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation. TECHNICOLOR Motion Picture Corporation President MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, March 10, 1931 RADIO FCC Orders Hearings On 14 Stations Washington, March 9. — The F.C.C. today ordered the holding of hearing on 14 applications for new broadcasting stations, as follows : Petersburg Newspaper Corp., Pet- ersburg, Va, 1,210 kilocycles, 100 watts night, 250 watts day ; Carolinas Radio, Inc., Charlotte, N. C, 880 kilocyles, 500 watts night, 1,000 watts day ; Amarillo Broadcasting Co., Amarillo, Tex., 1,500 kilocycles, 100 watts ; John W. Haigis, Greenfield, Mass., 1,210 kilocycles, 250 watts, day- time only ; J. K. Patrick & Co., Athens, Ga., 1,310 kilocycles, 100 watts night, 250 watts day ; George H. Payne, San Jose, Cal., 1,440 kilocycles, 500 watts ; Howard A. Miller, Galesburg, 111., 1,500 kilocycles, 100 watts, day- time only ; John D. Fields, Inc., Las Vegas, Nev., 1,370 kilocycles, 100 watts ; World Publishing Co., Tulsa, Okla., 940 kilocycles, 1,000 watts night, 5,000 watts day ; Skagit Broad- casting Assn., Bellingham, Wash., 1,200 kilocycles, 100 watts night, 250 watts day ; Voice of Detroit, Inc., De- troit, Mich., 1,120 kilocycles, 500 watts night, 1,000 watts day; West Vir- ginia Newspaper Publishing Co., Clarksburg, W. Va., 1,250 kilocycles, 1,000 watts, daytime only; Radiotel Corp., San Diego, Cal., 920 kilocycles, 500 watts, and Provo Broadcasting Co., Provo, Utah, 1,210 kilocycles, 100 watts. To Consider Frequency Changes Hearings also were ordered on the applications of stations KSLM, Salem, Ore., for a change of fre- quency to 1,110 kilocycles and an in- crease of power to 500 watts ; KCMO, Kansas City, Mo., for a change of frequency to 450 kilocycles and in- crease of power to 1,000 watts ; KGO, San Francisco, for removal of its transmitter to a location near Bel- mont, Cal., and an increase of power to 50,000 watts ; KWTN, Watertown, S. D., for a change of frequency to 1,340 kilocycles and increase of power to 250 watts night and 500 watts day ; KRE, Berkeley, Cal., for a change of frequency to 1,440 kilo- cycles and increase of power to 500 watts night and 1,000 watts day ; WBOW, Terre Haute, Ind., for a change of frequency to 1,290 kilo- cycles and an increase of power to 500 watts night and 1,000 watts day; KGKL, San Angelo, Tex., for a change of frequency to 940 kilocycles and increase of power to 1,000 watts night and 5,000 watts day; WTCN, Minneapolis, to increase night power to 5,000 watts; KM J, Fresno, Cal., to increase night power to 1,000 kilocycles, 1,000 watts night and 5.000 watts dav, and KJBS, San teo swifts? Wives stay at home JC ^Dc^fc morninps to listen to fcfy^Mm ' |fl Ida Bailey Allen. You, too can keep your wife II lb>y at home this easy way. \\ ,^|Hbi' %BMUi%M dial ioio \ WMF Report $1,000 Week Offer for Ruff iter "Tiny" Ruffner, in charge of pro- duction at Benton and Bowles, is re- ported to have received an offer of $1,000 a week from Ruthrauff & Ryan to assume production supervision of the latter agency's coast programs. Ruffner was not available for com- ment yesterday. The report was neither denied nor confirmed at Ruth- rauff and Ryan. A spokesman there said merely that there was "nothing definite" to report. Women's League to Honor Lenox Lohr Lenox R. Lohr, NBC president, will be one of the 15 outstanding business leaders who will be honored by the New York League of Business and Professional Women Thursday, March 18. Presentation of scrolls to the bus- iness leaders will be made via a broad- cast to be heard that day at 11 :05 P. M., E.S.T. on the NBC-Blue net- work. The broadcast will originate in the ballroom of the Hotel Biltmore as a feature of National Business Wo- men's Week. Others who will be honored by the League are N. A. Brisco, dean of N. Y. U. ; H. A. Clemmer, president of the Loose- Wiles Biscuit Co.; Dr. E. A. Colligan, president, Hunter Col- lege ; L. W. Fairchild, Fairchild Pub- lications ; R. A. Gavitt, executive, Postal Telegraph Co. ; Kenneth My- gatt, vice-president, Raymond-Whit- comb Co. ; Conde Nast, publisher ; Daniel Pyle, United Hospitals; Og- den Reid, publisher of the New York Herald-Tribune ; Samuel Reyburn, Associated Dry Goods Co. ; F. R. Sex- auer, president, Dairymen's League; John Sloane, president, W. J. Sloane Co.; and T. J. Watson, president, In- ternational Business Machines Co. The awards will be presented by Mrs. William Brown Meloney of the Herald- Tribune. watts; KGHI, Little Rock, Ark., for an increase of night power to 250 watts, and WSPG, Toledo, Ohio, to increase night power to 5,000 watts. At its regular weekly meeting the broadcast division today granted licenses to cover construction per- mits to stations KMAC, San An- tonio, 1,370 kilocycles, 100 watts night, 250 watts day ; KPLC, Lake Charles, La., 1,500 kilocycles, 100 watts night; 250 watts day; WGST, Atlanta, 890 Francisco, 1,070 kilocycles, 500 watts. The division also authorized KCKN, Kansas City, Kan., to change its name from WLBF Broadcasting Co. to KGKN Broadcasting Co.; granted WSMB, New Orleans, authority to move its transmitter from the Algiers Naval Station to New Orleans; authorized KGFI, Corpus Christi, Tex., to move to Browns- ville, and granted a construction per- mit to Glenn Van Auken, Indian- apolis, Ind., for a new daytime station on 1,050 kilocycles, 1,000 watts. The commission denied or dismissed the application of WQDM, St. Al- bans, Vt, for authority to operate on 1,370 kilocycles, as well as requests for new stations from Malcolm H. Clark, Amarillo, Tex.; John S. Brown, Waco, Tex., and Lou Poller, Jessup, Pa. It also refused an appli- cation of KGDM, Stockton, Cal., for an increase of time from daytime to unlimited. Teach Radio Scripts Columbus, March 9.— A course in radio script writ- ing has just been added to the curricula of the Ohio State University, with credits accruing to the students, the same as in other studies. The work consists of listening to radio programs and criticiz- ing the scripts, which some- times are rewritten accord- ing to the criticism. Original scripts also are written by each student. 400 Stations Take Chevrolet Program More than 400 stations already have been signed to air the transcribed Chevrolet series, it was stated at World Broadcasting yesterday. The series will begin March 19. Among the guest stars who have been signed to appear with Rubinoff are Benay Venuta, Irene Beasley, Vir- ginia Verrill and Jerry Cooper. WLW Gets New York Wire Cincinnati, March 9. — New York studio connections of WLW, local NBC-Mutual outlet in the Crosley setup, will be established March 15, through permanent telephone lines from WMAC. The facilities of that studio which will be available to the local station 24 hours a day. Vitalis, handled by the Pedlar & Ryan Agency, is reported to be the first ac- count under the new hookup. The arrangement will permit com- mercials originating here to be tran- scribed at the New York end. "We Live Again," sponsored by the Lewis- Howe Medicine Co., is reported as the initial recording. It will be used for spot programs. Other programs to be similarly handled are understood to be in process of final negotiations. No recordings are made in Cincinnati. New Yankee Series to Start Boston, March 9. — The First Na- tional Stores "Family Party" with Robert E. Rodgers, lecturer ; Jackie Duggan ; Roland Winters, commenta- tor, and M. C. Miriam Miller, singer ; Francis Cronin, organist, and Andy Jacobson's dance band, will start a series of evening programs over 11 stations of the Yankee Net- work tonight from 7 :30 to 8 :00 P. M., E. S. T. Hamp for Strasska Hollywood, March 9. — Strasska Tooth Paste will sponsor a 15-minute broadcast Tuesday and Thursday fea- turing Charlie Hamp. It will start next Tuesday over KEHE and the CBS network from 9:15 to 9:30 P.M., P.S.T. The agency, Glasser Advertis- ing. Standard Oil Gets Hertz Hollywood, March 9. — Alfred Hertz will conduct the Central California Symphony from Fresno next Friday over CBS under the sponsorship of Standard Oil of California. The pro- gram will start at 8:30 P.M., P.S.T. KEHE Sets Station Program > Hollywood, March 9.— KEHE will signalize its removal to its new studio on March 27 with a special program April 15 following the completion of installation. Studio Program Only On Pacific NBC Web The General Mills program, entitled "Hollywood in Person," will be heard only over NBC's Pacific Red network, and not over a nationwide chain, as was first reported. The program begins Monday, March 15, from 11:45 to 12 noon, P.S.T. Bob Baker, as the inquiring em cee and Louise Roberts, fashion scout, will have charge of the program and will make daily visits to major film studios. The first broadcast will emanate from the 20th Century-Fox lot. Flor- ence Enright and Given Wakeling, dramatic coach and costume designer, for the studio, will be the subject of the interviews. Tuesday will be Universal day, with Deanna Durbin; Wednesday, Para- mount, with Director Mitchell Leisen; Thursday, RKO1 with Anne Shirley: Friday, M-G-M with Joel McCrea. Complete Rolls Razor Records British American Prod., Inc., has completed the transcribed series for the Rolls Razor account. Platters will be aired as "Let's Get Toether," and feature Ernest Chappell, Noel Mills, Carlton Young, Al and Lee Reiser, Jean Ellington, Glen Darwin, the Three Marshalls, Doris Hare and Dave Miller. Transcriptions will be aired over the following stations, commencing March 14: WOR, WBZ, WBZA, WTAM, WBBM, KNX, KGO and WJSV. To Televise Coast Program Hollywood, March 9. — The Rodney Gilliam Co. will produce a program which will be televised over KHJ, Don Lee station, this Saturday at 8:15 P. M., P.S.T. Leo Carrillo will head the cast. The program will be broadcast under the auspices of the Metropoli- tan Water District of Southern Cali- fornia. The television projection will have a four-mile radius. Harry B. Lubke will be the television director. Add Jack Pearl Stations Under the new schedule, beginning Friday, March 19, from 10 to 10:30 P. M., E. S. T. on the NBC-Blue, Jack Pearl's Raleigh and Kool cig- arette program will be aired over 38 stations, while 26 additional outlets will carry the broadcasts by electrical transcriptions. Will Dramatize Proposals Newell Davis and Fanny May Baldridge will introduce a new series of broadcasts dramatizing marriage proposals on WMCA Fridays at 3:15 P. M. The first broadcast of the series will be heard March 19. Don Wilson Stays with NBC Hollywood, March 9. — Don Wilson, awarded this year's top place in the Fame radio announcers' poll, will confine his activities exclusively to NBC in the future, having turned down an offer to go to CBS with his "Twin Stars" program Wednesday. "Twin Stars" transfers to CBS April 4. R. W. Tigert Joins WFCY St. Augustine, Fla., March 9. — R. M. Tigert, formerly of Nashville, has become commercial manager of WFOY in this city. He was for some years in the commercial depart- ment of WSM, Nashville. Wednesday. March 10, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY RADIO Asserts Radio < Radio Personals ► Controls Most Music Talent (Continued from page 1) would receive such written statements as they might desire to submit. Following the hearing, Dickstein ■"explained that his star witnesses, whom he refused to name, feared to appear before the committee because of possible reprisals by producers, a sentiment also expresed by Freeman in explanation of his failure to bring leaders in the operatic and concert fields to testify in favor of the bill. It was Freeman who charged that the network bureaus have acquired a monopoly of musical talent, the only monopoly in the country, he said, which is not under Government regu- lation. He emphasized that he had no personal feeling against the net- work officials, stating that he hoped some day himself to be in the top group, but contended that their oper- ations made it impossible for Ameri- can talent to get a chance. Much Wrangling In the absence of professional talent to entertain them, members of the committee today showed an inclination to squabble, and charges by Congress- man Massingalde of Oklahoma that the chairman had spoken invidiously of Representative Celler of New York threatened to precipitate a quarrel which was averted only when Dick- stein ordered his remarks expugned from the record. The remarks in question were made at the opening of Simmons' testi- mony, when, following his statement that the department had prepared a 50-page review of actor immigration regulations of England, France, Ger- many, Austria and Italy, Dickstein asked why the statement had not been made available to the committee before it was given Celler for use "before the committee and in the newspapers" and grew quite heated over the fancied slight. While Simmons did not say that the department disapproved of the bill, he did state that it was vague in its phrasing and its administration would be a considerable burden. Denies Discrimination However, he pointed out during the discussion, the bill is not, as claimed by Dickstein, comparable to the reci- procal trade agreements made by the Administration, since those treaties are designed to lower barriers while the bill would raise them. With re- spect to that part of the bill relating to discrimination against American talent, he pointed out that there is no discrimination against Americans as such in the European restrictions, but that the entry of all foreign talent is regulated on the same basis. At no time during the testimony did Simmons say that the department was in favor of the legislation, although he did not state that he had been in- structed to voice its disapproval. The tenor of his testimony, however, was largely critical of the measure. With the hearings brought to a conclusion, Chairman Dickstein said that his committee would consider the action to be taken on the bill at its regular meeting March 18. BILL GREEN, Rubinoff's press representative, has taken over management of Blevins Davis, of the Yale University dramatic staff, who authored the coronation drama recent- ly aired on the Blue network. Blevins is rated one of the greatest experts on coronations, and will be heard as guest on several network shows in the near future . . . Rod Reed, radio editor of the Buffalo News, visiting in town . . . Fred Allen will make a guest appearance on Jack Benny's program this Sunday. The broadcast will emanate from the grand ballroom of the Hotel Pierre . . . Virginia Ver- rill has been set for a guest shot on the Ed Wynn program March 20 . . . Ditto Frank Parker on Nellie Revell's program March 16 . . . Rex Chandler's Ford program will not be heard Fri- day night. The time will be turned over for the U. S. Supreme Court debate. The program may be aired at midnight, however . . . Wythe Wil- liams, foreign news commentator heard on WMCA and Inter-City net- work, has completed a book entitled "Dusk of Empire". . . and Fridays, has been given an addi- tional spot and hereafter will be heard also on Thursday at 10 :30 P. M. . . . Lotte Lehmann will headline Joe Cook's guest roster this Saturday. Larry Hammond, Blackett-Sample Hummert director, back from a two- week cruise and his resumed direc- tion of "John's Other Wife," daily NBC-Red network script. . . . Lloyd Rosemond has replaced Martha At- well as director of "Way Down East," recorded series. . . . Mrs. Emil Coleman, wife of the bandleader, is recovering from injuries suffered in an auto accident in Florida. . . . Zinn Arthur, heard on WHN Wednesdays The Bill Shephards, he's the WHN announcer, celebrate their eighth wed- ding anniversary this week. . . . Bob Ripley has been selected, to receive this month's Pilot radio award. . . Doris Kerr, CBS, now audi tioning for a beauty cream spon sor. . . . Dick Himber's orchestra, Gogo DeLys and Fred Utell signed for shorts by Warner Bros. . . . Ber- nice Claire back in town after three weeks in Florida. . . . "Grand Hotel" folds from the air with the broadcast of April 4. . . . The Robert T. Conway's, he's head of KWK, St. Louis, are celebrating the arrival of Robert T. Conway, Jr. . . . Milton Douglas, who made his air debut last week on the Vallee pro- gram, repeats this Thursday . . . Sheila Barrett and Prof. Pitkin will guest appear on the Nash-Lafayette "Speedshow" Saturday, March 15 . . . Rubinoff, he whose "live" Chevrolet series fades late this month, will do New England concert work, and then depart for Hollywood and screen work in April. . . . Radio and Film Methods Corp. has 50 off-the-air re cordings of President Roosevelt's talks. Copies of each are in the ar- chives of the Library of Congress. Gentlemen of the Press Here is how radio editors throughout the country regard the radio section of Motion Picture Daily: Bob Hall, San Francisco Call-Bulletin: "I not only get a lot of information on radio out of Motion Picture Daily, but also enjoy reading the dope on the films." Herschell Hart, Detroit News: "I think your Daily is a dandy. To say any more would be merely repetition. I find it very helpful in providing me with authenticated information for my column. I don't mean to give you the idea that I lift it bodily, but it has been a very good 'tip' service and I appreciate it," Robert S. Stephan, Cleveland Plain Dealer: "I thought you might like to know that I feel you are giving your readers a fine compact service as far as radio news is concerned. I like especially the brief way in which you summarize your news items and I think there is considerable of value in your review of programs. We have too little reviewing done in this busi- ness." William L. Doudna, formerly Wisconsin State Journal, Madi- son and now program announcer of WHBL, Sheboygan Press station: "Consider this letter a 'second-the-motion' to those of other radio editors who have written you about the excellence of your radio coverage. We have been using excerpts from your pages to add to the news value of our radio columns and readers appreciate the timeliness of the notes. Often you ve scooped the publicity men— even those of the better agencies who make it a point to give us late stuff. Congratulations— and keep it up." „_, ,. . E. Zufelt, Sheboygan (Wis.) Press: "The radio columns seem to be well edited and contain many straight news stories, together with feature stories among which were some particularly interesting ones on television. The Bobby Breen story giving the lowdown on the managers row on contracts was' a timely piece of work and gave a clear-cut version of the situation." , „ ' „T „ , Clifford Grass, The Canton (O.) Repository: I find the radio section especially interesting. The items are hot and I don't know how it could be improved. I have found but tew duplications of stories I receive from other sources. F.C.C. Factor Halts Test of Power by Air Washington, March 9.— The ques- tion of jurisdiction of the F.C.C. here over the operation of transmission of electric power and light by wireless by the National Wireless Power and Light Corp. from experimental lab- oratories near New Castle, Pa., caused a second postponement of the public demonstration which had been sched- uled for tomorrow. With everything ready for the dem- onstration, Tohn C. Roberts, inventor of the "Roberts Tube" and the method of transmission, stated that the dem- onstration was off for "probably" several days until the company's office in Greenwich, Conn., is notified by the F.C.C. as to whether it has juris- diction over this type of transmission and whether a permit will be issued. It is understood that Roberts has been notified that this type of work would come under the supervision of the FCC A second test from the New Castle laboratories with receiver set up tem- porarily in Maryland last Sunday morning was successful at 23 miles. The test was made at 4 A. M. and was witnessed by J. R. Johnson, presi- dent of the company. Roberts declared it to be "highly successful." Pending word from F.C.C, the re- ceiver has been moved to Greenwich and today was installed on the roof of the Pickwick Hotel, to which point a test will be made prior to placing the set on board a ship en route from New York to Bermuda. The purpose of using a ship in the test, Roberts said, is to determine at what distance the transmission fades. Dismiss Action Against Alexander Judge Meier Steinbrink in Brooklyn Supreme Court yesterday dismissed an action for an injunction and $250,000 damages brought against A L. Alexander, conductor of the "Good Will Court," by Judge Sweed- ler's Good Will Court, Inc. Other defendants were Chase & Sanborn, NBC, Standard Brands, Inc., J. Wal- ter Thompson and WMCA. The court held that Alexander could not be en- joined because S weedier had given him permission to use the name I "Good Will Court." Louis Nizer, of Phillips & Nizer, represented Alexander. Orders Emerson Reply Federal Judge Murray Hulbert yes- terday ordered the Emerson Radio and Phonograph Corp., the Emerson Tele- vision Radio Co. and Benjamin Abrams, defendants, in an action brought against them by Emerson Electrical Manufacturing Co. to reply to the questions of the plaintiff. The action is for an injunction and dam- ages for alleged infringement of the plaintiff's copyrighted trade name, Emerson. Gilbert, Fogarty Signed Edwin Gilbert and Alex Fogarty, writers of "New Faces" and other Broadway hits, were signed yesterday by the CBS Artists Bureau to long term contracts. CBS will represent them in all future negotiations for I stage, screen and radio commitments. MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, March 10, 1937 Stadium Hearing Is Delayed to Tomorrow A hearing scheduled for yesterday on a petition for approval of an agree- ment between Keith-Albee-Orpheum and Stadium Theatres Corp., which was made by Irving Trust Co., reor- ganization trustee for RKO, was post- poned until tomorrow because Fed- eral Judge William Bondy was un- able to preside at the hearing due to injuries received in a fall yesterday. Under the proposed agreement K-A-0 would complete the transfer to Stadium of its remaining $486,830 of notes and collateral of Orpheum Circuit and withdraw its proof of claim against Orpheum. Stadium re- cently acquired all of the going as- sets of Orpheum. Federal Judge Murray Hulbert to- day is scheduled to hear an appli- cation for a show cause order which seeks to compel Stadium to return the Orpheum assets to Marcus Heiman, trustee in bankruptcy for Orpheum. The order is sought by Samuel Zirn, attorney for Orpheum Circuit first pre- ferred stockholders. Zirn contends that the Orpheum proceedings should be consolidated with the RKO1 reorganization in order to give creditors and stockholders of Orpheum equal treatment with those of RKO. Key Grosses Strong Despite Lent; Total is $1,849,622 Technicolor - Tricolor Start Los Angeles, March 9. — Charles F Jones, who claims to be inventor and developer of the Jones Duplex camera, occupied the witness stand all day to day in the Technicolor-Tricolor suit. He outlined the steps in the develop- ment of the camera and stated that in 1915 he assigned the rights to Colorco, which obtained a patent May 16, 1920, and that Tricolor later purchased the rights and interests. His testimony will be resumed tomorrow. The defendants entered a general denial, declaring that the patent is in- valid because the invention did not constitute a patentable novelty and alleged that their patent had been is- sued prior to Colorco's covering of the same process. Lyon & Lyon, also Roberts, Cush- man & Woodbury represented Tech nicolor. Counsel for Tricolor were C. W. Durbrow, Ford Harris, Robert Fulwider and A. D. Schaffer. Boston Buffalo Chicago .* Cincinnati Cleveland Denver Detroit Houston Indianapolis . . . Kansas City . . Lincoln Los Angeles . . Louisville Milwaukee .... Minneapolis . . . Montreal New Haven . . New York Oklahoma City Omaha Philadelphia . . Pittsburgh Portland Providence San Francisco St. Louis St. Paul Seattle Washington . . Denies Erpi Dismissal Plea Federal Judge John C. Knox yes terday denied a motion to dismiss the complaint of John G. Paine, as agent and trustee for the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publish- ers against Erpi. Judge Knox ruled that the complaint sets forth a cause of action and ordered Erpi to file its answer. The suit is for $169,043 which is the balance claimed to be due as royalty under a contract made on July 29, 1929. The agreement pro vided that Erpi was to be permitted to sub-license producers to use copy righted musical compositions upon pay ment of royalty. Cohan Theatre Firm Sues The Esquire Amusement Corp., operators of the George M. Cohan Theatre have sued in N. Y. Supreme Court the Petroleum Heat & Powe Co. for $22,988, charging that the company failed to keep an agreement to install an air-conditioning plant in the theatre last spring. The defendants denied the plain tiff's charge and charged that the Ontario Will Drop All Ticket Levies Comparative grosses for the latest available periods : No. Week Ending Feb. 26-27 Theatres Gross Week Ending Feb. 19-20 No. Theatres Gross 5 6 6 4 4 5 5 9 6 5 5 5 4 9 3 3 9 5 6 5 8 5 4 168 $132,400 53,300 145,700 67,200 63,500 38,500 79,000 34,000 35,600 46,000 11,850 106,678 21,400 30,000 23,900 41,500 25,100 323,094 10,900 24,000 105,200 55,150 37,900 45,600 92,300 68,150 14,200 49,700 67,800 $1,849,622 169 $100,000 55,500 126,300 56,200 58,000 35,500 77,500 21,600 23,300 34,900 13,400 109,245 17,800 17,800 28,300 40,500 18,600 266,800 13,200 20,300 79,600 48,650 34,400 34,700 88,200 61,250 20,000 45,250 74,700 (Continued from page 1) ada's only province without amuse- ment taxes. An interesting aspect of today's de- velopment is the fact that this Gov- ernment was the first in the world to impose the so-called war tax on tickets when, in 1916, one cent was levied on every admission regardless of price for the raising of additional revenue. , This was gradually increased until the average ticket tax reached 10 per cent. Since 1932 exhibitors have fought the tax as excessive. Premier Hepburn himself abolished the exemption on tickets under 25 cents which had been obtained in 1932 and sharp protests followed. One year ago the tax on the 25-cent tickets was reduced from five to two cents and juveniles up to 16 were exempted from paying it since it was argued that they were not wage earners. The abolition of the tax on June 1 comes as an unexpected concession to the theatres. It will mean increased theatre business as well as the elimi- nation of the inconvenience of selling an additional ticket to a patron now in effect. Key city grosses from September to the week ending Feb. 26-27 : Sept. 4-5 .. Sept. 11-12 Sept. 18-19 Sept. 25-26 Oct. 2-3 Oct. 9-10 . . Oct. 16-17 . Oct. 23-24 . Oct. 30-31 . Nov. 6-7 .. Nov. 13-14 Nov. 20-21 . Nov. 27-28 Dec. 4-5 Dec. 11-12 . Dec. 18-19 . Dec. 25-26 Jan. 1-2 .. Jan 8-9 .., Jan. 15-16 Jan. 22-23 , Jan. 29-30 Feb. 5-6 . Feb. 12-13 Feb. 19-20 Feb. 26-27 163 173 176 177 177 175 174 175 177 178 180 180 176 176 172 176 173 178 175 174 170 151 154 166 169 168 $1,621,495 1,747,748 2,090,144 1,806,350 1,744,332 1,705,308 1,625,287 1,780,168 1,690,044 1,625,216 1,629,560 1,711,209 1,654,312 1,568,247 1,946,078 1,613,087 1,568,151 1,316,371 2,037,040 2,262,950 1,674,774 1,793,041 1,554,610 1,598,645 1,621,731 1,621,495 1,849,622 (Copyright, 1937, Quigley Publications, Inc.) Illinois House Gets Film Bills Springfield, 111., March 9. — A bill calling for the registration of all mo- tion picture operators has been intro- duced in the legislature here by Sen- ator Meyers. The measure calls for an examination for all operators lack- ing five years of experience, a pay- ment of $10 for a registration fee and $5 for each yearly renewal. Appren- tice operators would be charged $5 for a certificate and 2 for renewals. A state censorship board is asked in a bill sent to the House by Rep- resentative Granata of Chicago. It asks $2 per reel for reviewing. It is expected that a bill calling for the divorce of production and ex- hibition will be introduced shortly as well as a measure asking two op- erators in all projection booths. Indiana Bill Awaits Signing Indianapolis, March 9. — Awaiting the Governor's signature, but due to become law whether he signs or not, is the Senate bill which places regu- lation of theatres and other places of amusement under the state fire mar- shal. The bill passed the house, 77 to 8. Regular inspections are pro- vided in the bill. plaintiff failed to furnish certain ma- terial and supply labor for the in- stallation and counter charged with a suit of $10,780 damages from the plaintiff. The plaintiff was to ask Justice Salvatore A. Cottillo today for permission to examine before trial the president of the defendant's com- pany and also will ask the court to set aside the defendant's request that the plaintiff supply a bill of particu- lars in support of its claim. Delay Wilmington Cases Wilmington, March 9. — Three radio and sound equipment patents cases which had been listed for argu- ment on the March calendar of the Federal. Court here, were put ...over today to the June term. The cases were those of Duovac Radio Corp. against RCA, General Talking Pic- tures Corp. against Erpi, and Hazel- tine Corp. against RCA and RCA Manufacturing Co. The case of Westinghouse Electric Mfg. Co. against RCA was passed. Ask RKO Court Fees Irving Trust Co. yesterday filed a petition in U. S. District Court here for an allowance of $60,000 for current services as reorganization trustee for RKO. Donovan, Newton, Leisure & Lumbard, counsel to the trustee, asked $85,000 for its current services on Monday, . Allow Chicago Standees Chicago, March 9. — Dr. Herman Bundesen, health commissioner, fol- lowing a four-day trial, is now allow- ing theatres to have standees in the lobbies up to two-thirds of capac- ity. Immoral Show Bill in N. Y. Albany, March 9. — Theatres exhib- iting immoral shows would lose their licenses for a year under the provi- sions of a bill introduced in the As- sembly here today by Edmund J. De- laney, New York City Democrat. Dismiss Koplar-WB Suit Wilmington, March 9. — Judge John P. Nields late today dismissed the suit brought by Harry Koplar against the directors of Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc. Alert, Intelligent the In In All Branches MOTION PICTURE DAILY The Leading Motio Picture Industry VOL. 41. NO. 58 NEW YORK, THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1937 TEN CENTS Coast to Have Para. Theatre Film Showing By Television KHJ to Make Test Next Saturday Night Los Angeles, March 10. — Televi- sion is to go on the air next Saturday night from KHJ over the Don Lee web in a film titled "Empire of the West," from 8:15 to 8:40 P. M. P.S.T. For the first time a standard film production unit and a standard broad- casting operation will be tied in a definite television movement, which promises to make history in both ultra- modern industrial and technical fields. The Rodney Gilliam Co., under the personal supervision of its president, More Radio News on Pages 10 and 11 Rodney Gilliam, is the producing unit, with Burnet Lamont directing the prologue and the few sequences where- in Leo Carrillo and Sam Flint, as- sumed the respective roles of the Early Californian and the Yankee. The camera man was stationed out (Continued on page 10) Group Seeks Review Privilege from Hays Edward Kern, executive chairman of the newly organized Associated Film Audiences, has addressed a letter to Will H. Hays, president of the M. P. P. D. A., requesting that the or- ganization be permitted to preview in New" York all films produced by major companies prior to their re- lease dates, it was learned yesterday. As yet no answer to the letter has been received. The avowed purpose of the new group is to work for the elimination of all films having "militaristic," "anti-labor" or "fascist" themes. All (Continued on page 2) Ken Nyman Elected CEA Vice-President London, March 10. — Ken Nyman, chairman of the London and Home Counties Branch of the Cinemato- graph Exhibitors' Ass'n, was elected vice-president of the C.E.A., it was revealed at the organization banquet last night. Lord Moyne, head of the Moyne Committee which formulated a report on revisions of the Films Act, de- fended his report in an address at the banquet. He declared he saw no reason to make concessions to those (Continued on page 7) Men to Argue "B" Film Cut May Urge a 50-50 Split For Next Season Renewed discussion of limiting "B" picture production in relation to the number of "A" pictures produced will be one of the principal features of the three-day national meeting of Para- mount theatre operators in Miami, beginning March 18, it was learned here yesterday. There is a probability that, as a result of the discussions, Paramount's new season schedule may be planned on the basis of production of an "A" picture for every "B" picture sched- uled, or some such limited ratio. The meeting will be attended by Adolph Zukor, chairman of the board and studio head: Stanton Griffis, chairman of the executive committee ; Y. Frank Freeman, vice-president and head of the company's theatre di- vision, and other home office and stu- dio officials, in addition to the com- plete list of 44 Paramount theatre partners and operators. The latter will be augmented by bookers, audi- tors and top officials of their respec- (Contintted on page 2) Three RKO Hearings Postponed by Court Three scheduled hearings on mat- ters pertaining to the RKO reorgani- zation, including the RKO trustee's petition to pay off the balance of the company's outstanding secured gold notes, were postponed yesterday until next week because Federal Judge William Bondy, who was to preside at two of the hearings, was confined to his home as a result of injuries re- ceived in a fall on Tuesday. The gold notes petition, which was (Continued on page 11) Balsdon Will Leave Coast Hospital Soon George Balsdon, film booker for National Theatres, will be discharged from St. Joseph's Hospital, Stockton, Cal., on March 17, according to word received from F.W.C. officials. Bals- don was seriously injured in an auto- mobile crash with Sumner Gambee, vice-president of National, and Nick Turner. Gambee is back in New York fully recovered. Turner is back at his desk at F.W.C. It is likely Balsdon will remain on the coast for some time be- fore returning east. Set G. B. Action By BRUCE ALLAN London, March 10.— C. L. Nordon, head of a committee representing Gaumont Brit- ish shareholders, which is protesting the declaration of a preference share dividend by the directorate, has set definite plans to seek an in- junction to restrain the board from payment of the dividend. Franklin Gets Films in Deal Stopping Suit Franklin Theatrical Corp., Ltd., of Hawaii will be able to obtain all the first run product required for the op- eration of its circuit under the terms of a settlement of its anti-trust suit for $300,000 triple damages against Warners and affiliated companies, it was stated yesterday by Charles Franklin, local attorney for the Ha- waiian theatre concern. Franklin had succeeded in inter- esting the U. S. Attorney General's office in the case and the probability of a new "St. Louis situation" devel- oping from the product problems of the Hawaiian company was being con- sidered in the trade. The settlement was effected through the efforts of Assistant U. S. Attor- ney Generals Frederick Williams and John Dickerman in conjunction with Franklin, Gabriel L. Hess of the (Continued on page 7) Plan Ontario Price Cut When Levy Ends Toronto, March 10. — Following the decision of the Government of Ontario to abolish all amusements taxes effec- tive June 1, T. J. Bragg, executive of Famous Players Canadian Corp., has declared the intention of the com- pany to pass on the tax elimination to the public. Bragg declared the Government ac- (Continued on page 7) Say Grand National To Have 65 on List Hollywood, March 10. — Grand Na- tional is understood to be planning to step up its production schedule to 65 next season. The new list will in- clude a series of eight westerns to be produced by Edward Finney. It is (Continued on page 7) Loew 10-Year Para. andU.A. Pact Near End No New Franchises Seen Before Next Season With the windup of this season's product, Loew's 10-year franchises with Paramount and United Artists for Greater New York will expire. One or two preliminary talks on a new deal have been held between Loew's and U. A. executives, but no new ar- rangement is expected until the 1937- 38 season gets under way. There have been no discussions on a renewal of the Paramount pact. While the U. A. contract provides for all of the company's product in Loew's local theatres, the original ar- rangement with Paramount called for a split of the output, with RKO get- ting the other half. Last year, RKO cancelled the Paramount agreement, following which the distributor made a deal with Loew's for the other half. With the termination of the Para- mount nntract, RKO closed a four- year franchise with Warners for all of its local theatres. Loew officials yesterday stated it was too early in the season to pre- dict what new arrangements will be made next season. Last season most of Paramount's deals were for two years, while M-G-M set numerous three-year franchises. The Schine circuit, which operates in Kentucky, Ohio and New York, last year closed several three-year deals and is understood to be negotiat- ing two-year pacts with distributors not previously signed under such ar- rangements. Loew Officials Take Big Blocks of Stock David Bernstein and J. Robert Rubin, vice-presidents of Loew's, Inc., and Louis B. Mayer each purchased 13,890 shares of Loew's stock on Feb. 25 and 26, it was revealed yesterday in a statement filed with the New York Stock Exchange. Each of the executives held op- tions for the purchase of the stock and, as of March 1, each held options on 22,200 more shares. Fabian Denies Move To Take Over Roxy Reports that Albert Greenfield has been representing Simon Fabian in a bid for the Roxy in opposition to the first mortgage bondholders' plan pro- viding for operation by 20th Century- (Continued on page 2) MOTION PICTURE DAILY i Thursday, March II, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY ( Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 March 11, 1937 No. 58 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager "Sun Kissed" a Sun Struck And Unbelievably Bad Play Published dally except Sunday and holidays by Qulgley Publishing Com- pany, Inc.. Martin Qulgley, president: Colrtn Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at KoekefeUer Center. New York. Telephone CIrele T-8109. Cable address: "Qulgpubco. New York." All contents copyrighted 193T by Quiglf* Publishing Company. Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Qulgley .Publi- cations: MOTION PICTTJBE IIERALD. BETTER THEATRES. TEATRO AL DIA. INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building. Vine and Yucca Bts.: Boone Mancall. Manager. CHICAGO: 624 8. Michigan Ave., C. B. O'Neill. WASHINGTON : Albee Building. Bertram F. Linz. Representative. AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan 5; Philip de Schaap, Representative. _•„_„_, . , BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2. Berlin W. 35: Joachim K. Butenberg. Representative. BUDAPEST: S KS.plS.r-u, Budapest II; Endre Heiesi. Representative. BUEN08 AIRES: Corrientes 2495: N. Bruskl. Representative. , HELSINKI: Fredriksgatan 19C: Charlotte Laszlo, Representative. _ LONDON: 4 Golden Square. W. 1; Bruce Allan. Representative. Cable address, Qulgpubco. Lon- don. MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings. 181 Collins St.: Cliff Holt. Bepre8entatlve. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart, Representative. MONTEVIDEO: P. O. Box 664; Paul Bodo, Bep- MOSCOW: PetrovsH Per 8: Beatrice Stern, Rep- PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre, Repre- sentative. PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2. Prague 1; Harry Knopf, Representative. RIO DE JANEIRO: Calxa Postal 3358; A. Weiss- man. Representative. ROME: Viale Gorlzia; Vittorio Malpassutl. Rea- SHANGHAl": Booms 38-41. Capital Theatre Build- ing. 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler, Repre- STOCKHOLM : Kungsgatan 36; Ragnar Allberg, TOKYo"6 880 Sasazuka, Ichlkawa-shl, Chlba-Ken; H. Tomlnaga, Representative. VIENNA: Nuestiftgasse. 55; Vienna VII; Hans Lorant. Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; B. Sillei. Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. By PLAYBOY "You shouldn't have done it," chided Charles Coburn to his New- berry Hall flock on the stage of the Little Theatre last night. Lifted from their own text, this department can muster nothing to more adequately confront Bonfils and Somnes, Inc., who produced, and Raymond Van Sickle, who wrote "Sun Kissed." The chief amazement of the eve- ning was why this was ever essayed. The play and a Hollywood-fringe background had a completely impover- ished plot, impossible and ridiculous situations, three acts and a couple of performers, including Coburn, Fran- cesca Bruning and Philip Wood whose faces probably will be very red this morning when they finish reading the critics. "Horizon" Gets $20,000 "Lost Horizon" tallied approxi mately $20,000 in the first week at the Globe on a two-a-day policy. Charles Washburn is handling special pub licity for the engagement under Joseph Plunket and A. L. Grey. The Rialto with "Outcast" garnered about $7,000 on the week. To Talk Warner Plans Merchandising plans for Warners new product will highlight discussions to be held on the coast starting Mon day. Gradwell Sears, Hal B. Wallis and Carl Leserman will leave today for Hollywood where they will meet Jack L. Warner and S. Charles Ein feld. Sonja Henie Honored Hollywood, March 10. — The Screen Actors' Guild has voted Sonja Henie's work in "One in a Million" the best performance by an actress during Jan- uary. Porter Hall in "The Plainsman" was named as the best supporting player. Miami Beach to See "Swing High" Start Miami Beach, March 10. — Para- mount will have the world premiere of "Swing High, Swing Low" here tomorrow night at the Sherman Square at a special 9:30 showing. As the climax of the exploitation campaign three planes will circle Mi- ami and Miami Beach tomorrow tow- ing triple deck banners. Among those expected are: Jack and Mrs. Dempsey, James J. Braddock, John Golden, Harry Reber, Paul Whiteman, Rudy Vallee, Joseph E. Widener, Vincent Bendix, W. K. Van- derbilt, Gen. Cornelius Vanderbilt, John Hertz, Albert D. Lasker, Charles McCullough, Albert and Mrs. Warner, Damon and Mrs. Runyon, Postmaster General Farley, Lou Holtz, the Yacht Club Boys, Raymond Guest, who will motor here with a party from Palm Beach, E. J. Sparks, Carl Bamford, Harry Katz and Nate Goldstein. "U" to Do "Jamborees" Hollywood, March 10. — "Broadway Jamboree" is to be not only the new title for "Mr. Broadway," but that of a series of musicals which will be fea- tured each year by Universal, after the manner of the "Follies." The new name was suggested by the title of the song, "Jamboree." The starting date has been set for May 17. The cast will include Ken Murray and Oswald, the Three Dia- mond Brothers, Dave Appolon and his orchestra, Larry Blake, Ella Logan and Jack Powell. Buddy de Sylva will produce. Trade Show "History1* "History Is Made at Night" was given a trade showing yesterday morn- ing at the Astor Theatre. U.A. Board Meet Today Hollywood, March 10. — The meet ing of the board of directors of United Artists, originally scheduled for today, will be held tomorrow. On Friday, executives, producers and advertising representatives will confer on budgets and plans for the coming season. Samuel Goldwyn tonight enter tained visiting executives. Among bis guests were Dr. A. H. Giannini. George J. Schaefer, Monroe Green- thai and James P. Mulvey. Kutinsky Takes Florence Harry Kutinsky has taken over the Florence, formerly operated by Belle Theatres. France, Producer Paris, March 2. — Indica- tive of the plan to bring about nationalization of the French film industry is the announced intention of the film section of the French Trade Union group, backed by the Popular Front Gov- ernment, to produce a fea- ture on the French Revolu- tion, to be titled "La Mar- seillaise." The production will be financed by popular sub- scription, and the film's cost is estimated at $150,000. The Government will advance $2,- 500 for preliminary work. Para. Theatre Men to Argue "B" Film Cut Group Seeks Review Privilege from Hays (Continued from page 1) foreign pictures, except those produced in England, will be ignored by the or- ganization, it was said. Kern has declared that no threats of boycott will be employed relative to objectionable material, and a Hollywood representa- tive will ask that all scripts be sub mitted for approval or comment, with a resulting indication to the producer whether or not the finished product will be supported by the organization The first of the Associated Film Audiences' planned bi-weekly bulletins will be issued early next week, it was said. The initial number will be in the form of a prospectus. It will in- clude a sample of the ballot which will be used by the organization's re viewing groups, who are expected to number three reviewers for each film seen. Future bulletins, it was said, will carry reviews of new product and a Hollywood letter. It is hoped to obtain subscriptions to the bulletin at the rate of $3 per year for individuals, $15 per year for affiliated organizations, and $25 annually for or ganizations of national membership. Includes 25 Organizations It is understood that Richard Con- stantine and Roswell Barnes are close- ly associated with Kern in the devel opment of the organization. Approxi- mately 25 associations, including labor groups, women's organizations, peace groups and the Federal Council of Churches of Christ are said to have become affiliated with the new organi zation, and to have promised to sup- ply reviewers. Dr. Worth M. Tip- pey, head of the Federal Council, is listed as honorary chairman of As- sociated Film Audiences. Flash Previews "Let's Get Married" — A story of the spitfire daughter of a political boss, this starts strongly but weakens somewhat in the final sequences Good program fare, however. "Tsar to Lenin"— Valuable chiefly as a film record of the events during and following the revolution which led to the establishment of the Soviet regime. These pictures will be reviewed in full in a coming issue of Motion Picture Daily. (Continued from page 1) tive circuits, with a total attendance of more than 75 expected at the meet- ing in the Roney-Plaza Hotel. The "B" picture subject was first raised as an operating problem of the Paramount theatre men at a January meeting at the company's studio which was only slightly less representative of the Paramount theatre organization than the Miami meeting will be. It was argued then that the increase in "B" picture production by major stu- dios was resulting in a dearth of out- standing attractions for de luxe first runs and was encouraging double fea- turing in houses of the best type. Par- amount was urged then to place a limitation on its "B" product which would represent a fair ratio to the number of "A" pictures produced. This leads to the belief that a definite policy may be evolved at the more representative meeting next week. Will Discuss Legislation In addition to the product discus- sions, the meeting will be given com- plete information on the company's attitude toward the measures calling for separation of theatre interests from production and distribution or- ganizations which have been intro- duced in six state legislatures by Al- lied States Ass'n up to date. Another subject of discussion will be the current theatrical unionization moves by the I. A. T. S. E., particu- larly the relation between the organ- izing of exchange employes and the further unionization of theatre service staffs. General theatre operating problems and policies, the exchange of business-getting ideas and the fur- ther installation of theatre refriger- ating and air conditioning equipment will also occupy the sessions. The home office delegation leaves for Miami on Saturday. Most of those attending the Paramount meet- ing will be on hand also for the M. P. T. O. A. national convention which opens at the Miami Biltmore on Tues- day. Fabian Drops Three Bank Night Drawings Simon Fabian, head of the Fabian circuit, has dropped Bank Night from the Fox, Strand and Paramount in Brooklyn. The game was featured once a week in all three houses. Fabian has made no decision on games in his upstate houses, he said yesterday. Last Tuesday, the final night of the game, $1,500 was given away in Brooklyn. Fabian added Bank Night never materially aided the grosses of the houses. Fabian Denies Move To Take Over Roxy (Continued from page 1) Fox were denied yesterday by Fa- bian, who said that he is not interested in the theatre. Fabian added he was after the Roxy at one time, but withdrew when 20th Century-Fox interests worked out a deal with the bondholders' commit- tee. THE GREATEST AND TENDEREST ROMANCE OF OUR TIME . . . lifted to the box-office heights by two young stars born to play it . . . with Simone Simon greater than you ever dreamed! SIMONE SIMON emerging as the top star of the screen JAMES STEWART SevinTH H€W€7)' W1 th JEAN HERSHOLT • GREGORY RATOFF • Gale Sondergaard •J. Ed ward Bromberg • John Qualen • Victor Kilian Thomas Beck • Sig Rumann #Mady Christians Directed by Henry King Director of "Lloyds of London" Associate Producer Raymond Griffith. Screen play by Melville Baker. Adapted from the stage play " Seven th Heaven produced and directed by John Golden, written by Austin Strong. Darry 1 F. Zanuck in Charge of Production NO PRAISE YOU CAN GIVE . . . NO PROMISE YOU CAN MAKE CAN PAY ENOUGH TRIBUTE TO THIS GLORIOUS PICTURE! lie heart-hunger and ecstatic happi- ness ... the tearing Kurt of separation . . . the exquisite moments of love that turn blood to fire . . . the magic of emo- tion that transforms the world s drab- to a _ , ..all is captured completely excit" /...to give you a property whose it possibilities are measureless ! MOTION PICTURE DAILY MOTION PICTURE DAILYS HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Swing High, Swing Low" {Paramount) Hollywood, March 10. — Freely adapted from the stage play "Bur- lesque," this picture has a dramatic and comedy wallop which should lift it into the high gross bracket. With Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray heading the cast and Charles Butterworth, Dorothy Lamour and Jean Dixon in support, exhibitors have plenty to sell. The story retains little of the original save the wedding march scene. Miss Lombard and MacMurray star as entertainers in a colorful Panama cabaret. When MacMurray's talent earns him a starring engagement on Broadway Miss Lombard is left behind. Alone in New York MacMur- ray soon falls for the wiles of Miss Lamour and becomes a victim of alcoholism. Miss Lombard divorces him. Finally reunited, the lovers start for renewed success and MacMurray makes good in a radio audition. It is an Arthur Hornblow production, lavishly done, with the direction by Mitchell Leisen. Harvey Stephens, Cecil Cunningham and Charles Arnt are best in the supporting cast. The screen play by Virginia Van Upp and Oscar Hammerstein is well written. Production Code Seal No. 2,995. Running time, 90 minutes. "G." Thursday, March !l, 1937 4 Purely Personal ► CECIL BERNSTEIN, prominent first run operator in Greater Lon- don, is in New York on his first visit in 11 years. Percy Phillipson was squiring him around town yesterday. • Norman H. Moray, Vitaphone ex- ecutive, leaves Winnipeg tomorrow for Calgary for a two-day conference with the company's branch person- nel. • Ben Joel, assistant to Joel Levy, out-of-town film booker for Loew's, has returned from Atlanta after at- tending the funeral of his father. • William Downs, local district man- ager for the same circuit, is back from Palm Springs, Cal., where he attended the funeral of his mother. • Fred Wilcox, who returned Tues- day on the Queen Mary from Eng- land, left last night for the M-G-M studios. • E. J. Smith, general sales manager of Imperial, has left town on a swing through Albany, Buffalo and New Haven. • George Lynch, booker for the Schine circuit, left for GloversvUle yesterday. He was in town three days. • Si Fabian returned yesterday from Albany. Sam Rosen, his brother-in- law, is now vacationing in Miami. • Frank Snell and A. J. Van Beuren are planning to leave for the coast in a few days. • Charles Stern, U. A. district man- ager, will leave tomorrow for a two- week Miami vacation. • Bernard McCarthy of the RKO exchange, St. Louis, is in town for a few days. • A. H. Schwartz and Mitchell Klupt will depart today for Lake Placid. • Ken Clark of the M.P.P.D.A. toured the Vitaphone studio yester- day. # John Balaban, George and Sam Dembow arrived in Miami yesterday. • Bert Sanford, Erpi New England sales head, left last night for Miami. • Hattie Helborn will return today from two weeks in Hollywood, Fla. • Edward Rugoff of Rugoff & Beck- er heads for Miami today. • Billy Rose left by plane yesterday for Fort Worth, Tex. • A. K. Hammerschlag of Pace Press is in Miami. • Ben Goetz leaves for the M-G-M studio by air today. • Max G. Felder returned yesterday from Chicago. • Bob Ritchie heads west late this week. Plan Ontario Price Cut When Levy Ends {Continued from page 1) tion will have a buoyant effect on the- atre business and trade in general. N. L. Nathanson, president of Famous Players, speaking from Ottawa, where he had gone to attend the meeting of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. board of directors, expressed thanks for the removal of the nuisance tax and declared admissions throughout Ontario would be reduced June 1. Premier Hepburn, in announcing the action, said, "I doubt if there is a tax that gives more annoyance than does the amusements tax. It is a difficult and expensive tax to collect, particularly in smaller centers. Nui- sance taxes are bad taxes and should be discarded wherever possible. Over 80 per cent of the amusements tax is collected from admissions of 25 cents and under." Robs Philadelphia House Philadelphia, March 10. — A masked bandit last night held up Maurice K. Gable, manager, and Al- bert Simko, assistant at the Boyd, a Warner house, and escaped with $1,- 150, the night's receipts. John Honthaner Dead Milwaukee, March 10. — Tohn Hon- thaner, 57, manager of the Tivoli and Comet, neighborhood houses, is dead. Funeral services will be held Friday. Honthaner is survived by his son, a brother and five sisters. Ad Guild to Meet Another meeting of the American Advertising Guild will be held tonight. Several members of major and inde- pendent home offices will attend. M. H. May Take 'Heaven* Negotiations are under way between 20th Century-Fox and the Music Hall for the showing of "SeventhHeaven." The picture was previewed on the coast last night. The deal is for one picture only and not for a group, as reported. Ken Nyman Elected CEA Vice-President (Continued from page 1) who are responsible for circumventing the act. "Quickies" are four times as plentiful in the output of foreign as that of British distributors, he said, in defense of the quality test sug- gested in the report. Another speaker declared that the quota must continue, and urged the industry to form a joint committee of all branches of the trade to discuss the situation with the Board of Trade. "Reorganize yourselves before you are reorganized from without," he warned. Settle Albany Ad Row Albany, March 10. — Major and in- dependent theatres yesterday settled their differences with the Knickbock- er Press and Albany Evening News in connection with new film advertis- ing rates. Both newspapers asked for an increase of five cents a line, following which all theatres pulled ad- vertising copy for 10 days. Today was the first day the ads appeared since the dispute started. To Open Trans-Lux Washington, March 10. — Trans- Lux will open the first newsreel the- atre here Friday night with a special program sponsored by the Women's Club as a benefit for the Children's Hospital. Newspaper critics and officials will be given a preview Thursday night. The house seats 600. Roland Rozzins is manager. Would Limit Film Show Wilmington, March 10. — A bill prohibiting operation of any film thea- tre on the second story of any build- ing where admission is charged was introduced yesterday by Senator Daniel E. Kelly. The bill is not in- tended to cover theatres having bal- conies with an auditorium on the ground floor. "Strogoff" Is Retitled Hollywood, March 10. — The re- lease title of "Michael Strogoff" will be "The Soldier and the Lady." Franklin Gets Films in Deal Stopping Suit (Continued from page 1) M. P. P. D. A. and representatives of Warners and other major distribu- tors, according to the plaintiff's at- torney. Franklin Theatrical Corp., under the terms of the settlement, is placed in a position now in which it may deal directly with distributors for the product it considers essential to the operation of its five Hawaiian theatres. The amount of product which will be required was specified by the plaintiff and the provisions made for obtaining it are "fully satis- factory," Franklin said. He charged that formerly the Franklin circuit was obliged to deal with its larger competitor, Consoli- dated Amusement Co., for product and ordinarily was able to obtain only such first run pictures as were "sluffed" by Consolidated. He said that during the course of the negotia- tions the Government representatives offered the opinion that Consolidated enjoyed a virtual monopoly in Hawaii and threatened to press an action to disband it. "However," Franklin said, "all we wanted was the assurance that we could obtain sufficient product by dealing directly with the distributors, free of discrimination. When we ob- tained that we agreed to withdraw our suit." The Franklin suit against the War- ner companies was based on a con- tract for 19 pictures which the plain- tiff alleges it made in 1934 and which, it charged, was subsequently revoked when Warners closed a deal with Consolidated. This resulted in an al- leged loss of $500,000 by the plaintiff, which was spent, the Franklin com- pany claimed, in preparing for the exhibition of the Warner pictures. Product of other major companies will be made available to the Frank- lin company under the settlement, it was said. Say Grand National To Have 65 on List (Continued from page 1) also said that production costs for 1937-38 output will be increased ap- preciably. Today, Edward Alperson, president, supervised the installation of all Grand National units at the old Edu- cational studios. The plant was ac- quired recently on a 10-year lease. The first annual sales convention will be held here about May 15 and will run several days. A number of the producers will give the sales force first hand information on the new pictures scheduled. Two of the new group of pictures will cost $500,000, or more. Lou Levy, manager of Grand Na- tional's Des Moines exchange, is now supervising the Omaha branch as well as Des Moines, James Winn, western division sales head, stated yesterday. The Omaha post has been vacant since Carl Reese resigned to rejoin 20th Century-Fox. Levy is now in Omaha. WITH OUT OF THE 19 AC A Imost Twice as Many < Best Performance of 1936 PAUL MUNI in WARNER BROS.' "The Story of Louis Pasteur' JSext in 'The Story ofEmile Zola' PLUS 7 OTHER 'FIRSTS' FOR WRITING, MUSIC, PHOTC KDE MY AWARDS FOR the Closest Competitor! t Best Short Subject in Color VITAPHONE'S 'GIVE ME LIBERTY' 2-reel 'Broadway Brevity' in Technicolor Best Performance of 1935 BETTE DAVIS in WARNER BROS.* 'Dangerous' Soon in 'Marked Woman' PHY AND NOTABLE PRODUCTION ACHIEVEMENTS! RADIO MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, March II, 1937 New Shows On the Air "Doris Hare" Doris Hare, English comedienne, offered samples of her vocal and comic wares to listeners who may have been tuned in to the NBC-Red network wave length last night at 7:15 P. M., E.S.T. Her samples were admirable. The vocalist from the Tight Little Isle offered three numbers — "Me and My Dog," "Three White Feathers" and "Alqu-Pullopky." All were uni- formly good, particularly the last- named song which was as ear-pleasing as its title is unpronouncable. Last night's broadcast was the first of a sustaining series accorded Miss Hare by the network schedule makers. However, unless we miss our guess, this English miss won't remain in the non-sponsored class very long. The musical accompaniment was painfully thin — three violins and a piano. An orchestra here would help immeasurably. Servel Takes "Time" Broadcast 13 Weeks Time, Inc., publishers of Time and Life magazines, will relinquish the sponsorship of the "March of Time" program for 13 weeks to the Servel Electrolux Co., beginning with the broadcast of April 15. At the end of the 13-week period the program will vacation from the air for a brief spell, returning sometime in September, again under the sponsorship of Time. The deal was arranged late yes- terday afternoon through Batten, Bar- ton, Durstine and Osborn. The agency handles both accounts. This will be the Servel Co.'s first network experience. Last season the company experimented with a trans- cribed series featuring "Carson Robin- son and His Buckaroos." "March of Time" now appears on 35 CBS stations. Additional stations will be used when the new sponsor takes hold of the series. The editors of Time will be given air credits for preparing the material heard on the broadcasts. New McGee Time Is 9 PJML The new time for the Fibber Mc- Gee and Molly program has been set at 9 P. M., E. S. T., beginning April 12 over the NBC-Red network. The series comes from Chicago and is sponsored by the S. C. Johnson Co. CBS Signs Clarence Muse Hollywood, March 10. — Clarence Muse has signed a one-year contract with CBS to make a series of disc recordings. Joins Utah Manufacturers Salt Lake City, March 10. — KDYL has joined the Utah Manu- facturers' Assn. t€C SAYS WHN's Jimmy Jemail is the only radio re- porter whose column is read by more than one million daily readers I WWW "III — < iiim Coast to Have Film Showing By Television (Continued from page 1) on the fields of construction for the filming of the pictures showing the successive stages of development of the _ $400,000,000 Los Angeles Water project. A distance of approximately four miles will be traversed by the tele- vision projection from a private resi- dence on Silver Lake Drive, Los Angeles, to KHJ. At the "television film premiere" Harry R. Lubke, director of televi- sion for Don Lee will have as his guests Director Donald Kinsey of the Metropolitan Water District. They will witness the sight-and-sound re- production of the picture as received from the distant scene of film projec- tion. DIAL 1010 AFFILUTU *!«. M-G-M* LOEW S Television Permit Asked at Montclair Washington, March 10. — Estab- lishment of a new television station at Upper Montclair, N. J., is planned by the Allen B. Dumont Laboratories, it was disclosed today by the F.C.C. An application for a construction permit for the station, the commis- sion announced, has been returned be- cause it was filed on an obsolete form. It is expected that it will be resubmitted on the current form. The commission today announced receipt of an application from WCMI, Ashland, Ky., for a change of fre- quency to 1,120 kilocycles and an in- crease of power to 250 watts night, 1,000 watts day. Application also has been received from Robert E. Clements, Hunting- ton Park, Cal., for a construction permit for a new daytime station to operate on 1,160 kilocycles with 250 watts power. Prall to Stay with F.C.C. Washington, March 10. — Presi- dent Roosevelt today announced that Commissioner Anning S. Prall would be continued as chairman of the F.C.C. for another year. Corral Sports Announcers The Axton-Fisher Tobacco Co., in behalf of 20 Grand cigarettes, is now actively engaged in buying up sports commentators throughout the country to provide sponsored sports talks on local stations. Yesterday Hal Totten was signed for a six-time weekly series, 15 minutes each, on WMAQ, Chicago. Arrangements are now be- ing completed for similar series on stations in Detroit, Boston and St. Louis. WLW in Cincinnati and WNEW in New York are already airing sponsored programs for 20 Grand. McCann-Erickson handles the ac- count. Renew "Courteous Colonels" Tulsa, March 10.— The "Courte- ous Colonels" program, sponsored by the Barnsdall Refining Corp., has been renewed for another 13-week period. The program is broadcast over 10 CBS stations. *'A Great Help" "I have been reading with great interest your radio col- umn in Motion Picture Daily and I feel that this feature is a great help to the industry in general. — Adolph Zukor, chairman of the board, Para- mount Pictures. WINS to Feed State Web Daily Programs Effective Sunday, March 14, WINS will broadcast and feed to the New York state network member stations a number of programs each day, orig- inating in the studios of WAAB, Bos- ton, key station of the Colonial net- work. Bert Squires of WINS and the New York state network, and John Shepard, III, president of the Colonial web, negotiated the contract. It is expected that the program feeds ultimately will work both ways and will include commercial as well as sustaining programs. To Vary "Hit Parade" Idea A variation of the "Hit Parade" idea will be utilized by the Bond Bread Co. for its CBS program fea- turing Guy Lombardo's band, begin- ning March 15. Stores selling the bread will be supplied with cards ask- ing the customers to write in the titles of their five favorite numbers that week. The winning songs will be played as a medley on the following week's program. More than 150,000 stores carry the sponsor's product. There will be no postage on the cards, as they will be picked up daily from the stores by the company salesmen. Says He Was First Darrell V. Martin, radio editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, in a let- ter to Motion Picture Daily, says : "Just to keep the records straight, Robert S. Wood [who joined the Tap- linger publicity office recently] did not conduct the first radio column in a metropolitan paper. This honor I modestly claim for myself. Pitts- burgh, the home of radio, also had the first radio column — Pittsburgh Gazette-Times in 1923 and yours truly was the radio editor. I have been writing radio and radio only for 14 years come this June. How's that fgr a record?" Settle Morgan-Philco Suit An action for $150,000 damages brought by Myron Morgan against the Philco Radio & Television Corp. and the Hutchins Advertising Co. was set- tled by a stipulation filed in Federal Court yesterday. The amount of set- tlement was not given. The action was based upon an alleged piracy of an original advertising idea which the plaintiff submitted to Philco in 1935. The idea which was rejected by Phil- co consisted of a dramatization of news events to be used in connection with Philco advertising. "Auditions" Fading The "Metropolitan Auditions of the Air," sponsored by the Sherwin Wil- liams Paint Co., will fade from the airways after the broadcast of Feb. 28. Semi-finalists in the auditions will compete during the March 14 and 21 broadcasts. i Radio Personals ► GD. CRAIN, JR., editor of Ad- • ver Using Age, will be inter- viewed on WHN's "High School Re- porter" program this afternoon at 5 :45 P. M. . . . Mabel Albertson, gag writ- er, has been secretly married since last November to Ken Englund, gag writ- er, it has been learned. Mrs. Englund writes the "Iodent Dress Rehearsal" ; Mr. Englund authors the Joe Penner and Victor Moore-Helen Broderick scripts . . . Helen Flint, who appeared in "Black Legion," will be Radie Har- ris' guest star on the WHN "Movie Club" this Friday . . . Clyde Barry will fill in for Reed Kennedy on the "Magazine of the Air" program March 19 while the latter fulfills a vaudeville engagement in Canada . . . Rita Johnson, heard on the "Girl In- terne" series, leaves for the coast and picture work on Monday . . . Bill Bird, of WHN's copyright depart- ment, has written a song which will be published by the Dave Ringle of- fice . . . + Al Williamson, in charge of NBC's Chicago press division, in town for a spell, visiting . . . Hugh Baillie, presi- dent of UP, will broadcast a special talk, "Behind the Headlines," March 18 at 1:30 P. M., E. S. T. on the NBC-Blue . . . The hastily scheduled one-shot program last Monday eve- ning on NBC, featuring East and Dumpke in a show entitled "Tin Pan Alley Troubadours" was probably an audition . . . Pearl Finishing June 25 Jack Pearl winds up his current air stay with the broadcast of June 25. The comedian will vacation during July, August and part of September. During his absence the program will be straight musical, featuring Mor- ton Bowe, tenor, with Tommy Dor- sey's orchestra and the Esquires. B. B. D. & O. is the agency on be- half of Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., makers of Raleigh and Kool Cigarettes. Records To Be Used For Insurance Week St. Louis, March 10. — Electrically transcribed radio programs will be used to supplement other advertising radio programs will be used to sup- plement other advertising mediums to publicize Accident and Health Insur- ance Week in 1937. The transcrip- tions will be distributed from the Chi- cago headquarters of the National Accident and Health Ass'n. It is be- lieved that more than 100 radio sta- tions will carry the series. The program will be so constructed that they may be broadcast by groups in the form of institutional accident and health ads, or by a single com- pany or agency for direct advertising. RADIO EVENTS, INC. AN INDEPENDENT PRODUCING GROUP SERVING ADVERTISING AGENCIES 535 Fifth Avenue, ° New York, N . Y. ^fam lAr fiAot&icttoti - _ Thursday, March II, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY East, Dumpke May Go to Sinclair Oil Last Tuesday Ed East and Ralph Dumpke aired the first of a series of four sustaining programs titled "Tin Can Alley Troubadors" on NBC. Si Elsewhere in these columns it is hint- ed that the Tuesday offering seemed suspiciously like an audition on the air. That's exactly what it was. The facts are these : The script and music for the program have been au- thored by East and Dumpke. They showed it to George Comptois, radio head of Federal Advertising Agency. This same agency placed East and Dumpke on the current CBS series for Knox Gelatine. Comptois liked the program and arranged for a series of four sustaining broadcasts. A spon- sor, believed to be Sinclair Oil, will buy the series if they like the audi- tion on the air. Dinner Repartee to Go on NBC Network After dinner repartee forms the basis of a new series of programs en- titled "Dinner at Nine," which will be heard monthly, beginning March 15 at 9 P. M., E.S.T. on the NBC-Blue. The programs will originate in the home of Henry Goddard Leach and will follow immediately upon the con- clusion of a typically social dinner party, while the host and guests are still seated about the table. Leach is the owner and editor of Forum magazine. The guests at the first dinner party broadcast will be Fannie Hurst, Ford Madox Ford, Sid- ney S. Lenz and Dorothy Thompson. Radio Time to Help Newspaper Campaign The Erwin Wasey agency is buy- ing "spot" time on stations through- out the country to supplement the newspaper advertising campaign the agency is now setting up for the Hecker H-O. Co. in behalf of Force, a breakfast food. Both campaigns will begin in April. The newspaper ads will consist of half-page comic strips based on the "Bobby Benson" character the agency created on the air for the Hecker H-O. Co. "Bobby Benson" faded from the air last season after a long and successful run on the CBS network The odd feature of the coming cam- paign, of course, is the reverse play of newspaper and radio mediums. "Bobby Benson" was conceived as an air serial strip ; now it is to re-appear as a newspaper comic strip, with "spot" radio announcements to call at tention to the newspaper campaign. Wall Street Most on Board Off Net High Low Close Change Columbia 36% 3554 365i Consolidated 4% 4% 4% + Consolidated, pfd.. 16% 16 Eastman Kodak ..16814 168 Gen. T. Equip.... 2954 28 Loew's, Inc 81% 8054 Paramount 26 25% Paramount 1 pfd.. 17954 179 Paramount 2 pfd.. 23% 2354 Pathe Film 8% 8% RKO m 8% 20th Century -Fox. 3754 37 37% — % Universal, pfd 10054 10054 10054 —154 Warner Bros 1554 15% 15% 16% 16854 28J4 8054 25% 179 2354 854 m 37/s + 54 - 54 - % - 54 —3 + % Curb Rises Fractionally Net High Low Close Change Grand National . . 3% 3 3 — % Sonotone 2 1% 2 Technicolor 22% 2154 2154 + M Trans -Lux 5 4% 4% + M Little Bond Activity Net High Low Close Change Keith B. F. 6s '46 98% 98% 98% — % Loew's 354s '46. . . . 9954 99 99% -f 54 Paramount B'way 3s '55 75 75 75 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 10054 10054 10054 .... Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 98 97% 97% — 5 (Quotations at close of March 10) Chevrolet CBS Show In 13-Wk. Renewal The Sunday Chevrolet series heard on CBS was renewed yesterday for another 13-week period through Campbell-Ewald, agents. The renew- al is effective as of Apr. 18. A week prior to the above date, Rubinoff will leave for Hollywood from which point he will broadcast for four weeks. While there he will work on 20th Century-Fox's film, This Year's Kisses," in which he will have a leading role. Jan Peerce and Virginia Rea, co- featured on the Rubinoff program, will not accompany him to California. Pic- ture guests will fill in for them on the coast. Three RKO Hearings Postponed by Court (.Continued from page 1) adjourned to next Tuesday, is regard- ed as of major significance since the payment of the $600,000 of RKO notes outstanding would raise the question of whether or not the RKO debentures would continue to have a secured po- sition. The debentures' second lien on the assets securing the gold notes may be eliminated by the retirement of the notes, according to some interpreta- tions of the indenture. The hearing on the new agreement under which Keith-Albee-Orpheum would turn over to Stadium Theatres Corp. the last of its Orpheum Circuit notes and collateral and withdraw its claim against Orpheum, which was scheduled for yesterday, was adjourned to March 19. The application for an order to show cause why Stadium's recent acquisition of Orpheum's assets should not be set aside, and other re- lief granted to Orpheum, which was sought by Samuel Zirn, attorney for San Francisco holders of Orpheum preferred stock, was adjourned to March 17 at the request of Beekman, Rogue, Stephens & Black, counsel to the Orpheum trustee in bankruptcy, Federal Judge Murray W. Hulbert granted Zirn's request that the hear ing be conducted by him rather than Federal Judge Alfred C. Coxe, for whom it appeared to be slated as a result of the adjournment, on the grounds advanced by Zirn that "great animosity exists between Judge Coxe and myself." Machinists on Coast Ask Labor Meet Date Los Angeles, March 10. — The Machinists' Union has petitioned the National Labor Relations Board here for a date on which to vote on col- lective bargaining at the following studios : Hal Roach, Warner Bros., United Research, Universal, United Artists, Columbia and Paramount. About 200 machinists are employed in the studios and the companies refuse union recognition. Regional Director Towne Nylander will set a date shortly. Cleveland Claims 85% Union Cleveland, March 10. — Walter Crease, business representative of the A.F.L., stated today that 85 per cent of the local shippers and inspectors have organized following a meeting late last night. Truck drivers, re- winders, poster clerks and shippers of the Film Bldg. are also reported organizing. S.A.G. Probes Lunch Period Cut Hollywood, March 10. — The Screen Actors' Guild is investigating a speci- fic complaint which charges M-G-M with shifting the maximum lunch hour, as established under NRA, to the lunch period as specified by the Industrial Relations Board, thus lengthening the studio day by 30 min- utes without extra payment. Metro states that the issue rests entirely with the Central Casting Agency. The lat- ter organization has withheld state- ment. The Guild fears that the move is the entering wedge of a general dis- continuance of NRA wage and hour standards. W. B. Pay Approval In Koplar Dismissal Wilmington, Del., March 10. — The payment of $10,000 in weekly salary to each of the three Warner brothers does not constitute a waste of Warner assets, Judge John P. Nields ruled yesterday in dismissing the stock- holder's suit of Harrv Koplar of Kan- sas City, against the directors of Warners. Koplar had asked restitution to the company of assets allegedly turned over to Waddill Catchings and Ren- raw, Inc., personal holding company for Harry M., Albert and Jack L. Warner, including 90,000 shares of Warner common stock. Referring to the salaries, Judge Nields said, "As a matter of morals, such payments may be questioned. Directors have the power to award such compensations. That power should be used, not abused." He also upheld the compensation to Catchings and Goldman, Sachs & Co., observing that it was through the efforts of the investment company and Warners that the company "was chaffed from an inadequately financed company in 1925 to a position where it was en- abled to maintain itself as a leader in the talking film industry." Orsatti Sued on Commissions Los Angeles, March 10. — Suit was filed in Superior Court here today against Orsatti & Co., agents, to ful- fill a contract allegedly executed by Milton Bren, predecessor to Orsatti, under which the agency was to pay Johnny Maschio a percentage of the commissions derived from the account of Stuart Irwin. Simon & Garbis, attorneys for Maschio, asserted that under the original agreement he was to receive 30 per cent of the commis- sions earned by the former agency. He claims that he received his share until May 7, 1934, when the succes- sor agency refused to continue pay- ments. He demands an accounting and continuance. To Question Warners Ferdinand Voteur, a writer, was granted permission by Justice Aaron J. Levy in N. Y. Supreme Court yes- terday to examine before trial officers of Warner Bros, in connection with his suit for $250,000. The plaintiff charges that after rejecting his play, 'Resurrection Morning," Warners produced "Walking Dead," which was similar in plot to his work. On Mon- day, Justice Levy permitted Voteur to examine the officers of Columbia Pictures Corp. before trial in hTs $1,000,000 suit charging that Colum- bia Based their picture, "The Man Who Lived Twice," on his play which they rejected. Technicolor Questions Jones Los Angeles, March 10. — Charles F. Jones, self-styled inventor of the duplex camera, resumed his testimony today in the trial of Tricolor's suit against Technicolor charging infringe- ment of a patent. Cross-examined by Technicolor counsel, Jones testified that sketches and drawings of his camera were burned in a fire at Red- wood City two years ago. He sub- mitted in evidence copies of contracts with San Francisco capitalists as proof of the sale of his idea. Photographic experts will be called to the stand tomorrow to testify con- cerning the Technicolor process. Reserve Momand Trial Decision Boston, March 10. — Decision was reserved today on the plea of Para- mount and other major distributors for a change of jurisdiction in the anti-trust suit brought by Attorney George S. Ryan for Mrs. Loretta Mo- mand of Shawnee, Oklahoma, in the U. S. District Court here. Ryan said that since the Momand case is of a Orpheum Case Delayed A motion made by Erpi, creditor of Orpheum Circuit, and Harry White, representing a number of pre- ferred stock holders, to set aside the sale of Orpheum assets to Stadium, the replace the trustee's counsel and to transfer the case from Referee Oscar W. Ehrhorn to another referee was adjourned to March 17 by Judge Murray Hulbert in Federal Court. Buffalo Dates Are Set Fifteen appearances have been set for Hii, the Chinese water buffalo used in "The Good Earth." They are : Boston, March 16; to be followed by Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Chicago, Buf- falo, Erie, Akron, Canton, Zanesville, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati. nature similar to seven other anti- trust suits, he would like to have them all tried in Boston. Attorney for the defense did not question the juris- diction of the local court because all the defendant companies do business here but declared that a trial in Bos- ton would be both inconvenient and expensive. RKO has agreed to accept service after having previously rejected it on the technical grounds involving a change of corporation name. No Matter Weather V* 3.* ro*0od Dckout has pictore ne^s»orl" for • e,0(/c • * '*! It • '* /A P>>/7 / ' '* OA "e Wr> kno< e9oer The RAVING THEIR HEADS OFF ABOUT 'FERNAND GRAVET CLICKED POWERFULLY!' Walter Winchell "Fern and Gravet proves a real find. As winning a personality as has come to these shores within memory!" Hollywood Reporter "Fernand Gravet will have Holly- wood on its ears and the nation at his feet. He has the combined charm of all Hollywood's better actors, plus the handsome appear- ance of all your Robert Taylors!" "Hollywood Whispers"Broadcast "Fernand Gravet combines the smartness of a David Windsor, the frank air of a Gable and the insouciance of a Chevalier!" Los Angeles Times "Warner Bros, have uncovered a star who will be a brilliant addi- tion to its list! Unlike the unusually ballyhooed newcomer, Fernand Gravet has looks, personality and ability!" Motion Picture Herald "Fernand Gravet should be- come an immediate favorite! He has the ability to capture a grand following from both sexes!" Motion Picture Daily "Fernand Gravet's personality is a sheer delight! His American film debut will make him a box- office smash!" Box-Office "Fernand Gravet is 1937's most promising addition to the Ameri- can screen!" Los Angeles Examiner He's j It All Goes to Show That 50 MILLION FRENCHWOMEN WEREN'T WRONG ABOUT (pronounced SUCCESS) They just couldn't be wrong — look at the way he works! >he's the Chorus Girl! But he's only part of the tremendous values poured into this show! Hail the campaign of a lifetime on the next page Right now In 1200 cities For 30 consecutive days Warner Bros. Are providing The most lavish SERVICE! Playdate snipes in- cluded on application at your exchange! 24-sheet coverage Ever seen In film business! It's that kind of a smash! ...AND SO ARE THE UNPRECEDENTED MAGAZINE AND DAY-DATE NEWSPAPER CAMPAIGNS THAT ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEE THE GREATEST SUPPORT THE HISTORY OF PICTURE EXHIBITION! f Hail the simultaneous nation-wide release! O IT'S EASTER THE KING AND THE CHORUS GIRL A MERVYN LEROY PRODUCTION starring FERNANDGRAVET with JOAN BLONDELL EDW. E. HORTON • Alan Mowbray Mary Nash • JaneWyman Kenny Baker • Luis Alberni • Story by Groucho Marx and Norman Krasna • Songs by Werner R. Heymann and Ted Koehler Leader of the Sensational Spring Set-Up from WARNER BROS. PRINTED IN V. S. MOTION P1CTUK1 DAILY i Purely Personal ► Friday, March 12, 1937 Paramount Group Leaves Tomorrow (Continued from page 1) gether with studio executives, will converge in Miami over the weekend. The delegation will number 82 in all, most of whom will also attend the M.P.T.O.A. convention opening next Tuesday the Miami-Biltmore. The Paramount meeting will aid in formulating the company's new sea- son production policy and schedule, will exchange theatre operating ideas and experience and will consider op- erating problems and theatre main- tenance and improvement subjects. The current Allied States sponsored state legislation to divorce theatre op- eration from production and distribu- tion affiliations will also be discussed. Full Roster to Attend Paramount executives who will at- tend the company's theatre meeting include Adolph Zukor, Barney Bala- ban, Stanton Griffis, John Balaban, Neil F. Agnew, Robert M. Gillham, Y. Frank Freeman, Austin C. Keough, C. J. Dunphy, J. J. Unger, Leon D. Netter, M. F. Gowthorpe, Frank Meyer, Max Schosberg, Henry An- derson, Harry Kalcheim, Fred Mohr- hardt, J. T. Knight, Jr., Harry Nadel, E. Paul Phillips, Robert Weitman, Harry Royster and Al Wilkie. In addition, the theatre partners and as- sociates attending will include Frank C. Walker, Carl Bamford, Nathan Goldstein, William K. Jenkins, A. N. Notopoulos, E. H. Rowley, G. C. Walsh, Harry Smith, Adam Adams, E. C. Upton, C. J. Shaw, J. J. Fitz- gibbons, Karl Hoblitzelle, E. V. Richards, R. B. Wilby, Robert Blair, M. C. McCord, L. McKeachneay, Jack Katz, Arthur Lucas, H. B. Robb, F. J. Miller, R. W. Bolstad, Harry Oliphint, Nash Weil, G. W. Trendle, R. C. Frost, Claude Lee, M. C. Talley, Tracy Barham, A. H. Blank, G. R. Branton, J. C. Clemmons, L. J. Lud- wig, R. J. O'Donnell, V. R. McFaul, H. L. Nace, H. F. Kincey, George Zeppos, H. W. Glidden, J. Sullivan, Marion Coles, J. J. Friedl, M. J. Mullin, Samuel Pinanski, Walter Im- merman, Charles Perrine, Hunter Perry, L. Shane, J. J. Rubens, Harry David, T. Deboer, Leon Savell, M. A. Lightman, S. A. Lynch, N. L. Nathan- son, E. J. Sparks, Frank Rogers and B. B. Garner. Miami List Growing James R. Grainger, general sales manager of Universal, leaves Satur- day for the M. P. T. O. A. conven- tion in Miami next week, accompa- nied by Andrew Shatrick. Percy Phillipson, president of Gen- eral Register, is another Saturday departure. Mrs. Phillipson will ac- company him. Whitford Drake, ex- ecutive vice-president of Erpi, also leaves for the Miami convention to- morrow. William F. Rodgers, general sales manager of Loew's, is touring the south and will arrive in Miami for the meetings March 16. Tom Con- nors is also in the south. Bob Weitman, manager of Para- mount, New York, is another Satur- day departure for Miami. Motor to Miami Meet Kansas City, March 10— John Stapel, Rockport, Mo., exhibitor and president of the K.M.T.A., Rex Bar- rett, manager of the Commonwealth Uptown at Columbia, Mo., Frank Cas- sil, Rialto, St. Joseph, and George JAMES WINN, western sales head for Grand National, is in New York after a nine-month tour, during which he opened exchanges and closed im- portant product deals. He will remain here for a week or so before heading west again. • Clare Boothe Brokaw Luce, author of the play, "The Women," will be the guest of honor at a party to be held at the Merry-Go-Round on Sunday for the benefit of the fund for needy authors and dramatists of the Authors' League. • Sid Kaufman, who has been handl- ing publicity for "The Good Earth," for Loew's, has joined Alex Gott- lieb's staff on the coast, doing special work on Walter Wanger produc- tions. • Edward Moss, 20th Century-Fox district manager, will be tendered a testimonial dinner on April 19 at the Bellevue- Stratford by Philadelphia exhibitors. • A. E. Meyer, export manager for National Theatres Supply, has left by plane on the first lap of a Latin America tour. He will be back by May 1. • Manny Reiner's fashion revue will be featured at RKO's Coliseum next Wednesday night. Phil Fabello's orchestra will furnish the music. • Ethel Altman, secretary to Fay White of the Loew real estate de- partment, will be married May 23 to Al Mishket. • Stanley J. Mayer of the Des Moines 20th Century-Fox office, has returned from a two-week vacation in Hollywood. • Ward Scott, 20th Century-Fox dis- trict manager in Kansas City, is back at his office after a Miami vacation. • Charles E. Ford, Universal news- reel editor, is due back here from a Florida vacation early next week. • William C. Gehring, 20th Cen- tury-Fox central division manager, has returned from Detroit. • Monty Banks and Gracie Fields will leave for Hollywood and the 20th Century- Fox lot today. • Michael Balcon is coming over from London on the Berengaria, not the Normandie. • Judge I. Frey came back from Miami with Gene Picker and Oscar Doob. • William J. Kupper is en route to Dallas on a busines trip. • Edgar Kennedy is coming east for personal appearances. • Byron (Dinty) Moore is trying to shake off a bad cold. • Joe Lee is back from a Miami jaunt. Harttmann, Armour, North Kansas City, will leave late this week in Cas- sil's automobile for Miami for the M.P.T.O.A. convention. Homer Strowig, Plaza, Abilene, SPYROS SKOURAS, William T. Powers, Eward Zabel and Milton Hossfeld will return next week from the coast, where they are now com- pleting negotiations for 20th Century- Fox product next season. • Nat Holt, RKO district manager, left for Cleveland last night after a brief visit to Boston, where he caught a number of shows and home office conferences. • Monte Proser, vice-president of the Blackstone Co., is en route to the coast by train with the 10 models se- lected for Walter Wanger's "Vogues of 1938." • Mrs. James Roosevelt, mother of the President, attended the Para- mount one night this week, and waited 10 minutes for a seat she liked. • Al Reid, in charge of the Fox, Strand and Paramount in Brooklyn for Si Fabian, sailed yesterday on the Lafayette for a West Indies cruise.. • David Bernstein, vice-president and treasurer of Loew's, will return today from Miami. • Leo Spitz returned to his office yes- terday after a two-month visit at the RKO studio. Mrs. Henry Ginsberg will leave for Hollywood the latter part of next week. • W. G. Van Schmus is due back from the coast Monday or Tuesday. • John J. O'Connor returned yester- day on the Dixie from New Orleans. • Margaret Mayo's play, "Baby Mine," has been purchased by M-G-M. • Albert De Courville, G. B. direc- tor, leaves for Hollywood Saturday. Harry Arthur has delayed his re- turn to St. Louis a few days. Ben Goetz took a train to the coast yesterday instead of a plane. Jack Cohn will fly to Miami for a vacation today. . . . Pittsburgh Ben Jaffe, recovering from an- other serious illness, has left for Hot Springs, Ark., to join his father, George Jaffe. Lou Smith made the rounds of the photoplay editors during a stopover on his way to the coast to handle spe- cial publicity for Marlene Diet- rich's "Angel." Myer Schwartz took a day off last week to go up to Columbus and marry Fay Silverstein. Nelson Eddy's postponed concert at the Syria Mosque will be given March 27, a week after his picture, "Maytime," plays here. Gabe Rubin is back on the job again at the Art Cinema after two weeks of the flu. Kan. ; A. F. Baker, Electric, Kansas City, Kan., and R. R. Biechele, Osage, Kansas City, Kan., and secretary of the K.M.T.A. are planning to attend, and may drive. 1 1 Report 232 Houses For Negro Patrons (Continued from page 1) in that it does not include the Chi- cago exchange territory. Chicago, it- self, has a Negro population of more than 250,000 and there are an estim- ated 20 theatres in the exchange ter- ritory catering either to Negro or mixed patronage. The seating capacity of these houses approximates 12,500. The report covers 18 exchange ter- ritories, of which Washington, At- lanta and New York service the largest number of theatres. The Washington exchange serves 46 thea- tres with an aggregate seating capa- city of 26,853. Atlanta serves 44, with a seating capacity of 21,478, and New York serves 38, having a seating capacity of 38,973. The New York report, however, covers theatres cater- ing to "mixed" patronage — both white and colored — whereas the Atlanta and Washington houses reported on are exclusively for Negro patronage. Charlotte serves 18 such theatres, New Orleans, 14, and Dallas, 10. Plan Early Revival Of Momand's Action (Continued from page 1) technicality. Ryan, who entered the case about three years ago, is under- stood to be planning to reinstate the suit as soon as the order of dismissal is returned from the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals to the U. S. District Court, which usually requires about 30 days. Technicolor Hears Camera Expert Los Angeles, March 11. — Dr. Rus- sell Otis, consulting attorney and pho- tography expert, testified today in the suit of Tricolor against Technicolor charging infringement of a color pho- tography patent. Tricolor attorneys en- deavored to prove that certain prin- ciples of the Jones duplex camera are embodied in the camera currently be- ing used by Technicolor. They claim American and foreign patents dated prior to Technicolor's registration. Dr. Russell will be cross-examined tomorrow. Formally Appoints Pratt Federal Judge Francis G. Caffey yesterday signed a formal order nam- ing Addison S. Pratt as special mas- ter to hold hearings on the plan of reorganization for Roxy Theatres Corp. Hearing dates are to be fixed by Pratt. Extends Orpheum Filing Federal Judge Murray Hulbert yes- terday signed an order extending the time for filing of papers on the mo- tion made by preferred stockholders of Orpheum Circuit to set aside the sale of Orpheum assets to Stadium Theatres. Sets RKO Hearing Date Federal Judge William Bondy yes- terday set April 26 as the date for the hearing on the claim of Boyle and Prest against RKO. Special Mas- ter Richard P. Scandrett had previ- ously disallowed the claim. Salt Lake Scale Raised Salt Lake City, March 11. — The Victory, Intermountain house, has advanced its scale from a 25-cent to a 35-cent top. 12 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, March 12, 1937 "Avenue" Out Front in Big Loop Pickup Chicago, March 11. — "On the Ave- nue" led a healthy pickup in the Loop last week with a take of $19,200 at the Roosevelt. This was $8,200 over par. "The Green Light," with Borrah Minevitch and a revue on the stage put the Chicago well into the profit division at $40,000. Normal is $32,000. "The Good Earth" opened at the Chicago on a two-a-day basis at ad- vanced prices and pulled a strong $13,000. Advance sales are heavy. The weather was cold and fair. Sonja Henie in person at the Stad- ium with a skating show may have hurt some as she drew capacity houses for her four appearances on the weekend. Total first run business was $135,- 700. Average is $120,500. Estimated takings : Week Ending Feb. 25: "MICHAEL STROGOFF" (RKO) PALACE— (2,509), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: "Greenwich Village Follies" Revue Gross: $15,500. (Average, $19,000) "THE GREEN LIGHT" (W.B.) CHICAGO— (4,000), 35c-S5c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Borrah Minnevitch and Revue Gross: $40,000. (Average, $32,000) "DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND" (Col.) ORIENTAL— (3,490), 35c-55c, 7 days Stage: Belle Baker and Revue. Gross: $18,500. (Average, $15,000) "GOOD EARTH" (M-G-M) APOLLO-(1,400), 50c-$1.50, 2 shows daily 7 days. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $9,000) Week Ending Feb. 26: "BELOVED ENEMY" (U.A.) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,700), 35c-55c-75c, days. Gross: $16,200. (Average, $15,000) "ON THE AVENUE" (2»th-Fox) ROOSEVELT— (1,591), 3Sc-55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $19,200. (Average, $11,000) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) GARRICK— (900), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days, 4th Loop week. Gross: $7,800. (A\ erage, $6,500) "WE WHO ARE ABOUT TO DIE" (RKO) STATE-LAKE — (2,776), 20c-35c-40c, 7 days. Stage: Rae Samuels and Revue. Gross: $15,S0U. (Average, $13,000) Martin Chicoine Wed Cincinnati, March 11. — Martin J. Chicoine of Omaha, assistant stage director of the WPA Theatre here, and Grace Haller, local girl, press representative of the same group, were secretly married at Falmouth, Ky. Both have resigned from the theatre organization and will spend their honeymoon in Mexico. MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Her Husband Lies" (Continued from page 2) Tamiroff that Cortez has double-crossed him. Gunmen bring Cortez, who has sworn off the gambling game. The meeting of Brown, who does not know Cortez is the famous "Spade" Martin, is tense drama, but the boy's luck continues and he breaks all the sharp shooting stud players as Cortez is caught cheating. Brown, robbed of his winnings, is sent home and Cortez pays with his life for violating the underworld code. The two dramatic romances of Cortez and Gail Patrick and Brown and Miss Martel, contrast with the motivating melodrama. Under the force of Edward Ludwig's direction technique, Cortez, Brown and Tamiroff contribute strong performances with Brown practically steal- ing the show. It is based on Oliver H. P. Garrett's story, which was once before released as "The Street of Chance," featuring William Powell and Regis Toomey. The yarn has been given new thematic and atmospheric twists by Wallace Smith and Eve Greene. It is strong enough to earn a place on first run programs. The film has enough dramatic character to enable it to occupy a top spot in many places. With Cortez and Brown dominating, effective dramatic work is checked in by Miss Patrick, Miss Martel, Louis Calhern, Dorothy Peterson, Jack LaRue, Bradley Page, Ralf Harolde and Ray Walker. Production Code Seal No. 3,115. Running time, 75 minutes. "G." Variety Club Detroit Detroit, March 11. — The local Va- riety Club will induct about 40 new members at a special dinner and initia- tion in the Crystal ballroom of the Book-Cadillac March 15. Last Mon- day was M-G-M Day at the noon luncheon, with Branch Manager Frank Downey in charge. Judge Joseph Scallen was the principal speaker. To Rebuild Razed House Manchester, N. H., March 11. — The Crown here, which was de- stroyed by fire recently, will be re- built by the State Operating Co., operator of the house. The building is owned by Alphonse L. Couture. "Men in Exile" (Warners) Hollywood, March 11. — A melodramatic type of yarn which never manages to rise above the ordinary program level, this film will do in dual spots and in the lesser subsequents may possibly be able to stand alone, but that is doubtful. Lacking name value, it has Richard Purcell and June Travis in the lead spots, with Margaret Irving and Alan Baxter in chief support. The direction of John Farrow from the screenplay by Roy Chanslor and stories by Houston Branch and Marie Baumer is designed to maintain the suspense and melodramatic action, and succeeds to that extent. The story has little to offer, concerning the escape of a murder sus pect, Purcell, to a mythical Central American republic, efforts of his benefactor to draw him into the gun-running racket, his refusal when he meets Miss Travis, working with her mother in the only hotel, and the consequent excitement of murder, revolutionary plot and the firing squad. Miss Travis' brother, who has been working for the gun-runner, kills the latter, tries to pin the murder on Purcell, but confesses when he sees Purcell about to be executed. With the gangster out of the way, the military powers are lenient and clear the way for the romance. Production Code Seal No. 2,844. Running time, 60 minutes. "G." Drop Two Toronto Duals Toronto, March 11. — Audiences here are "single-feature minded." After a trial of double bills at the Uptown and Imperial, Famous Players houses, these spots have re- verted to single films. Business fell off after the introduction of double bills three months ago. The single bill policy was resumed at the Uptown with "On the Avenue" and at the Imperial with "When You're in Love." The Tivoli will con- tinue with two features while Shea's will continue to offer a screen feature and a vaudeville program. "Barriers" Date Changed The opening night for "Silent Barriers" at the Criterion has been advanced to March 25. The film was scheduled to start a two-a-day run on March 18. Jewish Guild Services The Jewish Theatrical Guild of America will hold its annual memo- rial services on Sunday, March 21, at the Congregation Shaare Zedek, on West 93rd St. "A Family Affair" (M-G-M) Hollywood, March 11. — Outstanding in all production divisions, this film offers entertainment of all audiences. The performances of Lionel Barrymore, Mickey Rooney and the team of Cecilia Parker and Eric Linden are splendid. The film carries the family problem theme familiar- ly exploited in "Ah ! Wilderness," and is good box-office material for either key spots or neighborhood houses. The plot centers on the efforts of political factions to prevent Barry- more's reelection as judge in retaliation for his fight against the sue cessful conclusion of water power projects. The opposing forces, aided by the community paper, dig up filth in connection with the separation of Julie Haydon, Barrymore's daughter, and her husband, Allen Vincent. Although the resulting friction plays havoc with the romantic aspira tions of Miss Parker, Barrymore's other daughter, and Linden, who is scheduled for an engineering post on the river project, Barrymore fights the issue and at the fadeout successfully clears the family name and shows the populace the harm of the project. Simultaneously he settles his family's romantic differences. Young Rooney is excellent as the exuberant, youthful member of the household. Miss Haydon's role is also very good. Charles Grapewin Spring Byington, Sara Haden and Vincent offer good supporting roles George B. Seitz's direction is smooth and convincing. Kay Van Riper did a commendable screenplay. The dialogue is particularly notable. It is an adaptation from Aurania Rouverol's play. Lester White's photog- raphy is good. Production Code Seal No. 3,136. Running time, 68 minutes. "G." Cameramen Set Party The Press Photographers' Ass'n will hold its eighth annual dance and entertainment at the Hotel Commo- dore on April 9. A long list of news- paper people, screen, stage and radio players will appear. Cinema Club to Dance Boston, March 11. — The Cinema Club, recently organized, will make its public bow, March 17 with a charity dance in the Georgian Room of the Statler. Kalmine Buys House Pittsburgh, March 11. — Harry Kal- mine, zone manager for Warners, has just purchased a 10-room home in the Squirrel Hill district and will move in with his family April 1. Wall Street Board Continues Decline Net High Low Close Change Columbia 36 34^4 345/6 — 154 Consolidated 4% 4% 4% — 54 Consolidated, pfd.. 1654 15% 15% — 54 Eastman Kodak ..168}4 168 168 — 54 Eastman, pfd. ...15954 1S9J4 15954 — 154 Gen. T. Equip. ... 2954 2854 28% — 54 Loew's, Inc 7934 78^4 7954 Loew's, pfd 106J4 10634 10634 + Yt Paramount 2554 2434 2554 — 54 Paramount 2 pfd.. 2354 2354 2354 — 54 Pathe Film 8%, 854 854 RKO 854 854 854 — 54 20th Century-Fox. 3754 3654 36% — 54 20th Century, pfd. 4554 4554 4554 — 34 Universal, pfd. ..100 98 98 —234 Warner Bros 1554 15 15 — % Technicolor Best Curb Rise Net High Low Close Change Grand National ..3 2V% 3 Sonotone 1% 1% 1% — Yt Technicolor 24 2234 2334 +154 Trans-Lux 5 4% 4% Universal Pict. .. 1254 12 12 —2 Bonds Move Fractionally Net High Low Close Change Loew's 6s '41 ex war 9954 9954 9954 + 54 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 10054 10054 10054 — 54 Warner Bros. 6s •39 wd 9734 9754 9754 — 54 (Quotations at close of March 11) CHAMPION EASTMAN Super X was used in the great majority of all 1936 feature productions ...in three out of every four "box-office champions". . . in nine of the "best ten" pictures chosen by the country's critics. It continues as the unchallenged cham- pion among motion picture negative films. Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N.Y. (J. E. Brulatour, Inc., Distributors, Fort Lee, New York, Chicago, Hollywood.) EASTMAN SUPER A PANCHROMATIC NEGATIVE ,4 RADIO MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, March 12, 1937 Monopoly of Air Charged To Utilities By CLARENCE LINZ Washington, March 11. — Charges that public utilities interests are in- volved in an alleged broadcasting monopoly were made before the Rules Committee of the House today by Representative Connery of Massachu- setts, who urged approval of his resolution for an investigation of the the radio situation and the activities of the F. C. C. Connery charged that the three na- tional systems, CBS, NBC and Mu- tual, control all of the "best time" and 96 per cent of all good time. He said, "I would not be surprised if there is a tieup through the medium of interlocking directorates within the three systems. Anyway it is what we want to find out." Second Critic Heard Representative Dies of Texas criti- cized the methods of the chains in giving time, charging that Congress- men are given "five minutes between 11 :30 and midnight," while Senators get all the time they want. Connery aimed particularly at the F. C. C, declaring that "the little fel- low must get down on his knees to the big fellow for time when he should be able to arrange with the commis- sion for time." Complaints against the commission, he said, came from the independents and educational, religious and other organizations. "It seems as if a blue pencil was always used when somebody wanted to talk about collective bargaining," he added. The committee will hold another hearing next week for the opponents of the resolution. City Owned Station Bought by Operator Jacksonville, Fla., March 11.— Station WFLA, owned by the city of Clearwater, Fla., and operated by the Florida West Coast Broadcasting Co., for some time, yesterday was trans- ferred to the operating organization, which paid for the station in bonds of face value of $252,700, but with cur- rent valuation of $50,000, and $2,500 in cash. H. H. Baskin, president of the West Coast Co., denied there were negotiations on for the sale of the sta- tion to other parties. Baskin recently applied for a 500-watt station permit to supplement WFLA, which operates on 5,000 watts. To Alter Guide Policy It is reported Radio Guide, fan magazine published by M. L. Annen- berg, shortly will change its editorial policy and present the magazine as an all-picture publication, similar to Life and Look, but continuing as a radio publication. f t€0 $AY$ Variety says the No. 1 showmanship sta- tion in New York is WHN. | DIAL 1010 Citizens Attack Airing of Rail Fire; Program Shifted The Philip Morris program ran into a crescendo of trouble with officials of the Rock Island R.R., the Bureau of Explosives, the legal department of NBC, and a committee of protesting citizens of Willard, Kan., as a result of its scheduled re-enactment of a rail- road fire in that city last Tuesday. The protests resulted in a cancellation of the dramatization and the substitu- tion of another. Each Tuesday a portion of the pro- gram is devoted to a dramatization entitled "The Thrill of the Week." The incidents, authored by Charles Martin, of the Biow Co., agency handling the account, are based on actual events. When news of the scheduled drama- tization reached Willard, a group of citizens of that city wrote a letter of protest to NBC and to the agency, ob- jecting generally to the dramatization and specifically to making Frank Stone, Jr. the hero of the episode. The credit should be bestowed, they wrote, upon several others who helped to ex- tinguish the fire after a derailment. Railroad Also Annoyed Moreover, the Rock Island R. R. requested the cancellation on the grounds that the railroad would be put in an unfavorable and unjust light. The Bureau of Explosives objected because firearms were used to help extinguish the fire in the oil tanks. This method, while often effective, is frowned on by the bureau. Meanwhile, Stone, selected by Mar- tin as the hero of the event, had been brought to New York and rehearsed in his role. When the controversy flared about the ears of Martin and the agency, he was returned to Kan- sas and Dene Aborgast, a 14-year-old hero of Durbin, W. Va., was hastily summoned to New York to re-enact the event that brought him into the limelight. When queried, Martin said, "We are still convinced that we had every legal right to go ahead with the dramatization. Rather than create ill- will toward our sponsor's product, however, we agreed to the cancella- tion." To Air Easter Services Easter Sunrise Services from the Hollywood Bowl will be broadcast over the Mutual network, 8 to 9 A M E.S.T., March 28. The Don Lee net- work will feed the program over the coast-to-coast Mutual web. P. A. Anguish A letter to all radio agen- cies oy station representa- tives ram n. Kaymer & Co. has caused untold anguish in the press departments at the agencies. Kaymer & Co., represent- ing KSTP, Minneapolis - St. Paul, wrote that the station and the agency clients with programs on this station, are not getting the proper pub- licity breaks in the papers in that city, due to a dearth of material sent out. The press divisions at all the agencies state that if the papers there were to use half of the re- leases sent them, they would have to print extra sections. Sobol, Growers Set Contracts with WHN New business placed at WHN yes- terday included contracts for a pro- gram sponsored by Sobol Bros. Serv- ice Stations, Inc., and another for the Western Growers Protective Ass'n. Through J. Stirling Getchell, Sobol Bros, will broadcast six 15-minute programs a week during the day; three 15-minute programs a week dur- ing the evening; and six five-minute late evening programs. All 15-minute programs will consist of United Press News dispatches and Associated Re- cordings. The five-minute programs will consist entirely of United Press news. Programs will start March 15. The contract is for 52 weeks. For Western Growers, Ida Bailey Allen will present her "Home-Makers on the Air" Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 :30 to 11 :30 A.M. The contract, for 13 weeks, was placed through J. Walter Thompson. Mrs. Wayne Mohr to Speak Mrs. Wayne Mohr, educational chairman of the Greater Detroit M.P. Council and film chairman of the Parent-Teacher Ass'ns of Detroit, will be guest on the Michigan WCTU broadcast of Thursday, March 18 from 1:15 to 1:30 P.M., E.S.T. from the studios of CKLW. Mrs. Mohr will speak on the subject "Mo- tion Pictures and the Community." The Press Again «„?™« V % 10ns A" the excellent radio page you are now get- 5? ~ !i foH?wed ^ with interest since its appearance and profited by it. You can guess its value to a radio editor who is not in close contact with usual sources of radio news "— R. Ormond Marriott, radio editor, Victoria (B. C.) Daily Times A very satisfactory effort. It is informative and that, after all, is what I believe you stress in the preparation."— Patricia Lonmer, radio editor, Newark Star-Eagle. "I wish to congratulate you upon the fine work being carried on by your radio department. I have a feeling of being 'lost' when I am unable to get a chance to see your radio page each day. I realize that you carry reliable first-hand news and it is with that thought in mind that I look toward Motion Picture Daily as my chief source of information."— Norman E. Reck, radio editor, Ridge wood (N. J.) Herald. i Radio Personals ► ANNE TEEM AN, network ac- tress, has joined the "Girl In- terne" cast on WHN. . . . Frank Parker will guest appear on the Ben Bernie program April 6, from Florida. Jean Dickinson, NBC star, will sing with the San Carlo Co. in Denver April 7. . . . Thomas L. Stix, of the Henry Souvaine office, left by plane yesterday for California. . . . Maurice Barrett of the WHN production de- partment is readying a series of Gil- bert and Sullivan programs for his station. . . . Emery Deutsch will be Marion Cole's guest on the latter's program on WMCA Tuesday. . . . Fred Pflug- felder, director of N. W. Ayer's radio department, is expected back at his desk after an extended business and vacation trip. ... Ed Ettinger, who wrote scripts for Al Jolson when the latter originally went on the air sev- eral years ago, leaves for California to take up the script writing duties for Jolson's present series. . . . WOR will have a "coach and four," com- plete in every detail, prancing up and down 5th Ave. during the Easter Parade. Cobina Wright, Jerome Zerbe, Jr., and Dave Driscoll will broadcast a description of the parade from 12:15 to 12:30 P. M., Easter Sunday. . . . + Lois Wilson will be the guest of Jeff Sparks on WOR's "Varieties" program this Sunday at 3 P.M. . . . Paul Whiteman will lead concert or- chestras in Baltimore and Washington March 16 and 17 before returning to New York. . . . Film studios are said to be conducting special surveys of radio script shows with an eye toward picturizing them. . . . Raphael and Jack Feeney will make guest ap- pearances on the Schaefer "Nine O'clock Revue." . . . Ernst Lubitsch will join Marlene Dietrich and Her- bert Marshall on the "Lux" program Monday night. . . . Roy Atwell, stut- tering comedian, will fly from New York for his appearance in Hollywood on Jack Oakie's program March 16. . . . Helen Menken and Margalo Gillmore will offer a scene from "Mary of Scotland" on Kate Smith's series March 18. . . . Lupe Velez will join Eddie Cantor's program March 14 for a guest spot. . . . Jes- sie Royce Landis will be Crosby Gaige's "Kitchen Cavalcade" guest March 15 Don Searle of WIBW, Topeka, Kan., is a visitor to New York, conferring with executives of CBS. + Dot Haas, of WOR's press staff, ill with grippe. . . . Fred E. Fuller, the Brooklyn salesman who met the Royal Family while shopping at the British Empire Exposition, will de- scribe his reactions of the meeting on Benay Venuta's WOR program this Sunday at 8 P. M. . . . Ralph Won- ders, ex-CBS artist bureau head now vacationing in Florida will join Rockwell-O'Keefe on his return to New York. Racing to WOR-Mutual For the second consecutive season, WOR-Mutual will broadcast exclu- sively from the five New York racing tracks during the coming season. Friday. March 12, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 15 January Air Ads Totaled $10,369,556 Washington, March 11. — Total broadcast advertising in January amounted to $10,369,556, a decrease of 6.7 per cent from the December level s but 29.1 per cent above the gross time sales for January, 1936, it was an- nounced today by the National Ass'n of Broadcasters. "Although all advertising media ex- perienced the downward seasonal trend during January," it was commented, "radio broadcasting declined to the least extent when compared with December. Advertising in national magazines declined 26.1 per cent, na- tional farm papers, 14.2 per cent, and newspapers, 25.3 per cent." Figures compiled by the N. A. B. place national network advertising in January at $6,061,387 against $6,185,- 441 in December; regional networks, $92,169 against $99,416; national non- network, $2,313,700 against $2,461,200, and local, $1,902,300 against $2,373,000. In the non-network field, gross time sales of stations of 250 to 1,000 watts were greatest, amounting to $1,839,900 against $2,122,500 in December, fol- lowed by stations over 1,000 watts with $1,823,100 against $1,983,600, and 100-watt stations with $553,000 against $728,600. In this same group, geographically, the North Central area was the most important with $1,564,700 against $1,854,900 in Decem- ber followed by the New England- Middle Atlantic area, $1,097,900 against $1,270,900; the South- Atlan- tic-South Central area, $783,000 against $915,500, and the Pacific and Mountain area, $770,400 against $793,- 400. A survey of the advertising types on national non-network and local sta- tions showed that gross time sales for electrical transcriptions dropped from $1,165,920 in December to $900,980 in January; live talent programs from $2,356,090 to $2,222,990 ; records from $100,810 to $89,310, and announce- ments from $1,211,880 to $1,002,720. "Radio Clinic" Is Revised WBNX's much criticized "Radio Clinic" will be presented this Sunday at 5 :30 P. M., under a revised setup calculated to eliminate those features declared to be objectionable. The program will be under the di- rection of a bacteriologist and instead of having patients parade before the microphone with their ills, there will be dramatization by a professional cast. Will Broadcast Nature Study Boston, March 11.— "The Old Nat- uralist," a new series of nature study programs by members of the faculty and student body of Massachusetts State College will be started over WAAB and the Colonial Network be- ginning March 19 from 2 :30 to 2 :45 P. M., E. S. T. The program will be heard every Friday afternoon. Boston to Get Morning Recitals Boston, March 11. — Morning organ recitals at 9 o'clock, E. S. T., will be given by Stanley Schultz of WORL, starting March 15 from the Para- mount. Saerchinger Quits CBS European Post Cesar Saerchinger, European di- rector for CBS, yesterday cabled his resignation to the network headquar- ters in New York. He will be suc- ceeded by Edward R. Murrow, present director of Talks for CBS. Saerchinger's resignation takes ef- fect as of May 1. He plans to return to America to pursue a literary career, after spending 18 years abroad as a newspaperman and network represen- tative. He was appointed to his present post in 1930. Saerchinger is the author of a musical encylopedia and other musical works. He was stationed for years in Berlin as foreign service editor of Musical Courier, and later in London as correspondent for several American newspapers. Murrow formerly was president of the National Student Federation and assistant director of the Institute of International Education. Shannon Allen Made WPA Radio Assistant Washington, March 11. — The ap- pointment of Shannon Allen as assis- tant director of the WPA educational radio project in the office of educa- tion was announced today by Secre- tary of the Interior Ickes. Allen, who is now on leave from his position as night manager of NBC's Washington division, will undertake the duties of editor of the script and editorial divisions, succeeding Leo S. Rosencrans, who resigned to take a position with Wilding Motion Pic- tures, Inc. Hearst Seeks Four More Air Stations (.Continued from page 1) receipt of applications for new sta- tions from the Standard Life Insur- ance Co. of the South, Jackson, Miss., 1,420 kilocycles, 100 watts night, 250 watts day; Spartanburg Jr. Chamber of Commerce, 1,420 kilocycles, 100 watts night, 250 watts day, and South- ern Broadcasting Corp., New Orleans, (amended) for the facilities of WJBW, 1,200 kilocycles, 100 watts night, 250 watts day. An application also has been re- ceived from WGL, Fort Wayne, Ind., for an increase of day power to 250 watts. The commission today ordered a hearing on the application of the Watertown Broadcasting Corp., Water- town, N. Y., for a new station on 1,420 kilocycles, 100 watts night, 250 watts day. Skillet Sisters in Series East and Dumpke, the "Sisters of the Skillet," will begin a new three- time weekly series for the Kellogg Co. on WJZ, beginning April 12, from 7 :45 to 8 P.M., E.S.T. Kenyon and Eckhardt, Inc., is the agency. Shift Winchell's Program Beginning Sunday, Walter Win- chell's program will precede, not fol- low, the "Rippling Rhythm Revue," which features the orchestra of Shep Fields, Judy Cannova, and Frank Parker. Both series are sponsored by the Jergens Co. Lennen and Mitchell handle the account. Sitting Ushers Houston, March 11. — Twelve pretty ushers of the Horwitz Homefolks Theatres are staging the first Houston sit down strike. The girls, sitting in the arcade of the Uptown and Iris in their striking satin uniforms of green, white and black, display placards de- manding "Saturdays off." They work 44 hours per week, but must report a part of each day. It couldn't possibly be a publicity stunt, Will Horwitz insists. Rumor Film Combine Is Planned in China (Continued from page 1) such a deal. It is generally believed that a combine of this sort would serve to force down film costs and admission prices. There have been definite indications that the Government is showing in- creased interest in the development of production in China. Considerable equipment has been purchased in re- cent months by the Government for use in its educational work. The re- cent departure for the United States of T. J. Holt, general manager of Shanghai Amusements, operators of two first runs and a second run here, is thought in some quarters to have a bearing on the plan. Holt's visit will be for the purpose of studying American production for possible ap- plication in China. He is acting in a semi-official capacity. "Love Is News" Hits $45,000 at the Roxy (Continued from page 1) Crawford, the Radio Ramblers, Lu- cille Page and Freddie Craig, Jr., are being held a second week. "Fire Over England" ended a week at the Music Hall with about $63,000. "Romeo and Juliet" garnered a weak $30,000 in its first week at popular prices at the Capitol. "Woman of Glamour" at the Criterion did about $10,000. Para. B'way Loss Cited The net loss of Paramount Broad- way Corp. for the period from July 1 to Dec. 31, 1935, amounted to $166,- 536.22. This loss was not for the entire year of 1935, as indicated in an item in Motion Picture Daily, in which the annual 1936 report of Par- amount Broadway was published. Will Open Denver Club Denver, March 11. — New club rooms of the Rocky Mountain Screen Club will be opened with a formal entertainment March 20 in the Cos- mopolitan Hotel. The rooms have been remodeled and contain a library, writing room and bar. Catholics to Review Films in Australia Wins $10,000 Prize Boston, March 11. — Rudolph Bruce, checker for M-G-M, today won the $10,000 first prize in a cartoon contest sponsored by the Boston Her- ald Traveler. (Continued from page 1) exhibitors and the full cooperation of the industry has been promised. The committee has stated that the gradings of the American Legion of Decency and the decisions of the Commonwealth films censor, Cress- well O'Reilly, will be accepted. Since Australian-made pictures are uncen- sored before presentation in New South Wales, the committee has re- quested the right to preview all such films and include them in the list of general gradings. The chairman of the central committee is Monsignor King, O. B. E. The wording of the pledge has yet to be drafted, but it is understood that its phraseology will be on similar lines to 'that of the American Legion of Decency. Some months will elapse before the plan is in full operation. The latest issue of the Catholic Directory shows that Catholics in Australia now number 1,250,000, or nearly 20 per cent of the population. Select Hubbard's First Hollywood, March 11. — "With the Tide," Robert Louis Stevenson's ad- venture tale of the South Seas, will be Lucian Hubbard's first assignment as Paramount associate producer. The film will be done in Technicolor. Frances Farmer will have the lead. Henry Hathaway is the tentative choice for director. Turnquist Post Set Boston, March 11. — Elmer Turn- quist has been named permanent Bos- ton manager for Imperial Pictures. He was promoted from booker to temporary manager on the resignation of Leo Britton. Jack Hill assumes Turnquist's position as booker. Arthur New LeBaron Aid Hollywood, March 11. — George Arthur, head of the Paramount studio cutting department, has been named editorial assistant to William LeBaron. Charles West succeeds him in the cutting department. Wilkins Joins Republic Hollywood, March 11. — Paul Wil- kins, with M-G-M for 28 years and re- cently associated casting director, has signed as casting director for Repub- lic. Pick "Carnival Queen" Hollywood, March 11. — Universal has changed "Love in the Mud" to "Carnival Queen." The film is to go into production soon. The change was made because the original title was used in the published version of the story. Retitle "Years So Long" Hollywood, March 11. — "Make Way for Tomorrow" has been picked as the release title of "The Years Are So Long" by Paramount. G. N. to Have 20 "A's" Hollywood, March 11. — Grand Na- tional plans to make 20 "A" pictures next year. Edward L. Alperson, president, is expected to leave for New York next week. He is now working out a new deal with Doug- las MacLean, producer, for four pic- tures annually. LOVE IS NEWS AT BOX OFFICES EVERYWHERE! NEWS in NEW YORK! Held over at the Roxy . . . an S. R. O. hit! NEWS in ALBANY! Smash run bigger than "Girls' Dormitory!" NEWS in MEMPHIS! Great business topped "Road to Glory/' "Ladies in Love." NEWS in RICHMOND! Beat swell "Pigskin Parade" gross at Capitol. NEWS in ST. LOUIS! Opening days leading "Girls' Dormitory." NEWS in DETROIT! Sensational opening tops "Pigskin Parade!" NEWS in DAYTON! Opened bigger than "On the Avenue." NEWS in MIAMI! Grand! Beats "One in A Million" opening! NEWS in LOS ANGELES! Smash day-and date run at Chinese and State! THE KEYSTONE OF YOUR FUTURE Alert, Intelligent the In In All Branches MOTION PICTURE DAILY The Leading Motio Picture Industry ,VOL. 41. NO. 60 NEW YORK, SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 1937 TEN CENTS Moves Begun For Raising Scales Here Seek Five and 10-Cent Increases Generally Moves are under way to increase admissions five and 10 cents in the Greater New York territory, it was learned yesterday. Loew's and RKO, which already have boosted prices in some sections, are reported behind the move. Sever- al leading independent circuits have been approached and have shown a willingness to fall in line with the trend. However, no blanket moves are be- ing taken until the smaller, unaffliated circuits are influenced to bike tariffs. According to reports, no general meeting will be held on the matter, but each circuit will be asked individually to tip the scales slightly upward. It is felt that the time is now ripe for such a move and if the plan is suc- cessful it will be in full swing by the beginning of next season. Increases are contingent on the sec- tions in which theatres are situated. In some neighborhoods, exhibitors are being asked to change week day ad- missions from 35 to 40 cents ; in other spots, operators are being approached to tip the 40 cents admission to 50 cents. Expect Poster Men To Reelect Libros Simon Libros of Philadelphia is scheduled to be reelected president of National Poster Service Renters Ass'n today or tomorrow. Le Roy Kendis of Cleveland, vice-president, and George P. Aarons of Philadel- phia, secretary and treasurer, are also expected to be continued in their posts for another year. About 50 members of the associa- tion, representing every key center, (Continued on page 3) CBS Gross for '36 Up to $27,800,000 The CBS annual report shows a time sale gross of $27,800,000 for 1936. The net profit for the vear was $3,- 755,522.99. This is equivalent to $4.41 per share on the 852,335 shares outstand- ing. The dividends aggregated $2,- 812,705.50, or $3.30 per share, repre- senting the largest dividend ever paid (Continued on pane 4) More Radio — Page 4 Miami Reservations Pass the 700 Mark Miami, March 12.— Hotel reserva- tions sufficient to accommodate more than 700 persons during the M. P. T. O. A. national convention opening at the Miami-Biltmore next Tuesday had been made up to early this morn- ing. The number is expected to be increased by more than 100 additional reservations in the next four days. The Miami-Biltmore and Roney- Plaza report a total of 287 reserva- tions up to today. The Everglades reported 78 reservations. Charles B. McCabe, publisher of the N. Y. Daily Mirror, has been in- vited to address the convention. Charles Edison, assistant Secretary of the Navy, one of the speakers scheduled for the Thursday business session, will be unable to attend be- cause of the demands of official busi- ness in Washington. Warner Baxter and Evelyn Herbert will attend the convention, joining the Hollywood contingent which is expected here Monday or Tuesday. Philadelphia, March 12. — Lewen Pizor, president of the U. M. P. T. O. of Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern Jersey and Delaware, leaves Sunday for the M. P. T. O. A. convention in Miami. Since the local body is not affiliated with the M. P. T. O. A., Pizor will attend as an unofficial ob- server from this territory, instead of as a delegate. CEA Welcomes Call For Talk With KRS By BRUCE ALLAN London, March 12. — The Council of the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Ass'n has officially welcomed the sug- gestion of Dr. Burgin, Parliamentary spokesman for the Board of Trade, that the C. E. A. and the Kinemato- graph Renters Society (distributors') form a joint trade council for the de- velopment of new policies. D. E. Griffiths has been reelected president of the K. R. S. Warners Win Jersey Race by Single Day Philadelphia, March 12. — An in- teresting race for theatre openings in Vineland, N. J., was won yesterday by Warners by the margin of one day. Their ace house in this South Jer- sey town, the Grand, which has been completely rebuilt, opened yesterday. Today Eugene Mori's independent house, the Landis, an entirely new project, made its bow, making two theatre premieres within 24 hours. Spurred by the construction of the Landis, Warners rushed the Grand into operation, finishing it in 55 days. On the Woodpile Houston, March 12. — Friday night at the Iris has become wood-sawing night for women — literally. Women from the audience are invited to enter a wood sawing contest on the stage. Logs and hand saws are provided, and the first to saw through the log receives $5. The Iris is crowded each week. The idea is original with Will Horwitz, operator of the Homefolks Theatres circuit of subsequents. Production Holds Pace; 36 in Work Hollywood, March 12. — Produc- tion activity here maintained its pace, with 36 features in work, the same number as during the previous week. Three shorts, also equalling last week's figure, were in production. Eight features were completed, com- paring with eight in the previous period. Work was started on eight features and three shorts. In preparation were 22 features and seven shorts. In the process of edit- ing were 57 features and 14 shorts. In work Warners had seven and Universal, 20th Century-Fox, M-G-M and Paramount had six each. Radio started shooting two features and (Continued on page 3) Buffalo Sentiment Against Bank Night Buffalo, March 12. — A majority of exhibitors here are opposed to Bank Night and all other games of chance in theatres. Few managers feel there is enough profit to warrant their continuation, but individual managers are unwilling to call a halt because of fear of competition. Vincent McFaul of Shea Theatres, Inc., agrees with Motion Picture Daily's stand on this question, but says games of chance cannot be done (Continued on page 3) Century Curtailing Long Island Games Century Circuit has curtailed chance games in its Nassau and Suffolk County theatres, it was stated yester- day by an executive of the circuit. The move follows the stand taken recently by Loew's, RKO and Skouras in eliminating them in all of its local units. No decision has been reached on dropping games from Century's Brook- lyn houses, although this will most likely follow as soon as competitive theatres decide to oust Bank Night, Screeno, Lucky and other games. Radio Plans Increase in Film Budgets Spitz Says 48 Features On Next Schedule RKO Radio Pictures will "sub- stantially increase" its production and individual picture budgets for the 1937-'38 season, Leo Spitz, president, said yesterday. The company will schedule 48 features for the coming season. Questioned concerning the number of pictures which would be designated for the higher budget brackets, Spitz said that there would be "a greater number than ever" in this category but that the total would vary in accordance with available material and production values as disclosed while a picture is in work. In this respect, he said flexible budgets would be maintained in order that pictures which revealed exceptional possibili- ties would have the benefit of addi- tional appropriations. Spitz avoided the use of the terms "A" and "B" pictures, stating that these trade designations are being taken up by the public to the dis- advantage of theatres and individual productions. Spitz illustrated his point by relating that after attending a preview of an important picture dur- ing his recent Hollywood visit, a friend, who was not a member of the industry, was curious to know (Continued on page 3) Wisconsin Delaying Allied Theatre Bill Milwaukee, March 12. — The Sen- ate Committee on State and Local Government has reserved decision on Allied's bill for banning theatre ownership by distributors. Opposition to the bill was voiced yesterday at a hearing by Ben Miller, representing 20th Century-Fox and the Warner and Saxe circuits and or- ganized labor. Union representatives (Continued on page 3) Caffey Studies Roxy Bondholders' Dissent Federal Court Judge Francis G. Caffey, took under advisement after a hearing yesterday the rights of Roxy bondholders who have deposited their bonds with the Pounds Com- mittee to file dissent from the pro- posed plan of reorganization. Of the outstanding first mortgage bonds amounting to $3,600,000, bonds amounting to $2,332,000 are deposited (Continued on page 2) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Saturday. March 13, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY i, Registered U. S. Patent Office) 4 Purely Personal ► Vol. 41 March 13, 1937 No. 60 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany. Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at Rockefeller Center. New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- cations: MOTION PICTURE HERALD, BETTER THEATRES, TEATRO AL DIA. INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building. Vine and Yucca Sts. ; Boone Mancall, Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave., C. B. O'Neill. Manager. WASHINGTON: Albee Building, Bertram F. Linz, Representative. AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan 5; Philip de Schaap, Representative. BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest II; Endre Hevesi, Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientes 2495; N. Bruski, Representative. HELSINKI: Fredriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszio, Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square, W. 1; Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address, Quigpubco, Lon- don. MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings 191 Collins St. ; Cliff Holt, Representative MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart. Representative. MONTEVIDEO: P. O. Box 664; Paul Bodo. Rep- sentative. MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern, Bep- sentative. PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre. Rep- resentative. PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1; Harry Knopf. Representative. Wl RIO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 3358; A. Weiss- man. Representative. R?e^eniatKeale Gorizia; Tittorio MalPassuti, Rep- ^^St'lr Kooms S8"41' CapitaI Thea'« Build- refentative J- P> Koehler' Kep" SR°epre?ent^ve KUnSSgatan 36 : EaSn" AIIb^- ^^ii80 Sasazuk!>. Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken; vr™™0?""3^3' Kepresentative. ™tRetrSvee' Mj ^ ™> *™ Ict^f S^ch°tei8l9NeW Y°rk CUy- an! tr^'^t irS c^"^' Mines Bureau Films Shown 84,783 Times Washington, March 12.— Films of mineral production from the Bureau of Mines were shown last year to 7,252,000 persons on 84,783 occasions, the Dept. of the Interior stated to- day. A total of 57 subjects are covered by the 3,000 reels now in the film library of the bureau. They cover various activities of the mining and oil industry, both here and abroad, a number of them being devoted to the subject of safety in mining opera- tions. With a few exceptions, all of the pictures are silent. All are avail- able in both 16 mm. and 35 mm. widths. Technical in nature, the bureau's films are used chiefly by educational institutions, engineers, scientific so- cieties and similar organizations. G. T. E. Sets Dividend General Theatres Equipment Corp. has declared a dividend of 25 cents a share on the outstanding stock, pay- able March 31 to stockholders of rec- ord March 24. The company paid $2 in 1936. Earl G. Hines, president, indicated that the company expects to pay interim dividends during the year and a final at the close of the year. EDWARD L. HYMAN of Century Circuit has changed his vacation plans and now intends to leave by car next Friday for Miami and then to Havana. Previously he had an itin- erary for a southern tour worked out. • Phyllis Gilman, one of the 10 models en route to the coast to appear in "Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1938," yesterday announced her en- gagement to Lou Holtz in Chicago. • Norman H. Moray, in charge of Vitaphone sales, now on a tour of the country, arrives in Vancouver tomor- row and will leave for Seattle Mon- day. • J. J. Fitzgibbons, of Famous Play- ers Canadian, was in town yesterday en route to Miami for the M. P. T. O. A. and Paramount meetings. • Paul Graetz of Paris Export Co. is here from Paris and plans to spend another two weeks in town looking for product. • Wolf Cohen, Canadian district manager for Warners, returned to To- ronto last night after a short visit here. • Fay Bainter is due Monday from the RKO studios on the coast. Miss Bainter stopped off at Mexico City. • Sally Victor, designer for Wal- ter Wanger, left for the coast via American Airlines yesterday. • Herb Ochs, western division sales head for Warners, left for Miami yes- terday. Vacation. • Harry Pimpstein, RKO attorney, returned yesterday from a short trip to Philadelphia. J. H. Carroll took a plane to the 20th Century-Fox coast lot yester- day. • Charles McCarthy sails Thurs- day on a 20-day Caribbean cruise. Bob Goldstein sails for London April 1. HERBERT DEPEW, former vice- president and sales manager of the Acousticon division of Dictograph Products, has been named head of ex- pense control and personnel of Jam Handy, Detroit. • Frank M. Snell, vice-president of Condor Pictures, leaves for the coast today for a series of production talks with George Hirliman and Michael Hoffman. • Vernon H. Adams has joined Leon Bamberger's staff at RKO, handling special educational groups, civic centers and other institutional publicity. • Harry Bryman, former Trinidad manager for M-G-M, is on the Queen Mary bound for a vacation in Eng- land. • Joseph Hoffman's and Monroe Shaff's original, "She's Got That Swing," has been purchased by Radio. • . . . Cincinnati L. B. Wilson, circuit operator of Covington, Ky., and head of station WCKY, came home for a brief stay, and returned to Florida to finish his vacation. Elmer Shard is remodeling the Monte Vista, neighborhood house, a unit of his local circuit of four. George Gomersoll, Universal ex- change, is confined to his home with an attack of the flu. • . . . Denver Harry and Mrs. Huffman have returned from Mexico City. Gus Kohn spending considerable time in Arizona, dude ranching and golf practicing. L. L. Dent, head of Westland Theatres and Larry Starsmore, man- ager in Colorado Springs, in town for a few days. Dave Cockrill, owner of the Den- ham, has taken over the Alpine, a neighborhood house. Harry Marcus, Allied Exchange owner, has. left on a six-week auto tour. J. B. Melton has left the hospital and is around again. Out Hollywood Way Hollywood, March 12. — Recent ar- rivals included Igor Stravinsky, who is here for Paramount conferences which may lead to his association with the company as director, composer or actor. He is the guest of Boris Morros. Al Jolson, Frank McHugh and Pat O'Brien are on the entertain- ment committee for the dinner-dance to be given by the Warner Studio Club at the Biltmore Bowl April 1. B. G. DeSylva back at work after siege of flu . . . Monta Bell at work on his first as producer for Colum- bia, "For Tonight Only". . . Sonja Henie building up show for resump- tion of her tour before starting on "Thin Ice" for 20th Century-Fox . . . E. B. Derr started "Beyond Vic- tory" at Nogales, Ariz., March 8 . . . Wallace Beery, Ken Maynard, Henry King and Leroy Prinz enter their planes in air race to Ensenada, Mexico, March 20-21 . . . Walter Wanger borrows Warner Baxter for "Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1937". Radio starts preparing "Ballyhoo Artists," an original by Arthur T. Horman, as starring vehicle for Fred Stone . . . Universal rushing "Oh, Doctor," so Donrue Leighton can be cast in "As Good as Married". . . Ulric Sterndorff, Warner writer, entertaining his father, Prof. George Sterndorff of the University of Leip- sig. To Show Musical Short Hollywood, March 12. — "Reflec- tion," first of a series of 13 shorts in color with musical backgrounds com- pleted by Featurettes, Inc., will be pre- viewed tomorrow night at the Egyp- tian. Caffey Studies Roxy Bondholders* Dissent (Continued from page 1) with the committee. Bondholders holding $200,000 of the deposited bonds have filed dissent. Harold P. Seligson, counsel for the Tipton Bondholders' Committee con- tended that bondholders should have the right to dissent and argued that a copy of the report should be mailed to all security holders. He based his argument on the fact that Roxy earn- ings have increased substantially in the past two months and indicated that unless a better offer were pre- sented his committee would favor the continued operation of the Roxy by Howard S. Cullman, present trustee. Judge Caffey said that he didn't regard the terms of the Pound de- posit agreement as binding on the court. He said he feared further correspondence with security holders would not be useful and might delay the proceedings unnecessarily. The Pound committee declared that the deposit bondholders who have not filed dissent should be bound unless they can give sufficient reason for failure to file their dissent in time. Adjourn Dillingham Sale The hearing on the public sale of film, stage and radio rights to various properties of the late Charles Dil- lingham's estate, scheduled for yes- terday, was adjourned by Referee in Bankruptcy John Joyce to April 6. The adjournment was requested by Irving Trust Co., which is handling the estate. Technicolor Defense Opens Los Angeles, March 12. — Trial of of the suit brought by Tricolor against Technicolor charging infringement of a patent was continued today with Technicolor ooening its defense by denying the charges. Photography ex- perts stated that cameras embodying the basic principles of the Jones pat- ent (controlled by Tricolor) were in use in America, England and France for two years prior to the issuance of the Jones patent and declared the Tricolor action to be "an attempt to levy tribute upon the industry for something which Tricolor did not originate." Samuel S. McKeown, assistant pro- fessor of physics at California Tech, fortified by a battery of diagrams and cameras, testified all day. The case recessed until March 16. Convert More Para. Stock Paramount reported to the N. Y. Stock Exchange yesterday that an additional $962,700 of first preferred stock and $1,000 second preferred were converted into 67,479 shares of common stock during February. The conversions reduced the outstanding first preferred from 172,223 shares on Jan. 30 to 162,955 shares on Feb. 27. Astor Closes 2 Deals Astor Pictures has closed distribu- tion deals on the Tom Tyler reissues with B. N. Judell, Inc., in Chicago, St. Louis and Milwaukee territories and with Big Feature Rights in Cin- cinnati, Indianapolis and Louisville. Handle Monogram Films London, March 12. — Pathe has ar- ranged a deal here whereby it will handle all Monogram product in Eng- land. MOTION PICTURE DAILY MOTION PICTURE DAJLY5 HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "The Outcasts of Poker Flats" {Radio) Hollywood, March 12. — As a better-than-average B film based on two Bret Harte stories, this should satisfy in the secondary field for which it is intended. The presence of Preston Foster, Jean Muir, Vir- ginia Weidler and Margaret Irving in the cast should insure some atten- tion in the larger spots. This yarn combines drama and romance with action, melodrama and comedy. Well staged, the picture offers some worthy performances and moves in a mood appealing to family audi- ences. Foster and Miss Irving, as gamblers, enjoy success as little Miss Weidler, an orphan, is considered their lucky charm. With the com- ing of Van Heflin, a preacher, and Miss Muir, a teacher, the citizens of Poker Flats come to look upon Foster and his murdering minions as a menace to the town's good name and progress. The romantic con- flict between Miss Irving and Miss Muir arises when Miss Weidler is placed in the teacher's charge. A series of killings leads to the organi- zation of vigilantes who drive Foster and his outcasts from the Flats. Trapped in a blizzard, Miss Irving dies of exposure and Foster commits suicide. The way is made clear for the romance between Miss Muir, who loved Foster dearly, and Heflin. Poker Flats visions a new and more peaceful future. Retaining the Harte story-telling technique which blends human inter- est with drama, the screenplay by John Twist and Harry Segal has in- troduced several modern touches to give the film interesting punch. Handling the players, the theme and the situations dexteroush, Christy Cabanne's direction is pointed to give the film character and the appeal intended by the producers. Production Code Seal No. 3,035. Running time, 72 minutes. "G." "Let's Get Married" {Columbia) Hollywood, March 12. — Giving promise in the early stages of more interesting material and greater entertainment value than finally results, this film emerges as run-of-the-mill program fare, suitable for dual bills and subsequent houses. The good cast has Ralph Bellamy, Walter Connolly, Raymond Wal- burn, Reginald Denny and Ida Lupino, who, in her efforts to play the spitfire daughter of wealth and political boss antecedents, tends to over- act. The promise of interesting material on the operation of the weather bureau is not quite fulfilled, as Miss Lupino, daughter of Political Boss Connolly, meets Bellamy, meteorologist, when his newly-invented balloon instrument lands on her head. From that point there is romantic complication and an amusing touch or two, as Connolly wants to send Denny to Congress and marry him to Miss Lupino, she wants to marry Bellamy, and misunderstandings arise between the two, as Bellamy is angered by Connolly's delving after weather forecasts, with an eye on the effect of rain on the coming election. It all comes out in the end, with Bellamy's invention proving a suc- cess, rain coming to save the day for Connolly and Denny, Bellamy getting the girl, and Connolly marrying Denny's mother. Alfred E. Green directed from a screenplay by Ethel Hill and a story by A. H. Z. Carr. Production Code Seal No. 3,047. Running time, 68 minutes. "G." Saturday, March 13, 1937 Radio to Increase Budgets for Films {Continued from pane 1) whether the previewed picture was an "A" or a "B" production. Spitz said that no successor to M. H. Aylesworth as chairman of the board of RKO was likely to be named in advance of the final stages of the company's reorganization, at which time the new board of directors would be composed. Errol Signed by RKO Hollywood, March 12. — Leon Errol has been signed by Radio for a series of four comedies. Buffalo Sentiment Against Bank Night {Continued from page 1) away with in Buffalo unless all ex- hibitors agree. Joe Schuchert, Jr., manager of the Columbia and the Colonial, says he holds Bank Night only because of competition. He states, however, that attendance is dropping off and that it is a question of time when the prizes will be a thing of the past. A. C. Behling, manager of the Ellen Terry and the Sylvia, says : "I do not approve of Bank Night. The theatre is no place for gambling. People come to see pictures and they get their money's worth." Nicholas Bazil, owner of a chain of 13 neighborhood houses, opposes Bank Nights, but holds Cash Bonus Nights. George Gammel, manager of the New Ariel, the Unity, and the Sen- eca, favors Bank Night and says: "I make money at it and I will con- tinue to hold Bank Nights even if the other theatres stop." To Fight Chance Games Sacramento, March 12.— The Cali- fornia Congress of Parents and Teachers, who yesterday defeated a Senate measure, today promised their backing to bills prohibiting chance games in theatres. Expect Poster Men To Reelect Libros {Continued from pane 1) are in attendance at the New Yorker Hotel, where the three-day annual convention opened yesterday. Among topics discussed yesterday was the development of new ideas in the poster field. Paramount last year inaugurated its own poster renting service and Warners will adopt a similar plan on May 2. College Has Film Series A new film appreciation series, de- signed for laymen, will be offered by the Film and Sprockets Society of City College, on five evenings be- tween March 19 and May 14. The series is sponsored by the college art department and was prepared with the assistance of the Museum of Modern Art Film Library. Bruce Won Second Prize Boston, March 12. — Rudolph Bruce, M-G-M checker, won the sec- ond prize of $2,000 in the cartoon contest sponsored by the Boston Herald-Traveler, and not first prize as was indicated in Motion Picture Daily yesterday. Wisconsin Delaying Allied Theater Bill {Continued from page 1) asserted circuits paid better wages and provided better working condi- tions than the independents. Against Standees Bill Kansas City, March 11. — The Committee on Criminal Justice of the Missouri House has recommended that the bill banning sales of tickets to standees do not pass. Woolf Buys Circuit London, March 12. — C. M. Woolf's General Cinema Finance Corp. has purchased the James circuit of IS houses. The deal included two stu- dios on Oxford St. Ad Guild Film Plans To Be Outlined Soon Activities of the American Adver- tising Guild in so far as they concern the film industry are expected to be announced within the next few weeks. About 50 film men have been at- tending the weekly sessions of the guild, the last being held Thursday night at Steinway Hall. As soon as a film division is set up, it is planned to seek minimum hours and salaries for all exploitation, advertising and publicity employes. "Earth" Bookings 23 Additional roadshow bookings have been set for the "The Good Earth" in Oakland, Cal., and New Orleans. This brings the total bookings to 23. 3 Production Holds Pace; 36 in Work {Continued from page 1) Selznick International, Goldwyn and Columbia one each. Features started were: "Empty Holsters" and "In the Deep South," Warners ; "Broadway Melody" and "Madame Walewska," M-G-M ; "The Prisoner of Zenda," Selznick Inter- national; "She Had to Eat," 20th Century-Fox ; "The Cop," Univer- sal ; "Mountain Music," Paramount. Of the features just finished Colum- bia had three, M-G-M, Republic, Ra- dio, 20th Century-Fox and Warners one each. Of those started, Warners and M-G-M had two each, Para- mount, Selznick International, 20th Century-Fox and Universal, one each. In the shorts group Columbia had one starting; two in preparation and four editing ; M-G-M, one started, one shooting, three in preparation and six editing ; Radio, one finished, one start- ing, one shooting, one in preparation and two editing; Roach, one starting, one shooting, one in preparation, two editing ; Warners, one finished. S.A.G. Cites Porter Hollywood, March 12. — Porter Hall, for his portrayal of the killer in "The Plainsman," has received the Screen Actors' Guild award for the best performance during the month of January. Approve Sunday Films Wolfeboro, N. H., March 12. — Sunday films have been approved by voters here by a margin of 83 votes. Flash Preview "Rasumoz1" — Picturization of Jo- seph Conrad's "Under Western Eyes," this is a story of the workings of Russian revolutionists in 1910. It is profound, though tragic. This film will be reviewed in full in a coming issue of Motion Picture Daily. Wall Street I Marked Gains Revive Board Net High Low Close Change 3554 3436 3554 + 36 433i 43*6 43*6 -m 434 436 45^ Consolidated, pfd. 1534 15% Eastman Kodak 16654 16654 16654 -i% Eastman, pfd. . . . 15954 15954 Gen. T. Equip. . 30 2834 30 +m 787/$ 78 78 -154 2536 2436 2554 -1- a Paramount 2 pfd. 22VS 22 2254 + 56 Pathe Film m m m + y* RKO 854 8% + Yt 20th Century-Fox. 3934 3654 3936 +2J4 20th Century, pfd 4854 4554 4854 +3 Universal, pfd 98 95 95 —3 Warner Bros 1536 15 1554 + X Losses Spot Curb Net High Low Close Change Grand National . . ..3 2% - J6 Sentry Safety .... 34 34 34 - 56 2 m m 23H 2254 -36 434 456 436 -54 Universal Pict. . . . 1254 12 12 —2 Little Bond Movement High Low Close Change Loew's 354s '46... 9834 9834 9834 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 10056 10054 10056 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 9754 9754 9754 — 54 (Quotations at close of March 12) MOTION PICTURE radio DAILY i Radio Personals ► ERNEST V. HEYN, editor of Screen Guide, leaves that maga- zine next week to assume editorship of the Macfadden screen and radio magazines. . . . Al Shayne, currently heard on WHN, yesterday signed an NBC Artists Bureau contract. . . . Easter benedictions by Pope Pius will be carried on all networks at ap- proximately 5 A. M., E.S.T., Easter Sunday morning. . . . Elsa Maxwell and George Hicks will broadcast a description of the Easter Parade on Fifth Ave. for NBC, 12:20 to 1 P.M., E.S.T., on the Red network. . . . + Floyd Gibbons will have the "Three Marshalls" as his guest stars on his CBS program tonight. . . . Local sports columnists, including Lew Bur- ton of the Amerkan, Jimmy Powers of the News, Lawrence Robertson of the World-Telegram, and Stanley Woodward of the Herald-Tribune will substitute for Dick Fishell on the latter's program on WMCA while he vacations. . . . Bobby Hayes' orches- tra returns to the NBC airwaves with a nightly series of dance programs from the Hotel Edison. . . . Kenneth Roberts, CBS announcer, will play the juvenile lead in "Hitch Your Wagon," forthcoming legitimate pro- duction. . . . + Bea Lillie and Bert Lahr will offer excerpts from "The Show Is On" over NBC-Red tomorrow at 8 P. M., E. S. T. . . . Charlie Stark takes over the "Early Risers" club on WMCA Monday morning. Stark handled a show similar to this in Philadelphia before joining WMCA, and had a big following. . . . Duke Ellington will have a WOR-Mutual wire beginning March 17. . . . Master Records has signed Baby Rose Marie, Red Nichols and Judy, Zeke and Annie. . . . Alice Faye will appear on Jack Oakie's "College" this Tuesday. . . . Joe Bo- ley, WMCA staff announcer, takes over the morning news broadcasts be- ginning Monday, replacing Bob Car- ter, chief announcer, who is giving up all morning assignments. + Al Deane, Paramount's director of foreign publicity, has written a book- on air "spelling bees," which will be on sale March 18. Stokes is the pub- lisher. . . . Margaret Anglin will guest appear on the Hammerstein "Music Hall" series this Tuesday. . . . Sid Skolsky joins Lupe Velez as Can- tor's guest tomorrow. . . . Teddy Bergman, having completed a tran- scription series for Bigelow-Sanford Carpet Co., leaves with his wife Tues- day for a two-week vacation cruise. . . . Henry Fonda, from Hollywood, joins Walter O'Keefe on Rudy Val- lee's air show Thursday evening. . . . + Franklin P. Adams, columnist auditioning for a commentator's role along the Woollcott lines. . . . The vacationing Phil Lord returns to his "We, the People" program March 24. . . . Mary Danis rejoins Enoch Light's orchestra on a Mutual wire after a year's absence, due to illness. . . . Aline McMahon, of the screen, will play the lead in a short drama on Joe Cook's "Shell Show" program to- night. . . . Jessie Royce Landis will guest appear on Crosby Gaige's NBC program March IS. . . . Western Canada Asks American Net Hookup Regina, Sask, March 12. — When the Board of Governors of the Ca- nadian Broadcasting Corp. meets in Western Canada this spring repre- sentations will be made to the board to alter its rules so that a prairie station might link with an American broadcasting company. Station CJRM in Regina and Moose Jaw is eager to get a link with Columbia, and Columbia, it is re- ported, would like a station in the northwest. Originally, there was to have been a meeting of the board of governors of the government-owned system in Regina March 15, but because of the need of manv files and technical ex- perts it is to be held later in Ottawa. Court Decides WMCA Must Furnish Detail Justice Charles B. McLaughlin in N. Y. Supreme Court ruled yesterday that the Knickerbocker Broadcasting Co.. Inc.. should furnish a bill of par- ticulars in support of its defense of a SIO.OOO suit brought against Knicker- bocker by Damskov, Inc. Damskov charges that Knickerbocker violated an agreement of Feb. 20, 1935, where- by it was to grant the plaintiff three programs a week over WMCA and advertise its reducing products, when on May 17, 1935, it refused to permit the advertising to continue. Knickerbocker in reply to the suit alleged that under the F. C. C. rules it was privileged to discontinue any advertising which it deemed "not cred- itable" to the station. The defendant must now supply the plaintiff with particulars in support of that defense. Music League Going On the Air April 8 The National Music League makes its first entry into radio on WOR beginning Thursdav, April 8, from 8 to 8:30 P. M.. * E.S.T., at which time the first in a series of 13 broad- casts will be presented. The series will be entitled "Music and You." The performances will in- clude symphonic, operatic, choral, in- strumental and chamber music. Dis- tinguished guest artists are promised through the cooperation of the artists' advisory committee of the league. Cobb Program to Quit Air "Paducah Plantation," starring Irvin S. Cobb and sponsored by Olds- mobile, will vacate the networks fol- lowing the April 17 broadcast. The series is currently heard Saturdays at 10:30 P. M.. E.S.T., on the NBC- Red. D. P. Brother & Co., Detroit, is the agency. Corliss Program Shifted "Husbands and Wives," now heard from 9:30 to 10 P.M., E.S.T. on the NBC-Blue, each Tuesday, shifts to a new time, 8 to 8:30 P.M., E.S.T., ef- fective with the April 6 broadcast. The day and network remain the same. Lamont Corliss is the sponsor. J. Walter Thompson is the agency. E. J. Rosenberg Flies East Hollywood, March 12.— E. J. Rosenberg, having completed tentative plans for the production here of a series of Warner air shows on film, left by plane tonight for New York. He will return in 30 days. Criticize Programs St. Louis, March 12.— Pro- grams on various local sta- tions were severly criticized in a recent issue of the St. Louis Better Business Bureau Bulletin because of false and misleading claims made in the sponsors' com- mercial messages. Censure was mainly directed at cut- rate furniture dealers whose air advertising copy did not check up with facts unearth- ed by investigators of the bureau. Will Hear Brooklyn Radio Case March 18 By CLARENCE LINZ Washington, March 12. — Argu- ments in the socalled Brooklyn case will be heard before the F.C.C. on March 18, it was declared today by the commission. In this case, Stations WVFW, W ARD. WLTH and WBBC share time on 1,400 kilocycles, each having power of 500 watts. WWFW and WBBC each is seeking the facilities of the other three stations ; WEVD, New York, now on 1,300 kilocycles, which it shares with three other sta- tions, is seeking the facilities of all four Brooklyn stations ; WARD and WLTH are seeking to assign their licenses to the Kings Broadcasting Corp., and the Brooklyn Daily Eagle is seeking a construction permit for a new station and the facilities of all four Brooklyn stations. All the par- ties involved will be heard by the F.C.C. on the date set. Next week, commission examiners will hold hearings on applications for five new stations, as follows : March 15— H. O. Davis, Mobile, Ala., 10 kilocycles, 250 watts night and 500 watts day : Waterloo Times- Tribune Publishing Co., Waterloo, la.. 1,370 kilocycles, 100 watts day, and Horald Tomas, Pittsfield, Mass., 1,310 kilocycles, 100 watts night and 250 watts day. March 16 — Arthur H. Croghan, Minneapolis, 1,310 kilocycles, 100 watts day, and Troy Broadcasting Co., Inc., Trov, N. Y., 950 kilocycles, 1,000 watts day. Grace Moore to '"Speedshow" A last minute switch in plans places Grace Moore on the Nash "Speed- show" instead of in the Sunday night period currently occupied by "Do You Want to Be an Actor," for which she had originally been considered. Miss Moore will take over the pro- gram from Floyd Gibbons March 20. The broadcasts will emanate from New York and later from Hollywood. J. Y\ alter Thompson is the agency. The agency is now havi"~ trouble with the coast branch of the musi- cians union, which refuses to allow Lopez to bring his band from Cali- fornia. Ruth Series Starts April 14 Sinclair Oil Co's. new series with Babe Ruth in the starring role will open Wednesday, April 14, from 10:30 to 10:45 P. M., E.S.T. and will be broadcast over 60 CBS stations. Joe Hill, of the Federal agency's radio department will probably do the scripts with the assistance of a local sports writer. Saturday, March 13, 1937 CBS Gross for '36 Up to $27,800,000 (Continued from page 1) by the network. Profits for 1935 were $2,810,078.70. Profit from operations for the vear, as of January 2, 1937, was $4,354,746.- 31, after provision for depreciation of 5485,478.76. Total current and working assets were $6,675,631.68, of which $1,663,- 669.12 is on hand. Total current lia- bilities were $3,104,451.97, of which $2,086,659.77 are accounts payable and sundry accruals. Because of capital commitments dur- ing the year and projects for 1937, 25 percent of the 1936 earnings were set aside as additions to surplus. This amounted to $943,000. Mutual Closes Deal For the Coronation The Mutual network yesterday closed a deal with the BBC for cov- erage on the Coronation. Mutual listeners will hear the broadcast ex- actly as it will be received by listen- ers throughout the British Empire. NBC and CBS are sending their own individual staffs and equipment to cover the event. Plan Coronation Talks Blevins Davis, of the Yale drama department, today will confer with two sponsors for guest appearances on their programs with talks on the coming coronation. Davis is consid- ered one of America's outstanding authorities on English coronation his- tory. Summer Programs a Worry Major worry at Young and Rubi- cam these days is the task of selecting substitute material for the Jack Benny, Fred Allen and Phil Baker programs, all of which fade from the air late in June for the summer period. That at least one of the new shows will originate in Hollywood is indi- cated by the presence there of Wil- liam Stuhler, agency executive who left New York two weeks ago essen- tially to audition artists and programs for one or more of the vacating shows. Definite word is expected from Stuh- ler within the next week or so. Last summer Julia Sanderson and Frank Crumit substituted for Phil Baker : Stoopnagle and Budd replaced Fred Allen, and Tim and Irene filled in the Benny spot. Gluskin on Murray Program Lud Gluskin has won the band- leader's berth on the forthcoming Ken Murray program, which bows in on CBS March 31. Practically every topflight band leader in radio was re- ported to have won this assignment prior to Gluskin's acceptance. To Expand "Musical Americana" "Musical Americana," the weekly CBS concert series, will be expanded to a half -hour presentation from 10:30 to 11 P. M., E. S. T., starting March 16. The series was originally sched- uled to begin March 9, but was post- poned. Freddie Rich will conduct. Kreymbourg in WPA Post Alfred Kreymbourg has been ap- pointed associate director of the radio division of the WPA Theatre project. He will supervise all educational and cultural radio programs. Alert, Intelligent MOTION PICTURE DAILY The Leading Motio Picture Industry ^VOL. 41. NO. 61 NEW YORK, MONDAY, MARCH 15, 1937 TEN CENTS Atlas Limiting Film Interest To Para., RKO Holdings Were Valued at $6,551,992 January 31 The entire investment of the Atlas Corp. in the amusement industry has been concentrated in RKO and Para- mount, it is disclosed in a report cov- ering the securities in the investment company's portfolio as of Jan. 31, which was made public Saturday. The market value of the Atlas in- vestments in the two companies on that date aggregated $6,551,992. The Atlas investment in RKO represented $5,239,847 of this amount, consisting of 263,493 shares of RKO common stock having a valuation as of Jan. 31 of $2,338,503; $2,128,597 principal amount of fully paid RKO six per cent debentures, having a market value of $2,522,387; $-36,000 of part paid six per cent debentures, having a market value of $42,660, and a pur- chased unsecured claim against RKO listed at $336,297. In addition, Atlas holds an option to purchase for $6,000,000 prior to next Dec. 31, RCA's remaining in- vestment in RKO, consisting of 605,- 731 shares of RKO common and $4,893,327 principal amount of six per cent debentures. Lehman Bros, and other banking interests have a par- ticipation with Atlas in this option. The Atlas investment in Paramount, on Jan. 31, consisted of 6,000 shares of first preferred stock having a mar- ket value of $1,182,095, and 5,100 shares of second preferred, having a market value of $130,050, or a total investment of $1,312,145. Divorce Measure U p In Michigan Shortly Detroit, March 14. — Allied's bill for divorcement of production and distri- bution from exhibition will be intro- duced in the Michigan legislature within the next two weeks, according to H. M. Richey, general manager of the local Allied unit. Previously it was announced the bill would not go to the Michigan legis- lature until later in the year, if at all. W.E.'SSNet Jumps Up to $18,698,049 Striking gains for 1936 are reported by Western Electric. The net, all of which was carried to surplus, was $18,698,049. For 1935 it was $2,620,- 279. The company also reports that at (Continued on page 2) Governor Speaks Tallahassee, Fla„ March 14.— Gov. Fred P. Cone told Flori- da Taxpayers' Ass'n: "I'm not going to sign any sales tax and they might as well not come up here hollering for it. That's the cockeyed truth." The Governor spoke as an association committee pre- sented to him a set of recom- mendations "to assist and en- courage tax reduction." Bolte Wins Ruling In Cocalis Action Supreme Court Justice Shientag of the Bronx has handed down a de- cision against Sam D. Cocalis in the suit filed by John Bolte, a partner in the Springer & Cocalis circuit, for breach of contract. According to Bolte's deal with the S. & C. circuit, the latter group could not build a theatre within a mile of the Burke in the Bronx. Cocalis, with Dave Rosenzweig and George Gulkis, erected the Melba shortly after the agreement, which Bolte claimed was within the mile distance. The court so held. As a result of the decision, Cocalis has withdrawn from the Melba and day-and-day privileges with the Aller- ton have been rescinded. Justice {Continued on page 2) Debenture Holders Permit Woolf Deal By BRUCE ALLAN London, March 14. — The likelihood that the Gaumont British distribution arrangement with C. M. Woolf's General Film Distributors will go through as planned was indicated in a statement issued by Isidore Ostrer. He declared that he had received a letter from the Law Debenture Corp., which is acting as trustee for the G. B. debenture holders, and which had objected to the deal, to the effect (Continued on page 7) Poster Men Wind Up Three-Day Meet Here Members of National Poster Ser- vice Renters Ass'n ended a three-day convention at the New Yorker last night, following which delegates from out-of-town cities left for home. The production of accessories on Warner pictures was discussed. The association now is making its own posters and window cards on Para- mount films. Warners on May 2 will inaugurate a service renting plan on posters similar to that adopted by Paramount last year. National Plan For Stage Put Before Equity Harding Favors Subsidy Or Federal Project Extension of the theatre on a na- tional basis either by direct subsidy or through a professionally guided adaptation of the Federal Theatre Project is proposed by Alfred Hard- ing of Actors' Equity Ass'n. in a re- port with recommendations recently submitted to the Equity council fol- lowing his return from a five-month study of the theatre in Central Eu- rope. The report is published in the current issue of Equity Magazine and is to be considered by the council in the near future. Harding also urges Equity to spon- sor a move in New York to make the professional theatre available to school children in order to awaken the interest of oncoming generations in the stage and its wares. The move should be conducted in cooperation with the League of N. Y. Theatres, the theatrical unions and school au- thorities, Harding suggests. Referring to the type of entertain- ment which might be employed in the (Continued on page 2) Regional Meetings Are Set This Year Regional sales meetings will be the rule, rather than the exception, for most major companies this spring and summer, it was indicated on Saturday by representatives of large distribution organizations. While several companies have not made final decisions yet, it appears fairly certain at this time that all but one or two of the eight major dis- tributors will follow the regional meeting plan during May and June. Most plans call for a coast, central and eastern meeting, although several companies may hold only two meet- ings, one in Hollywood and the other in New York. Consolidated Deal With M-G-M Is Near After months of negotiations, Con- solidated has virtually completed a deal for the current M-G-M lineup. Terms have been set, but no contracts have been signed. This formality is expected this week. Two pictures have been spot booked in Consolidated houses. They are "Born to Dance" and "Camille." MPTOATurns Out Strongest Draw in Years Expect 1,000 Delegates, Friends and Others By RED KANN Miami, March 14.— The M. P. T. O. A. national convention opening at the Miami Biltmore here on Tuesday promises to be one of the best at- tended industry gatherings in many years on the basis of the number of early arrivals and the volume of hotel reservations. Every incoming train and plane over the weekend added its quota to the large delegation of theatre and film men which has been on the scene for several days. Even so, arriving delegates and visitors are not ex- pected to reach the greatest volume until _ Monday. A registration of 800 is being predicted by convention man- agers, while more than 100 additional industry members, either vacationing here or drawn by the M. P. T. O. A. meeting, are expected to put in ap- pearances at the convention hotel dur- ing the three-day sessions, swelling the total number of convention visitors to approximately 1,000. Delegations from New England, New York, Pennsylvania and Wash- ington, numbering about 200, arrived over the weekend. More than 150 delegates and convention visitors were already in Miami and vicinity. Large delegations from all sections of the south, far west and middle west are en route here today and will arrive tomorrow and Tuesday. Accommodations at the Miami Bilt- more, Casa Loma and Roney-Plaza are practically exhausted. All avail- able exhibit space has been utilized. Attendance at the meeting will be swelled by the presence of more than 80 Paramount theatre partners and (Continued on page 6) Imperial Completes Financial Structure The financing plans for Imperial Distributing Corp. were revealed on Saturday by M. D. Kopple, described by the company as an investment counsel and attorney. There will be authorized for immediate issuance 500,000 shares of an original 1,000,000 share issue. A portion of the 500,- 000-share issue will be for public sub- scription, it was indicated. Imperial will have available a work- (Continued on page 2) Radio News — Page 7 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, March 15, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 March 15, 1937 No. 61 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN. Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published dally except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and '"publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at Rockefeller Center. New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- cations: MOTION PICTURE HERALD. BETTER THEATRES. TEATRO AL DIA. INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Sts. ; Boone Mancall, Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave., C. B. 0"Neill. Manager. _ . _ WASHINGTON: Albee Building, Bertram F. Linz, Representative. AMSTERDAM : Zuider Amstellaan 5; Philip de Schaap, Representative. BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2. Berlin W. 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg. Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 K&plax-u, Budapest II; Endre Hevesl, Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrlentes 2495; N. Bruskl, Representative. HELSINKI: Predriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszlo, Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square, W. 1: Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address, Quigpubco, Lon- don. MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings. 191 Collins St.; Cliff Holt, Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart. Representative. MONTEVIDEO: P. O. Box 664; Paul Bodo, Rep- MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern, Bep- sentative. PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre, Rep- PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1; Harry Knopf, Representative. RIO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 3358; A. Weiss- man, Representative. ROME: Viale Gorlzia; Vittorio Malpassuti, Rep- resentative. SHANGHAI: Kooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Build- ing. 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler, Rep- STOCKHOLM: Kungsgatan 36; Ragner Allberg. TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shl, Chiba-Ken; H. Tominaga, Representative. VIENNA: Nuestiftgasse, 55; Vienna VII; Hans Lorant, Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. SMPE in Theatre Study The Society of M. P. Engineers, through its Projection Practice Com- mittee, has undertaken a nationwide theatre survey to obtain data on screens, projection angles, types of projection light sources, and similar conditions. It is planned eventually to develop a standard for various types of theatres. Harry Rubin, committee chairman, is in charge of the study. The Atlantic Coast Section of the S. M. P. E. will hold its monthly meeting at the Hotel Pennsylvania on Wednesday evening. S. K. Wolf, president, will deliver a paper. Goodrich, Writer, Dead Hollywood, March 14. — John Fish Goodrich, veteran film writer, died here following an abdominal opera- tion. Goodrich was a dialogue writer and assisted on "Fast Life," "The Love Racket," "Green Stockings," "Lillies of the Field" and "The Flirt- ing Widow." He was married. Dr. Elihu Thomson Dies Swampscott, Mass., March 14. — Dr. Elihu Thomson, one of the found- ers of G. E., died here Friday at his home. He was 83 years old. Sur- viving are his widow, and three sons by a previous marriage, Royand D., Malcolm and Donald T. Thomson. National Plan For Stage Put Before Equity (Continued from page 1) suggested extensions of the stage, Harding observes that "It certainly would not be a theatre built for Broadway or to Broadway specifica- tions." He advocates drama in the national tradition, history and spirit for the great American masses to whom the modern theatre is either not available or offers nothing. The subject of extending the the- atre in America and gaining new pat- ronage for it has been, and still is, under consideration by Equity, the League of N. Y. Theatres and the Dramatists' Guild. To all appear- ances, Harding's proposals are the most concrete yet advanced among the three groups. Equity's quarterly membership meeting, scheduled for next Friday at the Astor, will elect a nominating committee of six, which, with three members selected by the council, will nominate a slate of officers and coun- cillors of Equity for the coming year. The election will take place at the annual meeting in June. The Fri- day meeting will also vote on several proposed amendments regulating membership voting by mail. Favors Some Alien Legislation Commenting on the Dickstein Alien Actor bill, currently up for hearing in Washington, the magazine states that "Equity believes the control of alien actors in America both advisable and necessary. It does not believe the bill now before Congress either satis- factory as legislation or adequate to accomplish its purpose." While offering its endorsement of the Child Labor Act, Equity states that "it seems unthinkable that chil- dren should be eliminated from the theatre altogether," and asserts i_ts_ in- tention of opposing such a possibility when "the time comes to draft legisla- tion under the amendment." The organization's policy on the WPA Federal Theatre Project favors restriction of its personnel to profes- sionals in need of such employment. Non-professionals should be trans- ferred to some other project, Equity says, and professionals not in need of relief should make way for those who do. Expressing its satisfaction with the way in which regulations governing Sunday legitimate performances are working, Equity proposes to continue the present regulations indefinitely. W.E.'36 Net Jumps Up to $18,698,049 (Continued from page 1) the close of the year the company's plants were operating on a five-day, 40-hour week at 53 per cent of capac- ity. At the end of 1935 it was oper- ating at 27 per cent of capacity. The number of employes at the end of the year was 34,004, compared with 21,- 033 at the beginning of the year and with 17,148 in June, 1933. Total sales were $146,420,868, more than $40,000,000 above the previous year. The surplus at the end of the year was $15,130,951. Assets and liabilities were listed at $275,419,319. Bolte Wins Ruling In Cocalis Action (Continued from page 1) Shientag, in handing down his de- cision, intimated that Bolte could bring suit for damages. It was reported late Saturday that Bolte will make an effort to break away from the Springer & Cocalis group. Cocalis recently built the Craft in opposition to Bolte's Wake- field, and Bolte last week opened the new Kimball, a 600-seat theatre in Yonkers, where Cocalis has been op- erating for some time. Several exchange managers and ex- hibitors testified at the court hear- ings. The late Jack W. Springer's estate and Matty Kutinsky cannot be sued in the event Bolte brings an ac- tion for damages, the judge ruled, as neither were directly interested in the Melba and accrued no benefits. Mil- ton Hart was attorney for Bolte and William Connolly for Cocalis. Cut Seattle Paramount Claim _ The claim of the Seattle First Na- tional Bank against Paramount Pub- lix Corp. was reduced on Saturday by Federal Court Judge Alfred C. Coxe from $1,420,000 to $60,000. Par- amount Publix will pay this by issu- ing new debentures amounting to $30,- 000 and first preferred stock for the remaining $30,000. The claim is based on a guarantee of lease made by the Seattle Theatre Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount Publix, on the Paramount Theatre Bldg. in Seat- tle. The lease was made on Feb. 1, 1926. Warners File Suit Answer Warners, First National, Vita- phone and Vitagraph filed their an- swer on Saturday in the $15,000 suit brought by Mary McFadden charging plagiarism of the title "Girl Trouble." The answer denied that the plaintiff owns the title "Girl Trouble" and also sets forth that the title had been used previously and is now public property. Hear Columbia Case Today New Orleans, March 14. — The suit for an injunction to restrain Co- lumbia from delivering "Theodora Goes Wild," to opposition houses sought by the United Circuit here will be heard tomorrow. Columbia had asked more time to file briefs. Fuller Trial Due Today New Orleans, March 14. — The suit of George Fuller against seven major film companies claiming con- spiracy, is expected to be tried in U. S. District Court here tomorrow. Imperial Completes Financial Structure (Continued from page 1) ing capital of approximated $1,250,- 000, with a balance of 500.000 shares held available by bankers for the fur- ther expansion of the corporation. The company's board of directors will consist of nine members, two of whom will represent the banking under- writers, together with four industry figures in addition to the present di- rectors, William M. Pizor, E. J. Smith and Lewen Pizor. The company is in the process of completing its national exchange set- up, with the intention of opening 26 branch offices eventually in key cities. 4 Purely Personal ► HERBERT J. OCHS, Warner southern and western sales man- ager, has left on a southern trip. He will stop in Miami, New Orleans and Atlanta, and will be gone about two weeks. • Leopold Stokowski is en route east to complete special arrangements with RCA Photophone for recording the musical sequences for his Uni- versal film, "100 Men and a Girl." • Cecil Bernstein left for a cruise to Havana late last week to be gone about 10 days. He will return to New York for about a week prior to his return to London. • Sig Wittman, Universal district manager, is considering moving his office from the New York exchange to the home office. • Bill Scully, Loew's district man- ager, is due back late this week from Miami, where he has been vacation- ing. Mack D. Weinberger arrives in Chicago today for a meeting of Gen- eral Pictures' midwest franchise holders. • A. H. Schwartz and Mitchell Klupt will return today from Lake Placid where they spent the past four days. • Samuel S. Kestenbaum, ad pro- duction manager for Grand National, today celebrates his seventh wedding anniversary. • Jack Haley, who formerly super- vised distribution of Ford commercial films, has joined Jam Handy in De- troit. • Bob Ritchie and Benny Thau headed west Saturday for the M-G-M lot. Flash Previews "When Love Is Young" — Virginia Bruce in a story of a small town girl who makes good in the city. Good music, direction and acting. "The Crime Nobody Saw" — Pat- terned on the familiar "Seven Keys to Baldpate" theme, this has Lew Ayres, Eugene Pallette and Benny Baker. "Midnight Taxi" — Another Federal agent story, this time with Brian Donlevy, offering plenty of action and novelty. These films will be reviewed in full in a coming issue of Motion Picture Daily. Film Critic to Coast Pittsburgh, March 14. — Karl Krug, critic and columnist for the afternoon Sun-Telegraph, left by plane for the coast yesterday to do a series of interviews and studio stories for his paper. It will be his first visit to Hollywood. "Stage Door" Departs "Stage Door" closed Saturday at the Music Box after a run of 169 per- formances. The play opened Oct. 21. \PW HJIJV <03&«23&' O Real Estate, PaSe 40 V V\* 1 i, f COOCt 1 1MlMt. „„„„ ,.„ I ■MaETriiBBCWTr a^v*. im « *• ^ii raio t^'s aJtcmooo; cloudy «w» '°"'ghL' -°0iqrr" ' ' j ' V S^ffSli^TO ADD | L^^e ^rV.hi.Arr Tft CIIDDCMP nniIRT CONSTITUTION F **iVy denser, ■ NIGHT EDITION ★ ★ ★ ★ ON LEADERS INCRi Defend*"" ~ ft £* p«»« - SERVANT Would Name New Judge for Each Who & fused to Retire at 70-CalU Tr.burral a ■Third Uouseoi the .Legislature. Injunction restriction sough| IX JUSTICES TO SUPREME COURT SSSfi B*J?T^S^rfS»rii^|B^™S "DIANA STATE GUARD TO REOftuAINLLEi t Court Reform \Cummings Court Role- fei.D^ Bs'« ENTIRE BENCH J 1 DMENTS PROPOSED COURT'S POWERS; 'L.BACKSPRESIDEiV PUT BEFORE SENAT Fine Judges ork FaS Day -President 1 ■ 'iBHDtH ;ram wa New Measures Offen by Three Opponents of the President Sports Editio: ******* COM*"" FINANCIAL iSPURS FDR BtFC I1 Reactionaries It on Court Chang ins in Senate Toda \_/-N.,ro Prooi .1 |A^0THER URGED Silver-Top Gift Cane-- pEOPli Soya Foes of . Seek to Keep Jadgi -<>HKing Balks Edw?T Program ^ ^ ^ :j> Jodges| JJ^o. t — of GTON. Fee e.dajrs Wore N«sto whe#c Burke Would Compel ' Justices to Quit Court at 75. warms NIGHT JWnOB VKIth Wall Street Closlni 1 pC^s EO'S not being modest; he's just truthful. The Short Subject Special, "SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE" was produced with all the resources of the M-G-M Studios to make a beautiful drama telling the story of the Constitution. How it came into existence! The months of struggle to satisfy all concerned! What the authors of the Constitution meant it to be for the future! Timely? Without question the most timely subject ever made. And one of the most thrilling you ever saw! Two reels that will make screen history! Power for Coif r Tells SEC of $24°° l ,sh Hurtor, «c Co. jwWfflAHffiCOi T[77j^G.,iion ^'jSoorVetoUoiKesS t *. "«>'«' dT%s.t1f. » ™ FOREACHOVER 'imilar Reform of Lower Fett Courts Also Asked Withotl Constitutional Change £2* MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, March 15, 1937 MPTO A Turns Out Strongest Draw in Years (Continued from page 1) operators, home office and studio execu- tives, most of whom are scheduled to arrive tonight. The Paramount the- atre men will convene in their own three-day meeting starting Thursday at the Roney-Plaza. The M. P. T. O. A. gathering will be comprised of representatives of ap- proximately 3,000 theatres in all sec- tions of the U. S. and Canada. In addition, distributors from major and independent companies, studio execu- tives and players, executives and rep- resentatives of equipment, supply and theatre furnishings concerns will at- tend. The visitors' list will be swelled by family members and friends of those who are here on convention bus- iness and are combining the event with winter vacations in this popular Flor- ida resort. Business and Pleasure to Combine The convention business program is liberally interspersed with social and recreational affairs in order to make the most of the convention's locale. Sightseeing tours, golf tournaments, beach parties, dinner and dancing par- ties, deep sea fishing excursions, yachting and speedboat regattas and Tropical Park racing are some of the diversions held out by the convention arrangements committee to lure dele- gates, their families and friends. The convention proper is not sched- uled to get under way until Tuesday afternoon. It will be preceded by a morning meeting of the M. P. T. O. A. executive committee at which offi- cers will be nominated. The annual election will be held at the meeting of the board of directors which follows the executive committee meeting. Harry L. Hopkins, WPA adminis- trator, who is expected to arrive here during the week, has been invited to deliver an address to the convention on Thursday. MPTO A Meet Draws 21 Display Booths Miami, March 14. — The convention hall of the Miami Biltmore is fringed with 21 display booths, all of which are being utilized by industrial con- cerns for exhibition of their newest designs of theatre equipment, furnish- ings and supplies, during the M. P. T. O. A. convention, opening here on Tuesday. A list of the 21 exhibiting firms fol- lows : Forest Mfg. Corp., Belleville, N. J. ; International Seat Corp., Union City, Ind. ; Paramount Pic- tures, Inc., Wenzel Co., Chicago; Wagner Sign Service, Inc., New York ; Motiograph, Inc., Chicago ; National Screen Service, New York; Hollywood Advertising Co., New York; General Register Corp., New York; Hurley Screen Co., Inc., and C. S. Ashcraft Mfg. Corp., Long Island City; National Carbon Co., Inc. (occupying three display booths) ; Dictograph Products, New York; RCA Mfg. Co., Camden, N. J., and Electrical Research Products, Inc., New York. Varied Three-Day Program Lined Up for Miami Meet Miami, March 14. — Following is the complete business and social program for the three-day M. P. T. 0. A. national convention which opens at the Miami Biltmore here on Tuesday. Tuesday 9 :00 A.M.— Registration. 10:00 A.M. — Sightseeing tour of Mi- ami and environs. Private cars will leave the Miami Biltmore at 10 A.M. for a two-hour tour of Coral Gables, Miami, Miami Beach, Hia- leah, Pan-American Airport, Bis- cayne Bay and Indian River. 10:30 A.M. — Meeting of the execu- tive committee. 12 :30 P.M. — Annual meeting of the directors in the Army and Navy Room of the Miami Biltmore Coun- try Club, adjoining the hotel. This is an executive session for M. P. T. O. A. officers and directors only. 2 :30 P.M. — Business Session in the ballroom of ■ the Miami Biltmore Country Club, which will be used as the convention hall for all business sessions of the convention. Convention called to order at 2 :30 P.M. by Mitchell Wolfson, general chairman, convention arrangements committees. Invocation, Rev. Leslie Barnett, Coral Gables Congregational Church. Address of welcome, Gov. Fred P. Cone. Address of welcome to Miami by Mayor A. D. H. Fossey. Response to address of welcome, M. A. Lightman, past president, M. P. T. O. A. Annual report of the president, E. L. Kuykendall. Annual report of the secretary, Mor- ris Loewenstein, Oklahoma City. Annual report of the general coun- sel, Edward G. Levy, New Haven. Announcement of special convention committees. Report of the committee on conven- tion arrangements. Adjourn for committee meetings. Evening 9:00 P.M. — Reception to delegates, members, friends and guests of M. P. T. O. A., sponsored by the offi- cers and directors in the patio of the Miami Biltmore Hotel. Wednesday 10 :30 A.M. — Business Session in the convention hall. A demonstration of new methods in lighting for the- atres, Francis M. Falge, engineer- ing division, General Electric Co. "The Forgotten Audience Among the Deaf in Theatres," Dan D. Hal- pin, vice-president, Dictograph Products Co., Inc. "Modern Theatre Fronts and Their Influence on Attendance," E. L. Patton, Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co. "Proper Maintenance of Sound Equipment," E. M. Hartley, mana- ger, Photophone Division, RCA Mfg. Co. "Modern Functional Design of Mo- tion Picture Theatres," Ben Schlanger, architect. "What Air Conditioning Means to the Box Office," L. L. Lewis, Car- rier Corp., Newark. "Improvement in Theatre Seating," Raymond S. Reed, Hey wood- Wake- field Co. 11 :00 A.M. — Luncheon and beach party for the women at the Roney Plaza Cabana Sun Club. Special luncheon at the Cafe de la Paix, 11:30 to 1 P.M., afternoon on the beach. 12 :30 P.M. — Official convention lunch- eon on the south terrace of the Miami Biltmore. 2:30 P.M. — Business session in the convention hall. Merchandising motion picture enter- tainment. What the distributor can do to help sell the show. A discussion of new ideas in adver- tising and exploitation, use of adver- tising accessories, press sheets, lobby display, radio advertising, theatre fronts, mailing and newspaper space. Address by Col. Carl Byoir, public relations counsel, New York. "Theatre Advertising in Newspa- pers," Hal Kopplin, Wometco The- atres, Miami. "Winning New Patrons," Roy L. Smart, Wilby-Kincey Management Co., Charlotte, N. C. "The Value of a Theatre to the Community," M. A. Lightman, Malco Theatres, Memphis. "Systematizing Theatre Operation," Brownie Akers, Griffith Amusement Co., Oklahoma City, Okla. "Theatre Operation in England," Percy Phillipson, president, Auto- maticket, Ltd., London. "The Economic Level of Admission Scales," Arthur H. Lockwood, Cap- itol, Middletown, Conn. "Worthy Attractions vs. Star Values," H. J. Griffith, Griffith Amusement Co., Oklahoma City. "Training a Theatre Staff," Sonny Shepherd, Lincoln Theatre, Miami. "Theatre Insurance and Accident Prevention," Henry Anderson, In- surance Department, Paramount Theatres, New York. Evening No convention affairs. All of the famous Miami cafes will have special St. Patrick's Day parties. The Miami Biltmore Hotel offers a St. Patrick's Day dinner and ball with special music and entertainment in the main dining room. Thursday 10 :30 A.M. — Business session in the convention hall. Reports of special convention committees. Following each committee report there will be an open forum for discussion of the subject covered by the committee reporting. Report of committee on music tax, Charles W. Picquet, chairman. Report of committee on unfair trade practices, O. C. Lam, chairman. Report of committee on conciliation and arbitration, Lewen Pizor, chair- man. Report of committee on radio and non-theatrical competition, John C. Stapel, chairman. Report of committee on entertain- ment values, Walter Vincent, chair- man. Report of committee on public re- lations and community affairs, M. A. Lightman, chairman. Report of committee on labor rela- tions, Fred Wehrenberg, chairman. Report of committee on legislation and taxation, Roy L. Walker, chair- man. Report of committee on resolutions, Edward G. Levy, chairman. 2 :30 P.M. — Business session in the convention hall. Address by Adolph Zukor. Address by J. Edgar Hoover, Fed- eral Bureau of Investigation, Dept. of Justice. Address by Charles Edison, Assist- ant Secretary of the Navy. Address by Jesse H. Jones, chair- man Reconstruction Finance Corp. and treasurer Will Rogers Mem- orial Commission, Washington. Addresses by the following have been tentatively scheduled: Robert H. Jackson, Assistant U. S. Attorney General ; Senator James J. Davis of Pennsylvania, and Sol A. Rosenblatt, attorney and former deputy adminis- trator of the NRA film code. Unfinished business. Installation of officers, Fred Weh- renberg, chairman board of directors. Convention adjourns sine die. Evening 7:30 P.M. — Convention banquet and dancing, main dining room of the Miami-Biltmore. Water carnival and aquatic show ; grandstand, Miami- Biltmore outdoor exhibition pool from 9:15 P.M. to 11:15 P.M. Supper dance and special entertain- ment program, main dining room of the Miami-Biltmore, from 11:30 P.M. Friday 10:00 A.M.— Golf tournament at the Miami-Biltmore Golf and Country Club. Major Albert Warner, chair- man. There also will be available for non-golfers bathing at the Roney- Plaza Cabana Sun Club or at the Mi- ami-Biltmore outdoor pools and sun beach. Deep sea fishing at the Key Largo Anglers' Club. Annual yacht and motorboat regatta on Biscayne Bay. Racing at Tropical Park. Wall Street Gains Continue Lightly on Board Net High Low Close Change Columbia 3554 35 35 - 54 Consolidated Film. 5 4?4 + 5* Consolidated, pfd. . 16?* 1654 + % Eastman Kodak.. 16654 16654 15954 166}4 Eastman, pfd 15954 General Theatre 15954 Equipment 315* Loew's, Inc 7854 315* 315* +m 7734 7854 + 54 Loew's, Inc., pfd.. 107 107 107 + 54 Paramount 255* 24^ 25 - 54 Paramount 2 pfd.. 2254 2254 2254 + 54 Pa the Film 85* 854 854, -54 rko m 854 40 20th Century-Fox. 4054 + Vs 20th Century, pfd. SO 4054 50 +154 Warner Bros .. 15% isj4 1554 -54 Little Curb Movement Net High Low Close Change Grand National... 3 2^ 3 + 5* Sentry Safety 54 54 34 Sonotone 2 17/s V/g Technicolor 235* 2154 2254 — % Trans Lux 45* 45* 45* Bonds Off Net HJgh Low Close Change Loew's 354s '46. . . 9854 9854 9854 — 54 Paramount Pic- tures 6s '55 1005* 1005* 1005* RKO 6s '41 pp.... 115 115 115 —254 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 97 96 96 —154 (Quotations at close of March 13.) Monday, March 15, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY RADIO 4 Radio Personals ► FRANK BLACK, musical director of NBC, will deliver a lecture on music in Pittsburgh March 20. . . . "Two Tickets to Romance," an origi- nal vehicle, will be offered by Jessica Cragonette on her "Beauty Box" pro- gram Wednesday . . . Richard Crooks, absent from the "Voice of Firestone" program since January, returns to the series tonight at 8:30 P.M., E.S.T. . . . Lillian Gish will be the principal guest on "Showboat" Thursday evening Hal Janis will substitute for Dick Fishell as WMCA special events di- rector while the latter vacations in Florida. . . . + WHN will carry the Hickory House broadcasts beginning this week . . . Marion Melton is Irving Aaron- son's new vocalist. . . . Basil Rath- bone and Harriet Hilliard will be Bing Crosby's guests on the "Music Hall" program Thursday night. . . . Frank A. Buck will be the star of the Fisher Bodv Craftsman's Guild broad- cast on CBS Wednesday evening at 7:30 P.M., E.S.T. . . . Andy Iona and his Hawaiians return to the Al Pierce program tomorrow. . . . Next Sunday marks Phil Baker's fourth anniversary on the air. . . . + Reinald Werrenrath will be the guest sneaker at the Ad Club luncheon Thursday. WMCA will air the talk. Start "All Star Varieties" "All Star Varieties," an electrically transcribed program, begins on WOR tomorrow from 11 :30 to 11 :45 A. M., E.S.T. There will be 39 of these broad- casts, under the sponsorship of Norge dealers. Among those who will be heard on the program will be: Freddie Martin, Kay Kyser, Little Jack Little, Ray Noble, Jimmy Dorsey, Connie Bos- well, Frances Fay, Mildred Bailey and the Mills Brothers. The comedians and specialty acts include Tom How- ard and George Shelton, Ken Murray, Tony Wons, Tim and Irene, Mitzi Green. Sinatra on Cycle Program The Cycle Trades of America's program which bows in on the NBC- Blue April 1 from 7:15 to 7:30 P. M., E.S.T., will feature Ray Sinatra's orchestra and guest artists each week. Frank Parker will head the guest procession. He will be followed by Ruth Etting, Fibber McGee and Mol lv, Hildegarde, Jean Ellington and the Revelers, Mary Small and the "Tune Twisters," and "Honey Boy and Sas- safras." The series will be known as the "All Star Cycle." Southmayd, Inc., New York, is the agency. There will be a repeat broadcast for the west coast. Buckeye Net to Start Columbus, March 14. — The Buck eye network will start tomorrow with Crazy Water Crystals as the first commercial to be signed. The pro gram, originating at WHKC here, will consist of Hank and Slim and their Georgia Crackers, and will be aired six days a week. In addition to the local station, WKBN, Youngstown, WJAV and WHK, Cleveland, are the basic outlets of the web. Sets Time Signal Deal Dutchland Farms, through the Ingalls agency, has contracted for time signals over WOR, beginning tomor row. Signals will be read Tuesdays and Thursdays. teo says WHN is the Station of Stars — that is why movie fans are WHN fans! DIAL 1010 M-G-M • LOEW S "Interesting" "I have frequently noted the space your publication gives to the cooperation of screen and radio and find it interesting" — Darryl F. Zan- uck, vice-president in charge of production, 20th Century- Fox. Shift Spitalny Time Phil Spitalny's all-girl orchestra, sponsored by the General Electric Corp. and currently heard Mondays at 4 P. M., E.S.T., on the NBC-Red, will be heard at a new time beginning April 26. The new period will be 9:30 to 10 P. M., E.S.T., same day and network. Maxon, Inc., is the agency. Mutual to Salute KWK Mutual salutes KWK, its St. Louis affiliate, on the latter's 10th anni- versary, March 17, at 9:30 P. M., E.S.T., and again at 11 :30 P. M., with top notch WOR programs. Union Power Series Is Called Excellent St. Louis, March 14. — Union Elec- tric Power & Light Co. has begun a new air show Sunday nights at 6 :30 o'clock with a half-hour program in a new series of "The Land We Live In," which bids fair to rank with the better programs in network broad- casting. The series is devoted to the pres- entation of the history of St. Louis, with its people of earlier days ; their struggles and achievements, and their efforts and sacrifices which have made St. Louis an important city. The first presentation deals with that part of the Revolutionary War which took place here. Howard Barlow has ar- ranged the musical score and the dra- matic script is under the supervision of Bradford Simpson. N. O. Union to Broadcast New Orleans, March 14. — The first labor broadcast here will be heard tomorrow over stations WBNO, beginning the week of March IS, with a half hour of labor education, sponsored by the Federationist, a weekly paper edited by W. L. Don- nels, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Satur- day nights. Renew Roebuck Program Sears Roebuck renews "Gambling's Bargains" on WOR, beginning March 23. The program is heard Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays at 8:15 A. M. The deal was handled direct. THE YEAR 'ROUND BOX-OFFICE ATTRACTION! RCA PHOTOPHONE'S OF THE Stokowski Back March 26 Leopold Stokowski will return to the Friday evening Philadelphia Or- chestra series on CBS, March 26. He replaces Eugene Ormandy as con- ductor. Dolph Thornburgh Assistant Hollywood, March 14. — John M. Dolph, formerly Pacific sales manager of CBS, on Saturday was named as- sistant to Donald W. Thornburgh, CBS vice-president here. Henry Jack- son succeeds Dolph. Wonders to Change Ralph Wonders, ex-CBS artists bu- reau head now vacationing in Florida, will join Rockwell-O'Keefe on his re- turn to New York. Debenture Holders Permit Woolf Deal (.Continued from page 1) that the plan had been submitted to counsel and "the opinion was that nothing has arisen to justify inter- vention by us as trustees." The only possible obstacle now ex- isting to the Ostrer-executed maneu- ver, which entailed the Woolf deal and the declaration of a preference dividend by the directorate, is the pro- posed action of Charles Nordon, rep- resenting a group of ordinary share- holders, to seek an injunction re- straining the board from payment of the dividend. Nordon contends the board plans to use borrowed money to pay the dividend. Smith Heads WTAM Sales Chicago, March 14.— W. W. (Bud) Smith, of the NBC sales force and former manager of WTAM, has been appointed sales manager, succeeding G. B. McDermott, who has been made a national sales representative of NBC managed and operated stations. Legion Approves 11 Of 13 New Pictures Of 13 new pictures reviewed and classified by the National Legion of Decency for the current week, seven were approved for general patronage, four for adults and two importations were called objectionable in part. The new pictures and their classification follow : Class A-l, Unobjectionable for Gen- eral Patronage — "Blende Passagier" fGerman), "China Passage," "The Crime Nobody Saw," "A Family Af- fair," "El Octavo Mandamiento" (Spanish), "Sohn der Weissen Berg" (German), "Quality Street." Class A-2, Unobjectionable for Adults — "Dead Yesterday," "Her Husband Lies," "That I May Live," "You're in the Army Now." Class B, Objec- tionable in Part — "Monte Criollo" (Spanish), "Liebesgeschichten von Boccaccio" (German). RKO Game in Cleveland Cleveland, March 14. — Although it was announced all RKO houses throughout the country were immedi- ately discontinuing Bank Night fol- lowing the Motion Picture Daily editorial, titled "Every Night But Show Night," the policy is still in use at the Lincoln, local RKO subsequent run house where it is now in its 92nd consecutive week. starting ROTARY STABILIZER ... a part of every RCA Photophone installa- tion . . . insures constant film speed . . . eliminates distortion caused by vibration ! CELLULAR SPEAKERS . . . The first speaker to distribute all higher fre- quencies evenly through- out theatre. Tremen- dous power handling capacity. Undistorted re- production of all notes, lowest to highest. Use less room backstage. with a supporting cast of 8 other great features! Low Cost Maintenance and Liberal Service Simple Operation Economical Operation Push-Pull Adaptability High Fidelity Reproduction Simple Installation Accessibility Sole Ownership THE MAGIC VOICE OF THE SCREEN RCA MANUFACTURING CO., INC. CAMDEN, N.J. A Service of the Radio Corporation of America Paramount Pectoris In€o tim.es square CH ICKERING A 70-40 NEW YORK- CABLE ADORPSS F AM FILM ADOLPH ZUKOR CHAIRMAN OF THE BOAR O March 10, 1937 TO THE EXHIBITORS OF THE WORLD Gentlemen : May I take this opportunity to express to you my humble gratitude for your particular contribution to The Silver Jubilee Drive that the boys in Paramount inaugurated to commemorate my twenty-five years in the industry. It is a heart-warming commentary on the good will and good faith that prevail in our industry. I know of no better way to keep this faith with you, nor a more practical way of showing my appreciation, than to try to continue to give you what you need most: namely, good pictures. In fact, when I read in the many letters both from you and the boys in our exchanges what you have done and are doing to make their Drive successful, I cannot help but acknowledge the responsibility placed on me to give you the kind of product that will earn your continued support. I feel certain that such pictures as "SWING HIGH, SWING LOW," "WAIKIKI WEDDING," "INTERNES CAN'T TAKE MONEY," "MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW" and "KING OF THE GAMBLERS" will merit this support. Again, I wish to thank all of you for the many kind messages and expressions of good will. Sincerely yours, mm SPECIAL AIR EDITION M PTO A CONVENTION MOTION PICTURE DAILY SPECIAL A I R EDITION M PTO A CONVENTION VOL. 41. NO. 61 NEW YORK, MONDAY, MARCH 15, 1937 TEN CENTS Atlas Limiting Film Interest To Para., RKO Holdings Were Valued at $6,551,992 January 31 The entire investment of the Atlas Corp. in the amusement industry has been concentrated in RKO and Para- mount, it is disclosed in a report cov- ering the securities in the investment company's portfolio as of Jan. 31, which was made public Saturday. The market value of the Atlas in- vestments in the two companies on that date aggregated $6,551,992. The Atlas investment in RKO represented $5,239,847 of this amount, consisting of 263,493 shares of RKO common stock having a valuation as of Jan. 31 of $2,338,503; $2,128,597 principal amount of fully paid RKO six per cent debentures, having a market value of $2,522,387; $36,000 of part paid six per cent debentures, having a market value of $42,660, and a pur- chased unsecured claim against RKO listed at $336,297. In addition, Atlas holds an option to purchase for $6,000,000 prior to next Dec. 31, RCA's remaining in- vestment in RKO, consisting of 605,- 731 shares of RKO common and $4,893,327 principal amount of six per cent debentures. Lehman Bros, and other banking interests have a par- ticipation with Atlas in this option. The Atlas investment in Paramount, on Jan. 31, consisted of 6,000 shares of first preferred stock having a mar- ket value of $1,182,095, and 5,100 shares of second preferred, having a market value of $130,050, or a total investment of $1,312,145. Divorce Measure U p In Michigan Shortly Detroit, March 14. — Allied's bill for divorcement of production and distri- bution from exhibition will be intro- duced in the Michigan legislature within the next two weeks, according to H. M. Richey, general manager of the local Allied unit. Previously it was announced the bill would not go to the Michigan legis- lature until later in the year, if at all. W. E. f 36 Net Jumps Up to $18,698,049 Striking gains for 1936 are reported by Western Electric. The net, all of which was carried to surplus, was $18,698,049. For 1935 it was $2,620,- 279. The company also reports that at (Continued on page 2) Governor Speaks Tallahassee, Fla., March 14.— Gov. Fred P. Cone told Flori- da Taxpayers' Ass'n: "I'm not going to sign any sales tax and they might as well not come up here hollering for it. That's the cockeyed truth." The Governor spoke as an association committee pre- sented to him a set of recom- mendations "to assist and en- courage tax reduction." Bolte Wins Ruling In Cocalis Action Supreme Court Justice Shientag of the Bronx has handed down a de- cision against Sam D. Cocalis in the suit filed by John Bolte, a partner in the Springer & Cocalis circuit, for breach of contract. According to B'olte's deal with the S. & C. circuit, the latter group could not build a theatre within a mile of the Burke in the Bronx. Cocalis, with Dave Rosenzweig and George Gulkis, erected the Melba shortly after the agreement, which Bolte claimed was within the mile distance. The court so held. As a result of the decision, Cocalis has withdrawn from the Melba and day-and-day privileges with the Aller- ton have been rescinded. Justice (Continued on page 2) Debenture Holders Permit Woolf Deal By BRUCE ALLAN London, March 14. — The likelihood that the Gaumont British distribution arrangement with C. M. Woolf's General Film Distributors will go through as planned was indicated in a statement issued by Isidore Ostrer. He declared that he had received a letter from the Law Debenture Corp., which is acting as trustee for the G. B. debenture holders, and which had objected to the deal, to the effect (Continued on page 7) Poster Men Wind Up Three-Day Meet Here Members of National Poster Ser- vice Renters Ass'n ended a three-day convention at the New Yorker last night, following which delegates from out-of-town cities left for home. The production of accessories on Warner pictures was discussed. The association now is making its own posters and window cards on Para- mount films. Warners on May 2 will inaugurate a service renting plan on posters similar to that adopted by Paramount last year. National Plan For Stage Put Before Equity Harding Favors Subsidy Or Federal Project Extension of the theatre on a na- tional basis either by direct subsidy or through a professionally guided adaptation of the Federal Theatre Project is proposed by Alfred Hard- ing of Actors' Equity Ass'n. in a re- port with recommendations recently submitted to the Equity council fol- lowing his return from a five-month study of the theatre in Central Eu- rope. The report is published in the current issue of Equity Magazine and is to be considered by the council in the near future. Harding also urges Equity to spon- sor a move in New York to make the professional theatre available to school children in order to awaken the interest of oncoming generations in the stage and its wares. The move should be conducted in cooperation with the League of N. Y. Theatres, the theatrical unions and school au- thorities, Harding suggests. Referring to the type of entertain- ment which might be employed in the (Continued on page 2) Regional Meetings Are Set This Year Regional sales meetings will be the rule, rather than the exception, for most major companies this spring and summer, it was indicated on Saturday by representatives of large distribution organizations. While several companies have not made final decisions yet, it appears fairly certain at this time that all but one or two of the eight major dis- tributors will follow the regional meeting plan during May and June. Most plans call for a coast, central and eastern meeting, although several companies mav hold only two meet- ings, one in Hollywood and the other in New York. Consolidated Deal With M-G-M Is Near After months of negotiations, Con- solidated has virtually completed a deal for the current M-G-M lineup. Terms have been set. but no contracts have been signed. This formality is expected this week. Two pictures have been spot booked in Consolidated houses. They are "Born to Dance" and "Camille." MPTO A Turns Out Strongest Draw in Years Expect 1,000 Delegates, Friends and Others By RED KANN Miami, March 14— The M. P. T. O. A. national convention opening at the Miami Biltmore here on Tuesday promises to be one of the best at- tended industry gatherings in many years on the basis of the number of early arrivals and the volume of hotel reservations. Every incoming train and plane over the weekend added its quota to the large delegation of theatre and film men which has been on the scene for several days. Even so, arriving delegates and visitors are not ex- pected to reach the greatest volume until _ Monday. A registration of 800 is being predicted by convention man- agers, while more than 100 additional industry members, either vacationing here or drawn by the M. P. T. O. A. meeting, are expected to put in ap- pearances at the convention hotel dur- ing the three-day sessions, swelling the total number of convention visitors to approximately 1,000. Delegations from New England, New York, Pennsylvania and Wash- ington, numbering about 200, arrived over the weekend. More than 150 delegates and convention visitors were already in Miami and vicinity. Large delegations from all sections of the south, far west and middle west are en route here today and will arrive tomorrow and Tuesday. Accommodations at the Miami Bilt- more, Casa Loma and Roney-Plaza are practically exhausted. All avail- able exhibit space has been utilized. Attendance at the meeting will be swelled by the presence of more than 80 Paramount theatre partners and (Continued on page 6) Imperial Completes Financial Structure The financing plans for Imperial Distributing Corp. were revealed on Saturday by M. D. Kopple, described by the company as an investment counsel and attorney. There will be authorized for immediate issuance 500,000 shares of an original 1,000.000 share issue. A portion of the 500,- 000-share issue will be for public sub- scription, it was indicated. Imperial will have available a work- (Continued on page 2) Radio News — Page 7 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, March 15, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY ^Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 March 15, 1937 No. 61 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN. Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON. Advertising Manager Published dally except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and '"publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at Rockefeller Center. New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- cations: MOTION PICTURE HERALD, BETTER THEATRES, TEATRO AL DIA, INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Sts. ; Boone Mancall, Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave., C. B. O Neill, WASHINGTON : Albee Building, Bertram P. Linz, Representative. , _™ „ AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan 5; Philip de Schaap, Representative. _,._„,.. .._ BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 KipUr-u, Budapest TJ; Endre Hevesi, Representative. „ BUENOS AIRES: Corrientes 2495; N. Bruskl, Representative. HELSINKI: Fredrlksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszlo. Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Sauare, W. 1; Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address, Quigpubco, Lon- don. MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings. 191 Collins St. ; Cliff Holt, Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart. Representative. MONTEVIDEO: P. O. Box 664; Paul Bodo, Bep- MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern, Bep- PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre, Rep- resentative. PRAGUE : Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1; Harry Knopf, Representative. 110 DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 3358; A. Weiss- man, Representative. ROME: Viale Gorizia; Vittorlo Malpassuti, Rep- SHANGHAI: Hooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Build- ing, 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler, Rep- resentative. STOCKHOLM : Kungsgatan 36; Ragner Allberg. Representative. TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken; H. Tominaga, Representative. VIENNA: Nuestiftgasse, 55; Vienna VII; Hans Lorant, Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 In the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. SMPE in Theatre Study The Society of M. P. Engineers, through its Projection Practice Com- mittee, has undertaken a nationwide theatre survey to obtain data on screens, projection angles, types of projection light sources, and similar conditions. It is planned eventually to develop a standard for various types of theatres. Harry Rubin, committee chairman, is in charge of the study. The Atlantic Coast Section of the S. M. P. E. will hold its monthly meeting at the Hotel Pennsylvania on Wednesday evening. S. K. Wolf, president, will deliver a paper. Goodrich, Writer, Dead Hollywood, March 14. — John Fish Goodrich, veteran film writer, died here following an abdominal opera- tion. Goodrich was a dialogue writer and assisted on "Fast Life," "The Love Racket," "Green Stockings," "Lillies of the Field" and "The Flirt- ing Widow." He was married. Dr. Elihu Thomson Dies Swampscott, Mass., March 14. — Dr. Elihu Thomson, one of the found- ers of G. E., died here Friday at his home. He was 83 years old. Sur- viving are his widow, and three sons by a previous marriage, Royand D., Malcolm and Donald T. Thomson. National Plan For Stage Put Before Equity (Continued from page 1) suggested extensions of the stage, Harding observes that "It certainly would not be a theatre built for Broadway or to Broadway specifica- tions." He advocates drama in the national tradition, history and spirit for the great American masses to whom the modern theatre is either not available or offers nothing. The subject of extending the the- atre in America and gaining new pat- ronage for it has been, and still is, under consideration by Equity, the League of N. Y. Theatres and the Dramatists' Guild. To all appear- ances, Harding's proposals are the most concrete yet advanced among the three groups. Equity's quarterly membership meeting, scheduled for next Friday at the Astor, will elect a nominating committee of six, which, with three members selected by the council, will nominate a slate of officers and coun- cillors of Equity for the coming year. The election will take place at the annual meeting in June. The Fri- day meeting will also vote on several proposed amendments regulating membership voting by mail. Favors Some Alien Legislation Commenting on the Dickstein Alien Actor bill, currently up for hearing in Washington, the magazine states that "Equity believes the control of alien actors in America both advisable and necessary. It does not believe the bill now before Congress either satis- factory as legislation or adequate to accomplish its purpose." While offering its endorsement of the Child Labor Act, Equity states that "it seems unthinkable that chil- dren should be eliminated from the theatre altogether," and asserts its in- tention of opposing such a possibility when "the time comes to draft legisla- tion under the amendment." The organization's policy on the WPA Federal Theatre Project favors restriction of its personnel to profes- sionals in need of such employment. Non-professionals should be trans- ferred to some other project, Equity says, and professionals not in need of relief should make way for those who do. Expressing its satisfaction with the way in which regulations governing Sunday legitimate performances are working, Equity proposes to continue the present regulations indefinitely. W. E.'36 Net Jumps Up to $18,698,049 (Continued from page 1) the close of the year the company's plants were operating on a five-day, 40-hour week at 53 per cent of capac- ity. At the end of 1935 it was oper- ating at 27 per cent of capacity. The number of employes at the end of the year was 34,004, compared with 21,- 033 at the beginning of the year and with 17,148 in June, 1933. Total sales were $146,420,868, more than $40,000,000 above the previous year. The surplus at the end of the vear was $15,130,951. Assets and liabilities were listed at $275,419,319. Bolte Wins Ruling In Cocalis Action (Continued from page 1) Shientag, in handing down his de- cision, intimated that Bolte could bring suit for damages. It was reported late Saturday that Bolte will make an effort to break away from the Springer & Cocalis group. Cocalis recently built the Craft in opposition to Bolte's Wake- field, and Bolte last week opened the new Kimball, a 600-seat theatre in Yonkers, where Cocalis has been op- erating for some time. Several exchange managers and ex- hibitors testified at the court hear- ings. The late Jack W. Springer's estate^ and Matty Kutinsky cannot be sued in the event Bolte brings an ac- tion for damages, the judge ruled, as neither were directly interested in the Melba and accrued no benefits. Mil- ton Hart was attorney for Bolte and William Connolly for Cocalis. Cut Seattle Paramount Claim _ The claim of the Seattle First Na- tional Bank against Paramount Pub- lix Corp. was reduced on Saturday by Federal Court Judge Alfred C. Coxe from $1,420,000 to $60,000. Par- amount Publix will pay this by issu- ing new debentures amounting to $30,- 000 and first preferred stock for the remaining $30,000. The claim is based on a guarantee of lease made by the Seattle Theatre Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount Publix, on the Paramount Theatre Bldg. in Seat- tle. The lease was made on Feb. 1, 1926. Warners File Suit Answer Warners, First National, Vita- phone and Vitagraph filed their an- swer on Saturday in the $15,000 suit brought by Mary McFadden charging plagiarism of the title "Girl Trouble." The answer denied that the plaintiff owns the title "Girl Trouble" and also sets forth that the title had been used previously and is now public property. Hear Columbia Case Today New Orleans, March 14. — The suit for an injunction to restrain Co- lumbia from delivering "Theodora Goes Wild," to opposition houses sought by the United Circuit here will be heard tomorrow. Columbia had asked more time to file briefs. Fuller Trial Due Today New Orleans, March 14. — The suit of George Fuller against seven major film companies claiming con- spiracy, is expected to be tried in U. S. District Court here tomorrow. Imperial Completes Financial Structure (Continued from page 1) ing capital of approximatelv $1,250,- 000. with a balance of 500.000 shares held available by bankers for the fur- ther expansion of the corporation. The company's board of directors will consist of nine members, two of whom will represent the banking under- writers, together with four industry figures in addition to the present di- rectors, William M. Pizor, E. J. Smith and Lewen Pizor. The company is in the process of completing its national exchange set- up, with the intention of opening 26 branch offices eventually in key cities. 4 Purely Personal ► HERBERT J. OCHS, Warner southern and western sales man- ager, has left on a southern trip. He will stop in Miami, New Orleans and Atlanta, and will be gone about two weeks. • Leopold Stokowski is en route east to complete special arrangements with RCA Photophone for recording the musical sequences for his Uni- versal film, "100 Men and a Girl." • Cecil Bernstein left for a cruise to Havana late last week to be gone about 10 days. He will return to New York for about a week prior to his return to London. • Sig Wittman, Universal district manager, is considering moving his office from the New York exchange to the home office. • Bill Scully, Loew's district man- ager, is due back late this week from Miami, where he has been vacation- ing. 0 Mack D. Weinberger arrives in Chicago today for a meeting of Gen- eral Pictures' midwest franchise holders. • A. H. Schwartz and Mitchell Klupt will return today from Lake Placid where they spent the past four days. • Samuel S. Kestenbaum, ad pro- duction manager for Grand National, today celebrates his seventh wedding anniversary. • Jack Haley, who formerly super- vised distribution of Ford commercial films, has joined Jam Handy in De- troit. • Bob Ritchie and Benny Thau headed west Saturday for' the M-G-M lot. Flash Previews "When Love Is Young" — Virginia Bruce in a story of a small town girl who makes good in the city. Good music, direction and acting. "The Crime Nobody Saw" — Pat- terned on the familiar "Seven Keys to Baldpate" theme, this has Lew Ayres, Eugene Pallette and Benny Baker. "Midnight Taxi" — Another Federal agent story, this time with Brian Donlevy, offering plenty of action and novelty. These films will be reviewed in full in a coming issue of Motion Picture Daily. Film Critic to Coast Pittsburgh, March 14. — Karl Krug, critic and columnist for the afternoon Sun-Telegraph, left by plane for the coast yesterday to do a series of interviews and studio stories for his paper. It will be his first visit to Hollywood. "Stage Door" Departs "Stage Door" closed Saturday at the Music Box after a run of 169 per- formances. The play opened Oct. 21. HENS! Eagle 7V/Gi/r EDITION ★ ★ ★ ★ >NESDAY. FEBRUARY 17, 1937 ION LEXERS niNG MARTIN 44 J COM URGESCONGRESS TO REORGANIZE 1 ENTIRE BENCH| "Third Houserf JheLepslature. Injunction Miction sough CONSTITUTION FLOUTED, COURT IS DEFIED BY INDIANA STATE GUARD Court Reform \Cummings Court Role: Hits Snag in | Shock Absorber Nr> DMENTS PROPOSED rr court's powers 'L. BACKS PRESIDEN | Colonel Declares Basle Federal Acts Do Not Apply Under Martial >^ ~ Y- - Hew florkPosv Sports Editio f £ ***** ^ sun ,wer Courts Must Notify Attorney lefo«tavalidatin«orEniomtaB « oral Lavs as UnconsUtutiowL wSngton, fa ^r»d«. proposed lo Consress sleeping « - ! rSKW 2^W**1!L^— ^^^^ ^ :: o^^f Murder Lmkcojoo^ _ Spc i n w LATE CI EDITIO t on Court Chang ns in Senate Toda! 6rris Calls Conferen ionai Parity fot» of Rf)0« in Bolb Parti Judiciary Con for Extended H :ram wa m FOR AMENDME jUN to let congre e-enact voided laws ii Says Foes of Program Seek to Keep Jndgcs of Andrew Johnson kes Hand of Roosevelt Wheeler and Bone Seek Change in Constitution. m Johnson, 79, IWwed President at Knoxville, Ly*JOTHER URGED '.oAne Sends for Him — Negro Proud ol Silver-Top Gilt Cane, [Burke Would Compel Justices to Quit it&ON, Feb. 17. — A happjr old Negro whose] Court at 75. jKing Balks Ed^x zl of ; Surprise Message Urges 3. |'>»V - ^/eO'S not being modest; he's just truthful. The Short Subject Special, "SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE" was produced with all the resources of the M-G-M Studios to make a beautiful drama telling the story of the Constitution. How it came into existence! The months of struggle to satisfy all concerned! What the authors of the Constitution meant it to be for the future! Timely? Without question the most timely subject ever made. And one of the most thrilling you ever saw! Two reels that will make screen history! MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, March 15, 1937 MPTO A Turns Out Strongest Draw in Years (Continued from page 1) operators, home office and studio execu- tives, most of whom are scheduled to arrive tonight. The Paramount the- atre men will convene in their own three-day meeting starting Thursday at the Roney-Plaza. The M. P. T. O. A. gathering will be comprised of representatives of ap- proximately 3,000 theatres in all sec- tions of the U. S. and Canada. In addition, distributors from major and independent companies, - studio execu- tives and players, executives and rep- resentatives of equipment, supply and theatre furnishings concerns will at- tend. The visitors' list will be swelled by family members and friends of those who are here on convention bus- iness and are combining the event with winter vacations in this popular Flor- ida resort. Business and Pleasure to Combine The convention business program is liberally interspersed with social and recreational affairs in order to make the most of the convention's locale. Sightseeing tours, golf tournaments, beach parties, dinner and dancing par- ties, deep sea fishing excursions, yachting and speedboat regattas and Tropical Park racing are some of the diversions held out by the convention arrangements committee to lure dele- gates, their families and friends. The convention proper is not sched- uled to get under way until Tuesday afternoon. It will be preceded by a morning meeting of the M. P. T. O. A. executive committee at which offi- cers will be nominated. The annual election will be held at the meeting of the board of directors which follows the executive committee meeting. Harry L. Hopkins, WPA adminis- trator, who is expected to arrive here during the week, has been invited to deliver an address to the convention on Thursday. MPTO A Meet Draws 21 Display Booths Miami, March 14. — The convention hall of the Miami Biltmore is fringed with 21 display booths, all of which are being utilized by industrial con- cerns for exhibition of their newest designs of theatre equipment, furnish- ings and supplies, during the M. P. T. O. A. convention, opening here on Tuesday. A list of the 21 exhibiting firms fol- lows : Forest Mfg. Corp., Belleville, N. J. ; International Seat Corp., Union City, Ind. ; Paramount Pic- tures, Inc., Wenzel Co., Chicago; Wagner Sign Service, Inc., New York ; Motiograph, Inc., Chicago ; National Screen Service, New York ; Hollywood Advertising Co., New York; General Register Corp., New York ; Hurley Screen Co., Inc., and C. S. Ashcraft Mfg. Corp., Long Island City ; National Carbon Co., Inc. (occupying three display booths) ; Dictograph Products, New York; RCA Mfg. Co., Camden, N. J., and Electrical Research Products, Inc., New York. Varied Three-Day Program Lined Up for Miami Meet Miami, March 14. — Following is the complete business and social program for the three-day M. P, T. O. A. national convention which opens at the Miami Biltmore here on Tuesday. Tuesday 9 :00 A.M.— Registration. 10:00 A.M. — Sightseeing tour of Mi- ami and environs. Private cars will leave the Miami Biltmore at 10 A.M. for a two-hour tour of Coral Gables, Miami, Miami Beach, Hia- leah, Pan-American Airport, Bis- cayne Bay and Indian River. 10:30 A.M. — Meeting of the execu- tive committee. 12:30 P.M. — Annual meeting of the directors in the Army and Navy Room of the Miami Biltmore Coun- try Club, adjoining the hotel. This is an executive session for M. P. T. O. A. officers and directors only. 2 :30 P.M. — Business Session in the ballroom of the Miami Biltmore Country Club, which will be used as the convention hall for all business sessions of the convention. Convention called to order at 2:30 P.M. by Mitchell Wolfson, general chairman, convention arrangements committees. Invocation, Rev. Leslie Barnett, Coral Gables Congregational Church. Address of welcome, Gov. Fred P. Cone. Address of welcome to Miami by Mayor A. D. H. Fossey. Response to address of welcome, M. A. Lightman, past president, M. P. T. O. A. Annual report of the president, E. L. Kuykendall. Annual report of the secretary, Mor- ris Loewenstein, Oklahoma City. Annual report of the general coun- sel, Edward G. Levy, New Haven. Announcement of special convention committees. Report of the committee on conven- tion arrangements. Adjourn for committee meetings. Evening 9:00 P.M. — Reception to delegates, members, friends and guests of M. P. T. O. A., sponsored by the offi- cers and directors in the patio of the Miami Biltmore Hotel. Wednesday 10 :30 A.M. — Business Session in the convention hall. A demonstration of new methods in lighting for the- atres, Francis M. Falge, engineer- ing division, General Electric Co. "The Forgotten Audience Among the Deaf in Theatres," Dan D. Hal- pin, vice-president, Dictograph Products Co., Inc. "Modern Theatre Fronts and Their Influence on Attendance," E. L. Patton, Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co. "Proper Maintenance of Sound Equipment," E. M. Hartley, mana- ger, Photophone Division, RCA Mfg. Co. "Modern Functional Design of Mo- tion Picture Theatres," Ben Schlanger, architect. "What Air Conditioning Means to the Box Office," L. L. Lewis, Car- rier Corp., Newark. "Improvement in Theatre Seating," Raymond S. Reed, Hey wood- Wake- field Co. 11:00 A.M. — Luncheon and beach party for the women at the Roney Plaza Cabana Sun Club. Special luncheon at the Cafe de la Paix, 11 :30 to 1 P.M., afternoon on the beach. 12 :30 P.M. — Official convention lunch- eon on the south terrace of the Miami Biltmore. 2:30 P.M. — Business session in the convention hall. Merchandising motion picture enter- tainment. What the distributor can do to help sell the show. A discussion of new ideas in adver- tising and exploitation, use of adver- tising accessories, press sheets, lobby display, radio advertising, theatre fronts, mailing and newspaper space. Address by Col. Carl Byoir, public relations counsel, New York. "Theatre Advertising in Newspa- pers," Hal Kopplin, Wometco The- atres, Miami. "Winning New Patrons," Roy L. Smart, Wilby-Kincey Management Co., Charlotte, N. C. "The Value of a Theatre to the Community," M. A. Lightman, Malco Theatres, Memphis. "Systematizing Theatre Operation," Brownie Akers, Griffith Amusement Co., Oklahoma City, Okla. "Theatre Operation in England," Percy Phillipson, president, Auto- maticket, Ltd., London. "The Economic Level of Admission Scales," Arthur H. Lockwood, Cap- itol, Middletown, Conn. "Worthy Attractions vs. Star Values," H. J. Griffith, Griffith Amusement Co., Oklahoma City. "Training a Theatre Staff," Sonny Shepherd, Lincoln Theatre, Miami. "Theatre Insurance and Accident Prevention," Henry Anderson, In- surance Department, Paramount Theatres, New York. Evening No convention affairs. All of the famous Miami cafes will have special St. Patrick's Day parties. The Miami Biltmore Hotel offers a St. Patrick's Day dinner and ball with special music and entertainment in the main dining room. Thursday 10:30 A.M.— Business session in the convention hall. Reports of special convention committees. Following each committee report there will be an open forum for discussion of the subject covered by the committee reporting. Report of committee on music tax, Charles W. Picquet, chairman. Report of committee on unfair trade practices, O. C. Lam, chairman. Report of committee on conciliation and arbitration, Lewen Pizor, chair- man. Report of committee on radio and non-theatrical competition, John C. Stapel, chairman. Report of committee on entertain- ment values, Walter Vincent, chair- man. Report of committee on public re- lations and community affairs, M. A. Lightman, chairman. Report of committee on labor rela- tions, Fred Wehrenberg, chairman. Report of committee on legislation and taxation, Roy L. Walker, chair- man. Report of committee on resolutions, Edward G. Levy, chairman. 2 :30 P.M. — Business session in the convention hall. Address by Adolph Zukor. Address by J. Edgar Hoover, Fed- eral Bureau of Investigation, Dept. of Justice. Address by Charles Edison, Assist- ant Secretary of the Navy. Address by Jesse H. Jones, chair- man Reconstruction Finance Corp. and treasurer Will Rogers Mem- orial Commission, Washington. Addresses by the following have been tentatively scheduled: Robert H. Jackson, Assistant U. S. Attorney General ; Senator James J. Davis of Pennsylvania, and Sol A. Rosenblatt, attorney and former deputy adminis- trator of the NRA film code. Unfinished business. Installation of officers, Fred Weh- renberg, chairman board of directors. Convention adjourns sine die. Evening 7 :30 P.M. — Convention banquet and dancing, main dining room of the Miami-Biltmore. Water carnival and aquatic show ; grandstand, Miami- Biltmore outdoor exhibition pool from 9:15 P.M. to 11:15 P.M. Supper dance and special entertain- ment program, main dining room of the Miami-Biltmore, from 11:30 P.M. Friday 10:00 A.M.— Golf tournament at the Miami-Biltmore Golf and Country Club. Major Albert Warner, chair- man. There also will be available for non-golfers bathing at the Roney- Plaza Cabana Sun Club or at the Mi- ami-Biltmore outdoor pools and sun beach. Deep sea fishing at the Key Largo Anglers' Club. Annual yacht and motorboat regatta on Biscay ne Bay. Racing at Tropical Park. Wall Street Gains Continue Lightly on Board Columbia Consolidated Film Consolidated, pfd.. Eastman Kodak.. Eastman, pfd General Theatre Equipment Loew's, Inc Loew's, Inc., pfd.. Paramount Paramount 2 pfd.. Pathe Film RKO 20th Century-Fox. 20th Century, pfd. Warner Bros High 35J4 . 5 16<^ 16654 15954 3154 7854 107 2554 22^4 856 &54 40%, 50 157/6 Net Low Close Change 35 35 -% 4*4 434 + 54 15% 1654 + % 16654 16654 15954 15954 3154 3154 +154 7754 7854 + 54 107 107 + 54 24^ 25 - 54 2254 22J4 + 54 854 854. -54 854 856 40 4054 + % 4054 50 +154 1554 1554 -54 Little Curb Movement Net High Low Close Change Grand National... 3 274 3 + J4 Sentry Safety 54 54 54 Sonotone 2 V/% VA Technicolor 2354 21J4 2254 — % Trans Lux 454 454 454 Bonds Off Net High Low Close Change Loew's 354s '46. . . 9854 9854 98J4 — 54 Paramount Pic- tures 6s '55 100J4 10054 10054 RKO 6s '41 pp.... 115 115 115 —254 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 97 96 96 —154 (Quotations at close of March 13.) Monday, March 15, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY RADIO 4 Radio Personals ► FRANK BLACK, musical director of NBC, will deliver a lecture on music in Pittsburgh March 20. . . . "Two Tickets to Romance," an origi- nal vehicle, will be offered by Jessica Dragonette on her "Beauty Box" pro- gram Wednesday . . . Richard Crooks, absent from the "Voice of Firestone" program since January, returns to the series tonight at 8:30 P.M., E.S.T. . . . Lillian Gish will be the principal guest on "Showboat" Thursday evening. . . . Hal Janis will substitute for Dick Fishell as WMCA special events di- rector while the latter vacations in Florida. . . . + WHN will carry the Hickory House broadcasts beginning this week . . . Marion Melton is Irving Aaron- son's new vocalist. . . . Basil Rath- bone and Harriet Hilliard will be Bing Crosby's guests on the "Music Hall" program Thursday night. . . . Frank A. Buck will be the star of the Fisher Body Craftsman's Guild broad- cast on CBS Wednesday evening at 7:30 P.M., E.S.T. . . . Andy Iona and his Hawaiians return to the Al Pierce program tomorrow. . . . Next Sunday marks Phil Baker's fourth anniversary on the air. . . . + Reinald Werrenrath will be the guest sneaker at the Ad Club luncheon Thursday. WMCA will air the talk. Sinatra on Cycle Program The Cycle Trades of America's program which bows in on the NBC- Blue April 1 from 7 :1S to 7 :30 P. M., E.S.T., will feature Ray Sinatra's orchestra and guest artists each week. Frank Parker will head the guest procession. He will be followed by Ruth Etting, Fibber McGee and Mol- lv, Hildegarde, Jean Ellington and the Revelers, Mary Small and the "Tune Twisters," and "Honey Boy and Sas- safras." The series will be known as the "All Star Cycle." Southmayd, Inc., New York, is the agency. There will be a repeat broadcast for the west coast. Buckeye Net to Start Columbus, March 14. — The Buck- eye network will start tomorrow with Crazy Water Crystals as the first commercial to be signed. The pro- gram, originating at WHKC here, will consist of Hank and Slim and their Georgia Crackers, and will be aired six days a week. In addition to the local station, WKBN, Youngstown, WJAV and WHK, Cleveland, are the basic outlets of the web. Sets Time Signal Deal Dutchland Farms, through the Ingalls agency, has contracted for time signals over WOR, beginning tomor- row. Signals will be read Tuesdays and Thursdays. tco SAy$: WHN is the Station of Stars — that is why movie fans are WHN fans! bW m-g-m" loew'< "Interesting" "I have frequently noted the space your publication gives to the cooperation of screen and radio and find it interesting" — Darryl F. Zan- uck, vice-president in charge of production, 20th Century- Fox. Start "All Star Varieties" "All Star Varieties," an electrically transcribed program, begins on WOR tomorrow from 11 :30 to 11 :4S A. M., E.S.T. There will be 39 of these broad- casts, under the sponsorship of Norge dealers. Among those who will be heard on the program will be : Freddie Martin, Kay Kyser, Little Jack Little, Ray Noble, Jimmy Dorsey, Connie Bos- well, Frances Fay, Mildred Bailey and the Mills Brothers. The comedians and specialty acts include Tom How- ard and George Shelton, Ken Murray, Tony Wons, Tim and Irene, Mitzi Green. Shift Spitalny Time Phil Spitalny's all-girl orchestra, sponsored by the General Electric Corp. and currently heard Mondays at 4 P. M., E.S.T., on the NBC-Red, will be heard at a new time beginning April 26. The new period will be 9:30 to 10 P. M., E.S.T., same day and network. Maxon, Inc., is the agency. Mutual to Salute KWK Mutual salutes KWK, its St. Louis affiliate, on the latter's 10th anni- versary, March 17, at 9 :30 P. M., E.S.T., and again at 11 :30 P. M., with top notch WOR programs. Stokowski Back March 26 Leopold Stokowski will return to the Friday evening Philadelphia Or- chestra series on CBS, March 26. He replaces Eugene Ormandy as con- ductor. Dolph Thornburgh Assistant Hollywood, March 14. — John M. Dolph, formerly Pacific sales manager of CBS, on Saturday was named as- sistant to Donald W. Thornburgh, CBS vice-president here. Henry Jack- son succeeds Dolph. Wonders to Change Ralph Wonders, ex-CBS artists bu- reau head now vacationing in Florida, will join Rockwell-O'Keefe on his re- turn to New York. Debenture Holders Permit Woolf Deal (Continued from page 1) that the plan had been submitted to counsel and "the opinion was that nothing has arisen to justify inter- vention by us as trustees." The only possible obstacle now ex- isting to the Ostrer-executed maneu- ver, which entailed the Woolf deal and the declaration of a preference dividend by the directorate, is the pro- posed action of Charles Nordon, rep- resenting a group of ordinary share- holders, to seek an injunction re- straining the board from payment of the dividend. Nordon contends the board plans to use borrowed money to pay the dividend. Union Power Series Is Called Excellent St. Louis, March 14. — Union Elec- tric Power & Light Co. has begun a new air show Sunday nights at 6:30 o'clock with a half-hour program in a new series of "The Land We Live In," which bids fair to rank with the better programs in network broad- casting. The series is devoted to the pres- entation of the history of St. Louis, with its people of earlier days ; their struggles and achievements, and their efforts and sacrifices which have made St. Louis an important city. The first presentation deals with that part of the Revolutionary War which took place here. Howard Barlow has ar- ranged the musical score and the dra- matic script is under the supervision of Bradford Simpson. N. O. Union to Broadcast New Orleans, March 14. — The first labor broadcast here will be heard tomorrow over stations WBNO, beginning the week of March 15, with a half hour of labor education, sponsored by the Federationist. a weekly paper edited by W. L. Don- nels, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Satur- day nights. Renew Roebuck Program Sears Roebuck renews "Gambling's Bargains" on WOR, beginning March 23. The program is heard Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays at 8:15 A. M. The deal was handled direct. Smith Heads WTAM Sales Chicago, March 14.— W. W. (Bud) Smith, of the NBC sales force and former manager of WTAM, has been appointed sales manager, succeeding G. B. McDermott, who has been made a national sales representative of NBC managed and operated stations. Legion Approves 11 Of 13 New Pictures Of 13 new pictures reviewed and classified by the National Legion of Decency for the current week, seven were approved for general patronage, four for adults and two importations were called objectionable in part. The new pictures and their classification follow : Class A-l, Unobjectionable for Gen- eral Patronage — "Blende Passaen'er" f German"), "China Passage," "The Crime Nobody Saw," "A Familv Af- fair," "El Octavo Mandamiento" (Spanish), "Sohn der Weissen Berg" (German), "Quality Street." Class A-2, Unobjectionable for Adults — "Dead Yesterdav." "Her Husband Lies," "That I May Live," "You're in the Army Now." Class B, Objec- tionable in Part — "Monte Criollo" (Spanish), "Liebesgeschichten von Boccaccio" (German). RKO Game in Cleveland Cleveland, March 14. — Although it was announced all RKO houses throughout the country were immedi- ately discontinuing Bank Night fol- lowing the Motion Picture Datly editorial, titled "Every Nieht But Show Night." the policv is still in use at the Lincoln, local RKO subseauent run house where it is now in its 92nd consecutive week. THE YEAR 'ROUND BOX-OFFICE ATTRACTION! RCA PHOTOPHONES OF THE starring ROTARY STABILIZER ... a part of every RCA Photophone installa- tion . . . insures constant film speed . . . eliminates distortion caused by vibration! CELLULAR SPEAKERS . . . The first speaker to distribute all higher fre- quencies evenly through- out theatre. Tremen- dous power handling capacity. Undistorted re- production of all notes, lowest to highest. Use less room backstage. with a supporting cast of 8 other great features! Low Cost Maintenance and Liberal Service Simple Operation Economical Operation Push-Pull Adaptability High Fidelity Reproduction Simple Installation Accessibility Sole Ownership THE MAGIC VOICE OF THE SCREEN RCA MANUFACTURING CO., INC. CAMDEN, N. J. A Service of the Radio Corporation of America TIAVES SQUARE CHlCKERING A 70-aO NEW YORK- CABLE ADDRESS rtMriLM ADOLPH ZUKOR CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD March 10, 1937 TO THE EXHIBITORS OF THE WORLD Gentlemen : May I take this opportunity to express to you my humble gratitude for your particular contribution to The Silver Jubilee Drive that the boys in Paramount inaugurated to commemorate my twenty-five years in the industry. It is a heart-warming commentary on the good will and good faith that prevail in our industry. I know of no better way to keep this faith with you, nor a more practical way of showing my appreciation, than to try to continue to give you what you need most: namely, good pictures. In fact, when I read in the many letters both from you and the boys in our exchanges what you have done and are doing to make their Drive successful, I cannot help but acknowledge the responsibility placed on me to give you the kind of product that will earn your continued support. I feel certain that such pictures as "SWING HIGH, SWING LOW," "WAIKIKI WEDDING," "INTERNES CAN'T TAKE MONEY," "MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW" and "KING OF THE GAMBLERS" will merit this support. Again, I wish to thank all of you for the many kind messages and expressions of good will. Sincerely yours, Alert, Intelligent the in All Branches MOTION PICTURE DAILY The Leading Motio Picture Industry VOL. 41. NO. 62 NEW YORK, TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 1937 TEN CENTS Union Drive Flares Anew On 2 Fronts Cleveland, New Haven Scene of Moves Labor's drive to organize exchange employes flared into the open yester- day on two new fronts, when it was learned that employes of both Cleve- land and New Haven exchanges were meeting with organizers for A. F. of L. affiliates. Exchange employes in Cleveland met over the weekend and drafted new minimum wage scales and other em- ployment terms. New Haven ex- change employes will attend an organ- izing meeting in Trades Council Hall on Wednesday, plans for which were laid at a meeting with six exchange representatives and an A. F. of L. organizer here today. A competitive organizing move in New Haven is reported contemplated for next week by the C. I. O. Similar exchange employe moves were launched earlier in Boston, De- troit and other cities. According to reliable information, Cleveland shippers, poster clerks and inspectresses are now more than 90 per cent organized. Demands for a general pay increase, with a minimum scale of $40 for head shippers, $32.50 (Continued on page 16) Reelect All Heads Of National Poster All officers and members of the board of National Poster Service Renters were reelected for another year at the three-day convention held here at the New Yorker. Simon Libros of Philadelphia is president, Le Roy Kendis of Cleve- land, vice-president, and George P. Aarons of Philadelphia, secretary and treasurer. The board consists of Li- bros, Aarons, Louis Weinzimmer, Harry Shlit, E. R. Behrens and Irving- Levin of Omaha. It was decided at the sessions to [Continued on page 14) Bondy to Hear Plea On RKO Gold Notes Federal Judge William Bondy to- day is scheduled to hear a petition by Irving Trust Co., RKO trustee, for leave to retire an outstanding $600,- 000 of the company's secured gold notes. The petition is opposed by Atlas Corp., proponents of the RKO re- organization plan, and by RKO, both of whom assert that the company's (Continued on page 2) The President E. L. Kuykendall of Columbus, Miss., who is again heading for re- election to the presidency of the M. P. T. O. A. which holds its conven- tion in Miami beginning today. The election will be held there tomorrow morning, prior to the first business session of the three-day meeting. Whiteman Supports Dickstein Measure By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, March 15. — Enact- ment of the Dickstein alien actor bill would quickly result in European countries lowering the barriers against American talent, it was predicted to- day by Paul Whiteman, orchestra leader, during an unheralded appear- ance before members of the House Immigration Committee. In permitting Whiteman to make a statement, Chairman Dickstein ex- plained that it was not in the nature of a formal hearing but that White- man had asked for an opportunity to be heard. Only a half-dozen mem- bers of the committee were present. Declaring that "art is interna- (Continucd on page 16) Beck Not to Return To MPPDA Position James M. Beck, Jr., former M.P. P.D.A. representative in London, will not return to that post, it was stated at the organization's headquarters yesterday. Beck left London about three months ago following the death of his father, the late James M. Beck, former Pennsylvania Senator. No successor to Beck has been desig- nated yet. F. W. Airport of the M.P.P.D.A. is now in London on a special assign- ment and may remain until a perma- nent appointment there is made. MPTOA WILL SEEK NEW TRADE TALKS All of Universale Board Is Renamed Wilmington, March 15. — All direc- tors of Universal Pictures Co., Inc., were reelected for the ensuing year at the annual meeting of the com- pany's stockholders held here today. The directors are J. Cheever Cow- din, Budd Rogers, William Freiday, Charles R. Rogers, Paul G. Brown and P. D. Cochrane, for the common stock ; R. H. Cochrane, for the sec- ond preferred stock and J. Myer Schine and Willard S. McKay for the first preferred stock. Universal Pictures Co. reported to the N. Y. Stock Exchange yesterday that Universal Corp., on Oct. 31, last, owned 100 per cent of the second pre- ferred stock and approximately 91 per cent of the common. Gruntal & Co., Stock Exchange firm, owned 10.7 per cent of the first preferred. The company reported that during the vear ended Oct. 31 it paid James Whale, director, $105,000'; Gregory La Cava, $102,250; Irene Dunne, $102,- 777, and to Standard Capital Co., $54,- 250 for the services of J. Cheever Cowdin, chairman. U. A. Product Talks Completed on Coast Hollywood, March 15. — Product talks were completed today by United Artists' executives with preparations for the spring sales convention, prob- ably in Chicago, having been started. George J. Schaefer will leave Wednesday or Friday, and Monroe Greenthal will take a plane east to- morrow. Arthur Kelly left Saturday. James Mulvey will depart tomorrow for Miami. A tieup with Montgomery Ward has been arranged, it was stated, call- ing for full page ads in 800 papers in 600 cities and four pages in the Mont- gomery Ward catalogue. "Good Earth" Pulls $17,100 Sixth Week Approximately $17,100 was grossed by "The Good Earth" in its sixth week at two-a-day at the Astor. "Lost Horizon," current at the Globe on a similar policy, is expected to tally $18,000 for the second week. "Her Husband Lies" has been booked into the Criterion starting to- morrow. Expect New Concessions To Be Important Aim Of Convention By RED KANN Miami, March 15.— The M. P. T. O. A. is expected to declare for re- newed trade practice conferences with distribution companies in an effort to obtain an extension of trade conces- sions obtained under its 10-point pro- gram during the winter, it was learned here today on the eve of the national exhibitor organization's three-day con- vention at the Miami-Biltmore. While a change in the organization's policy of endeavoring to obtain trade practice reforms by negotiations is a possibility and undoubtedly will be given consideration, in view of its disappointment over distributor re- sponses to the 10-point program, ma- jority opinion holds that the present time is not the most favorable for adopting such a change. A legislative program, it is pointed out, would eventually include regula- tion of exhibition as well as distribu- tion and production, and for this rea- son an M. P. T. O. A. majority ap- pears to favor that policy only as a last resort. A program of litigation is regarded as unwarranted in advance of a fair trial of the proposed local conciliation boards which, it is hoped in many quarters, may accomplish as much or more, and at considerably less expense than litigation. For these reasons, the convention probably will instruct M. P. T. O. A. officers to re- new their efforts to obtain liberalized concessions from distributors, particu- larly with a view to obtaining an in- crease in the 10 per cent cancellation privilege and further elimination of the score charge. The convention is expected to adopt a stand against cash games and give- aways, although no stronger action (Continued on page 14) Paramount Partners Hold Early Session Miami Beach, March 15.— Para- mount's theatre partners, over 80 strong and gathered from all sections of the country, held a preliminary meeting at the Roney- Plaza this morning preparatory to the formal sessions, which start Thursday. The business discussed was routine and described as devoid of interest ex- cept to those who attended. It will be followed by a second informal ses- sion tomorrow. The New York con- (Continued on page 16) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, March 16, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 March 16, 1937 No. 62 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN. Editor J. M. TERAULD. Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany. Inc.. Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- cations: MOTION PICTURE HERALD, BETTER THEATRES, TEATRO AL DIA. INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD : Postal Union Life Building, Tine and Yucca Sts. ; Boone Mancall. Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave., C. B. O'Neill, Manager. WASHINGTON: Albee Building, Bertram F. Linz. Representative. AMSTERDAM : Zuider AmsteUaan 5; Philip de Schaap. Representative. BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg. Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest II; Endre Hevesi, Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientes 2495; N. Bruski, Representative. HELSINKI: Fredriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszio, Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square, W. 1; Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address, Quigpubco. Lon- don. MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings 191 Collins St.; Cliff Holt, Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart, Representative. MONTEVIDEO: P. 0. Box 664; Paul Bodo. Rep- sentative. MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern. Bep- sentative. PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre Rep- resentative. PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2. Prague 1; Harry Knopf Representative. 110 DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 335S; A. Weiss- man, Representative. ROME: Viale Gorizia; Vittorio Malpassuti. Rep- resentative. SHANGHAI: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Build- ing. 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler Rep- resentative. STOCKHOLM: Kungsgatan 36; Ragner Allbere Representative. TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken- H. Tominaga, Representative. VIENNA: Nuestiftgasse, 55; Vienna VII; Hans Lorant, Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Sillei, Representative Entered as second class matter, January 4 w>r at the Post Office at New York City, N. Y under Act of March 3. 1879. Subscription rates per year S6 in the Americas and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Balsdon, Recovered, Is Due Back Sunday George Balsdon, booker for Na- tional Theatres, who was seriously injured in an automobile accident on the coast several months ago, will re- turn Sunday from Stockton, Cal., where he has been confined at St. Joseph's Hospital since the crash which resulted also in injuries to Sum- ner Gambee and Nick Turner. Upon his arrival, Balsdon will enter a local hospital for observation. He is not expected to return to his desk for two or three months. MITCHELL MAY, Jr. CO., INC. • INSURANCE Specialists To The Motion Picture Industry 75 Maiden Lane, N. Y. City 510 W. 6th St, Los Angeles, Cal. Hollywood, March 15. — Mary Astor's contract renewed by Columbia. . . . William Arnold, 16-year-old son of Edward, to become an actor. . . . Radio takes up option on Diana Gib- son. . . . Jack Dawn, makeup expert, gets long term contract at M-G-M. . . . Harry Sherman recovers from injury received on location at Kern- ville. Alan Marshal, stage actor under contract to Selznick International, loaned to M-G-M for "Countess Walewska" and "Night Must Fall." Trem Carr to start "I Cover the War," next for John Wayne, within 10 days. . . . Paramount to start "Last Train from Madrid" March 20. Madeleine Carroll to play oppo- site Ronald Colman in "The Pris- oner of Zenda," Selznick Interna- tional. + Casting — Gertrude Michael set for feminine lead in "There Goes My Girl," Radio . . . Sybil Jason, Marcia Ralson and Helen Valkys in "Santa Anita," short Bobby Connolly is directing for Warners . . . Louis Calhern in "The Life of Emile Zola," Warners . . . Henry Otto in "The Singing Marine," same studio . . . Madeleine Carroll gets lead in "Personal History," Wanger. + Story Buy — William McGrail's "We Can Wait" acquired by Fenn Kimball, president of General Pic- tures . . . David O. Selznick acquires "Of Great Riches," by Rose Franken, and "The Earl of Chicago," by Brock Williams . . . Radio buys "World of Women," by Lionel Houser and "A Puzzle for Fools," by Patrick Quen- Writers — Felix Joachinson at Universal for start of new contract . . . Malcolm Stuart Boylan and Harvey Gates to adapt "The Real Glory" for Samuel Goldwyn . . . Fred Niblo, Jr., gets one-year writ- ing contract at Columbia ; now work- ing on "Flashing Skates" with Grace Neville . . . William Slavens Mc- Nutt starts at Radio April IS . . . Earl Felton* at Columbia to work with the Irving Briskin unit on "Campus Mystery" . . . Roy Chans- lor doing script of "Lady Luck," Warners . . . Gladys Atwater col- laborating with Sol Elkins on "House in the Country," Radio. + New Contracts — Sammy Lee signed to do dance numbers for "New Faces of 1937," Radio . . . Jane Yarborough and Leslie Goodwins, who write and direct shorts, get new one-year con- tracts to turn out six . . . + Title Changes — Warners change "Mazurka" to "One Hour of Ro- mance" and "The Hobo and the Heiress" to "Madcap Heiress." + Directors— George H. Melford to direct "Jungle Menace," first of four serials to be produced by Colum- bia . . . Expect ABP's Profit To Reach $6,250,000 London, March 6. — A profit for the year approximating £1,250,000 ($6,250,000) is expected for the John Maxwell company, Associated British Pictures Corp. Last year A.B.P. made £926,482 and paid 12J^ per cent, a final divi- dend of 7% per cent following an interim of five per cent. Profits for the first half of the current year were £150,000 and an interim of seven per cent was paid. In the expectation that profits will at least top the million- pound mark, the possibility of a final dividend of 10 per cent, making 17 for the year, is being discussed. A.B.P. ordinaries, of five shillings par value, are currently quoted on the stock exchange at 15/9 to 16/3, after reaching 17/3, before all film values fell following newspaper stories of a production collapse. Twickenham Assets Below Claim Total London, March 6. — At the credi- tors' meeting of Twickenham Film Studios, Ltd., it was revealed that against liabilities of £95,998 there were assets of £36,369, including £34,- 183 received by the sale of the studio. These are insufficient to meet the debenture claim fully and unsecured creditors will receive nothing. The company is in compulsory liquidation in the hands of the official receiver. The associated J. H. Productions, Ltd., has liabilities of £269,409 and assets of £161,208 but certain films have still to be released. New Erpi Equipment Now In 861 Theatres Erpi has closed contracts with 861 theatres in this country for $1,500,000 worth of new Mirrophonic sound equipment since the improved system was introduced to the trade 27 weeks ago, C. W. Bunn, Erpi general sales manager, said yesterday. In addition, the company has shipped almost 200 Mirrophonic units to theatres in foreign countries, Bunn said. The Erpi sales head estimated that two-thirds of the American installa- tions were of complete new systems in reopened theatres, new theatres or houses which had previously used other makes of equipment. The re- mainder were modernizations of ex- isting Erpi equipment. Installations have been made in 47 states. In Eng- land, where the new equipment was not introduced until Feb. 1, 70 the- atres contracted for it during that month. In Mexico City, the First Circuit installed Mirrophonic in seven of its 10 houses, Bunn said. "Such a record shows definitely the current condition of the industry," Bunn declared. "It represents an ex- penditure which the industry could not have made two or three years ago." See 235 English Films London, March 6. — Investigating the possibility of a shortage of British films, after the limitation of G. B. pro- duction, the closure of the Twicken- ham studios and other production fac- tors, the Kinemato graph Weekly es- timates that plans already definitely completed will guarantee at least 235 British features in 1937, against 208 in 1936. Bondy to Hear Plea On RKO Gold Notes {Continued from page 1) cash position is not sufficiently strong to warrant the outlay at this time. The trustee's report of March 3 es- timated that RKO had cash on hand amounting to $7,955,964. Retirement of the secured notes is expected to raise the question of whether or not the RKO debentures would continue to have a second lien on the assets securing the gold notes. According to the indenture, the se- cured position of the debentures may end with the elimination of the prior notes. Irving Trust Co., RKO trustee, contends that the interest saving in- volved warrants the immediate pay- ment of the notes, which are held by the Bank of America National Ass'n. Settle Claim on RKO The claim of the Criterion Advertis- ing Co. against RKO was settled yes- terday bv Federal Court Judge Wil- liam A. Bondy for $337,024. "Romeo" Winner of Australians Award Melbourne, Feb. 15. (By Air Mail Via London) — The recently formed Film Critics' Guild of Australia has chosen "Romeo and Juliet" as the best film released in this market during 1936. Second place went to "The Story of Louis Pasteur," and then in order come "Fury" and "Dodsworth," with "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," "The Petrified Forest" and "Mutiny on the Bounty" tieing for fifth place. "Orphan of the Wilderness" was selected by the Guild as the best Aus- tralian picture produced last year. The Cinesound picture won narrowly from "Uncivilized," produced by Expedition- ary Films and "Rangle River," Col- umbia. New Enterprises The following film and theatre com- panies have been incorporated. At Albany : Jesse L. Kaufman, Inc., New York, theatrical business, by Jesse L. Kauf- man, Chester A. Pearlman and Harry Weinberger. Harkray, Inc., New York, theatrical business, by Gertrude Cone, Essie Burdman and Freda Jaret. Richmond County Amusement Co., Inc., Richmond County, amusement business, by Samuel J. Ernstoff, Jacob J. Bobrow and Harrie Newman. Babes In Arms, Inc., New York, theatrical business, by David Klinger, Russell H. Wilde and Howard A. Seitz. Ilena Theatre Group, Inc., Bronx, operate theatres, by Ilena Frank, Morton Frank and Jacob Frank. East 16th St. Theatre Corp., Brook- lyn, exhibition, by Isidor M. Racer, Julius Celler and Aubrey G. Raven. Krayhar, Inc., New York, operate theatres, by Gertrude Cone, Essie Burdman and Freda Jaret. Timberg Gets Audition Regina, Sask., March 15. — Anders Timberg, Swedish tenor, told the Motion Picture Daily here he had been given an audition in Hollywood by M-G-M and that he would return from Montreal to Hollywood at the end of his Canadian tour to discuss terms. Timberg sings in eight languages. MOTION PICTURI DAILY Tuesday, March 16, 1937 'Horizon' Top In Frisco on Start of Run MOTION PICTURE DAILY& HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW San Francisco, March 15.— "Lost Horizon" got off to a fine start in its roadshow engagement at the Geary with a gross of $13,000 at $1.65 top. "When You're in Love," on a dual with "Breezing Home," turned in an excellent SI 1,200 at the Orpheum. This was $1,700 to the good. "You Only Live Once" was in the money on a take of $7,500 at the United Artists. "Nancy Steele Is Missing" and "Wing's of the Morning" were SI, 200 over normal on a take of $14,200 at the Warfield. Total first run business was $96,/0U. Average is S99,000. Estimated takings: Week Ending March 9: "RACING LADY" (RICO) "WEEKEND MILLIONAIRE" (G.B.) EMBASSY — (1.400), 15c-30c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $2,700. (Average, $4,:>00) "LOST HORIZON" (Col.) (Roadshow) GEARY — (1.400), 55c-88c-$1.10-$1.65, 7 days. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $10,000) "WHEN'S YOUR BIRTHDAY" (RKO) GOLDEN GATE — (2,850), 15c-30c-35c-40c- 55c, 7 davs. Stage: vaudeville. .Gross: $16,800. (Average, $16,000) "YOU LIVE ONLY ONCE" (U.A.) UNITED ARTISTS — (1,200). 15c-30c-35c- 40c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $6,000) Week Ending March 10: "LOVE IS NEWS" (ZOth-Fox) "ONCE A DOCTOR" (W.B.) FOX — (5,000), 15c-30c-35c-40c-55c-7dc, 7 days. Gross: $16,300. (Average, $16,000) "WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE" (Col.) "BREEZING HOME" (Univ.) ORPHEUM — (2.440), 15c-30c-35c-40c, 7 days. 2nd week. Gross: $11,200. (Average, S9.500) "READY, WILLING AND ABLE" (W.B.) "MURDER GOES TO COLLEGE" (Para.) PARAMOUNT — (2.740). 15c-30c-35c-40c- 55c -75c, 7 days. Gross: $13,500. (Average, $13,000) "THE GOOD EARTH" (M-G-M) (Roadshow) ST FRANCIS— (1.400), 55c-88c-S1.10-$1.65, 7 davs. 2nd week. Gross: $10,300. (Aver- age, '$10,000) "NANCY STEELE IS MISSING" (20th-Fox) "WINGS OF THE MORNING" (20th-Fox) WARFIELD — (2.680). 15c-30c-35c-40c-55c- 75c. 7 days. Gross: $14,200. (Average, $13,000. Week Ending March 12: "REVOLUTIONISTS" (Amkino) / CLAY— (400). 15c-35c. 7 days. $1,200. (Average. $1,000) "When Love Is Young" ( Universal) Hollywood., March 15. — Giving a new twist to the small-town-girl- makes-good theme, this rates high in the entertainment category through excellent direction, performances and writing. The picture is a musical comedy suitable to all types of patronage and will fill the key spot on an average bill. Virginia Bruce as the demure daughter of Swedish parents — Christian Rub and Greta Meyer — finds unromantic response in William Tannen and an unflattering prediction for her future in her school's annual class prophecy. Arriving in New York with Walter Brennan, her uncle, she is further disillusioned by an operatic music professor who holds no hope for her career. Kent Taylor, an alert publicity man for a Broadway show, later ballyhoos her as a goose girl, framing her into a march up Broadway with a flock of geese. He later arranges a radio job where she sings setting up exercises to early risers. This failing to pan out, Miss Bruce forces a showdown with Taylor who subsequently sees the emotional promise in the girl and sells her as the lead to Jack Smart, his boss. She succeeds. Returning home for a visit, she finds her former lover not so hot and realizing her love for Taylor, she returns to New York in time to talk him out ai quitting the show as a spite move. Hal Mohr's first directorial job is excellent from the point of tempo, balanced situations and musical interludes. Eve Green and Joseph Fields did the sprightly screenplay from Eleanore Griffin's original. The sup- porting cast performances are above average including Jean Rogers and Nydia Westman. Production Code Seal No. 2,989. Running time, 75 minutes. "G." 'Green Light" Top in Slump On the Coast Gross: To Drop St. Louis Shows St. Louis, March 15. — Stage shows will be dropped by the Ambassador March 18, at the end of the Fred Waring engagement. This will leave on\y\ two houses regularly using acts, the second run St. Louis and the Gar rick, a burlesque house. G. N. Title Changes Hollywood, March 15. — "When I'm with You," Victor Schertzinger's first for Grand Xational, has been retitled "Something to Sing About." Zion Myers' initial effort for the same company, formerly known as "The Thousand Dollar Bill," has been changed to "Small Town Boy." "The Crime Nobody Saw" (Paramount) Hollywood, March 15. — A formula murder mystery, which in its mechanical idea follows the technique made familiar by the "Seven Keys to Baldpate" and offers nothing new or particularly attractive from either an entertainment or commercial standpoint. The playwrights, Lew Ayres, Eugene Pallette and Benny Baker, are stumped for a mystery crime idea. Then a real murder happens right before their noses. For a bit of novelty, the victim assumed to be a man, turns out to be a woman. There are a lot of weird goings on to demonstrate that the victim was both a masculine and feminine black- mailer. Then, with suspicion being diverted into the wrong channels, the playwright trio turns detective to pin the guilt on Colin Tapley. Nailing the culprit and so saving the innocent person, they also get the idea for their story. As most murder mysteries do, the film moves along at a fair clip. There's the usual allotment of suspense and comedy, and, of course, a suggestion of romance. The quality of the film, however, restricts it to functioning only as a secondary attraction. Other than those mentioned, the players are Ruth Coleman, Vivienne Osborne and Howard Hick- man. Charles Barton directed the Ellery Queen and Lowell Brentano original screenplay. Production Code Seal No. 3,031. Running time, 60 minutes. "A." Los Angeles, March 15. — Grosses hit the skids last week with only ; "Green Light" making a showing. It went $500 over par on a $14,500 take at Warners' Hollywood and was $2,- 500 into the profit column on a gross of $14,500 at Warners' Downtown. The only other house to get oyer normal was the Paramount with "When You're in Love" and "Bor- derland" and a stage show. Total first run business was $98,- 799. Average is $104,700. Estimated takings for the week ending March 10 : "THE GOOD EARTH" (M-G-M) CARTHAY CIRCLE— (1,518), S0c-$L50, 7 days, 6th week. Gross: $14,000. (Average, $17,000) "NANCY STEELE IS MISSING" (ZOth-Fox) "HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE" (G.B.) CHINESE— (2,500), 30c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $10,129. (Average, $12,500) "SMALANNINGAR" (Swedish) GRAND INTERNAT'L— (750), 35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $1,900. (Average, $1,200) "JOHN MEADE'S WOMAN" (Para.) "MURDER GOES TO COLLEGE" (Para.) HILLSTREET— (2,700), 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $8,000) "NANCY STEELE IS MISSING" (20th-Fox) "HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE" (G.B.) LOEW'S STATE— (2,500), 30c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $11,670. (Average, $14,000) "JOHN MEADE'S WOMAN" (Para.) "MURDER GOES TO COLLEGE" (Para.) PANTAGES— (3,000), 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $6,700. (Average, $8,000) "WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE" (Col.) "BORDERLAND" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (3,595), 30c-55c, 7 days. Stage: Rube Wolf and his orchestra, F. & M. revue. Gross: $18,500. (Average, $18,- 000) "GREEN LIGHT" (F. N.) WARNER BROS. (HOLLYWOOD)— (3,000), 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $14,500. (Average, $14,000) "GREEN LIGHT" (F. N.) WARNER BROS. (DOWNTOWN)— (3,- 400,) 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $14,500. (Av- erage, $12,000) Lee Reports Increase Arthur Lee reports a 50 per cent increase in G.B. business for the past month in comparison to previous months. "Midnight Taxi" (Twentieth Century-Fox) Hollywood, March 15. — Federal men in pursuit of a counterfeiter forms the basis of this film with plenty of action and novelty introduced throughout the chase. Brian Donlevy, as the agent, works his way into the gang disguised as a cab driver with the object of locating the hidden printing plant rather than collaring the phoney money passers. Frances Drake, Alan Dinehart, and Gilbert Roland are the principal distributors. Donlevy cleverly relays his messages to his co-workers until his identity is dis- covered. When his doom seems sealed, Miss Drake twice rescues him and is given amnesty when the entire band is rounded up with Sig Rumann proved to be the master plate maker. Donlevy and Miss Drake are then free to conclude their romance. Eugene Forde has directed speedily maintaining the proper suspense throughout. Paul Stanton, Harold Huber and Regis Toomey complete the well chosen cast. Lou Breslow and John Patrick wrote the screen- play from the story by Borden Chase. The picture should please gen- erally as snappy action entertainment. Production Code Seal No. 3,123. Running time, 70 minutes. "G." (Additional Reviews on Page 13) Wall Street Board Off; U Drop 2 Pts. Net High Low Close Change Columbia 344 34% 344 - 4 Columbia, pfd 434 43/2 4314 + 4 Consolidated 434 434 434 Consolidated, pfd.. 165^ 164 164 - S4 Eastman Kodak . . 1664 166 166 Gen. T. Equip 3m 3054 304 —1 Loew's, Inc 785/s 77% 774 -34 Paramount 24^ 24 244 - 34 Paramount 2 pfd.. 224 2134 2134 —1 Pathe Film 84 84 834 - 4 RKO 834 854 84. 20th Century -Fox. 4034 3954 394 — a 20th Century, pfd.. 49?4 49 49 —1 Universal, pfd 94 93 93 —2 Warner Bros 15 15 - 4 Light Rise on Curb Net High Low Close Change Grand National .. 3 m 24 Sentry Safety ... 4 4 + 4 Sonotone 2 m 2 + 4 Technicolor ...... 23^4 224 234 + 4 434. 454 454 - 4 Little Bond Movement Net High Low Close Change Loew's 34s '46.... 984 984 984 —4 Paramount B'way 3s '55 75 75 75 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 10036 1004 1004 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 96 954 96 (Quotations at close of March 15) - - As good as only she can be, in the first searing screen showing of the "wrong dames" - and {an important angle) what makes 'em that way! Set it in now and plan to set it up big to keep up with the great work of WARNER BROS. TTI DAV Hi it ni MAPI pel . we = * isabel jewell • eduardl Bryan • rosalind marquis METHOT • Allen Jenkins • John Litel • Ben Welden Henry O'Neill * Directed by Lloyd Bacon • Songs by Harry Warren & Al Dubin *A First National Picture FIVE BLUE RfBBO Canada Distributors EMPIRE FILMS, Ltd. Opening Thursday March 25th at the New Criterion Theatre, New York As a 2 a day Road Show Attraction .... $2.00 Top BOX-OFFICE WINNERS MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, March 16, 1937 Horizon" in Fast Start at Philadelphia Philadelphia^ March 15. — "Lost Horizon" turned in $15,500 for the first week of its roadshow engagement at the Chestnut. At this pace, the engagement looks sure for at least four weeks. The other roadshow in town, "The Good Earth" at the Locust, showed strength. Though its third week gross dropped a trifle, its $13,500 still repre- sents good profit. On the whole, the week's business was strong. "Love Is News" got a strong $22,000 for a 10-day run at the Stanley and "When You're in Love" took an average $16,000 for its eight days at the Boyd. The weather was cold, but excellent up to Wednesday night when snow put a crimp in business for the rest of the week. Total first run business was $122,- 800. Average, exclusive of the two roadshows, is $93,250. Estimated takings for the week ending March 1 1 : "MAID OF SALEM" (Para.) ALDINE— (1,300). 40c-55c-65c, 10 days, 2nd week. Gross: $10,500. (Average, 7 days, $8,160) "NO MAN OF HER OWN" (Para.) (Revival) ARCADIA— (600), 2Sc-40c-S0c, 9 days. Gross: $4,300. (Average, 7 days, $2,800) "WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE" (Col.) BOYD— (2,400), 40c-5Sc, 8 days. Gross: $16,000. (Average, 7 days, $14,000) "LOST HORIZON" (Col.) (Roadshow) CHESTNUT— (1,350), 55c-86c-$1.14-$1.71, 7 days. Gross: $15,500. "WE'RE ON THE JURY" (RKO) EARLE — (2,000), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Stage: Jesse Owens and revue, band; Bert Walton, Clara and Sana Sisters. Gross: $14,500. (Average, $14,000) "READY, WILLING AND ABLE" (W.B.) FOX— (3,000). 40c-55c-65c, 7 days. Stage: Everett Marshall, Paul Remos, Stone and Lee, Sylvia Manon & Co. Gross: $14,000. (Average, $14,000) "JOHN MEADE'S WOMAN" (Para.) (2nd run) KARLTON— (1,000), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $2,100. (Average. $4,000) "GREEN LIGHT" (F.N.) (2nd run) KEITH'S— (2,000), 30c-40c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $3,500. (Average. $4,000) "THE GOOD EARTH" (M-G-M) Road show) LOCUST — (1,300). 55c-86c-$1.14-$1.71, 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $13,500. "LOVE IS NEWS" (20th-Fox) STANLEY — (3,700), 40c-55c, 10 days. Gross: $22,000. (Average, 7 days, $14,000) "ESPIONAGE" (M-G-M) STANTON— (1.700). 30c-40c-50c. 7 days. Gross: $5,900. (Average. $7,000) Radio Signs Six Pacts Hollywood, March 15.— Radio has issued new contracts to three writers and three players. Victor Moore, Patricia Wilder and Maxine Jennings are the players. The writers are Ed- mund Hartman, Frank Wead and Joseph Milward. Melton, Warners Part Holly wood, March 15. — James Melton's contract with Warners has been amicably terminated. Inability to find a suitable vehicle for Melton led to the mutual decision to dissolve the pact, it was stated. Lissauer to Marry Cleveland, March 15. — Joe Lis- sauer, booker for the Libson-Skirball circuit will be married April 11 to Elaine Spungen of Fremont. "Cheyney"Hit In Washington With $20,400 Washington, March 15. — "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney" went out front in a big way at Loew's Palace with a take of $20,400, over normal by $4,500. The picture was held. "Cloistered" was good for $6,000 at the Rialto. "The Plainsman," on the second week of a return engagement (having earlier had two weeks at Loew's Pal- ace) held up to $4,000 at Loew's Columbia. Average is $3,600. "Ready, Willing and Able" at the Earle was good for $20,000, over par by $1,600. Eddy Duchin's orchestra helped. Total first run business, excluding the Rialto, was $74,900. Average is $73,700. Estimated takings, exclusive of tax : Week Ending March 4: "READY, WILLING AND ABLE" (W.B.) EARLE— (2,218), 25c-77c, 7 days. Stage: Eddie Duchin & Orchestra, with Caligar.y Brothers, Gower & Jeanne; Bliss Lewis Ash; Jane Dover. Gross: $20,000. (Aver- age. $18,400) "JOHN MEADE'S WOMAN" (U.A.) LOEW'S CAPITOL— (3,434), 25c-66c, 7 days. Stage: "Fats" Waller & Orchestra, with Myra Johnson, Al Washington. Gross: $19,000. (Average, $20,900) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) LOEW'S COLUMBIA— (1,243), 25c-40c. 7 days (return engagement, 2nd week). Gross: $4,000. (Average, first run, $3,600) "THE LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY" (M-G-M) LOEW'S PALACE— (2,370), 35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $20,400. (Average, $15,900) "CRACK-UP" (20th-Fox) METROPOLITAN — (1,591), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,700. (Average, $4,300) Week Ending March 9: "CLOISTERED" (Best) RIALTO— (1,100), 15c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000 "WHEN'S YOUR BIRTHDAY?" (RKO) RKO- KEITH'S — (1,836), 25c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $6,800. (Average, $10,600) ii Love News," Show Indianapolis Hit Indianapolis, March 15. — "Love Is News" on the screen and Nils T. Granlund's "Broadway Midnight Fol- lies" on the stage brought phenomenal business of $13,200 to the Lyric. The management added extra showings on two weekdays and set new weekday marks. The gross was $6,200 above the normal. "On the Avenue" held up well in its second week at the Apollo, taking $4,500, which was $500 into the black. First runs found competition in a three-day stay of Katharine Hep- burn in "Jane Eyre" at English's, which did sellout houses at fancy prices. Total first run business was $28 800 Average is $21,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 5 : "ON THE AVENUE" (ZOth-Fox) APOLLO— (1,100), 25c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $4,500. (Average. $4 000) "JOHN MEAD'S WOMAN" (Para.) "MEN ARE NOT GODS" (U. A.) CIRCLE— (2,800), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $4,000) "WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE" (Col.) "WINNER TAKE ALL" (Col.) LOEW'S-(2,800), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $6,000) "LOVE IS NEWS" (ZOth-Fox) ( LYRIC— (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Stage: N. T. G. Broadway Midnight Follies " Gross: $13,200. (Average, $7,000) To Film "Rummies" Akron, March 15. — "Movie tests" of automobile drivers suspected of intoxication are being inaugurated here. Arrested suspects will be required to walk weaving lines painted on the floor at police headquarters, while a movie camera, under the rays of special lights, will record the degree of equilibrium maintained by the "walkee." "You're in Love" Is ,500 Denver Hit Denver, March 15. — "When You're in Love" played to standouts over the weekend at the Denver and rolled up a gross of $10,500, topping par by $3,000. It was moved to the Aladdin. "John Meade's Woman" also was in the money with a take of $6,750, up by $1,750, at the Denham, and "Sea Devils" and "Don't Tell the Wife," on a dual at the Orpheum, went to $7,200. Total first run business was $34,450. Average is $27,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 11 : "ON THE AVENUE" (ZOth-Fox) ALADDIN— (1,500), 25c-40c-50c, 7 days, following a week at the Denver. Gross: $3,500. (Average, $3,000) "GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN" (W. B.) BROADWAY— (1,500), 25c-40c, 7 days, following a week each at the Denver and the Aladdin. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $2,000) "JOHN MEADE'S WOMAN" (Para.) DENHAM— (1,500), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,750. (Average, $5,000) "WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE" (Col.) DENVER— (2,500), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Stage band. Gross: $10,500. (Average, $7,500) "SEA DEVILS" (RKO) "DON'T TELL THE WIFE" (RKO) ORPHEUM— (2,600), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,200. (Average, $6,000) "STOLEN HOLIDAY" (F. N.) "ONCE A DOCTOR" (F. N.) PARAMOUNT— (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,500. (Average, $3,500) ii Strogoff" on Dual Big in Providence Providence, March 15. — The RKO Albee topped a fine week with "Michael Strogoff" on a dual with "Two Wise Maids," which caught $8,300, over by $1,300. The Majestic was $1,100 over av- erage at $8,100 with "Green Light," and Fay's was $100 to the good on a $7,100 take, having for its attractions "Fair Warning" and a stage revue. The weather was cool and clear with major opposition coming from pro hockey and boxing. Total first run business was $38,400. Average is $39,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 11 : "MICHAEL STROGOFF" (RKO) "TWO WISE MAIDS" (Republic) RKO ALBEE— (2,300), 15c-40c, 7 days Gross: $8,300. (Average, $7,000) "GREEN LIGHT" (F.N.) MAJESTIC — (2,400), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,100. (Average, $7,000) "FAIR WARNING" (ZOth-Fox) u FAY'S— (1,600), 15c-40c, 7 days. On stage: Parisienne Creations," revue. Gross: $7,100. (Average, $7,000) "JOHN MEADE'S WOMAN" (Para.) "HAPPY-GO-LUCKY" (Republic) STRAND— (2,300), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,900. (Average. $6,500) "ESPIONAGE" (M-G-M) "FIND THE WITNESS" (Col.) LOEW'S STATE-(3,400), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $12,000) "Don't Tell," Ritz Brothers Boston Smash Boston, March 15. — "Don't Tell the Wife" with the Ritz Brothers on the stage took high honors at the RKO Boston with $31,000 this week. This was above average by $10,000. "Camille," in its second week at the Loew's State, went $3,000 above aver- age with a gross of $14,000. The same program, also in a second week, took $16,000 at the Loew's Orpheum, up by $4,000. "On the Avenue," also in a second week at the RKO Memorial, grossed $14,000. Average is $12,000. Total first run business was $111,- 300. Average is $88,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 5 : "THE GREAT O'MALLEY" (W.B.) "CAREER WOMAN" (20th-Fox) FENWAY — (1,392), 30c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $4,500) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) LOEW'S ORPHEUM— (2,970), 25c-45c-65c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $16,000. (Aver- age, $12,000) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE— (3.537), 25c-45c-65c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $14,000. (Average, $11,000) "ON THE AVENUE" (20th-Fox) RKO MEMORIAL— (2,907), 25c-50c-C5c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $14,000. (Average, $12,000) "READY, WILLING AND ABLE" (W.B.) METROPOLITAN— (4,332), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Louis Armstrong and band. Gross: $22,000. (Average, $22,000) "THE GREAT O'MALLEY" (W.B.) "CAREER WOMAN" (20th-Fox) PARAMOUNT— (1,793), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $8,800. (Average, $7,000) "DON'T TELL THE WIFE" (RKO) RKO BOSTON — (3,246), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Ritz Brothers. Gross: $31,000. (Average, $21,000) "Black Legion" Is Best Houston Bet Houston, March 15. — "The Black Legion," at the Kirby for three days, made the best showing in a week of moderate business. The take was $3,000. Average for seven days is $5,000. "More Than a Secretary" at the Metropolitan grossed $7,500 where par is $7,000. Other features lagged. "Maid of Salem" was $300 under the $7,000 average at the Majestic. "Espionage" at Loew's State was low at $6,000. The weather was warm and rainy. Total first run business was $27,200. Average is $26,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 4 : "THE BLACK LEGION" (W. B.) KIRBY— (1,450), 15c-35c, 3 days. Gross: $3,000. (Average, 7 days, $5,000) "THE ALL-AMERICAN CHUMP" (M-G-M) KIRBY — (1,450), 15c-35c, 1 day. Bank Night. Gross: $1,000. (Average, 7 days, $5,000) "THE MAN WHO LIVED TWICE" (Col.) KIRBY— (1,450), 15c-35c, 3 days. Gross: $2,000. (Average 7 days, $5,000) "ESPIONAGE" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE- (2,700), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $7,000) "MAID OF SALEM" (Para.) MAJESTIC— (2,250), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $6,700. (Average, $7,000) "MORE THAN A SECRETARY" (Col.) METROPOLITAN — (2,600), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $7,000) \ % 4 *TH£ ENTERTAINMENT WEALTH Of STAGE, SCREEN! AMD RADIO HAS BEEN AMASSED FOR THIS STARTLI NGLY DIFFERENT, • • DAZZLING MUSICAL!!! • • was r c f * GERTRUDE M,fJlA ' * T* THREE £? A N £«SMAw! e «GGy RYAN iSr ^ UNIVFRQAl "c MIGHTY MUSJC*1- t 1 i Tj 'e a*0***0*,,. Tuesday, March 16, 1937 MOTION PICTURfc DAILY 13 Short Subjects "Organ Grinder's Swing" (Fleischer-Paramount) With the popular tune serving as a base, this adventure of Popeye and his troupe unreels as another entertaining cartoon. Bluto objects to Wimpy's organ grinding and gets into a battle with Popeye. Out comes the spinach and in the whirlwind action that fol- lows, Popeye teaches Bluto to appre- ciate "swing." Production Code Seal No. 01,248. Running time, 7 mins. "G." "Swing Wedding" (Harman-Ising-M-G-M ) A lilting and colorful cartoon that satirizes the swing craze with an as- sortment of frogs made to resemble various and famous colored stars from Cab Calloway to Stepin Fetchit. It concerns the wedding of Smokey Joe to Minnie the Moocher and the best man, of course, is the swingiest. But before the ceremony there is much clever invention and rhythmic anima- tion. It is well executed. Produc- tion Code Seal No. 3,075. Running time, 8 mins. "G." "Scrambled Legs" (Columbia) A hilarious assortment of clips dealing with the comic side of wrest- ling. It is a News World of Sports number. Starting with the Dusek brothers, it takes in highlights from a few of the more humorous bouts in- cluding one refereed by Gunboat Smith, who makes the boys toe the line. It should be highly satisfactory. Production Code Seal No 01,481. Running time, 10 mins. "G." "The Hot Air Salesman" (Fleischer-Paramount) Betty Boop and Wiffle Piffle are animated in routine stuff that con- cerns the latter's rebuffs as he at- tempts to sell his scatter-brained gad- gets. With some difficulty Piffle en- ters Miss Boop's house and wrecks the place when his appliances get out of control. Production Code Seal No. 01,222. Running time, 7 minutes. "G." "Going Places No. 33" ( U niversal ) Highlighting these shots of the win- ter playground of Miami, which for the most part are neither new nor extraordinary, are scenes, partly from the air, of the Everglades, inhabited by Seminole Indians. Shots of ani- mals and birds fleeing from the plane are good. Air views of the city it- self are interesting. Production Code Seal No. 01,306. Running time, 9 mins. "G." Grips, Grunts and Groans" (Columbia) The Three Stooges again. Arriving in a box car, they proceed to get involved with a wrestling "stable." More complications when they go out with the contender who is due to wrestle that night and he gets drunk. After the usual business Curly goes on and wins after plenty of spectacular comedy. It measures up to their best comedies. Production Code Seal No. 2,829. Running time, 19 mins. "G." Looking 'Em Over "Lealta' Di Donna" ("Loyalty of Love") (Nuovo Mondo) The outstanding feature of this Italian import is the interpretation of a hackneyed role by Marta Abba. Her acting is the sole relief from a story that drags and unwinds with little novelty or freshness. It is a historical drama based on the attempt to unify Italy in 1821 by a group of aristocrats who were tiring of Austrian rule. Miss Abba is concerned in the story as the wife of a leader of the political group. Her husband, however, is unworthy of her. He openly carries on an affair with the wife of a Polish official in Milan. When he is arrested, Miss Abba, after he has been in jail for over a year, finally gets to see him. She plans an escape which doesn't quite come off. Later, following a trial, her husband is sentenced to be hanged along with the other conspirators. Miss Abba journeys to the Austrian Emperor and, failing to move him through her father-in-law, the court chamberlain, she sees the Empress and convinces her of the false case against her husband. At length, following routine climactic busi- ness, she obtains commutation of his sentence to life imprisonment. The photography and direction lack the sparkle of other Italian offer- ings. It is a slow moving affair. The dialogue is capably interpreted in English subtitles. Reviewed without production code seal. Running time, 90 minutes. "G." Overseas Previews 'Orphan of the Wilderness" (Cinesound) Melbourne, Feb. 15. — (By Air Mail Via London). — This film, Cine- sound's latest, compares well with other local pictures and in some re- spects is superior. The camera work and general production technique have always been an impressive feature of Cinesound's work but in ' Orphan of the Wilderness" there is very definite evidence that under the direction of Ken G. Hall the technical staff has made even further advances and very few American or English films would surpass it in this respect. In performances it does not attain the same high standard, and local players still do not seem to have acquired the art of appearing natural before the camera. There is a disconcerting unreality about their work that robs the story of much of its conviction. Herein, however, the players enact subordinate roles to that of a kangaroo, "Chut," which has the title role. The plot was adapted by Edmund Seward from Dorothy Cottrell's story in the Cosmopolitan Magazine, and is a story of the animal's adventures from the time his mother is shot by bushmen. Becoming a station pet he is trained to box with his paws, and the prowess he develops makes him a circus star. The cruelty of his trainer, the romance between Chut's owner and one of the circus girls, and a novel twist to the happy ending form the story's basis. As an animal picture, "Orphan of the Wilderness" is brilliant. As a drama it has sufficient merit to show that Australian studios are slowly but surely making headway towards the goal of international equality in production. Running time, 85 minutes. "G." Holt "Calling All Stars (British Lion) London, March 9. — Just a string of cabaret, variety, radio acts, strung on the thinnest thread of story interest. The idea is that a world search is in progress for stars to re-make a batch of master phonograph records broken by a clumsy porter. It is soon lost sight of and it doesn't matter that it is. The material is uneven, apart from its very inconsequential presenta- tion, but there is some good dancing from the Twelve Aristocrats, plenty of singing and tapping from colored performers, including Turner Lay- ton, Elisabeth Welch. Buck and Bubbles and the Nicholas Brothers. Ambrose and his orchestra and Leon Cortez and his band do the dance and chorus stuff, and Larry Adler is there with his mouth-organ. It is not so much a film as a series of illustrated numbers. Running time, 76 minutes. "G." Allan Short Subjects "The Star Reporter No. 2" (Paramount) A collection of singing and dancing acts which includes the Boswell Sis- ters, Stanley Worth, from Vincent Lopez' band, Jack Blair and Yasha Bunchuk's Cossack singers, who im- provise on Massachusetts. Ted Hus- ing does the introductions. It is di- verting. Production Code Seal No. 01,500. Running time, 9 minutes. "G." "The Lyin' Hunter" (Columbia) Routine cartoon stuff concerning the Krazy Kat aptitude for bragging in front of his nephews. This time a zoo is the location. The climax oc- curs after Krazy is chased by a fake tiger which is being used by a film company. A good item for the chil- dren. Production Code Seal No. 01,031. Running time, 7 mins. "G." "The Big Race" ( U niversal ) Meany, Miny and Moe, extremely animated monkeys, get themselves into fast-moving trouble when one of them, seated in Hippo's racing car with his girl, finds himself going places in a hurry. The result, until the tree crackup, prior to which the car takes to the air, is average car- toon comedy. Production Code Seal No. 3,024. Running time, 7 mins. "G." "When the West Was Young" (Columbia) An interesting camera visit to Tombstone, Ariz. Bud Jamison and Charles Sargent, as a pair of pros- pectors, serve to bring out the his- torical sights of the town as they question the sheriff. It is done in color. Production Code Seal No. 3,084. Running time, 9 mins. "G." "Duck Hunt" (Universal) Oswald goes duck hunting, but he forgets to introduce his dog, Elmer, to the intricacies of mechanical de- coys. Elmer becomes tangled with them, then with Oswald, and the real ducks show the unfortunate hunter how hunting should be done. The ducks win, and the cartoon is enter- taining. Production Code Seal No. 3,023. Running time, 7 mins. "G." "Lumber Camp" (Universal) The three monkeys, Meany, Miny and Moe are in a lumber camp, with somewhat disastrous results. One tries to fell a rubber tree, a second is taken over the hurdles by a squirrel and the third, the cook, chases a bear cub for stealing, meets the angry mother, and turns the tables — or the stove — on her. It is a fairly amusing cartoon. Production Code Seal No. 3,022. Running time, 7 mins. "G." 14 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, March 16, 1937 MPTOA Will Ask Renewed Trade Talks (Continued from page 1) than the adoption of a resolution set- ting forth the evils of the policy is an- ticipated on the theory local option should prevail. Discussion of the sub- ject is expected to be spirited, how- ever, and Motion Picture Daily's vigorous stand against this type of theatre operation probably will be cited on the convention floor. Ed Kuykendall is slated to be re- elected president for another year at the annual meeting of the board Tues- day morning, immediately following the executive committee meeting at which the nominations will be made. Other officers who will be reelected are M. E. Comerford, M. A. Light- man, E. C. Beatty and A. Julian Bry- lawski, vice-presidents ; Morris Loew- enstein, secretary; Walter Vincent, treasurer ; Edward G. Levy, general counsel, and Fred Wehrenberg, chair- man of the board. Mitchell Wolfson, chairman of the convention committee this year, is slated to be elected a vice- president, succeeding B. N. Berin- stein. The latter will continue as a di- rector. Thursday's sessions, with reports of committees on controversial and vital trade issues, and addresses by out- standing industry and public figures, promises to produce whatever "fire- works" this year's convention may originate. Among the reporting committees >' Will give moviegoers a grand evening in the theatre. Boyer, Arthur and Carrillo were splendid. - ELIZABETH WILSON Silver Screen President Writes Miami Beach, March 15. — President Roosevelt, in a let- ter to Ed Kuykendall, com- mended the MJVT.OA. for the support it has given agencies of recovery during the depression. The letter, on White House stationery, was dated February 19. It read: "I am glad to send hearty felicitations to the annual convention of the M.P.T.O.A. And, it is pleasant in these happier times, to acknowl- edge once more the fine sup- port which the M.P.T.O.A. gave the agencies of recovery during the depression. "I wish for your delibera- tions at Miami the fullest measure of success." will be those on unfair trade prac- tices, conciliation and arbitration, radio and non-theatrical competition, labor, legislation and taxation and the music tax. Under these headings will be topics of industry-wide interest, such as the current organizing drive in exchanges which is regarded generally as the forerunner of a campaign to unionize theatre service staffs and to extend union projectionists to hitherto unor- ganized small city and rural theatres. The threat of film service being shut off by unionized exchange staffs from theatres resisting the new organizing drive is expected to be brought into the open for discussion at the Thurs- day session. Allied States-sponsored legislation to divorce theatre operation from dis- tributor and exhibitor interests may come before the legislative committee. Radio grievances will be aired and the M. P. T. O. A. trade practice ac- complishments and future policy will be determined. Toward the close of the day, 287 rooms had been reserved at the Miami- Biltmore, 225 at the Roney-Plaza and 100 at the Everglades, with delegates continuing to pour in through the late afternoon. Fifteen other hotels with numerous reservations could not be tallied. This will be largely a family party. Not only M. P. T. O. A. convention- ites have brought their wives and fami- lies, but many Paramount partners, who launch their own three-day ses- sion at the Roney-Plaza on Thurs- day have done likewise. Drop Lincoln Price Gain Lincoln, March 15.— Chances for an immediate rise in prices here have gone as Milton Overman, city man- ager for Westland Theatres, gave up the single handed battle and dropped the ace Varsity from a 35- cent top to 25 cents. Also, he for- sook single features for duals. Bob Livingston, second run independent is the only operator retaining single features and a five-cent increase made a month ago. Fight on School Films Spokane, March 15. — The local school board has split over showing industrial films in schools. O. C. Pratt, city superintendent, stated such films should be shown because they contain much instructive matter on manufacturing and industry. As op- position developed the matter was re- ferred to a committee. Allied Group Meet Is Set for April 5 New Haven, March 15. — The Al- lied States regional conference, to be held at the Hotel Garde in New Haven, has been set for April 5, in- stead of March 29, as originally an- nounced. Abram F. Myers, Nathan Yamins and other national figures are expected to attend. Allied Theatres of Connecticut will meet at the Hotel Garde on March 23, for the annual election of officers, with luncheon preceding the business sessoin. Arrangements will be made for the welcome of delegates to the regional conference, and impending legislation, both Federal and state, will be discussed. Harry L. Lavietes will preside. Warner Zone Heads Meet with Bernhard Eastern and southern Warner the- atre zone managers yesterday held a quarterly meeting with Joseph Bern- hard, general manager of the circuit. Policies and bookings were discussed. Field men attending included James Coston, Chicago ; Nat Wolf, Cleve- land; I. J. Hoffman, New Haven; Don Jacocks, New Jersey; Moe Sil- ver, Albany ; Ted Schlanger, Philadel- phia ; Harry Kalmine, Pittsburgh ; John Payette, Washington; Herb Copelan, Atlantic City, and Howard Waugh, Memphis. Home office execu- tives who attended were: Clayton Bond, Harry Goldberg, Edward Hin- chey, Nat Fellman, Stewart McDon- ald, Herman Maier, Frank Phelps, Abel Vigard, Harry Rosenquest, Louis J. Kaufman and Frank Cahill. Warners Take Lease On Chicago Theatre Chicago, March 15.— The Warner Circuit Management Corp. has signed a new 14-year lease on the Sym- phony, at a total rental of $400,000. The 1,700-seat house was leased by Charles Loitz, a creditor, who took the property in a foreclosure action. It formerly was leased to Aaron Saperstein, but he had never taken possession. A new 900-seat house, the Road, with adjoining stores, will be con- structed here. Jacob Gross will be manager. The Orpheum, in the Loop, now operated by Warners, will go down before the wreckers on May 1, to make way for a shoe store. Breen Film Is Renamed Hollywood, March 15. — "Make a Wish" has been selected as the final title for the next Bobby Breen pic- ture. It was formerly "Boy Blue." Reelect All Heads Of National Poster (Continued from page 1) increase production of screen proc- essed accessories which are manufac- tured by Associated Displays, a sub- sidiary of National Poster Service Renters. Denver and Hollywood are bidding for the next annual convention, with indications pointing to the meeting be- ing held on the coast. Members leaving yesterday included ■ M. M. Morris and M. Wolf of San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle ; Kendis, Cleveland; Roland Lutz, Den- ver ; Libros, Aarons, Al Blof son and Oscar Libros, Philadelphia ; Roy Dial, Washington; F. H. Beddingfield, Charlotte ; Jack Blum, Chicago ; I. Sokolow and M. Weintraub, Omaha, Des Moines and Chicago; James Powers, Minneapolis ; M. Clark, Okla- homa City ; Frank Wyckoff , Buffalo ; Harry Rabinowitz, Albany; Frank Fisher, Milwaukee; William Burns, Kansas City ; David Rosenf eld, Pitts- burgh ; G. E. Levque, Detroit ; John Bylanoik, Albany; Harry Liebtag, Indianapolis, and Harry Harris, Dal- las. West Joins Ad-Caster George West, Screeno agent for Greater New York, has closed a deal to act as local agent for Ad-Caster, new advertising medium with head- quarters in Chicago. He returned Saturday from Chicago and left the same afternoon for Miami to attend the three-day annual convention of the M.P.T.O.A. Clyde Elliott, who has the Ad- Caster rights for the Chicago terri- tory, also has left for the Miami meeting. George Harttmann of the Armour, Kansas City, and Frank Castle of the Tialto, St. Joseph, Mo., will meet West and Elliott in Miami. French Select "Mutiny" Paris, March 15. — "Mutiny on the Bounty" has been adjudged the best foreign picture of 1936 in a poll con- ducted among readers by the French fan magazine, Pour Vous. "Mayer- ling," directed by Anatol Litvak, and starring Charles Boyer and Danielle Darrieux, all of whom are under Hollywood contract, was voted the best French film of the year. Harold Cohen to M-G-M Kansas City, March 15. — Harold Cohen, who used to work out of Kansas City, has been named sales- man for M-G-M here, replacing Sam B. Stoll. Stoll goes to Des Moines to become salesman there, succeeding Cohen. THEATRE TRAILER CORP. "TRAILERS with a PUNCH" now available on all feature releases TRAILERS that create interest and sell the picture without disclosing the story, or boring your patrons. Not too long . . . but every frame packs a punch. Service you can depend upon ... at a Price to please you. Our library starts with all 1935-36 releases. Write for details. 630 NINTH AVE., NEW YORK CITY WALTER WANGER ,.,,„„/, CHARLES BOYER JEAN ARTHUR /,, LEO CARILLO • COLIN CLIVE J>„„i,J ... FRANK B0RZAGE On,u.l .Ur, , P.lpotrrf Ih'u UNITED ARTIS1S ) GRAND NATIONAL OFFERS BQqk FOR SUCCESSFUL P T O A OPERATIO ★ so SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT A Victor Schertzinger Production THE THOUSAND DOLLAR BILL A Zion Myers Production DYNAMITE, starring James Cagney Based on the story "Hot Oil" • Produced by Richard A. Rowland 16 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, March 16, 1937 Union Drive Flares Anew On 2 Fronts (Continued from facie 1) for assistant shippers, $32.50 for pos- ter clerks, $25 for head inspectresses and $22.50 for inspectresses, are ex- pected to be presented to branch man- agers almost daily. In addition, the demands will contain provisions pro- hibiting salary cuts for any employes in these classifications who may be receiving more than the specified minimum at this time. Cleveland's organization drive has progressed without any conflict so far. Paramount Partners Hold Early Session (Continued from page 1) tingent which left on the Florida Spe- cial Saturday afternoon today contin- ued to discuss what carried elements of potential tragedy, when their ob- servation car jumped the tracks near Richmond Saturday evening. The train was proceeding at reduced speed, which obviated the danger of injury and nothing more serious occurred than loss of time. "Swing High" Is High "Swing High, Swing Low" has established attendance and receipts records in 15 cities over the country, according to Paramount. The film opened Friday. A surprise dish of unusual en- tertainment. The picture has got SOMETHING. A fine com- bination of romance and thrills with unusual appeal for femmes _ Film Daily 4 Purely Personal ► DAVE APOLLON and his revue will headline the State stage show, starting Thursday. Helen L. Morgan and the Salici Puppets have been booked in for the following week. This will make the third appear- ance for the Salici Puppets in six months. Irving Marks, European play broker, will arrive today on the Nor- mandic. Ditto Michael • Balcon, George Cukor, Germaine Aussey, French actress, en route to Holly- wood, and Charles Bennett, British scenarist. • Roger Martin Combs, formerly advertising and sales promotion man- ager of American Airlines, has joined the Chicago sales and contact staff of Jam Handy Picture Service. • Arthur Kober sails today on the Empress of Australia for a Havana vacation, following which he will go to Hollywood. • Rudi Feld, former chief of the UFA art department who was exiled with the advent of Hitler, arrives today on the Bevengaria. • Joan Blondell is due this week from the coast for "The King and the Chorus Girl" festivities. • Bob Wolff, local RKO branch manager, has returned from a Miami vacation. • Mrs. Irwin Zeltner is due back tomorrow on the Pilsudski from a West Indies cruise. • Neil F. Agnew, J. J. Unger and Bob Gillham are due to leave for Miami today by plane. • Clarence Budington Kelland, the author, is en route from the coast, via auto trailer. • Cresson E. Smith, western and southern sales manager for RKO, has returned from a vacation in Nassau. • Ida Cohen, a guest of Sophie Tucker on the coast, will return to London on the Normandie tomorrow. • W. G. Van Schmus returned from a three-week trip to the coast yester- day. Rita Johnson will leave for the coast today by American Airlines. 0 Arthur Willi, RKO talent scout, returned yesterday from Wilmington. • D. A. Doran of Columbia is due from the coast this week by plane. • Mitchell Klupt bagged a stag at Lake Placid over the weekend. Bar Non-Union Lensers Hollywood, March 15. — Free lance cameramen without union cards have been barred from studios by order of Photographers Local No. 659. Badge for Miss Pons Norwalk, March 15. — Lily Pons is the first woman in Connecticut to be presented the gold badge of a state motor vehicle inspector. In making the presentation, Mo- tor Vehicle Commissioner Michael A. Connor said he was awarding Miss Pons "be- cause she is proud of her automobile registration, LP13, and is consistently singing the praises of Connecticut up and down the land." Chain Store Measure Presented in Kansas Kansas City, March 15. — Chain organizations operating in Kansas would pay an estimated $250,000 a year to the state under the terms of a chain store tax bill introduced in the Kansas House by the Committee on Assessments and Taxation. The bill provides a license fee of $2 for a single unit, $4 each for ad- ditional units up to five, $10 for the number of units from five to 10 ; $20, from 11 to 15; $40, 16 to 20; $80, 21 to 25; $160, 26 to 30; $280, 31 to 35; $400, 36 to 40; $520, 41 to 45; $640, 46 to 50, and $760 for 51 or more. The same committee has amended an income tax bill to provide that the two per cent rate become effective on personal incomes at $1,000, and that the tax on corporations be increased from the present two per cent to three per cent. The increases in both categories would, it is estimated, bring in an additional $1,000,000. B. N. Decision Due in Mo. St. Louis, March 15. — The Mis- souri Supreme Court is expected to decide in May on the legality of Bank Night in the state in the case of McKean vs. Kemp which was argued before the court in January. It is a test case in which George McKean, Bank Night representative here, was placed under technical arrest for al- leged violation of the lottery laws. Drawings resembling Bank Night at theatres are violations of the lot- tery laws of Missouri, according to an opinion from Acting Attorney General J. E. Taylor. The opinion was in response to a request from Barker Davis, prosecuting attorney. Seek Games Ban in Canada Winnipeg, March 15. — Bank Night and free premiums may be abolished here if 22 exhibitors are successful in the demands they have before the Law Amendments Committee of the Manitoba Legislature. Exhibitors, represented by S. Hart Green, have asked that the practice of giving away chinaware and glass- ware with admission tickets be made illegal under the Amusements Act. Technicolor Ups Capital London, March 6. — Technicolor, Ltd., has increased its original capital of £370,000 by the issue of 40,000 fur- ther £1 shares, equally divided be- tween "A" and "B" categories. Transfer Frank Murphy Boston, March 15. — Frank Murphy has been appointed assistant to Man- ager Vic Morris at Loew's Orpheum. Whiteman Supports Dickstein Measure (Continued from page 1) tional," Whiteman said no boundaries can stop it for long, but when other countries raise barriers American talent cannot overcome this country must adopt similar restrictions. He told of his experiences abroad, and how it became increasingly diffi- cult for him to get entry into Eng- 1 land. Finally, he said, the home office refused to permit his band in as a troupe. In France, he said, he had to hire "four or five" French musi- , cians for every man he took into the country. Following the meeting Dickstein ex- pressed the hope that the committee could take the bill up for considera- tion of his report next week. Defeat Sunday Films Tarrant City, Ala., March 15. — A movement to legalize Sunday films here was defeated in a referendum by a vote of 283 to 358. Fight Mass. Sales Tax Boston, March 15. — Film interests in Massachusetts are fighting a bill to establish a sales tax in this state. The M.P.T.O. and Allied are com- bining forces against the measure. Pass Ticket Tax Bill Salem, Ore., March 15. — Approv- ing a committee recommendation, the House here has passed the amusement tax bill by a 34 to 21 vote, the funds to be used for old age pensions. The bill would provide a five per cent tax on every 4l cents or more paid in admission to public entertainment. Illinois Divorce Bill Next Week Springfield, 111., March 15. — The bill calling for the separation of pro- duction and exhibition is expected to be introduced in the Legislature here some time next week. Emergency Lighting Rules Are Unaltered Atlantic City, March 15. — With only some editorial revision of word- ing, the requirement for emergency lighting systems for theatres will be retained in the 1937 National Elec- trical Code. This was assured here by the elec- trical committee of the National Fire Protection As's'n. The group spent four days in conferences at Chalfonte- Haddon Hall, completing the last year's work of amendment and re- vision. The Tavern MEETING PLACE of the INDUSTRY • MAKE THIS YOUR LUNCHEON — DINNER — SUPPER CLUB 158 W. 48th St. Toots Shor WALTER W ANGER CHARLES BOYER JEAN ARTHUR. LEO CARILL0 • COLIN CLIVE 0>ir.ilf) tr FRANK B0RZAGE .l.r, I, «««> Qral.am 3Atr Kiltoted thru UNITEO ARTISTS GENERAL REGISTER CORPORATION 1540 BROADWAY NEW YORK, N. Y. FACTORY, 81 PROSPECT ST. CABLE ADDRESS BROOKLYN, N. Y. "GENISTER" NEW YORK 18 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, March 16, 1937 Monogram Will Hold Sales Meet in May The first national sales meeting of the new Monogram Pictures will be held here early in May, Edward Gold- en, sales manager, said yesterday. Ap- proximately 22 franchise holders and several managers for branches which Monogram will operate directly are expected to attend the session. The date and hotel will be decided upon in the near future. Monogram officials reported yester- day that details of the company's new financing still were under discussion. Indications are that the final arrange- ments will be concluded within the next few days. "Horizon" in Chicago Chicago, March 15. — "Lost Hori- zon" opened last night at the Erlanger to a capacity audience. Reviewers were enthusiastic. The house has been sold out in advance for all per- formances during the coming week. Shift "Horizon" Ending Taking heed of critical mention in the press following the premiere of "Lost Horizon," Frank ' Capra has discarded the original ending of the film and substituted a sequence more in keeping with the conclusion of the novel. Cohan Play Closes "Fulton of Oak Falls," the George M. Cohan play which opened Feb. 10, closed Saturday. Variety Club Chatter Dallas Dallas, March 15. — About 12 members and guests were at the last luncheon, with Chief Barker R. J. O'DONNELL. William McGraw, attorney gen- eral of Texas, was the principal speaker. Jan Isabel Fortune, author of "Cavalcade of Texas," outlined her new pageant for the Pan-American Exposition at Dallas in June. Walter Barlow talked on Dallas traffic prob- lems. Detroit Detroit, March 15. — Forty-four new members was inducted into the local Variety Club tonight at a ban- quet, initiation and show in the Crystal ballroom of the Book-Cadillac. The new members are : Resident — Charles N. Agree, K. F. Anderson, Irving Belinsky, Max Blumenthal, Bernard Brooks, Raymond Schreieer, Roy Carrow, Richard A. Connell, Albert Dezel, Jack Dickstein, Charles A. Gar- ner, William Guensche, Jack Haley, Don Widlund, T. M. Har- per, Walter Horstman, Frank Howard, Harry Komer, Eddie Loye, R. L. Misch, W. B. Potts, Warren A. Slee, Jerry Schneider, Joseph Stoia, Frank Stuart, Jack Susami, Al Westaway, Barney Wetsman, H. E. Stuckey, Peter Simon, David Flayer, David L. Kaplan, Del Apel and Roy Cox. Non-resident — Harry D. Levinson, W. V. Murray, Frank J. Barry, Harry Hobolth and Herbert R. Schilds. Associate — Rex White, Walter Fuller, James Maloney and Wil- liam E. Rick. St, Louis St. Louis, March 15. — The annual dinner of the local Variety Club at the Hotel Jefferson was a success. The proceeds will go to the local Child Conservation Conference. Ray Colvin, president ; Harold W. Evans and James E. Harris han- dled the arrangements. The entertainment, built around a circus motif, included Rose V. Coyle, the current Miss America, and Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians. Thomas N. Dysart acted as toast- master ; Johnny Perkins was mas- ter of ceremonies. Speakers included Thomas H. Platt, James G. Balmer, and Dr. Hugo Kosloff. Fred Wehrenberg was guest of honor. Washington Washington, March 15. — Tent. No. 11 has resumed its fortnightly lunch- eons. Joseph E. Fontaine, new Paramount manager was presented with W. Vincent Dougherty and Robert M. Grace acting as kings- for-a-day. Entertainment was furnished by Lester Cole and His Commanders : "Red" Skelton, and Jack Powell, blackface solo drummer. On Wednesday. March 17, from 9 P.M., the Club will sponsor a dry land cruise to Ireland. Dr. Frank T. Shyne is the skipper. Others getting up the party include Charles Kranz, John Chevalier, Dougherty, Sam A. Galanty, Charles E. Schul- man, E. A. Cafritz, Jacob Kotz, Benjamin Kotz, Alan J. Bachrach, Arthur A. DeTitta, Nelson B. Bell , Andrew R. Kelley, F. J. Carmody, J. Raymond Bell, Gor- don Hittenmark, A. Julian Bry- lawski, James J. Lake, John J. Payette, Albert Sigmond, F. Eugene Ford, Archie D. Engel, Sidney B. Lust, Harry E. Loh- meyer, Hardie Meakin and Thomas J. Clark. To Build Open Theatre The first open air theatre to be built in the local territory in some time will be erected shortly at Long Beach. It will seat 1,000. Reports are current the Brandt circuit is ne- gotiating for the airdome, which will be ready for the summer season. Saville's Next in Color London, March 6. — Victor Saville's next for London Films, after the com- pletion of "Action for Slander," will be an all-Technicolor version of "Bi- cvcle Built for Two." REPUBLIC'S parade of Hit Stars in a Hit Story. Hit Tunes. Hits town shortly. This is the twenty-four sheet Poster available at all Republic exchanges > 'Tuesday, March 16, 1937 MOTION » PICTUHE DAILY RADIO 19 Air Pictures Get Coast Test Los Angeles, March IS.— -The tele- vised preview here Saturday of the commercial film, "The Empire of the West," failed to unduly excite the "privately invited press audience gathered at the residence of Harry R. Lubcke, television director of KHJ. The diminutive screen — six by seven inches, cramped the scenes of the Boulder and Parker Dam projects, which failed to attain anything like the distinctness and clarity of the- atre films, while the titling was so reduced as to be almost illegible. The magnitude of the metropolitan water system of southern California, which the film intended to portray, suffered accordingly. Additionally the televised film of- fered brief acting sequences featuring Leo Carrillo and Sam Flint as pion- eering Californians. The transmission here was much sharper and clearer, and imnressed the audience. The distance encompassed by the transmission was 3% miles, emanating from the downtown studios of KHJ. The period of projection was 23 min- utes, a longer range and a greater period of projection than ever before attempted, it is believed. According to Lubcke, two hills between the source of transmission and the point of reception presented natural phy- sical obstacles equivalent to a seven- mile range over a flat terrain. The film was produced by the Rod- ney Gilliam Co. Renew "Gumps," Dr. Dafoe Lennen & Mitchell, Inc., yesterday renewed "The Gumps" and Dr. Allan Roy Dafoe's program, each for 13 ad- ditional weeks. Lehn and Fink spon- sors the programs. The renewals be- come effective as of April 5. Both programs are heard on CBS ; "The Gumps" Mondays through Fri- days, 12 to 12:15 P. M., E.S.T., in behalf of Pebeco Toothpaste ; Dr. Da- foe, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fri- days, 11:45 A. M. to noon, E.S.T., for Lysol. Anthony Starts New Series Los Angeles, March 15 — Earle C. Anthony, Inc., yesterday started a 25-week "Musical Moods" transcrip- tion program over KXCA for the Lyons Van & Storage Co. The deal was handled through Charles H. Wayne Co. Renew Phil Lord Program "We, the People," Phil Lord's pro- gram for Calumet Baking Powder, heard Sundays at 5 P.M., E.S.T. on the NBC-Blue, has been renewed for seven weeks, beginning May 16. Young and Rubicam is the agency. "Logical" "In my opinion, your arti- cles on radio have a great deal of value, are logical, and should be continued" — S. J. Briskin, vice-president in charge of production, RKO Radio Pictures. Pro-Court Change Charge Draws Reply of Networks The three nationwide networks, NBC, CBS and Mutual answer week- end charges by U. S. Senators King and Wheeler that they are biased in favor of President Roosevelt's court change plan by presenting the record of time allotments. Since the President submitted his plan to Congress early in February, the Mutual network has presented nine balanced debates. Three speakers also have aired their sentiments against the proposed changes ; one speaker has spoken for it. President Roosevelt's two talks, the "fireside chat" and the Victory Dinner address were addition- al. Mutual states the President's talks were balanced by the three anti- court change addresses. On CBS since the court reforms were sug- gested, 36 talkers have been equally divided between the proponents and opponents. The President's "fireside" chat is included among the pro- ponent addresses ; his Victory Dinner address is not. Up to and including March 12, NBC had presented a total of 63 speakers over its own networks ; 33 for and 30 against. In addition to talks expressing opinion, NBC has presented two neutral discussions on the proposal, as well as a thrice-week- ly summary of a Public Opinion Poll, conducted by Dr. George Gallup, presi- dent of the American Institute of Public Opinion. Arrest Ordered in Air Action by Wire Federal Court Judge Francis G. Caffey yesterday ordered the immedi- ate arrest of Anschel Barshay for contempt of court for violating a tem- porary injunction granted Time, Inc., on Jan. 22. Barshay was enjoined from selling broadcasting recordings under the name of "Voice of Time." After the injunction was issued Bar- shay stamped "Voice of Time" over the name "Voice of Time" on his sta- tionery and advertising matter. •Judge Caffey ruled that this consti- tuted contempt of court. Barshay's im- prisonment will continune until he de- livers to Time for destruction all busi- ness stationery and advertising matter and writes to all known persons who have received his advertising matter that he is not connected with Time, Inc., or "March of Time." Judge Caffey refused to impose any fine. Report Actor Series Will Not Be Renewed Chase and Sanborn's "Do You Want To Be an Actor?" series will not be renewed beyond its present contract date, expiring April 25, it was re- ported yesterday. The current series will be replaced by a variety program with a permanent "em cee" and or- chestra, and topflight weekly guest art- ists from stage, screen and radio. J. Walter Thompson is the agency. War- ner Bros, and Transamerica own the "Do You Want To Be an Actor?" series, and lease it to Chase and San- born. Set Two "Marlin" Broadcasts Under its Procter and Gamble spon- sorship, "The Story of Mary Marlin" will have two broadcast periods each day on NBC networks, beginning March 29. The schedule follows : Mondays through Fridays on the Red, 12:15 to 12:30 P.M.; and daily ex- cept Saturdays and Sundays from 5 to 5:15 P.M. on the Blue. Only the Red program will- go to the Pacific coast. Waring on St. Louis Salute Fred Waring, now touring in vaud- eville, will headline the roster of acts engaged to help KWG, St. Louis affiliate of NBC, celebrate the 10th anniversary of its formation. The salute program will be carried on the NBC-Blue network, 11:30 P.M. to midnight, March 17. FCC Sets New Dates For April Hearings Washington, March 15. — The F.C.C. today ordered hearings on pending applications as follows : March 31 — Before an examiner, applications of William W. Ottoway, Port Huron, Mich., for new 1,370 kilocycle, 250-watt station ; Frazier Reams, Mansfield, O., for 1,370 kilo- cycle, 100-watt daytime station, and station WCAZ, Carthage, 111., for increase of power to 250 watts. April 8 — Before the broadcast division : Applications of Port Huron Broadcasting Co., Port Huron, Mich., for 1,370 kilocycle, 250-watt daytime station ; Golden Empire Broadcasting Co., Marysville, Cal., for 1,140 kilo- cycle, 250-watt daytime station, and station WGBI, Scranton, for increase of day power to 1,000 watts. April 9 — Before an examiner : Ap- plications of the Hebrew Evangeliza- tion Society, Los Angeles, for 570- kilocycle, 1,000-watt station ; Twin City Broadcasting Corp., Long View, Wash., for 780-kilocycle, 250-watt waytime station; Edgar L. Bil, Peoria, 111., for 1,040-kilocycle 250- watt daytime station, and station KGLO, Mason City, la., for increase of day power to 250 watts. RCA Quits as Opera Sponsor on March 27 RCA sponsorship of the Metropoli- tan Opera series terminates with the broadcast of March 27. Thereafter for the remainder of the opera sea- son, comprising three broadcasts, the program will be aired as a sustainer. Effective with the expiration of the contract, the program switches from the Red to the Blue network. The first two sustaining operas, April 3 and 10, will emanate from Boston ; the final one will originate in Cleve- land. All three programs will begin at 2 P.M., E.S.T. Para. Sets First Broadcast Paramount's initial "Parade" of- fering March 28 on the NBC-Red network will embrace the combined casts of "Off the Moon," "Waikiki Wedding" and "Mountain Music," with Boris Morros directing the music, Ted Sherdeman directing the production, Eddie Moran scripting; Mary Carlisle and Lynn Overmann will act as the program "guides." i Radio Personals ► FREDDIE GIBSON, heard with Dick Himber's orchestra, goes into the Rainbow Room as vocalist with Ruby Newman's orchestra. . . . Mor- ton Downey returned to New York from Memphis last night. He sails for Europe shortly. . . . The Jack Oakies celebrate their first wedding anniversary March 20. She's the for- mer Venita Varden. ... In order to appear on "Hollywood Hotel" this Friday, Gertrude Niesen hops a plane from Chicago Thursday and returns via the same mode of transportation Saturday. Miss Niesen is appearing at the Chez Paree in the Windy City. . . . Lillian Gish will be a guest on "Showboat" this Thursday evening; next Thursday Lillian's sister, Dor- othy, will appear on Kate Smith's "Bandwagon," doing scenes from "Two Orphans." . . . + Fred Wile, Jr., who heads the pub- licity staff at Young and Rubicam, back yesterday from a two-week va- cation cruise with Mrs. Wile. . . . Ernest Cutting, in charge of audition for NBC, takes over the bandleader's helm on the "Professional Parade" program this week. . . . Fayette Krum, author of the network serial "Girl Alone," back at her post after three weeks' vacationing in Arizona. . . . Jack Benny will remain in New York for this Sunday's broadcast, thus can- celing plans for a Chicago appearance. He will have the Mayor of Wauke- gan, 111., on his program as guest. Waukegan is Benny's home town. . . . WINS will feed the description of the St. Patrick's Day Parade tomor- row to the upstate stations of the New York State network, of which WINS is the key station. . . . John W. Harrison, former screen and stock player, has joined the announcing staff of KTUL, Tulsa. . . . Kay Par- son's, known to network listeners as "The Girl O' Yesterday," begins a new half-hour bi-weekly series on WNEW today, and Tuesdays and Thursdays thereafter at 8:30 P.M., E.S.T. . . To Henry Fonda, Walter O'Keefe and Edgar Bergen Thursday on the Vallee hour as guest perform- ers, has been added Rudi Grasl, mus- ical mimic. . . . English piano team of Ethel Bartlett and Rae Robertson will guest appear on the Ford Symphony Hour March 21. . . . Maurice Evans and Katherine Locke, both of the stage, will be interviewed by Bide Dudley on the latter's WOR pro- gram March 19 at 1:15 P.M., E.S.T. . . . Leopold Stokowski arrives here from Hollywood March 24 to con- duct on the Philadelphia Orchestra program. . . . + Herbert L. Pettey, associate director of WHN, back from Walaka, Florida . . . Mrs. Louis K. Sidney in from the coast today. in iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii t€0 SAYS Two million students are told to listen to WHN's "Flame Fight- ers" by New York's Board of Education 1 DIAL 1010 AFFILIATED Wttk ' M-G-M • LOEW'S Du Pont Film Manufacturing Corporation 35 WEST 45th STREET SMITH & ALLER, LTD. NEW YORK CITY 6656 .. SANTA MONICA BLVD. PLANT . . . PARLIN, N. J. HOLLYWOOD, CAL. i i SPECIAL A I R EDITION M PTO A CONVENTION MOTION PICTURE DAILY SPECIAL A I R EDITION M PTO A CONVENTION VOL. 41. NO. 62 NEW YORK, TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 1937 TEN CENTS Union Drive Flares Anew On 2 Fronts Cleveland, New Haven Scene of Moves Labor's drive to organize exchange employes flared into the open yester- day on two new fronts, when it was learned that employes of both Cleve- land and New Haven exchanges were meeting with organizers for A. F. of L. affiliates. Exchange employes in Cleveland met over the weekend and drafted new minimum wage scales and other em- ployment terms. New Haven ex- change employes will attend an organ- izing meeting in Trades Council Hall on Wednesday, plans for which were laid at a meeting with six exchange representatives and an A. F. of L. organizer here today. A competitive organizing move in New Haven is reported contemplated for next week by the C. I. O. Similar exchange employe moves were launched earlier in Boston, De- troit and other cities. According to reliable information, Cleveland shippers, poster clerks and inspectresses are now more than 90 per cent organized. Demands for a general pay increase, with a minimum scale of $40 for head shippers, $32.50 (Continued on page 16) Reelect All Heads Of National Poster All officers and members of the board of National Poster Service Renters were reelected for another year at the three-day convention held here at the New Yorker. Simon Libros of Philadelphia is president, Le Roy Kendis of Cleve- land, vice-president, and George P. Aarons of Philadelphia, secretary and treasurer. The board consists of Li- bros, Aarons, Louis Weinzimmer, Harry Shlit, E. R. Behrens and Irving Levin of Omaha. It was decided at the sessions to (Continued on page 14) Bondy to Hear Plea On RKO Gold Notes Federal Judge William Bondy to- day is scheduled to hear a petition by Irving Trust Co., RKO trustee, for leave to retire an outstanding $600,- 000 of the company's secured gold notes. The petition is opposed by Atlas Corp., proponents of the RKO re- organization plan, and by RKO, both of whom assert that the company's (Continued on page 2) The President E. L. Kuykendall of Columbus, Miss., who is again heading for re- election to the presidency of the M. P. T. O. A. which holds its conven- tion in Miami beginning today. The election will be held there tomorrow morning, prior to the first business session of the three-day meeting. Whiteman Supports Dickstein Measure By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, March 15. — Enact- ment of the Dickstein alien actor bill would quickly result in European countries lowering the barriers against American talent, it was predicted to- day by Paul Whiteman, orchestra leader, during an unheralded appear- ance before members of the House Immigration Committee. In permitting Whiteman to make a statement, Chairman Dickstein ex- plained that it was not in the nature of a formal hearing but that White- man had asked for an opportunity to be heard. Only a half-dozen mem- bers of the committee were present. Declaring that "art is interna- (Continued on page 16) Beck Not to Return To MPPDA Position James M. Beck, Jr., former M.P. P.D.A. representative in London, will not return to that post, it was stated at the organization's headquarters yesterday. Beck left London about three months ago following the death of his father, the late James M. Beck, former Pennsylvania Senator. No successor to Beck has been desig- nated yet. F. W. Allport of the M.P.P.D.A. is now in London on a special assign- ment and may remain until a perma- nent appointment there is made. MPTOA WILL SEEK NEW TRADE TALKS All of UniversaFs Board Is Renamed Wilmington, March 15. — All direc- tors of Universal Pictures Co., Inc., were reelected for the ensuing year at the annual meeting of the com- pany's stockholders held here today. The directors are J. Cheever Cow- din, Budd Rogers, William Freiday, Charles R. Rogers, Paul G. Brown and P. D. Cochrane, for the common stock ; R. H. Cochrane, for the sec- ond preferred stock and J. Myer Schine and Willard S. McKay for the first preferred stock. Universal Pictures Co. reported to the N. Y. Stock Exchange yesterday that Universal Corp., on Oct. 31, last, owned 100 per cent of the second pre- ferred stock and approximately 91 per cent of the common. Gruntal & Co., Stock Exchange firm, owned 10.7 per cent of the first preferred. The company reported that during the year ended Oct. 31 it paid James Whale, director, $105,000 ; Gregory La Cava, $102,250; Irene Dunne, $102,- 777, and to Standard Capital Co., $54,- 250 for the services of J. Cheever Cowdin, chairman. U. A. Product Talks Completed on Coast Hollywood, March 15— Product talks were completed today by United Artists' executives with preparations for the spring sales convention, prob- ably in Chicago, having been started. George J. Schaefer will leave Wednesday or Friday, and Monroe Greenthal will take a plane east to- morrow. Arthur Kelly left Saturday. James Mulvey will depart tomorrow for Miami. A tieup with Montgomery Ward has been arranged, it was stated, call- ing for full page ads in 800 papers in 600 cities and four pages in the Mont- gomery Ward catalogue. "Good Earth" Pulls $17,100 Sixth Week Approximately $17,100 was grossed by "The Good Earth" in its sixth week at two-a-day at the Astor. "Lost Horizon," current at the Globe on a similar policy, is expected to tally $18,000 for the second week. "Her Husband Lies" has been booked into the Criterion starting to- morrow. Expect New Concessions To Be Important Aim Of Convention By RED KANN Miami, March 15.— The M. P. T. O. A. is expected to declare for re- newed trade practice conferences with distribution companies in an effort to obtain an extension of trade conces- sions obtained under its 10-point pro- gram during the winter, it was learned here today on the eve of the national exhibitor organization's three-day con- vention at the Miami-Biltmore. While a change in the organization's policy of endeavoring to obtain trade practice reforms by negotiations is a possibility and undoubtedly will be given consideration, in view of its disappointment over distributor re- sponses to the 10-point program, ma- jority opinion holds that the present time is not the most favorable for adopting such a change. A legislative program, it is pointed out, would eventually include regula- tion of exhibition as well as distribu- tion and production, and for this rea- son an M. P. T. O. A. majority ap- pears to favor that policy only as a last resort. A program of litigation is regarded as unwarranted in advance of a fair trial of the proposed local conciliation boards which, it is hoped in many quarters, may accomplish as much or more, and at considerably less expense than litigation. For these reasons, the convention probably will instruct M. P. T. O. A. officers to re- new their efforts to obtain liberalized concessions from distributors, particu- larly with a view to obtaining an in- crease in the 10 per cent cancellation privilege and further elimination of the score charge. The convention is expected to adopt a stand against cash games and give- aways, although no stronger action (Continued on page 14) Paramount Partners Hold Early Session Miami Beach, March 15. — Para- mount's theatre partners, over 80 strong and gathered from all sections of the country, held a preliminary meeting at the Roney-Plaza this morning preparatory to the formal sessions, which start Thursday. The business discussed was routine and described as devoid of interest ex- cept to those who attended. It will be followed by a second informal ses- sion tomorrow. The New York con- (Continued on page 16) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, March 16, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 March 16, 1937 No. 62 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. .JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- cations: MOTION PICTURE HERALD, BETTER THEATRES, TEATRO AL DIA, INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Sts. ; Boone Mancall, Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave., C. B. O'Neill, Manager. WASHINGTON: Albee Building. Bertram F. Linz, Representative. AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan 5; Philip de Schaap, Representative. BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest II; Endre Hevesi, Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientes 2495; N. Bruski Representative. HELSINKI: Fredriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszio, Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square, W. 1; Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address, Quigpubco, Lon- don. MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings 191 Collins St.; Cliff Holt, Representative MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart, Representative. MONTEVIDEO : P. O. Box 664; Paul Bodo. Rep- sentative. MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern Bep- sentative. PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre Rep- resentative. PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1; Harry Knopf Representative. MO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 335S; A. Weiss- man, Representative. ROME: Viale Gorizia; Vittorio Malpassuti, Rep- resentative. SHANGHAI: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Build- ing, 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler, Rep- resentative. STOCKHOLM: Kungsgatan 36; Ragner Allberg Representative. TOKYO : 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken- H. Tominaga, Representative. VIENNA: Nuestiftgasse, 55; Alenna VII; Hans Lorant, Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Sillei, Representative 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Out Hollywood Way Balsdon, Recovered, Is Due Back Sunday _ George Balsdon, booker for Na- tional Theatres, who was seriously injured in an automobile accident on the coast several months ago, will re- turn Sunday from Stockton, Cal., where he has been confined at St. Joseph's Hospital since the crash which resulted also in injuries to Sum- ner Gambee and Nick Turner. Upon his arrival, Balsdon will enter a local hospital for observation. He is not expected to return to his desk for two or three months. MITCHELL MAY, Jr. CO., INC. • INSURANCE Specialists To The Motion Picture Industry 75 Maiden Lane, N. Y. City 510 W. 6th St., Los Angeles, Cal. Hollywood, March 15. — Mary Astor's contract renewed by Columbia. . . . William Arnold, 16-year-old son of Edward, to become an actor. . . . Radio takes up option on Diana Gib- son. . . . Jack Dawn, makeup expert, gets long term contract at M-G-M. . . . Harry Sherman recovers from injury received on location at Kern- ville. Alan Marshal, stage actor under contract to Selznick International, loaned to M-G-M for "Countess Walewska" and "Night Must Fall.'1 Trem Carr to start "I Cover the War," next for John Wayne, within 10 days. . . . Paramount to start "Last Train from Madrid" March 20. Madeleine Carroll to play oppo- site Ronald Colman in "The Pris- oner of Zenda," Selznick Interna- tional. + Casting — Gertrude Michael set for feminine lead in "There Goes My Girl," Radio . . . Sybil Jason, Marcia Ralson and Helen Valkys in "Santa Anita," short Bobby Connolly is directing for Warners . . . Louis Calhern) in "The Life of Emile Zola," Warners . . . Henry Otto in "The Singing Marine," same studio . . . Madeleine Carroll gets lead in "Personal History," Wanger. + Story Buy — William McGrail's "We Can Wait" acquired by Fenn Kimball, president of General Pic- tures . . . David O. Selznick acquires "Of Great Riches," by Rose Franken, and "The Earl of Chicago," by Brock Williams . . . Radio buys "World of Women," by Lionel Houser and "A Puzzle for Fools," by Patrick Quen- TIN. + Writers — Felix Joachinson at Universal for start of new contract . . . Malcolm Stuart Boylan and Harvey Gates to adapt "The Real Glory" for Samuel Goldwyn . . . Fred Niblo, Jr., gets one-year writ- ing contract at Columbia ; now work- ing on "Flashing Skates" with Grace Neville . . . William Slavens Mc- Nutt starts at Radio April IS . . . Earl Felton at Columbia to work with the Irving Briskin unit on "Campus Mystery" . . . Roy Chans- lor doing script of "Lady Luck," Warners . . . Gladys Atwater col- laborating with Sol Elkins on "House in the Country," Radio. + New Contracts — Sammy Lee signed to do dance numbers for "New Faces of 1937," Radio . . . Jane Yarborough and Leslie Goodwins, who write and direct shorts, get new one-year con- tracts to turn out six . . . + Title Changes — Warners change "Mazurka" to "One Hour • of Ro- mance" and "The Hobo and the Heiress" to "Madcap Heiress." + Directors — George H. Melford to direct "Jungle Menace," first of four serials to be produced by Colum- bia . . . Expect ABP's Profit To Reach $6,250,000 London, March 6. — A profit for the year approximating £1,250,000 ($6,250,000) is expected for the John Maxwell company, Associated British Pictures Corp. Last year A.B.P. made £926,482 and paid 12^2 per cent, a final divi- dend of 7j4 per cent following an interim of five per cent. Profits for the first half of the current year were £150,000 and an interim of seven per cent was paid. In the expectation that profits will at least top the million- pound mark, the possibility of a final dividend of 10 per cent, making 17 for the year, is being discussed. A.B.P. ordinaries, of five shillings par value, are currently quoted on the stock exchange at 15/9 to 16/3, after reaching 17/3, before all film values fell following newspaper stories of a production collapse. Twickenham Assets Below Claim Total London, March 6. — At the credi- tors' meeting of Twickenham Film Studios, Ltd., it was revealed that against liabilities of £95,998 there were assets of £36,369, including £34,- 183 received by the sale of the studio. These are insufficient to meet the debenture claim fully and unsecured creditors will receive nothing. The company is in compulsory liquidation in the hands of the official receiver. The associated J. H. Productions, Ltd., has liabilities of £269,409 and assets of £161,208 but certain films have still to be released. New Erpi Equipment Now In 861 Theatres Erpi has closed contracts with 861 theatres in this country for $1,500,000 worth of new Mirrophonic sound equipment since the improved system was introduced to the trade 27 weeks ago, C. W. Bunn, Erpi general sales manager, said yesterday. In addition, the company has shipped almost 200 Mirrophonic units to theatres in foreign countries, Bunn said. The Erpi sales head estimated that two-thirds of the American installa- tions were of complete new systems in reopened theatres, new theatres or houses which had previously used other makes of equipment. The re- mainder were modernizations of ex- isting Erpi equipment. Installations have been made in 47 states. In Eng- land, where the new equipment was not introduced until Feb. 1, 70 the- atres contracted for it during that month. In Mexico City, the First Circuit installed Mirrophonic in seven of its 10 houses, Bunn said. "Such a record shows definitely the current ' condition of the industry," Bunn declared. "It represents an ex- penditure which the industry could not have made two or three years ago." See 235 English Films London, March 6. — Investigating the possibility of a shortage of British films, after the limitation of G. B. pro- duction, the closure of the Twicken- ham studios and other production fac- tors, the Kinematograph Weekly es- timates that plans already definitely completed will guarantee at least 235 British features in 1937, against 208 in 1936. Bondy to Hear Plea On RKO Gold Notes {Continued from page 1) cash position is not sufficiently strong to warrant the outlay at this time. The trustee's report of March 3 es- timated that RKO had cash on hand amounting to $7,955,964. Retirement of the secured notes is expected to raise the question of whether or not the RKO debentures would continue to have a second lien on the assets securing the gold notes. According to the indenture, the se- cured position of the debentures may end with the elimination of the prior notes. Irving Trust Co., RKO trustee, contends that the interest saving in- volved warrants the immediate pay- ment of the notes, which are held by the Bank of America National Ass'n. Settle Claim on RKO The claim of the Criterion Advertis- ing Co. against RKO was settled yes- terday by Federal Court Judge Wil- liam A. Bondy for $337,024. "Romeo" Winner of Australians Award Melbourne, Feb. 15. (By Air Mail Via London) — The recently formed Film Critics' Guild of Australia has chosen "Romeo and Juliet" as the best film released in this market during 1936. Second place went to "The Story of Louis Pasteur," and then in order come "Fury" and "Dodsworth," with "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," "The Petrified Forest" and "Mutiny on the Bounty" tieing for fifth place. "Orphan of the Wilderness" was selected by the Guild as the best Aus- tralian picture produced last year. The Cinesound picture won narrowly from "Uncivilized," produced by Expedition- ary Films and "Rangle River," Col- umbia. New Enterprises The following film and theatre com- panies have been incorporated. At Albany : Jesse L. Kaufman, Inc., New York, theatrical business, by Jesse L. Kauf- man, Chester A. Pearlman and Harry Weinberger. Harkray, Inc., New York, theatrical business, by Gertrude Cone, Essie Burdman and Freda Jaret. Richmond County Amusement Co., Inc., Richmond County, amusement business, by Samuel J. Ernstoff, Jacob J. Bobrow and Harrie Newman. Babes In Arms, Inc., New York, theatrical business, by David Klinger, Russell H. Wilde and Howard A. Seitz. Ilena Theatre Group, Inc., Bronx, operate theatres, by Ilena Frank, Morton Frank and Jacob Frank. East 16th St. Theatre Corp., Brook- lyn, exhibition, by Isidor M. Racer, Julius Celler and Aubrey G. Raven. Krayhar, Inc., New York, operate theatres, by Gertrude Cone, Essie Burdman and Freda Jaret. Timberg Gets Audition Regina, Sask., March 15. — Anders Timberg, Swedish tenor, told the Motion Picture Daily here he had been given an audition in Hollywood by M-G-M and that he would return from Montreal to Hollywood at the end of his Canadian tour to discuss terms. Timberg sings in eight languages. MOTION PICTURI DAILY Tuesday, March 16, 1937 'Horizon' Top In Frisco on Start of Run MOTION PICTURE DAILY5 HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW San Francisco, March 15. — "Lost Horizon" got off to a fine start in its roadshow engagement at the Geary with a gross of $13,000 at $1.65 top. "When You're in Love," on a dual with "Breezing Home," turned in an excellent $11,200 at the Orpheum. This was $1,700 to the good. "You Only Live Once" was in the money on a take of $7,500 at the United Artists. "Nancy Steele Is Missing" and "Wings of the Morning" were $1,200 over normal on a take of $14,200 at the Warfield. Total first run business was $96,/UU. Average is $99,000. Estimated takings : Week Ending March 9: "RACING LADY" (RKO) "WEEKEND MILLIONAIRE" (G.B.) EMBASSY — (1,400), 15c-30c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $2,700. (Average, $4,500) "LOST HORIZON" (Col.) (Roadshow) GEARY — (1,400), 55c-88c-$1.10-$1.65, 7 days. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $10,000) "WHEN'S YOUR BIRTHDAY" (RKO) GOLDEN GATE-(2,8S0), 15c-30c-35c-40c- 55c, 7 days. Stage: vaudeville. .Gross: $16,800. (Average, $16,000) "YOU LIVE ONLY ONCE" (U.A.) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,200), 15c-30c-35c- 40c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $6,000) Week Ending March 10: "LOVE IS NEWS" (20th-Fox) "ONCE A DOCTOR" (WJB.) FOX — (5,000), 15c-30c-35c-4Oc-55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $16,300. (Average, $16,000) "WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE" (Col.) "BREEZING HOME" (Univ.) ORPHEUM — (2,440), 15c-30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $11,200. (Average, $9,500) "READY, WILLING AND ABLE" (W.B.) "MURDER GOES TO COLLEGE" (Para.) PARAMOUNT — (2,740), 15c-30c-35c-40c- 55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $13,500. (Average, $13,000) "THE GOOD EARTH" (M-G-M) (Roadshow) ST FRANCIS— (1,400), 55c-88c-$1.10-$1.65, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $10,300. (Aver- age, $10,000) "NANCY STEELE IS MISSING" (20th-Fox) "WINGS OF THE MORNING" (20th-Fox) WARFIELD— (2,680) , 15c-30c-35c-40c-55c- 75c, 7 days. Gross: $14,200. (Average, $13,000. ■ Week Ending March 12: "REVOLUTIONISTS" (Amkino) CLAY— (400), 15c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $1,200. (Average, $1,000) "When Love Is Young" (Universal) Hollywood, March 15. — Giving a new twist to the small-town-girl- makes-good theme, this rates high in the entertainment category through excellent direction, performances and writing. The picture is a musical comedy suitable to all types of patronage and will fill the key spot on an average bill. Virginia Bruce as the demure daughter of Swedish parents — Christian Rub and Greta Meyer — finds unromantic response in William Tannen and an unflattering prediction for her future in her school's annual class prophecy. Arriving in New York with Walter Brennan, her uncle, she is further disillusioned by an operatic music professor who holds no hope for her career. Kent Taylor, an alert publicity man for a Broadway show, later ballyhoos her as a goose girl, framing her into a march up Broadway with a flock of geese. He later arranges a radio job where she sings setting up exercises to early risers. This failing to pan out, Miss Bruce forces a showdown with Taylor who subsequently sees the emotional promise in the girl and sells her as the lead to Jack Smart, his boss. She succeeds. Returning home for a visit, she finds her former lover not so hot and realizing her love for Taylor, she returns to New York in time to talk him out of quitting the show as a spite move. Hal Mohr's first directorial job is excellent from the point of tempo, balanced situations and musical interludes. Eve Green and Joseph Fields did the sprightly screenplay from Eleanore Griffin's original. The sup- porting cast performances are above average including Jean Rogers and Nydia Westman. Production Code Seal No. 2,989. Running time, 75 minutes. "G." 'Green Light" Top in Slump On the Coast 'The Crime Nobody Saw' To Drop St. Louis Shows St. Louis, March 15. — Stage shows will be dropped by the Ambassador March 18, at the end of the Fred Waring engagement. This will leave only two houses regularly using acts, the second run St. Louis and the Gai- rick, a burlesque house. G. N. Title Changes Hollywood, March 15.— "When I'm with You," Victor Schertzinger's first for Grand National, has been retitled "Something to Sing About." Zion Myers' initial effort for the same company, formerly known as "The Thousand Dollar Bill," has been changed to "Small Town Boy." Lee Reports Increase Arthur Lee reports a 50 per cent increase in G.B. business for the past month in comparison to previous months. (Paramount) Hollywood, March 15. — A formula murder mystery, which in its mechanical idea follows the technique made familiar by the "Seven Keys to Baldpate" and offers nothing new or particularly attractive from either an entertainment or commercial standpoint. The playwrights, Lew Ayres, Eugene Pallette and Benny Baker, are stumped for a mystery crime idea. Then a real murder happens right before their noses. For a bit of novelty, the victim assumed to be a man, turns out to be a woman. There are a lot of weird goings on to demonstrate that the victim was both a masculine and feminine black- mailer. Then, with suspicion being diverted into the wrong channels, the playwright trio turns detective to pin the guilt on Colin Tapley. Nailing the culprit and so saving the innocent person, they also get the idea for their story. As most murder mysteries do, the film moves along at a fair clip. There's the usual allotment of suspense and comedy, and, of course, a suggestion of romance. The quality of the film, however, restricts it to functioning only as a secondary attraction. Other than those mentioned, the players are Ruth Coleman, Vivienne Osborne and Howard Hick- man. Charles Barton directed the Ellery Queen and Lowell Brentano original screenplay. Production Code Seal No. 3,031. Running time, 60 minutes. "A." Los Angeles, March 15. — Grosses hit the skids last week with only "Green Light" making a showing. It' went $500 over par on a $14,500 take at Warners' Hollywood and was $2,- 500 into the profit column on a gross of $14,500 at Warners' Downtown. The only other house to get oyer normal was the Paramount with "When You're in Love" and "Bor- derland" and a stage show. Total first run business was $98,- 799. Average is $104,700. Estimated takings for the week ending March 10 : "THE GOOD EARTH" (M-G-M) CARTHAY CIRCLE— (1,518), 50c-$1.50, 7 days, 6th week. Gross: $14,000. (Average, $17,000) "NANCY STEELE IS MISSING" (20th-Fox) "HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE" (G.B.) CHINESEr-(2,50O), 30c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $10,129. (Average, $12,500) "SMALANNINGAR" (Swedish) GRAND INTERNAT'L— (750), 35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $1,900. (Average, $1,200) "JOHN MEADE'S WOMAN" (Para.) "MURDER GOES TO COLLEGE" (Para.) HILLSTREET— (2,700), 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $8,000) "NANCY STEELE IS MISSING" (20th-Fox) HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE" (G.B.) LOEWS STATE— (2,500), 30c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $11,670. (Average, $14,000) "JOHN MEADE'S WOMAN" (Para.) 'MURDER GOES TO COLLEGE" (Para.) PANTAGES— (3.000), 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $6,700. (Average, $8,000) "WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE" (Col.) "BORDERLAND" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (3,595), 30c-55c, 7 days. Stage : Rube Wolf and his orchestra, F. & M. revue. Gross: $18,500. (Average, $18,- 000) "GREEN LIGHT" (F. N.) WARNER BROS. (HOLLYWOOD)— (3,000), 30c -65c, 7 days. Gross: $14,500. (Average, $14,000) "GREEN LIGHT" (F. N.) WARNER BROS. (DOWNTOWN)— (3,- 400,) 30c-65c. 7 days. Gross: $14,500. (Av- erage, $12,000) "Midnight Taxi" (Tzventicth Century-Fox) Hollywood, March 15. — Federal men in pursuit of a counterfeiter forms the basis of this film with plenty of action and novelty introduced throughout the chase. Brian Donlevy, as the agent, works his way into the gang disguised as a cab driver with the object of locating the hidden printing plant rather than collaring the phoney money passers. Frances Drake, Alan Dinehart, and Gilbert Roland are the principal distributors. Donlevy cleverly relays his messages to his co-workers until his identity is dis covered. When his doom seems sealed, Miss Drake twice rescues him and is given amnesty when the entire band is rounded up with Sig Rumann proved to be the master plate maker. Donlevy and Miss Drake are then free to conclude their romance. Eugene Forde has directed speedily maintaining the proper suspense throughout. Paul Stanton, Harold Huber and Regis Toomey complete the well chosen cast. Lou Breslow and John Patrick wrote the screen play from the story by Borden Chase. The picture should please gen erally as snappy action entertainment. Production Code Seal No. 3,123. Running time, 70 minutes. "G." (Additional Reviews on Page 13) Wall Street Board Off; U Drop 2 Pts. High Low Close Columbia 34% 34% 34% Columbia, pfd 43% 43% 43% Consolidated 4% 454 434 Consolidated, pfd. 165/s 16% 16H Eastman Kodak . 166H 166 166 Gen. T. Equip 31% 305/6 30% Loew's, Inc 7m 7754 77% 24% 24 24% Paramount 2 pfd. ■ 22% 2154 2134 Pathe Film &Vz. m &ys RKO ■ &u 854 20th Century -Fox ■ 403/g 3954 39% 20th Century, pfd. . 4934 49 49 Universal, pfd 94 93 93 Warner Bros. . . . • 1554 15 15 Light Rise on Curb Net —1 - u - 34 —1 - Va, + % + % + 54 Net High Low Close Change Grand National ..3 2% 2% Sentry Safety .... % % % Sonotone 2 1% 2 Technicolor 23% 22% 23% Trans-Lux 434 4% 454 Little Bond Movement Net High Low Close Change Loew's 3%s '46.... 98% 98% 98% —54 Paramount B'way 3s '55 75 75 75 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 .10034 100% 100% Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 96 95% 96 (Quotations at close of March 15) ..For GOOD! - - As good as only she can be, in the first searing screen showing of the "wrong dames" - and (an important angle) what makes 'em that way! Set it in now and plan to set it up big to keep up with the great work of WARNER BROS. ETTI DAV JANE BRYAN • ROSALIND MARQUIS METHOT • Allen Jenkins • John Litel • Ben Welden Henry O'Neill • Directed by Lloyd Bacon • Songs by Harry Warren & Al Dubin • A First National Picture FIVE BLUE RIBBON Canada Distributors EMPIRE FILMS, Ltd. Opening Thursday March 25th at the New Criterion Theatre, New York As a 2 a day Road Show Attraction .... $2.00 Top BOX-OFFICE WINNERS r MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, March 16, 1937 Horizon in Fast Start at Philadelphia Philadelphia^ March 15. — "Lost Horizon" turned in $15,500 for the first week of its roadshow engagement at the Chestnut. At this pace, the engagement looks sure for at least four weeks. The other roadshow in town, "The Good Earth" at the Locust, showed strength. Though its third week gross dropped a trifle, its $13,500 still repre- sents good profit. On the whole, the week's business was strong. "Love Is News" got a strong §22,000 for a 10-day run at the Stanley and "When You're in Love" took an average $16,000 for its eight days at the Boyd. The weather was cold, but excellent up to Wednesday night when snow put a crimp in business for the rest of the week. Total first run business was $122,- 800. Average, exclusive of the two roadshows, is $93,250. Estimated takings for the week ending March 11 : "MAID OF SALEM" (Para.) ALDINE— (1,300), 40c-55c-65c, 10 days, 2nd week. Gross: $10,500. (Average, 7 days, $8,160) "NO MAN OF HER OWN" (Para.) (Revival) ARCADIA— (600), 25c-40c-50c, 9 days. Gross: $4,300. (Average, 7 days, $2,800) "WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE" (Col.) BOYD— (2,400), 40c-55c, 8 days. Gross: $16,000. (Average, 7 days. $14,000) "LOST HORIZON" (Col.) (Roadshow) CHESTNUT— (1,350), 55c-86c-$1.14-$1.71, 7 days. Gross: $15,500. "WE'RE ON THE JURY" (RICO) EARLE — (2,000), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Stage: Jesse Owens and revue, band; Bert Walton, Clara and Sana Sisters. Gross: $14,500. (Average. $14,000) "READY, WILLING AND ABLE" (W.B.) FOX— (3,000), 40c -55c -65c, 7 days. Stage: Everett Marshall, Paul Eemos, Stone and Lee, Sylvia Maiion & Co. Gross: $14,000. (Average. $14,000) "JOHN MEADE'S WOMAN" (Para.) (2nd run) KARLTON— (1,000), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $2,100. (Average. $4,000) "GREEN LIGHT" (F.N.) (2nd run) KEITH'S— (2,000). 30c-40c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $3,500. (Average, $4,000) "THE GOOD EARTH" (M-G-M) Road show) LOCUST — (1,300). 55c-86c-$1.14-$1.71, 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $13,500. "LOVE IS NEWS" (2ttth-Fox) STANLEY — (3,700). 40c-55c, 10 days. Gross: $22,000. (Average, 7 days, $14,000) "ESPIONAGE" (M-G-M) STANTON— (1.700). 30c-40c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $5,900. (Average. $7,000) Radio Signs Six Pacts Hollywood, March 15. — Radio has issued new contracts to three writers and three players. Victor Moore, Patricia Wilder and Maxine Jennings are the players. The writers are Ed- mund Hartman, Frank Wead and Joseph Milward. Melton, Warners Part Hollywood, March 15. — James Melton's contract with Warners has been amicably terminated. Inability to find a suitable vehicle for Melton led to the mutual decision to dissolve the pact, it was stated. Lissauer to Marry Cleveland, March 15. — Joe Lis- sauer, booker for the Libson-Skirball circuit will be married April 11 to Elaine Spungen of Fremont. "Cheyney"Hit In Washington With $20,400 Washington, March 15. — "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney" went out front in a big way at Loew's Palace with a take of $20,400, over normal by $4,500. The picture was held. "Cloistered" was good for $6,000 at the Rialto. "The Plainsman," on the second week of a return engagement (having earlier had two weeks at Loew's Pal- ace) held up to $4,000 at Loew's Columbia. Average is $3,600. "Ready, Willing and Able" at the Earle was good for $20,000, over par by $1,600. Eddy Duchin's orchestra helped. Total first run business, excluding the Rialto, was $74,900. Average is $73,700. Estimated takings, exclusive of tax : Week Ending March 4: "READY, WILLING AND ABLE" (W.B.) EARLE— (2,218), 25c-77c, 7 days. Stage: Eddie Duchin & Orchestra, with Caligary Brothers, Gower & Jeanne; Bliss Lewis Ash; Jane Dover. Gross: $20,000. (Aver- age, $18,400) "JOHN MEADE'S WOMAN" (U.A.) LOEW'S CAPITOL— (3,434), 25c-66c. 7 days. Stage: "Fats" Waller & Orchestra, with Myra Johnson, Al Washington. Gross: $19,000. (Average, $20,900) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) LOEW'S COLUMBIA— (1,243), 25c-40c, 7 days (return engagement, 2nd week). Gross: $4,000. (Average, first run, $3,600) "THE LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY" (M-G-M) LOEW'S PALACE— (2,370), 35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $20,400. (Average, $15,900) "CRACK-UP" (20th-Fox) METROPOLITAN — (1,591), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,700. (Average, $4,500) Week Ending March 9: "CLOISTERED" (Best) RIALTO— (1,100), 15c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. "WHEN'S YOUR BIRTHDAY?" (RKO) RKO-KEITH'S— (1,836), 25c-55c, 7 davs. Gross: $6,800. (Average, $10,600) "Love News," Show Indianapolis Hit Indianapolis, March 15. — "Love Is News" on the screen and Nils T. Granlund's "Broadway Midnight Fol- lies" on the stage brought phenomenal business of $13,200 to the Lyric. The management added extra showings on two weekdays and set new weekday marks. The gross was $6,200 above the normal. "On the Avenue" held up well in its second week at the Apollo, taking $4,500, which was $500 into the black. First runs found competition in a three-day stay of Katharine Hep- burn in "Jane Eyre" at English's, which did sellout houses at fancy prices. Total first run business was $28,800. Average is $21,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 5 : "ON THE AVENUE" (20th-Fox) APOLLO — (1,100) , 25c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $4,000) "JOHN MEAD'S WOMAN" (Para.) "MEN ARE NOT GODS" (U. A) CIRCLE— (2,800), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $4,000) "WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE" (Col.) "WINNER TAKE ALL" (Col.) LOEW'S— (2,800). 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $6,000) "LOVE IS NEWS" (20th-Fox) LYRIC— (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Stage: "N. T. G. Broadway Midnight Follies." Gross: $13,200. (Average, $7,000) To Film "Rummies" Akron, March 15. — "Movie tests" of automobile drivers suspected of intoxication are being inaugurated here. Arrested suspects will be required to walk weaving lines painted on the floor at police headquarters, while a movie camera, under the rays of special lights, will record the degree of equilibrium maintained by the "walkee." You're in Love" Is $10,500 Denver Hit Denver, March 15. — "When You're in Love" played to standouts over the weekend at the Denver and rolled up a gross of $10,500, topping par by $3,000. It was moved to the Aladdin. "John Meade's Woman" also was in the money with a take of $6,750, up by $1,750, at the Denham, and "Sea Devils" and "Don't Tell the Wife," on a dual at the Orpheum, went to $7,200. Total first run business was $34,450. Average is $27,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 11: "ON THE AVENUE" (20th-Fox) ALADDIN— (1,500), 25c-40c-50c, 7 days, following a week at the Denver. Gross: $3,500. (Average, $3,000) "GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN" (W. B.) BROADWAY— (1,500), 25c-40c, 7 days, following a week each at the Denver and the Aladdin. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $2,000) "JOHN MEADE'S WOMAN" (Para.) DENHAM— (1,500), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,750. (Average, $5,000) "WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE" (Col.) DENVER— (2,500), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Stage band. Gross: $10,500. (Average, $7,500) "SEA DEVILS" (RKO) "DON'T TELL THE WIFE" (RKO) ORPHEUM— (2,600), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,200. (Average, $6,000) "STOLEN HOLIDAY" (F. N.) "ONCE A DOCTOR" (F. N.) PARAMOUNT— (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,500. (Average, $3,500) "Strogoff" on Dual Big in Providence Providence, March 15— The RKO Albee topped a fine week with "Michael Strogoff" on a dual with "Two Wise Maids," which caught $8,300, over by $1,300. The Majestic was $1,100 over av- erage at $8,100 with "Green Light," and Fay's was $100 to the good on a $7,100 take, having for its attractions "Fair Warning" and a stage revue. The weather was cool and clear with major opposition coming from pro hockey and boxing. Total first run business was $38,400. Average is $39,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 11 : "MICHAEL STROGOFF" (RKO) "TWO WISE MAIDS" (Republic) RKO ALBEE— (2,300), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,300. (Average, $7,000) "GREEN LIGHT" (F.N.) MAJESTIC — (2,400), 15c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,100. (Average, $7,000) "FAIR WARNING" (20th-Fox) , c/ SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT A Victor Scherizinger Production THE THOUSAND DOLLAR BILL A Zion Myers Production DYNAMITE, starring James Cagney Based on the story "Hot Oil" • Produced by Richard A. Rowland MOTION PICTURE DAILY 16 Union Drive Flares Anew On 2 Fronts (Continued from facie 1) for assistant shippers, $32.50 for pos- ter clerks, $25 for head inspectresses and $22.50 for inspectresses, are ex- pected to be presented to branch man- agers almost daily. In addition, the demands will contain provisions pro- hibiting salary cuts for any employes in these classifications who may be receiving more than the specified minimum at this time. Cleveland's organization drive has progressed without any conflict so far. Paramount Partners Hold Early Session (Continued from page 1) tingent which left on the Florida Spe- cial Saturday afternoon today contin- ued to discuss what carried elements of potential tragedy, when their ob- servation car jumped the tracks near Richmond Saturday evening. The train was proceeding at reduced speed, which obviated the danger of injury and nothing more serious occurred than loss of time. "Swing High" Is High "Swing High, Swing Low" has established attendance and receipts records in 15 cities over the country, according to Paramount. The film opened Friday. A surprise dish of unusual en- tertainment. The picture has got SOMETHING. A fine com- bination of romance and thrills with unusual appeal for femmes — Film Daily 4 Purely Personal ► DAVE APOLLON and his revue will headline the State stage show, starting Thursday. Helen L. Morgan and the Salici Puppets have been booked in for the following week. This will make the third appear- ance for the Salici Puppets in six months. • Irving Marks, European play broker, will arrive today on the Nor- mandie. Ditto Michael Balcon, George Cukor, Germaine Aussey, French actress, en route to Holly- wood, and Charles Bennett, British scenarist. • Roger Martin Combs, formerly advertising and sales promotion man- ager of American Airlines, has joined the Chicago sales and contact staff of Jam Handy Picture Service. • Arthur Kober sails today on the Empress of Australia for a Havana vacation, following which he will go to Hollywood. • Rudi Feld, former chief of the UFA art department who was exiled with the advent of Hitler, arrives today on the Berengaria. • Joan Blondell is due this week from the coast for "The King and the Chorus Girl" festivities. • Bob Wolff, local RKO branch manager, has returned from a Miami vacation. • Mrs. Irwin Zeltner is due back tomorrow on the Pilsudski from a West Indies cruise. • Neil F. Agnew, J. J. Unger and Bob Gillham are due to leave for Miami today by plane. Clarence Budington Kelland, the author, is en route from the coast, via auto trailer. Cresson E. Smith, western and southern sales manager for RKO, has returned from a vacation in Nassau. • Ida Cohen, a guest of Sophie Tucker on the coast, will return to London on the Normandie tomorrow. • W. G. Van Schmus returned from a three-week trip to the coast yester- day. Rita Johnson will leave for the coast today by American Airlines, o Arthur Willi, RKO talent scout, returned yesterday from Wilmington. • D. A. Doran of Columbia is due from the coast this week by plane. • Mitchell Klupt bagged a stag at Lake Placid over the weekend. Bar Non-Union Lensers Hollywood, March 15.— Free lance cameramen without union cards have been barred from studios by order of Photographers Local No. 659. Badge for Miss Pons Norwalk, March 15. — Lily Pons is the first woman in Connecticut to be presented the gold badge of a state motor vehicle inspector. In making the presentation, Mo- tor Vehicle Commissioner Michael A. Connor said he was awarding Miss Pons "be- cause she is proud of her automobile registration, LP13, and is consistently singing the praises of Connecticut up and down the land." Chain Store Measure Presented in Kansas Kansas City, March 15. — Chain organizations operating in Kansas would pay an estimated $250,000 a year to the state under the terms of a chain store tax bill introduced in the Kansas House by the Committee on Assessments and Taxation. The bill provides a license fee of $2 for a single unit, $4 each for ad- ditional units up to five, $10 for the number of units from five to 10 ; $20, from 11 to 15; $40, 16 to 20; $80, 21 to 25; $160, 26 to 30; $280, 31 to 35; $400, 36 to 40; $520, 41 to 45; $640, 46 to 50, and $760 for 51 or more. The same committee has amended an income tax bill to provide that the two per cent rate become effective on personal incomes at $1,000, and that the tax on corporations be increased from the present two per cent to three per cent. The increases in both categories would, it is estimated, bring in an additional $1,000,000. B. N. Decision Due in Mo. St. Louis, March 15. — The Mis- souri Supreme Court is expected to decide in May on the legality of Bank Night in the state in the case of McKean vs. Kemp which was argued before the court in January. It is a test case in which George McKean, Bank Night representative here, was placed under technical arrest for al- leged violation of the lottery laws. Drawings resembling Bank Night at theatres are violations of the lot- tery laws of Missouri, according to an opinion from Acting Attorney General J. E. Taylor. The opinion was in response to a request from Barker Davis, prosecuting attorney. Seek Games Ban in Canada Winnipeg, March 15. — Bank Night and free premiums may be abolished here if 22 exhibitors are successful in the demands they have before the Law Amendments Committee of the Manitoba Legislature. Exhibitors, represented by S. Hart Green, have asked that the practice of giving away chinaware and glass- ware with admission tickets be made illegal under the Amusements Act. Technicolor Ups Capital London, March 6. — Technicolor, Ltd., has increased its original capital of £370,000 by the issue of 40,000 fur- ther £1 shares, equally divided be- tween "A" and "B" categories. Transfer Frank Murphy Boston, March 15. — Frank Murphy has been appointed assistant to Man- ager Vic Morris at Loew's Orpheum. Tuesday, March 16, 1937 Whiteman Supports Dickstein Measure (Continued from page 1) tional," Whiteman said no boundaries can stop it for long, but when other countries raise barriers American talent cannot overcome this country must adopt similar restrictions. He told of his experiences abroad, and how it became increasingly diffi- cult for him to get entry into Eng- land. Finally, he said, the home office refused to permit his band in as a troupe. In France, he said, he had to hire "four or five" French musi- eians for every man he took into the country. Following the meeting Dickstein ex- pressed the hope that the committee could take the bill up for considera- tion of his report next week. Defeat Sunday Films Tarrant City, Ala., March 15. — A movement to legalize Sunday films here was defeated in a referendum by a vote of 283 to 358. Fight Mass. Sales Tax Boston, March 15. — Film interests in Massachusetts are fighting a bill to establish a sales tax in this state. The M.P.T.O. and Allied are com- bining forces against the measure. Pass Ticket Tax Bill Salem, Ore., March 15. — Approv- ing a committee recommendation, the House here has passed the amusement tax bill by a 34 to 21 vote, the funds to be used for old age pensions. The bill would provide a five per cent tax on every 41 cents or more paid in admission to public entertainment. Illinois Divorce Bill Next Week Springfield, 111., March 15. — The bill calling for the separation of pro- duction and exhibition is expected to be introduced in the Legislature here some time next week. Emergency Lighting Rules Are Unaltered Atlantic City, March 15. — With only some editorial revision of word- ing, the requirement for emergency lighting systems for theatres will be retained in the 1937 National Elec- trical Code. This was assured here by the elec- trical committee of the National .Fire Protection Ass'n. The group spent four days in conferences at Chalfonte- Haddon Hall, completing the last year's work of amendment and re- vision. The Tavern MEETING PLACE of the INDUSTRY • MAKE THIS YOUR LUNCHEON — DINNER — SUPPER CLUB 158 W. 48th St. Toots Shor WALTER WANGER P,^nh CHARLES B0YER a J JEAN ARTHUR/, «G5 ft «•* LEO CARILLO- COLIN CLIVE if FRANK B0RZAGEOr/,.»«/ FACTORY, 81 PROSPECT ST. BROOKLYN, N. Y. GENERAL REGISTER CORPORATION 1540 BROADWAY NEW YORK, N. Y. CABLE ADDRESS 'GENISTER" NEW YORK. 7* /ufjL A & 4^1a^^/ A/^^ y 7v^—r J^i^ 18 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monogram Will Hold Sales Meet in May Variety Club Chatter The first national sales meeting of the new Monogram Pictures will be held here early in May, Edward Gold- en, sales manager, said yesterday. Ap- proximately 22 franchise holders and several managers for branches which Monogram will operate directly are expected to attend the session. The date and hotel will be decided upon in the near future. Monogram officials reported yester- day that details of the company's new financing still were under discussion. Indications are that the final arrange- ments will be concluded within the next few days. "Horizon" in Chicago Chicago, March IS. — "Lost Hori- zon" opened last night at the Erlanger to a capacity audience. Reviewers were enthusiastic. The house has been sold out in advance for all per- formances during the coming week. Shift "Horizon" Ending Taking heed of critical mention in the press following the premiere of "Lost Horizon," Frank Capra has discarded the original ending of the film and substituted a sequence more in keeping with the conclusion of the novel. Cohan Play Closes "Fulton of Oak Falls," the George M. Cohan play which opened Feb. 10, closed Saturday. Dallas Dallas, March IS. — About 12 members and guests were at the last luncheon, with Chief Barker R. J. O'Donnell. William McGraw, attorney gen- eral of Texas, was the principal speaker. Jan Isabel Fortune, author of "Cavalcade of Texas," outlined her new pageant for the Pan-American Exposition at Dallas in June. Walter Barlow talked on Dallas traffic prob- lems. Detroit Detroit, March IS. — Forty-four new members was inducted into the local Variety Club tonight at a ban- quet, initiation and show in the Crystal ballroom of the Book-Cadillac. The new members are : Resident — Charles N. Agree, K. F. Anderson, Irving Belinsky, Max Blumenthal, Bernard Brooks, Raymond Schreiber, Roy Carrow, Richard A. Connell, Albert Dezel, Jack Dickstein, Charles A. Gar- ner, William Guensche, Jack Haley, Don Widlund, T. M. Har- per, Walter Horstman, Frank Howard, Harry Komer, Eddie Loye, R. L. Misch, W. B. Potts, Warren A. Slee, Jerry Schneider, Joseph Stoia, Frank Stuart, Jack Susami, Al Westaway, Barney Wetsman, H. E. Stuckey, Peter Simon, David Flayer, David L. Kaplan, Del Apel and Roy Cox. Non-resident — Harry D. Levinson, W. V. Murray, Frank J. Barry, Harry Hobolth and Herbert R. Schilds. . Associate — Rex White, Walter Fuller, James Maloney and Wil- liam E. Rick. St. Louis St. Louis, March 15. — The annual dinner of the local Variety Club at the Hotel Jefferson was a success. The proceeds will go to the local Child Conservation Conference. Ray Colvin, president ; Harold W. Evans and James E. Harris han- dled the arrangements. The entertainment, built around a circus motif, included Rose V. Coyle, the current Miss America, and Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians. Thomas N. Dysart acted as toast- master ; Johnny Perkins was mas- ter of ceremonies. Speakers included Thomas H. Platt, James G. Balmer, and Dr. Hugo Kosloff. Fred Wehrenberg was guest of honor. Washington Washington, March IS. — Tent. No. 1 1 has resumed its fortnightly lunch- Tuesday, March 16, 1937 eons. Joseph E. Fontaine, new Paramount manager was presented with W. Vincent Dougherty and Robert M. Grace acting as kings- for-a-day. Entertainment was furnished by Lester Cole and His Commanders : "Red" Skelton, and Jack Powell, blackface solo drummer. On Wednesday. March 17, from 9 P.M., the Club will sponsor a dry land cruise to Ireland. Dr. Frank T. Shyne is the skipper. Others getting up the party include Charles Kranz, John Chevalier, Dougherty, Sam A. Galanty, Charles E. Schul- man, E. A. Cafritz, Jacob Kotz, Benjamin Kotz, Alan J. Bachrach, Arthur A. DeTitta, Nelson ,B. Bell , Andrew R. Kelley, F. J. Carmody, J. Raymond Bell, Gor- don Hittenmark, A. Julian Bry- lawski, James J. Lake, John J. Payette, Albert Sigmond, F. Eugene Ford, Archie D. Engel, Sidney B. Lust, Harry E. Loh- meyer, Hardie Meakin and Thomas J. Clark. To Build Open Theatre The first open air theatre to be built in the local territory in some time will be erected shortly at Long Beach. It will seat 1,000. Reports are current the Brandt circuit is ne- gotiating for the airdome, which will be ready for the summer season. Saville's Next in Color London, March 6. — Victor Saville's next for London Films, after the com- pletion of "Action for Slander," will be an all-Technicolor version of "Bi- cycle Built for Two." This is the twenty-four sheet Poster available at all Republic exchanges MOTION PICTURE Tuesday, March 16, 1937 RADIO 19 Air Pictures Get Coast Test Los Angeles, March IS. — The tele- vised preview here Saturday of the commercial film, "The Empire of the West," failed to unduly excite the privately invited press audience -gathered at the residence of Harry R. Lubcke, television director of KHJ. The diminutive screen — six by seven inches, cramped the scenes of the Boulder and Parker Dam projects, which failed to attain anything like the distinctness and clarity of the- atre films, while the titling was so reduced as to be almost illegible. The magnitude of the metropolitan water system of southern California, which the film intended to portray, suffered accordingly. Additionally the televised film of- fered brief acting sequences featuring Leo Carrillo and Sam Flint as pion- eering Californians. The transmission here was much sharper and clearer, and imnressed the audience. The distance encompassed by the transmission was 3}i miles, emanating from the downtown studios of KHJ. The period of projection was 23 min- utes, a longer range and a greater period of projection than ever before attempted, it is believed. According to Lubcke, two hills between the source of transmission and the point of reception presented natural phy- sical obstacles equivalent to a seven- mile range over a flat terrain. The film was produced by the Rod- ney Gilliam Co. Pro-Court Change Charge Draws Reply of Networks The three nationwide networks, NBC, CBS and Mutual answer week- end charges by U. S. Senators King and Wheeler that they are biased in favor of President Roosevelt's court change plan by presenting the record of time allotments. Since the President submitted his plan to Congress early in February, the Mutual network has presented nine balanced debates. Three speakers also have aired their sentiments against the proposed changes ; one speaker has spoken for it. President Roosevelt's two talks, the "fireside chat" and the Victory Dinner address were addition- al. Mutual states the President's talks were balanced by the three anti- court change addresses. On CBS since the court reforms were sug- gested, 36 talkers have been equally divided between the proponents and opponents. The President's "fireside" chat is included among the pro- ponent addresses ; his Victory Dinner address is not. Up to and including March 12, NBC had presented a total of 63 speakers over its own networks ; 33 for and 30 against. In addition to talks expressing opinion, NBC has presented two neutral discussions on the proposal, as well as a thrice-week- ly summary of a Public Opinion Poll, conducted by Dr. George Gallup, presi- dent of the American Institute of Public Opinion. Renew "Gumps," Dr. Dafoe Lennen & Mitchell, Inc., yesterday renewed "The Gumps" and Dr. Allan Roy Dafoe's program, each for 13 ad- ditional weeks. Lehn and Fink spon- sors the programs. The renewals be- come effective as of April 5. Both programs are heard on CBS ; "The Gumps" Mondays through Fri- days, 12 to 12:15 P. M., E.S.T., in behalf of Pebeco Toothpaste; Dr. Da- foe, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fri- days, 11:45 A. M. to noon, E.S.T., for Lysol. Anthony Starts New Series Los Angeles, March 15 — Earle C. Anthony, Inc., yesterday started a 25-week "Musical Moods" transcrip- tion program over KXCA for the Lyons Van & Storage Co. The deal was handled through Charles H. Wayne Co. Renew Phil Lord Program "We, the People," Phil Lord's pro- gram for Calumet Baking Powder, heard Sundays at 5 P.M., E.S.T. on the NBC-Blue, has been renewed for seven weeks, beginning May 16. Young and Rubicam is the agency. "Logical" "In my opinion, your arti- cles on radio have a great deal of value, are logical, and should be continued" — S. J. Briskin, vice-president in charge of production, RKO Radio Pictures. Arrest Ordered in Air Action by Wire Federal Court Judge Francis G. Caffey yesterday ordered the immedi- ate arrest of Anschel Barshay for contempt of court for violating a tem- porary injunction granted Time, Inc., on Jan. 22. Barshay was enjoined from selling broadcasting recordings under the name of "Voice of Time." After the injunction was issued Bar- shay stamped "Voice of Time" over the name "Voice of Time" on his sta- tionery and advertising matter. Judge Caffey ruled that this consti- tuted contempt of court. Barshay's im- prisonment will continune until he de- livers to Time for destruction all busi- ness stationery and advertising matter and writes to all known persons who have received his advertising matter that he is not connected with Time, Inc., or "March of Time." Judge Caffey refused to impose any fine. Report Actor Series Will Not Be Renewed Chase and Sanborn's "Do You Want To Be an Actor?" series will not be renewed beyond its present contract date, expiring April 25, it was re- ported yesterday. The current series will be replaced by a variety program with a permanent "em cee" and or- chestra, and topflight weekly guest art- ists from stage, screen and radio. J. Walter Thompson is the agency. War- ner Bros, and Transamerica own the "Do You Want To Be an Actor?" series, and lease it to Chase and San- born. Set Two "Marlin" Broadcasts Under its Procter and Gamble spon- sorship, "The Story of Mary Marlin" will have two broadcast periods each day on NBC networks, beginning March 29. The schedule follows : Mondays through Fridays on the Red, 12:15 to 12:30 P.M.; and daily ex- cept Saturdays and Sundays from 5 to 5:15 P.M. on the Blue. Only the Red program will go to the Pacific coast. Waring on St. Louis Salute Fred Waring, now touring in vaud- eville, will headline the roster of acts engaged to help KWG, St. Louis affiliate of NBC, celebrate the 10th anniversary of its formation. ' The salute program will be carried on the NBC-Blue network, 11:30 P.M. to midnight, March 17. FCC Sets New Dates For April Hearings Washington, March 15. — The F.C.C. today ordered hearings on pending applications as follows: March 31 — Before an examiner, applications of William W. Ottoway, Port Huron, Mich., for new 1,370 kilocycle, 250-watt station ; Frazier Reams, Mansfield, O., for 1,370 kilo- cycle, 100-watt daytime station, and station WCAZ, Carthage, 111., for increase of power to 250 watts. April 8— Before the broadcast division: Applications of Port Huron Broadcasting Co., Port Huron, Mich., for 1,370 kilocycle, 250-watt daytime station ; Golden Empire Broadcasting Co., Marysville, Cal., for 1,140 kilo- cycle, 250-watt daytime station, and station WGBI, Scranton, for increase of day power to 1,000 watts. April 9 — Before an examiner: Ap- plications of the Hebrew Evangeliza- tion Society, Los Angeles, for 570- kilocycle, 1,000-watt station; Twin City Broadcasting Corp., Long View, Wash., for 780-kilocycle, 250-watt waytime station ; Edgar L. Bil, Peoria, 111., for 1,040-kilocycle 250- watt daytime station, and station KGLO, Mason City, la., for increase of day power to 250 watts. RCA Quits as Opera Sponsor on March 27 RCA sponsorship of the Metropoli- tan Opera series terminates with the broadcast of March 27. Thereafter for the remainder of the opera sea- son, comprising three broadcasts, the program will be aired as a sustainer. Effective with the expiration of the contract, the program switches from the Red to the Blue network. The first two sustaining operas, April 3 and 10, will emanate from Boston ; the final one will originate in Cleve- land. All three programs will begin at 2 P.M., E.S.T. Para. Sets First Broadcast Paramount's initial "Parade" of- fering March 28 on the NBC-Red network will embrace the combined casts of "Off the Moon," "Waikiki Wedding" and "Mountain Music," with Boris Morros directing the music, Ted Sherdeman directing the production, Eddie Moran scripting ; Mary Carlisle and Lynn Overmann will act as the program "guides." 4 Radio Personals ► FREDDIE GIBSON, heard with Dick Himber's orchestra, goes into the Rainbow Room as vocalist with Ruby Newman's orchestra. . . . Mor- ton Downey returned to New York from Memphis last night. He sails for Europe shortly. . . . The Jack Oakies celebrate their first wedding anniversary March 20. She's the for- mer Venita Varden. ... In order to appear on "Hollywood Hotel" this Friday, Gertrude Niesen hops a plane from Chicago Thursday and returns via the same mode of transportation Saturday. Miss Niesen is appearing at the Chez Paree in the Windy City. . . . Lillian Gish will be a guest on "Showboat" this Thursday evening ; next Thursday Lillian's sister, Dor- othy, will appear on Kate Smith's "Bandwagon," doing scenes from "Two Orphans." . . . + Fred Wile, Jr., who heads the pub- licity staff at Young and Rubicam, back yesterday from a two-week va- cation cruise with Mrs. Wile. . . . Ernest Cutting, in charge of audition for NBC, takes over the bandleader's helm on the "Professional Parade" program this week. . . . Fayette Krum, author of the network serial "Girl Alone," back at her post after three weeks' vacationing in Arizona. . . . Jack Benny will remain in New York for this Sunday's broadcast, thus can- celing plans for a Chicago appearance. He will have the Mayor of Wauke- gan, 111., on his program as guest. Waukegan is Benny's home town. . . . WINS will feed the description of the St. Patrick's Day Parade tomor- row to the upstate stations of the New YorA State network, of which WINS is the key station. . . . John W. Harrison, former screen and stock player, has joined the announcing staff of KTUL, Tulsa. . . . Kay Par- son's, known to network listeners as "The Girl O' Yesterday," begins a new half-hour bi-weekly series on WNEW today, and Tuesdays and Thursdays thereafter at 8:30 P.M., E.S.T. . . To Henry Fonda, Walter O'Keefe and Edgar Bergen Thursday on the Vallee hour as guest perform- ers, has been added Rudi Grasl, mus- ical mimic. . . . English piano team of Ethel Bartlett and Rae Robertson will guest appear on the Ford Symphony Hour March 21. . . . Maurice Evans and Katherine Locke, both of the stage, will be interviewed by Bide Dudley on the latter's WOR pro- gram March 19 at 1 :15 P.M., E.S.T. . . . Leopold Stokowski arrives here from Hollywood March 24 to con- duct on the Philadelphia Orchestra program. . . . + Herbert L. Pettey, associate director of WHN, back from Walaka, Florida . . . Mrs. Louis K. Sidney in from the coast today. Du Pont Film Manufacturing Corporation 35 WEST 45th STREET SMITH & ALLER, LTD. NEW YORK CITY 6656 .. SANTA MONICA BLVD. PLANT . . . PARLIN, N. J. HOLLYWOOD, CAL. Alert, Intelligent the In In All Branches MOTION PICTURE DAILY The Leading Motio Picture Industry VOL. 41. NO. 63 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1937 TEN CENTS Appeals Court Upholds Sales Tax on Films Affects New York City; Appeal to Be Sought Albany, March 16. — The Court of Appeals, the state's highest tribunal, today affirmed the ruling of the Ap- pellate Division upholding the right of New York City to levy and collect a sales tax on films exhibited within the city. The court also affirmed the earlier decision exempting from the tax the- atres located outside the city limits even though the film supply is ob- tained from New York City ex- changes. The decision was handed down in connection with the appeal of the New York United Artists exchange from an original assessment of two per cent for the municipal sales tax against its film rentals which was made almost two years ago by the city comptroller's office. On appeal to the Appellate Division, rentals de- rived from theatres outside the city, in Westchester, Long Island and New (Continued on page 2) Industry Self-Rule At Stake, Says Kuykendall Bank Night Royalty Actions Up in Mass. Boston, March 16. — Suits have been filed in the District Courts of Brock- ton, Marlboro, Lynn and Woburn by George S. Ryan, Bank Night attor- ney, against theatres allegedly refus- ing to pay royalty charges. The de- fendants are Campello Corp., Reading Theatre Corp., Hudson Amusement Corp. and R. B. Rubin. Bank Night has been declared legal by the State Supreme Court, but since that time the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled there can be no infringement of the Bank Night copy- right. The suits are based on alleged breach of contract. Spitz Heads KAO And Keith Boards Leo Spitz, RKO president, was elected chairman of the board of Keith-Albee-Orpheum and B. F. Keith Corp., two. of the company's theatre operating subsidiaries, succeeding M. H. Aylesworth, resigned, the company reported yesterday. Spitz is also pres- ident of the two subsidiaries. A dividend of $1.75 per share on the K-A-0 cumulative preferred was declared out of capital surplus for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 1933, payable April 1, next, to holders of record on March 26. Dividend arrears on this stock thus will amount to $24.50 a share as of April 1. Allied No. Dakota Bill Becomes Law Bismarck, N. D., March 16. — Gov- ernor Langer signed the bill banning theatre ownership in this state by pro- ducers and distributors yesterday. The law becomes effective immediately. Under its terms circuits have one year to divest themselves of theatre hold- ings in the state. Plan No Substitutes For Bank Night Here With Loew's and RKO eliminating games in all of their local theatres and Skouras and Century in a number of its units, no substitutes are planned, according to executives of the four theatre organizations. The feeling among circuit repre- sentatives is that Bank Night and Screeno have been added attractions (Continued on page 2) Radio News— Pp. 18-20 Reserve Decision On RKO Petition Federal Court Judge William Bondy reserved decision yesterday after a hearing on the petition of Irving Trust Co., trustee in the reorganization of RKO, for permission to pay the prin- cipal and interest of $600,000 worth of four per cent first lien notes. The trustee stated that $250,000 is now in the hands of the Chemical Bank and Trust Co., as trustee, and that the additional $350,000 can be paid from the cash surplus now held by RKO Radio Pictures, Inc., the producing subsidiary of RKO. A saving of $3,- 000 a month in interest charges will be effected. Hamilton C. Rickaby, representing the Atlas Corp., proponent of the RKO plan of reorganization, opposed (Continued on page 4) Court Permits G. B. Shareholder Action By BRUCE ALLAN London, March 16. — Justice Corss- man in the Chancery Division here today gave leave to the ordinary shareholders of Gaumont British who are objecting to the payment of the dividend on the preference shares to serve notice of a motion against the company on Friday. The dividend was declared by a five to four vote of the directorate recently, John Max- well and the 20th Century-Fox in- terests leading the opposition. The permission to serve notice (Continued on page 4) Columbus, March 16. — A hearing before the Judiciary Committee of the House on the theatre divorcement bill is scheduled tomorrow. Charles C. Pettijohn of the Hays office, here for the purpose of testifying, made this comment today : "The theatre divorcement bill and the censorship bill will be fought to the bitter end. The other side has in- vited a fight and they are going to get it." Exchange Employes Meeting With AFL Indianapolis, March 16. — Ex- change employes here have held sev- eral organizing meetings with A. F. of L. and I.A.T.S.E. representatives with indications that a union will be formed and new minimum wage scales drafted for presentation to exchange managers in the near future. The move here is the fifth to come to industry attention during recent weeks, although it is known that or- ganizing of exchange employes is pro- ceeding rapidly and on a nationwide scale. Earlier organizing moves were launched in Boston, Detroit, New (Continued on page 2) "U" to Concentrate On Big Films: Rogers Charles R. Rogers, executive head of Universal production, said last night that the company would con- centrate more on major productions during the coming season than at any time in its past. Starting the end of this month, he said the company would have a release every week. Three are complete, he said, and others in production will make the maintenance of this schedule possible. Rogers will leave Saturday for the coast. Insists MPTOA Declare For New Campaign On Concessions By RED KANN Miami, March 16. — Continued ef- forts for self-regulation of the indus- try, as opposed to campaigns for leg- islation and litigation, were urged upon the M.PT.O.A. by Ed Kuyken- dall, president, in his annual report, highlighting the opening session of the exhibitor organization's national con- vention at the Miami-Biltmore here today. Pointing out that governmental reg- ulation of the industry could not be confined to production and distribu- tion but must inevitably extend to exhibition, as well, Kuykendall paved the way for the convention itself to declare for a resumption of the M.P. T.O.A. conferences with distributors to obtain liberalized trade practice con- cessions and for the prompt establish- ment of local conciliation boards for adjustment of industry grievances. "The objective of the M.P.T.O.A.," he said, "is to bring about a better understanding between the three divi- sions of the industry — exhibition, pro- duction and distribution. We must — we will — demonstrate to the public and the Government that we can con- duct our own business in an ethical and businesslike way." Kuykendall and all other officers of the M.P.T.O.A., with one exception, were reelected as anticipated, at a meeting of the board of directors this morning, which immediately preceded the first business session of the con- vention. Mitchell Wolf son of Womet- co Theatres, Miami, was elected a vice-president in recognition of his work as chairman of the convention committee, succeeding Ben Berinstein, who continues as a director. It was also felt that no one individual should (Continued on page 7) Paramount Theatre Men Continue Talks Miami Beach, March 16. — Para- mount theatre partners representing hundreds of houses are meeting here for an interchange of actual experi- ences in operation and therefore are following no set routine at the Roney- Plaza. The thought behind the meet- ing is a convergence of the group which is virtually a complete cross- section of the company's exhibition (Continued on page 2) MOTION PICTURE DAILY MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Seventh Heaven" (20th Century-Fox) Hollywood, March 16. — The perennial "Seventh Heaven," written by Austin Strong, produced on the stage by John Golden, and filmed 10 years ago with Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell, again reaches the screen, with its simple telling of a great love and its emergence from the squalor of the Paris streets, and its great weight of sentimentality. Perhaps there is too much of the latter for many of the screen audience. It is true that this new version appears overly long, which causes it to drag on several occasions. It might well have been sharpened by reduced length of some sequences, and the picture strengthened thereby. The picture certainly does not suffer, however, by comparison. The per- formances are excellent throughout. Simone Simon is a perfect Diane, mistreated young girl protected and taken in by the boastful and great hearted Chico, played to the hilt by James Stewart. In support, and particularly noteworthy, are Gregory Ratoff, Chico's friend; Jean Her- sholt, the priest, who shows the young atheist the way to God; Gale Sondergard and J. Edward Bromberg. The story, adapted by Melville Baker, was directed ably by Henry King, who succeeded in drawing out the last possible portion of dramatic intensity inherent in the theme. Care is taken to indicate the circum- spect manner in which the girl and the boy occupy the same dwelling for several days, and when war calls him, they marry themselves, tak- ing their vows in the sight of God. Thus the girl who came hopelessly from the gutter finds courage and her heaven in a seventh floor garret, sees it crash about her ears as war comes, and lives on faith and hope and her love for the valient Chico, until he returns, blind but happy, to be reunited with Diane. Production Code Seal No. 3,013. Running time, 102 minutes. "G." (Additional Reviews on Page 10) 2 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 March 17, 1937 No. 63 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN. Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and ^holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- cations: MOTION PICTURE HERALD, BETTER THEATRES. TEATRO AL DIA. INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Sts. ; Boone Mancall, Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave., C. B. O'Neill. Manager. WASHINGTON: Albee Building, Bertram F. Linz. Representative. AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan 5; Philip de Schaap, Representative. BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg. Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest H; Endre Hevesi, Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientes 2495; N. Bruski, Representative. HELSINKI: Fredriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszio. Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square, W. 1; Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address, Quigpubco, Lon- don. MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins St.; Cliff Holt, Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart, Representative. MONTEVIDEO: P. O. Box 664; Paul Bodo, Rep- MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern, Rep- sentative. PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre, Rep- resentative. PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1; Harry Knopf, Representative. 110 DE JANEIRO : Caixa Postal 3358; A. Weiss- man, Representative. ROME: Viale Gorizia; Vittorio Malpassuti, Rep- r6S6nt&tiv6> SHANGHAI- Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Build- ing. 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler, Rep- resentative. STOCKHOLM: Kungsgatan 36; Ragner Allberg, Representative. TOKYO : 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken; H. Tominaga, Representative. VIENNA: Nuestiftgasse, 55; Vienna VH; Hans Lorant, Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Sillei, Representative. 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 S6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Warners to Get RCA Sound in All Houses RCA Photophone has concluded a contract with Warners calling for the installation of new RCA high fidelity sound equipment in all the houses of the Warner circuit, totaling nearly 400, according to Edwin M. Hartley, head of RCA Photophone. A number of installations were made some time ago, it was indicated, in Philadelphia, Washington and Chi- cago. In all more than 80 houses already have been re-equipped in vari- ous sections of the country. The full circuit contract was then signed. The remaining installations will be com- pleted by the end of the year, Hartley said. Air Cooling Chief N. J. Allied Topic Air cooling of theatres, in prepara- tion for summer, was discussed at length by members of Allied of New Jersey at a meeting at the Lincoln yesterday. Jack Unger, secretary, presided in the absence of Lee New- bury, president, who is vacationing in Miami. Other topics aired included legisla- tion, exchange drives and games. Plan No Substitutes For Bank Night Here (Continued from page 1) which have outlived their popularity. From now on, the consensus is that pictures will not be -faced with ex- traneous competition. RKO, Loew's and Skouras have tipped scales in some of their Greater New York houses, while Century has not. The latter circuit does not feel its theatres could stand an increase in admissions at this time, the con- tention being that prices are now at their peak. Consolidated Amusements and Springer & Cocalis units have not discontinued chance games, and ac- cording to representatives of both companies, no plans are afoot to change the present booking setup. Neither of the two independent cir- cuits has boosted admissions. Members of the I.T.O.A. continue to- stand pat on the chance game situa- tion. There are no plans under way by exhibitors in the association to hike admissions. According to coun- sel for the unit, games will not be disbanded until the major circuits raise admissions. Meanwhile, Loew and RKO officials state they will make increases in situations where such moves are found feasible. As for independents not dropping games, the major circuits hold they are not concerned, since they will continue to operate under poli- cies generally accepted by the public. "Steele" Does $20,000 "Nancy Steele Is Missing" garnered approximately $20,000 in its first week at the Rivoli. The Strand tallied about $15,000 on the seven days of "The Great O'Malley." Paramount Theatre Men Continue Talks (Continued from page 1) interests, with the exception of A. H. Blank of Des Moines, and E. C. Beatty of Detroit, who are not in attendance. It is predicated on open discussions of conditions in the various areas on the theory that one far removed from a particular scene may learn some- thing to his advantage and for his application from the experience of another in the field. Admission prices are being discussed, but this does not mean the group necessarily will de- termine upon increases as a nationally applied decision. Insurance is of in- terest as are confirmed reactions to "B" product, although it was stated today "B" pictures will not play an essential part in the discussions. Adolph Zukor arrived from Holly- wood today, accompanied by Shirley Ross and her mother. He will touch upon production in view of the ap- proach of the new season. Primarily, however, this is not a production meet- ing or a distribution session, although Neil F. Agnew arrived from New York tonight. This is the theatre organization's own palaver. With preliminary sessions yesterday and today, the formal meeting opens Thursday. A banquet at the Roney- Plaza will conclude the meeting. Balsdon Leaves Today Los Angeles, March 16. — George Balsdon, booker for National The- atres, is scheduled to leave St. Jo- seph's Hospital, Stockton, Cal., to- morrow for New York. His family, which arrived from the east shortly after he was injured in an automobile accident, will accompany Balsdon home. Wednesday, March 17, 1937 Appeals Court Upholds Sales Tax on Films (Continued from page 1) Jersey localities, were exempted from the tax. With considerably more than $2,- 000,000 in back taxes, penalties and interest involved, other distributors joined United Artists in mak- ing a test case of the assessment against that exchange. Frederick W. Wood of Cravath, de Gersdorff, Swaine & Wood, who successfully argued the appeal which resulted in invalidating of NRA by the U. S. Supreme Court, was retained to rep- resent the other large distributors. With the United Artists counsel, O'Brien, Driscoll & Raftery, the ap- peal was taken to the state's highest court, where the constitutionality of the sales tax itself was attacked, as well as the right of the municipality to tax a "licensing transaction" in- volved in interstate commerce. The distributors argued that the licensing of film to an exhibitor did not con- stitute a "sale" and, hence, films should not be subject to the tax. The Court of Appeals rejected this line of reasoning and affirmed the lower court decision upholding the city's right to tax theatres without the municipal jurisdiction. A petition for a writ of certiorari will be sought in the U. S. Supreme Court in a further effort to have film rentals exempted from the two per cent city sales tax, it was stated yes- terday at the offices of O'Brien, Dris- coll & Raftery, attorneys for United Artists. New York exchanges have been col- lecting the tax from local exhibitors pending the outcome of the litigation and will continue to do so until the Supreme Court moves have been completed. Morton Baum of the Corporation Counsel's office, representing the city, said that no further appeal on the taxability of revenues from out-of- city sources would be sought, thus apparently definitely exempting all theatres except those within the city limits from liability under the tax. Baum said he doubted whether the Supreme Court would hear the case, in any event, as he saw no Federal angle involved. Exchange Employes Meeting With AFL (Continued from page 1) Haven and Cleveland. Reports indi- cate that organization of the exchanges is linked with an impending drive to unionize theatre service staffs and ex- tend union projectionists to small city and rural theatres which never before have had union employes. Transamerica Profit Up San Francisco, March 16. — Trans- ameria Corp., has reported net profit for 1936, including its proportionate share of the net profits of subsidiaries, of $25,016,200.95, equal to $1.08 per share, after all charges, which totaled $5,524,697.37. The 1936 net profit compares with $20,319,276 in 1935. ■J THANKS, THANKS 1000 THANKS MR. EXHIBITOR I We asked for co-operation in our recent campaign for playing time and you came through 100%. Qratefully yours, cCexr But what a good thing for both of us ! We've got the playing time and you've got some of the greatest pictures in this or any season, including: MAYTIME Already proven! JEANETTE MAC DONALD NELSON EDDY FREDDIE BARTHOLOMEW SPENCER TRACY CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS Will absolutely electrify . . .'Breathes greatness! A DAY AT THE RACES Better than UA Night at the Opera"! PARN E LL £l The last word in big pictures! CLARK GABLE MYRNA IOY METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, March 17, 1937 Reserve Decision On RKO Petition (Continued from page 1) the motion on the ground that pay- ment will delay the proposed plan and that it would leave insufficient work- ing capital with the producing unit. He stated that RKO Radio Pictures would have only $1,000,000 in cash on July 1 and said that Leo Spitz, presi- dent of Radio Pictures, is opposed to payment at the present time. He pointed out that other producers main- tained at least $5,000,000 in cash and RKO would be in an unfavorable competitive position if payment were made. He also asserted that he has a purchaser for the notes who will accept a two per cent reduction in in- terest but refused to name the buyer. A. Hunt, representing holders of $1,- 118,500 extended second lien notes, op- posed the motion on the ground that litigation would develop between the Irving Trust Co., Central Hanover Bank and Trust Co. and Chemical Bank and Trust Co. on question of priority of payment. Updike Opposes Delay Stuart Updike, representing Time, Inc., which also holds extended sec- ond lien notes, opposed the motion on the ground that the plan of reorganiza- tion would be delayed. RCA, which holds 38 per cent of the debentures and 23 per cent of the stock, opposed payment on the same ground. The stockholders' committee favored the motion. Judge Bondy indicated that he might send the entire matter to a spe- cial master for a report. Security holders are apprehensive in view of the fact that the elimination of the notes may eliminate the secured position of the RKO debentures. Under the indenture, the debentures may be deprived of their second lien on the RKO assets securing the gold notes if the notes are paid off, ac- cording to some legal interpretations. Blackton, Smith Testify Los Angeles, March 16. — Techni- color today produced two witnesses in the action of Tricolor against Techni- color for alleged infringement. The two were J. Stuart Blackton and Al- bert E. Smith, film pioneers. They said that in 1904, two years before the registration of Duplex, cameras existed embodying the principles claimed for the present apparatus. FLY "First -Class Overnight TO CALIFORNIA in American's NEW14-berth Flag- ship Sleepers. Quietest, most luxurious planes. Only American flies the favorable lower-level Southern Transcontinental Route. Phone VAnderbilt 3-2580 or your travel agent Ticket Office — 45 Vanderbilt Ave. AMERICAN AIRtlNES inc. 4 Purely Personal ► WG. VAN SCHMUS missed his • golf game on his vacation trip to Phoenix, Ariz. He said he sprained his wrist and was thereby prevented from playing during the three weeks he was away. Returning by way of Los Angeles, Van Schmus visited a number of the studios and said "there will be a lot of big pictures this fall." With no stories to tell about his form on this trip, Van Schmus was eager to recount some of his fishing experiences of last fall. But he de- cided that these stories were old and best forgotten at this time. • J. W. Watts Phillips, director of the London Play Co. and co-author of "Love on the Dole," will arrive from England today on the Beren- garia. Rudi Feld, former advertis- ing head of Ufa in Berlin, is on the same boat en route to Hollywood from Tel Aviv. • Major L. E. Thompson and A. P. Waxman flew to Miami yesterday to attend the M.P.T.O.A. and Para- mount theatre partner sessions. Ma- jor Thompson will talk to both groups on the Will Rogers Memorial Fund Drive. • Arthur Lee has booked passage on the Normandie for the latter part of April. He will attend the Coronation in addition to conferring with the Ostrers. • Lieut. Franklin Andreon, Jr., of the U. S. Marine Corps., Reserve, has sold an original to Monogram. It will be adapted for "The Marines Are Here." • Ralph B. Austrian, assistant vice- president of RCA Photophone, will sail on the Pilsudski on Friday for a week in Bermuda. His wife and daughter will accompany him. • Reginald S. Evans, formerly with the New York sales staff of the Saturday Evening Post, has joined the eastern sales force of Jam Handy Picture Service. • Harry C. Arthur and William Schneider plan to return to St. Louis today, but may change their departure until the latter part of the week. • Michael Balcon, scheduled to ar- rive yesterday on the Berengaria, has been delayed a day due to bad weather on the high seas. • W. A. V. Mack, Chicago branch manager for G. B. has returned to his headquarters after conferring with home office executives on openings of "Silent Barriers." • Norman H. Moray, Vitaphone shorts executive, arrives today in Portland on a business tour. He' is due in San Francisco tomorrow. • I. Rappaport of the Hippodrome, Baltimore, was in town yesterday on his regular trip. • Mrs. Joseph L. Mankiewitz (Elizabeth Young) is in town for two weeks, at the Ambassador. • Hy Daab was home yesterday with a bad cold. MIKE RUDIN of Rapf & Rudin is in Miami. Ditto Harry Bux- baum of the local 20th Century-Fox exchange. Jack Sichelman of the distributor's home office sales staff is recuperating there from an illness and will be back in about two weeks. Joe Seider is due to return next week. • Roy Haines, eastern sales manager for Warners, last night was tendered a surprise party by the employes of the local exchange. The affair was held at the Suffern Country Club, Suf- fern, N. Y., with Harry Decker as m. c. • C. C. Moskowitz has delayed his Miami vacation until April, when Nicholas M. Schenck is due to re- turn from the coast. • Jack Ellis is back from Miami and already busy on the second issue of The Reel. • Frances Marion, new Columbia producer, is in town from the coast. Grace Moore also is visiting here. • George Skouras has gone to Golden Beach, Fla., for a three-week rest. Kansas Now Has 2% Occupation Tax Bill Topeka, March 16. — The Senate Committee on Assessment and Taxa- tion in Kansas has submitted a bill providing for a two per cent occupa- tion tax. This is regarded as an alternative to the two per cent sales tax, which the farmers particularly have been opposing. It would be al- most impossible for theatres to pass an occupation tax on to the public. Retailers would be responsible for payment of the occupation tax which would be based on gross receipts. Expect New Alien Bill Washington, March 16. — A new drive for legislation against alien art- ists, but primarily directed at the con- cert field, will be made in Congress in the near future, it was asserted by Charles Henry Freeman, star witness before the Dickstein Immigration Committee, in favor of the alien actor bill. Measures providing for a tax of 50 per cent of the gross fees of foreign artists in excess of $500 a week, and an investigation of alleged monopolis- tic control of musical activities in this country will be introduced within a few weeks, Freeman said. The rev- enue from the tax would be used to subsidize a Government grand opera company and a Government symphony orchestra. Advance Walkathon Bill Oklahoma City, March 16. — A bill by Senator W. C. Fidler, to make illegal marathons, walkathons and similar endurance contests has been reported favorably to the House by Judiciary No. 1 Committee. The bill already has passed the Senate. N. H. Against Daylight Time Concord, N. H., March 16.— A bill to establish daylight saving time in New Hampshire, except in isolated spots where it is adopted by local option, has been voted down nearly two to one by the House. Court Permits G. B. Shareholder Action (Continued from page 1) means in effect an application for an injunction to restrain the directors from paying the preference dividend. The application will be heard on Friday. Dr. Burgin, Parliamentary secre- tary of the Board of Trade, declared in the House of Commons today in reply to a question that he was not aware G. B. is controlled by Amer- ican interests, and that he is not pre- pared to eliminate the word "British" from the name of the company. May Sell Griffith Assets Federal Court Judge Samuel Man- delbaum yesterday ordered all credi- tors and stockholders of D. W. Grif- fith, Inc., to show cause on March 26 why Joseph Gans, receiver, should not be permitted to sell the assets of the corporation at public auction. The assets include film and musical rights to 20 stories, property in Mamaroneck, N. Y. and office equipment. Cash on hand and cash held by the United Artists Corp. as proceeds of the pic- ture "The Struggle" will not be of- fered. Counsel for the stockholders who brought the receivership action and counsel for the corporation have consented to the sale. Cocalis to File Appeal Sam D. Cocalis says he will file an appeal from the ruling of N. Y. Supreme Court Justice Schientag placing the Melba in the Bronx within one mile of John Bolte's Burke Thea- tre. Cocalis says the ruling was based on a crow-flight measurement of the distance. He will contend that by street travel the distance is one and three-tenths miles. Cocalis asserts that he has never had any connection with the Craft, opposition house to Bolte's Wakefield. Dismisses Robbins Action Federal Court Judge Alfred C. Coxe yesterday dismissed the $1,000,000 damage suit brought by H. Miles against the Robbins Music Corp. The order was made by consent by both parties and stipulated that the dismiss- al was to be without costs. The ac- tion is based upon an alleged piracy of Miles' lyrics for the song "Anchors Aweigh" which he wrote while a stu- dent in the U. S. Naval Academy. 20th-Fox Asks Dismissal Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp. filed a motion in U. S. District Court yesterday to dismiss the suit brought by F. K. Kaplan on the ground that his complaint failed to state a cause of action. The action is for an ac- counting and an injunction based on an alleged infringement of an original painting of George White's "Scandals of 1935" which appeared as a color design on the August, 1929, issue of Theatre Magazine. Warner Trial March 29 Federal Court Judge Alfred C. Coxe yesterday set March 29 as the trial date of a suit brought by Al- fred Bein against Warners. Bein claims that the Warner picture, "The Mayor of Hell," infringed on his play which was known under the two titles, "Right Out of Hell" and "Little 01' Boy." An injunction and an account- ing of profits were asked. The artist does hand-springs when he learns that Jean Harlow and Robert Taylor are co-starred! Just because JEAN HARLOW hires ROBERT TAYLOR as her butler- does that make him the lady's PERSONAL PROPERTY Wednesday, March 17, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Industry Rule Is in Balance: Ed Kuykendall (Continued from pape 1) be an officer as well as a specially designated director. The officers, in addition to Kuyken- dall, are: M. E. Comerford, M. A. Lightman, E. C. Beatty, A. Julian Brylawski and Wolfson, vice-presi- dents; Morris Lowenstein, secretary; Walter Vincent, treasurer ; Edward G. Levy, general counsel, and Fred Wehrenberg, chairman of the board. All officers are directors automatically, which adds one member, Wolfson, to the board. In his report, which touched upon 12 outstanding industry subjects, Kuy- kendall made repeated references to the dissatisfaction with which M.P. T.O.A. leaders view the responses of distribution companies to the organiza- tion's trade practice program. In ad- dition to the M.P.T.O.A. negotiations with distributors, the report referred in detail and separately to cancellation, the score charge and the local con- ciliation boards, all of which are com- ponent parts of the organization's trade practice program. Reviews Practice Program The report also covered the new labor developments within the indus- try, current legislative developments, including the Allied States-sponsored measures for the separation of theatre operation from production and distrib- ution affiliation; radio competition, double featuring, percentage engage- ments and the designation of preferred playing time, cash awards and other types of giveaways, the music tax and current product. Reviewing the M.P.T.O.A. efforts of the past year to obtain distributor support for the trade practice pro- gram, Kuykendall related that it took 10 months to get the first reply from a distributor and that one company, Warners, among the eight major dis- tributors, declined to participate. He stated, however, that despite the de- lays, refusals and evasions "a fair trade practice program must be worked out, and without the Govern- ment doing it for us." Citing cancellation as the most im- portant of the M.P.T.O.A.'s famous 10 points, Kuykendall declared that a fair cancellation percentage "with- out strings attached" holds the cure for "more of the rightful complaints from exhibitors than any other one thing. The cancellation privileges of- fered so far by the distributors are not satisfactory." Attacks Score Charges Resuming his attack upon the score charges as "a racket," Kuykendall called for its complete elimination from percentage agreements and for consolidation with the film rental on flat buys. Voicing his discouragement over the "long delay" in the setting up local conciliation boards, the M.P.T. OA. head asserted that, even allow- ing for the exercise of proper cau- tion on the part of the distributors in proceeding with the new agencies, "they should have been operating be- fore now." He asked for the estab- lishment of two or three trial boards Moon Over Miami Miami, March 16. — Bob and Mau- rine McNeil enjoyed their journey from San Francisco via the canal. They flew over from Havana which persuaded Jimmy Grainger to re- mark : "McNeil's been up in the air all of his life, but the first time in a plane." Confirmed by the head of Golden States Theatres. * * * Dave Palfreyman, aided by Mitchell Wolfson, who is in gen- eral charge of the convention arrange- ments, or perhaps the other way around, assembled a bevy of local beauties to register the delegates. Noticed was the length of time the male contingent spent around the en- try desks behind which sat the blonde array. * * * Percy Phillipson is hiding behind black sun glasses, but is fooling no- body. Mrs. Phillipson immediately repaired to the beach at the Roney for siestas and sun bathing. * ♦ ♦ Buddy Harris of Alexander Film — he of the wide rear girth — finds the chairs in the bar grill at the Roney exactly to his measure. When the place is crowded, which is practically always, Buddy squeezes in, then goes from one table to another with his chair firmly attached. * * £ Bob Gillham arrived by air from New York. Shirley Ross is sole representative of the talent equation from the Paramount lot. * * * Oscar C. Lam of the Rome Amuse- ment Co. is here, five weeks of hos- pitalizing behind him. Suffering from arthritis, he states he is well except for additional treatment of his left arm. * * ' * The Erpi crowd expects to create amusement and perhaps some wonder- ment with a mechanical robot set up for exclusive convention amusement. They call him Oscar. Charlie Bunn is representing his company as are L. W. Conroy, "Red" Stong and Bert Sanford. Whitford Drake ar- rived Tuesday evening from New York. * ^ ♦ The races are getting quite a play. Also Johnny Walker, Ballantine, Tom Collins. The latter gentlemen have been on familiar terms with those at this convention for years. before they are extended nationally and urged "fair exhibitor representa- tion" for their personnel. While scoring the distributors' "re- sistance and indifference" as "discour- aging," Kuykendall asserted that the M.P.T.O.A. "does not intend to abandon its efforts to advance its trade practice as rapidly as possible now." "The present slow progress can- not continue indefinitely," he said. "Either this industry will demonstrate that it has the ability, initiative and intelligence to work out its own busi- nes problems itself or we will inevi- tably get such regulation by legisla- tion and litigation, however stupid and costly that may be." Declaring that "serious labor trouble looms ahead," Kuykendall advised the exhibitors "to prepare for a battle to defend our interests and rights." He declared that "there can be no question as to where our sympathy is since, unless the men and women who work for a living earn more than barely enough to live, there can be no prosperity so far as our theatres are concerned. But there must be rea- son and common sense in labor de- mands." Hits Pettengill Bill He described the current attempts to organize exchange employes "and others of a like service" as "very un- fortunate, unworkable and without cause." Reviewing current legislative activ- ities, Kuykendall urged members to in- terest themselves in measures affect- ing the industry and to remain in con- tact with their state and Federal rep- resentatives. He referred to both the Dickstein alien actor bill and the Pettengill block-booking bill as unable to accomplish their ends and offering nothing of value to the industry. He predicted the defeat of the former and urged exhibitors to aid in de- feating the second if it is brought up at this session of Congress. Of the Allied States "theatre di- vorce" measures, the M.P.T.O.A. head said he could make "no prophecy on the final results," and added that "I am hopeful that it (the legislation) will be constructive." "What will happen to those Dakota theatres which are owned by a pro- ducer?" the M.P.T.O.A. head asked after observing that the theatre divorce measure had become a law in that state. "Will an independent take them over and will they then become an independently owned chain?" he con- tinued. "If so, where will the relief be? Are independent chains any more considerate of the little fellow than the producer-controlled chains ? How long will it take to test the con- stitutionality of the legislation in the courts ?" Urges Radio Control Declaring that with proper regula- tion radio and films "could be helpful to each other," Kuykendall took the position that "to try and bar any and all screen stars from the radio is im- possible and stupid. On the other hand, the unrestricted and unlimited use of screen personalities and dra- matic material on radio programs is equally foolish and stupid. Many au- thorities in this industry have been and still are working on this problem, but very little actual progress is ap- parent. Unless the studios which have valuable property rights involved wake up and exercise reasonable control in such situations, they will inevitably find that the public, speaking through the box-office and film rentals, will show them their mistake." "Double featuring," Kuykendall said, "is apparently completely out of control. The number of second rate productions purposely made for double feature programs is rapidly increasing. Short subject production is being cur- tailed and cheapened. Some day," he observed, "double featuring will cure itself, after it has cost us millions at the box-office." Demands for percentage contracts and preferred playing time are becom- (Continued on page 20) Ten Committees in Hard WorkofMPTO Miami, March 16. — Ten committees will be the work horses of the M.P. T.O.A. convention. They will meet each day on the general theory that complaints, no matter of what nature, should be submitted to committees in closed sessions rather than clutter the open convention floor and thereby de- lay the set routine. M. E. Comerford, Scranton, Pa., is chairman of the committee on creden- tials and rules. This is an honorary post out of deference to Comerford who, in view of his long illness, ob- viously will not be active. Ten Groups Named The committees are : Resolutions — Edward G. Levy, New Haven, chairman; E. M. Fay, Provi- dence ; B. N. Berinstein, Los Angeles ; William Vuono, Stamford, and R. A. McNeil, San Francisco ; music tax — Charles W. Picquet, Pinehurst, chairman; William Benton, Saratoga Springs ; A. J. Brylawski, Washing- ton and J. A. Michael, Buffalo ; un- fair trade practices — O. C. Lam of Rome, Ga., chairman ; H. W. Harvey, San Francisco ; Arthur H. Lockwood, Middletown, Conn, and Nat M. Wil- liams, Thomasville, Ga. ; radio and non-theatrical competition — John C. Stapel of Columbia, Mo., chairman; Samuel Pinanski, Boston and J. C. Shanklin, Ronceverte, W. Va. ; enter- tainment values — H. J. Griffith, Okla- homa City, chairman; Benjamin Pitts, Fredericksburg, Va. ; M. C. McCord, Little Rock, and Mack Jackson, Alex- ander City, W. Va. Additional Committees Public Relations and community af- fairs— M. A. Lightman, Memphis, chairman ; Max Tabackman, New Haven; William Missner, Lancaster, Pa., and Pinanski ; conciliation and arbitration — • Lewen Pizor, Phila- delphia, chairman; William G. Ripley, Longview, Wash.; A. F. Baker, Kan- sas City. Kan., and Brownie Akers, Oklahoma City; labor relations — Fred Wehrenberg, St. Louis, chair- man ; I. W. Rogers, Cairo, 111. ; Sidney B. Lust, Washington, and Morris Leonard, Chicago ; legislation and tax- ation— Roy L. Walker, Lampasas, Tex., chairman; R. R. Biechele, Kan- sas City; Carter Barron, Washington, and M. C. Moore; credentials and rules — M. E. Comerford, Scranton, chairman ; Dewey Mousson, Nashville and Louis C. Hehl, St. Louis. Moral Tone Better Miami, March 16.— "The moral tone of pictures is greatly improved," Ed Kuy- kendall, M. P. T. O. A. presi- dent, declared in his annual report submitted to the na- tional exhibitor convention here today. "I have never conceded that pictures were as bad as many contended," he said. "However, they are in better taste and less offensive to those who felt that there was room for improvement, A large number of pictures are being offered every day which are a credit to the industry, as a whole, and to Holly- wood, which makes them." MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, March 17, 1937 Court Trend Hits Games, States Levy Miami, March 16. — "The current tendency, due probably to recognition of the fact that all border-line lotter- ies are against public policy, is to put Bank Night behind the eight-ball on any tenable theory," Edward G. Levy of New Haven, general counsel, told the M. P. T. O. A. convention here today in the course of the annual re- port of the general counsel. He cited the opinion of the Supreme Court of Texas at Austin in January in the case of Wink vs. Griffith Amusement Co., which held that "Bank Night is a violation of pub- lic policy and unconstitutional. The plan clearly comes within the con- demnatory terms of the constitution because it is a gift enterprise involv- ing the lottery principle." Levy also noted the decision of the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston, which, in deciding against Affiliated Enterprises, Inc., Bank Night owners, declared the theory of Bank Night is in the public domain and possessed no property rights that can be appropriated. Levy presented to the convention a brief outline of the setup of the M. P. T. O. A. and the manner in which the organization operates. He pointed out that the present board of directors consists of 22 state or regional units, five representing the affiliated national circuits and one representing M. P. T. O. A. members not connected with either of the other groups. Cites Perelman Case Levy reported "with regret" that there were no new developments in the past year in the pending case of the Government against Ascap. The general counsel went on to explain the significance to exhibitors of vari- ous cases pending or recently com- pleted in the courts, in which theatre owners have been involved. He mentioned, among others, the Perelman double bill case in Philadel- phia, in which exhibitors contested the legality of dual banning clauses in ex- hibition contracts, and the action of Brandt Theatres in New York against Loew's circuit, relative to Loew's re- cent action ki shifting the week's split from four days and three days, to five and two. He also touched on the the- atre divorcement law just approved in North Dakota, and expresssed the firm belief that it will be attacked on constitutional grounds and that ulti- mately the U. S. Supreme Court will be asked to pass upon its legality. Pick Board Later Miami, March 16.— The men pictured on this page and noted as directors were not elected to the board at to- day's meeting of the directo- rate, since directors are elected by members in their respective territories at a date following the conven- tion. However, the men designated as directors are considered certain of reelec-. tion to the national board by their own units. Leaders of the M.P.T.O.A. M. E. COMEBFOBD M. A. LIGHTMAN A. J. BBYLAWSKI E.G.LEVY F. WEHBENBEEG Vice-President Vice-President Vice-President General Counsel Board Chairman WALTER VINCENT BEN BEBINSTEIN M. LOWENSTEIN Treasurer Director Secretary J. BERNHARD Director L. E. THOMPSON Director S. P. SKOTJEAS E. A. SCHILLEB Director Director E. M. FAY Director O. C. LAM Director JACK MILLEB Director MOBGAN A. WALSH C. E. WILLIAMS Director Director C. W. PICQCET Director SIDNEY B. LUST Director B. X. WILLIAMS Director HITCH UP A LOAD OF LAUGHS ON EVER '*s info *r KIKO * THE KANGAROO in THE HAY RIDE • FARMER AL FALFA in FLYING SOUTH THE Short TRAIL IS THE SUNNY TRAIL TO PROFITS KEATON IN m Presented by E. W. HAMMONS 'THE SPICE OFTHE PROGRAM" 0/7 4^ Reg. U. S. Pat. Off. DISTRIBUTED IN U.S.A. BY 20™ CENTURY-FOX FILM CORPORATION 10 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, March 17, 1937 "Love News" Show$15,000 In St. Louis St. Louis, March 16. — "Love Is News" with a stage show had the best take in a below average week, drawing $15,000 to the Ambassador, or about $1,000 above par. The St. Louis with a return en- gagement of "Champagne Waltz" and a stage show including vaudeville and a chorus was the only other house to go above par, grossing $7,500, or $500 up. The weather for the week was very- favorable, but it was apparent that the Lenten season was affecting at- tendance. "The Good Earth" at the Ameri- can did excellent business. Aside from the American, the total first run business was $57,000. Av- erage is $59,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 11 : "LOVE IS NEWS" (ZOth-Fox) AMBASSADOR — (3,018), 2Sc-40c-5Sc, 7 days. Stage, vaudeville. Gross: $15,000. (Average, $14,000) "JOHN MEAD'S WOMAN" (Para.) "MIDNIGHT COURT" (W.B.) FOX— (5,038), 25c-3Sc-55c, 7 days. Gross: $11,500. (Average, $13,000) "ESPIONAGE' (M-G-M) "MEN ARE NOT GODS" (U.A.) LOEW'S — (3,162), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $14,000) "WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE" (Col.) "GREEN LIGHT" (F.N.) MISSOURI— (3,514), 25c-35c-5Sc, 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $11,000) "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ" (Para.) ST. LOUIS — (4,000) , 25c-40c, 7 days. Stage, vaudeville. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $7,000) "Holy Terror" Dual Lincoln's Best Bet Lincoln, March 16— "Holy Ter- ror," on a dual with "The Great O'Malley," turned in the best show- ing of a dull week here. The $2,700 gross at the Lincoln was $500 over normal. A split week bill at the Orpheum consisting of "Midnight Court" and a stage show the first three days and "As You Like It" on a roadshow basis the last four turned in a total of $2,200 for the week. This was $450 on the profit side. Total first run business was $9,400. Average is $9',000. Estimated takings: Week Ending March 10: "LAWLESS NINETIES" (Republic) "WITHOUT ORDERS" (RKO) "MAN ON THE FLYING TRAPEZE' (Para.) "BOLD CABALLERO' (Republic) LIBERTY— (1,200), 10c-15c, 7 days. Gross: $800. (Average, $850) Week Ending March 11: "GREAT OMALLEY" (W.B.) "HOLY TERROR" (ZOth-Fox) LINCOLN— (1,600), 10c-20c-25c, 7 days. Gross: $2,700. (Average, $2,200) "WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE" (Col.) VARSITY-(l.lOO), 10c-25c-35c, 7 days 3rd week. Gross: $900. (Average $1,100) "MIDNIGHT COURT" (W.B.) "AS YOU LIKE IT" (20th-Fox) ORPHEUM— (1,350). 10c-15c-20c-25c-40c, 7 days. Stage show: "Viennese Vanities, 3 days. Last half on roadshow, twice daily, hasis. Gross: $2,200. (Average, $1,7S0) Week Ending March 12: "MAID OF SALEM" (Para.) STUART— (2,000), 10c-25c-40c, 7 days. Grass: $2,800. (Average, $3,100) Looking 'Em Over "Razumov" {Garrison Films) From the novel of Joseph Conrad, "Under Western Eyes," written in 1910, Andre Deven, producer, and Marc Allegret, director, have woven a powerful and tragic story of an incident in the long-drawn efforts of the revolutionaries who were active in the Russia of 1910. By screen credit designated as a French production, the reason for its showing at the Cameo, New York's home of Communist screen propa- ganda, is obvious. The story is simple in the extreme, and equally strong. The perform- ances are splendid throughout. A slight mistake, an accident, serves to wreck the promising career, brings a shot in the dark to a young and brilliant student, unwittingly made a party to revolutionary activity in which he has no interest. The student, awarded high honors, finds himself the unintentioned host of a former schoolmate who has just assassinated a prime minis- ter. Through pity he keeps him, mistakingly believes the police have discovered the murderer's hiding place, and by error betrays the revo- lutionist. A victim of the accident, the police chief forces him ostensibly to join the group, go to their Geneva headquarters, there play the spy. He meets the sister of the betrayed man, is hailed as a hero, passes through a mental turmoil. When he discovers he also has betrayed the girl, again accidentally, he kills the secret agent who is his shadow, confesses his betrayal to the revolutionists, and is shot down in a dark street. Reviewed without production code seal. Running time, 90 min- utes. "A." "Trouble in Texas" {Grand National) Racketeers invade Texas rodeos. The vehicle which illustrates their villainy is a properly done western. Tex Ritter, scrapping and singing alternately, in ensuing reels uncovers the clique of unscrupulous pro- moters as the murderers of his brother whom he has been tracking for rive years. The story is garnished with the apt portrayal of a Federal agent by Rita Cansino, humorous relief by Horace Murphy and exciting stock shots of rodeo activities. Of course, Miss Canaino and Ritter supply the romantic angle. The substance of the plot evolves about the eventual corralling of the outlaws, but not before a certain number of musical sequences have unreeled. All in all, it is quite satisfactory. The supporting characterizations offer effective performances in villainy by such standbys as Charles King, Yakima Canutt and Earl Dwire; peace officers by Hal Price and Fred Parker and local color by Dick Palmer and Tom Cooper. R. N. Bradbury directed. Production Code Seal No. 3,043. Running time, 63 minutes. "G." "Tsar to Lenin" {Lenauer-International) As a compilation of historical films that bear on the theme of Rus- sian revolution from the period covering 1916 to the eventual Soviet triumph this picture has certain value for audiences interested in that upheaval. Because of its off the screen comment by Max Eastman it will bring pickets from radical societies whose views differ, which it is doing at its present showing at the Filmarte. The material is poorly filmed shots gathered from many sources and chiefly illustrates the personalities, troop movements and general atmos- phere that prevailed on all fronts during the period of widespread re- volt in Russia and Siberia. There are many scenes that are re-created history. As a record of historical import in years to come it has value but the accompanying narrative is satirical and provoking, and has the tinge of propaganda. Reviewed without production code seal. Running time, 66 min- utes. "A." Chakeres Leases House Springfield, O., March 16. — The 750-seat Majestic, dark since 1928, has been leased by Chakeres Amuse- ment Co., from A. M. McKnight, owner. Lessees will spend around $40,000 in remodeling and installation of new equipment. They expect to reopen the house in 90 days. Australian Film Praised Melbourne, Feb. 16 {By Air Mail via London) — Australia has turned out its most impressive picture in "It Isn't Done," a Cinesound production. Critics say that this is the first picture with which Australian production really attains an international stand- ard. "Avenue" 4th Week Leader In Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, March 16. — "On the Avenue," in its fourth week at the Fulton, collected a fine $6,150 and was held for a fifth. "Green Light" grossed $6,100 in its second week at the Warner, but a third downtown since it had previously played the Stanley. Only a booking jam prevented this one from getting additional time. At the Penn, "When's Your Birth- day?" hit a new low and was yanked after six days to a weak $4,500. The Stanley was only slightly better with "Ready, Willing and Able" going $1,000 under par at $10,500. Nobody could give the weather for an alibi, since conditions were practi- cally perfect. Total first run grosses were $35,500. Average is $37,500. Estimated takings for the week ending March 11 : "WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE" (CoL) ALVIN— (2,000), 25c-40c, 9 days. Gross: $8,250. (Average, 7 days, $5,500) "ON THE AVENUE" (ZOth-Fox) FULTON— (1,750), 25c-40c, 7 days, 4th week. Gross: $6,150. (Average, $4,500) "WHEN'S YOUR BIRTHDAY" (RKO) PENN— (3,300), 25c-50c, 6 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average, 7 days, $11,000) "READY, WILLING AND ABLE" (W.B.) STANLEY — (3,600), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $10,500. (Average, $11,500) "GREEN LIGHT" (F.N.) WARNER— (2,000), 25c-50c, 6 days. Third week. Gross: $6,100. (Average, $5,000) "Plainsman" Sets Pace in Oklahoma Oklahoma City, March 16.— "The Plainsman" went over in a big way at the Midwest with a take of $5,400, which passed par by $1,400. "Smart Blonde," with a stage show headed by Borrah Miunevitch, garn- ered a neat $5,200 in four days at the Warner. Average for seven days is $5,000. The only other attraction to make the grade was "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney" which reached a par $5,000 at the Criterion. Total first run business was $18,600. Average is $16,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 13 : "THE LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY" (M-G-M) CRITERION— (1,700), 10c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $5,000) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) MIDWEST— (1,500), 10c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $5,400. (Average, $4,000) "THE BLACK LEGION" (W. B.) "HAPPY-GO-LUCKY" (Republic) LIBERTY— (1,500), 10c-25c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $2,200. (Average, $2,500) "SMART BLONDE" (W.B.) WARNER — (1,800), 10c-20c-25c-35c, 4 days. Stage: Borrah Minevitche's Har- monica Rascals and vaudeville. Gross: $5,200. (Average, 7 days, $5,000) "BULLDOG DRUMMOND ESCAPES" (Para.) "LET'S MAKE A MILLION" (Para.) WARNER— (1,800), 10c-20c-25c-35c, 3 days. Gross: $800. (Average, 7 days, $5,000) To Revive Jubilesta Kansas City, March 16. — The Jubilesta, which drew over 100,000 people to the Municipal Auditorium for a variety of local and imported entertainment and educational shows last fall, will be held again this year, Sept. 18 to 26, it has been decided. it's just plain common sense... "PARAMOUNT IS MAGICKING AGAIN", says Fortune Magazine for March, "Paramount is magicking all right", agree exhibitors as Paramount continues the great Jubilee Drive with hit after smash hit. "Paramount is just using a little plain old-fashioned box-office common sense" say we, as we add four more sure-fire box-office productions to grand Jubilee parade . . . (TURN PLEASE )H| NOT MAGIC but plain Box-off Paramount Silver Jubilee Relec A smash musical comedy + a sock love story = a box-office hit Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray in SWING HIGH, SWING LOW with Charles Butterworth, Jean Dixon, Dorothy Lamour Harvey Stephens • Directed by Mitchell Leisen Four stars + hit music + exotic background = a box-office hit WAIKIKI WEDDING with Bing Crosby, Bob Burns Martha Raye, Shirley Ross George Barbier, Leif Erikson Directed by Frank Tuttle ce Arithmetic insures these ^ ses record grosses everywhere! Two top box-office names ■#■ front page drama =a box-office hit Barbara Stanwyck and Joel McCrea in INTERNES CAN'T TAKE MONEY with Lloyd Nolan, Stanley Ridges • Directed by Alfred Santell Drama + humor + an ace cast + superb direction — a box-office hit MAKE WAY FOR TOMORROW with Beulah Bondi, Victor Moore Fay Bainter, Thomas Mitchell, Barbara Read, Porter Hall, Elisabeth Risdon, Louise Beavers • A Leo McCarey Production BUT no wonder THEY TALK ABOUT MAGIC . . . Look at the line-up PARAMOUNT has Wednesday, March 17, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 15 "Light' ' High InTwo Boston Spots 2nd Run Boston, March 16. — "Green Light," playing second run, and co-featured with "Smart Blonde," first run, drew $11,000 at the Paramount. This was over the line by $4,000. The same program drew $7,500 at the Fenway, above average by $3,000. "Sea Devils," dualed with "We're On the Jury," drew $6,000 above aver- age at the RKO Memorial with a take of $18,000. "When You're In Love," co-fea- tured with "Counterfeit Lady," did well at the Orpheum with a gross of $16,800, exceeding average by $5,800. The same program at Loew's State took $14,500, over by $3,500. Total first run business was $92,300. Average is $88,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 12: "GREEN LIGHT" (F.N.) (2nd Run) "SMART BLONDE" (W.B.) FENWAY— (1,392), 30c-SOc, 7 days. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $4,500) "SEA DEVILS" (RKO) "WE'RE ON THE JURY" (RKO) RKO MEMORIAL — (2,907) , 25c-50c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $18,000. (Average, $12,000) "WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE" (Col.) "COUNTERFEIT LADY" (Col.) LOEW'S ORPHEUM— (2,970) , 25c-45c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $16,800. (Average, $12,000) "WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE" (Col.) "COUNTERFEIT LADY" (Col.) LOEW'S STATE— (3,537), 25c-45c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $14,500. (Average, $11,000) "JOHN MEADE'S WOMAN" (Para.) METROPOLITAN— (4,332), 35c-55e-75c, 7 days. Stage: "Paradise on Parade." Gross: $22,000. (Average, $22,000) "GREEN LIGHT" (F.N.) (2nd Run) "SMART BLONDE" (W.B.) PARAMOUNT— (1,793), 2Sc-50c, 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $7,000) "MYSTERIOUS CROSSING" (Univ.) RKO BOSTON— (3,246), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: "World's Fairest on Parade." Gross: $21,000. (Average, $21,000) 'Sea Devils," Show High in Detroit Boom Detroit, March 16. — Despite Lent, every first run went over par for the first time this year, the Michigan leading with $27,600 on "Sea Devils" and a stage show. This was $7,600 to the good. The Fox was close behind with $26,500 on "Love Is News" and a vaudeville bill. "Green Light," in its third week at the Madison, held up to $10,500. Total first run business was $87,600. Average is $70,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 11 : "ON THE AVENUE" (20th-Fox) (Second Week) "WOMAN WISE" (20th-Fox) (First Week) ADAMS— (1,770), 10c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,600. (Average, $5,000) "LOVE IS NEWS" (20th-Fox) FOX— (5,100), 15c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Wini Shaw, Sheila Barrett, Radcliffe & Rogers, Loyal's Dogs, 3 Samuels and Har- riett Hayes. Gross: $26,500. (Average, $20,- 000) "SEA DEVILS" (RKO) MICHIGAN— (4,100), 15c-75c, 7 days. Stage: "French Casino" Revue. Gross: $27,600. (Average, $20,000) "SMART BLONDE" (W.B.) "CRIMINAL LAWYER" (RKO) STATE— (3,000), 10c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,100. (Average, $5,000) "LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS— (2,070), 15c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $12,300. (Average, $10,000) "GREEN LIGHT" (W. B.) MADISON— (2,000), 15c-65c, 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $10,500. (Average, $10,000) "Avenue" Dual 2d Week Hit in N. H. New Haven, March 16.— A Sun- day which broke house records with higher holdover prices sent the Col- lege business to the fore on the sec- ond week of "On the Avenue" and "Woman Wise," which grossed $4,000. Elsewhere grosses stayed at aver- age or somewhat under. Total first run business was $19,700. Average is $19,300. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 12: "ON THE AVENUE" (20th-Fox) "WOMAN WISE" (20th-Fox) COLLEGE— (1,499), 35c-50c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $2,800) "JOHN MEADE'S WOMAN" (Para.) "CLARENCE" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (2,348), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $4,300. (Average, $4,800) "LOVE IS NEWS" (20th-Fox) "FAIR WARNING" (20th-Fox) POLI— (3,040), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $7,000) "READY, WILLING AND ABLE" (W.B.) "ONCE A DOCTOR" (F.N.) ROGER SHERMAN— (2,200), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $4,400. (Average, $4,700) "Cheyney," "Races" $5,600 in Spokane Spokane, March 16.— "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney" and "Off to the Races" pulled $5,600 in seven days on a dual at the Fox to top the city last week as box-offices began to thaw out. "When You're in Love" took $5,100, over par by $300, in seven days at the State with March of Time to help. "That Girl from Paris," on a dual with "Living Dangerously" at the Orpheum, suffered from being op- posed by Grace Moore at the State and drew $2,400 in four days over the weekend, only $200 over average. Total first run business was $14,- 300. Average is $13,200. Estimated takings : Week Ending March 11: "THE LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY" (M-G-M) "OFF TO THE RACES" (20th-Fox) FOX— (2,300), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,600. (Average, $5,200) "WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE" (Col.) STATE— (1,000), 30c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,100. (Average, $4,800) "THAT GIRL FROM PARIS" (RKO) "LIVING DANGEROUSLY" (G.B.) ORPHEUM — (1,200), 20c-30c, 4 days. Gross: $2,400. (Average, $2,200) "BULLDOG DRUMMOND ESCAPES" (Para.) "HATS OFF" (G. N.) ORPHEUM — (1,200), 20c-30c, 3 days. Gross: $1,200. (Average, $1,000) Retitle Hopkins Film Hollywood, March 16. — "Woman Chases Man" is the new title of "The Woman's Touch," now being produced by Samuel Goldwyn with Miriam Hopkins starred. Bargain Days St. Louis, March 16. — In an effort to combat the competi- tion offered to theatres in the Lenten season, Fanchon & Marco have adopted strenu- ous measures. In one case the patron gets free hamburgers and soft drinks, community dancing on the stage, an opportunity to acquire a radio or electric refrigerator, two features and a stage show — all for one dime. In another, a 25-cent admission will give the patron a good first run feature and a stage show featuring Fred Waring and His Pennsyl- vanians. "Steele" K.C. $9,200 Lead In Dull Week "Green Light" Hits $13,500 Cincy Top Cincinnati, March 16. — Green Light" cleared $13,500 at the RKO Albee, plussing par by $1,500. It was moved to the RKO Capitol. "Wings of the Morning" soared to $13,000 with Gus Arnheim's band on the RKO Shubert stage, up $1,000. "Three Smart Girls" did a brilliant $3,700 on its third week downtown at the RKO Grand, where $2,750 is the weekly figure. It was held over. "Sea Devils" balanced the $10,000 average at the RKO Palace. The other houses had satisfactory takes, although below average. The weather alternated between warm and extreme cold. Total first run business was $58,450. Average is $58,700. Estimated takings : Week Ending March 10: "SEA DEVILS" (RKO) RKO PALACE— (2,700), 35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $10,000) Week Ending March 11: "GREEN LIGHT" (F.N.) RKO ALBEE— (3,300), 35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $13,500. (Average, $12,000) Moved to RKO Capitol. . „ "WINGS OF THE MORNING" (20th-Fox) RKO SHUBERT— (2,150), 40c-60c, 7 days. Stage: Gus Arnheim's Band. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $12,000) "LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY" (M-G-M) RKO CAPITOL— (2,000), 35c-42c, 7 days, 2nd downtown week. Gross: $5,800. (Aver- age, $6,500) "JUNGLE PRINCESS" (Para.) RKO LYRIC— (1,400), 35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $4,300. (Average, $6,500) "THREE SMART GIRLS" (Univ.) RKO GRAND— (1,200), 2Sc-40c, 7 days, 3rd downtown week. Gross: $3,700. (Aver- age, $2,750) Held over. "ELLIS ISLAND" (Invincible) RKO FAMILY— (1,000), 15c-25c, 4 days. Gross: $1,300. (Average, $1,250) "MAN OF THE PEOPLE" (M-G-M) RKO FAMILY— (1,000), 15c-25c, 3 days. Gross: $1,100. (Average, $1,200) "YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE" (U.A.) KEITH'S— (1,500). 30c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,750. (Average, $6,500) Kansas City, March 16. — "Nancy Steele Is Missing" and stage show at the Tower made the best showing in a fair week. The combination gave the house $9,200, $2,200 over par. "Ready, Willing and Able" and "Condemned Row" put the Newman $1,400 over its $7,600 line in eight days, but other first runs fell shy of a normal showing. The weather was good, but the first college basketball tournament three nights at the Municipal Audi- torium cut in. Total first run business (excluding the Downtown) was $36,400. Aver- age is $36,800. Estimated takings : Week Ending March 10: "MAID OF SALEM" (Para.) "CLARENCE" (Para.) MAINSTREET— (3,100), 25c-40c, 6 days. Gross: $6,900. (Average, 6 days, $7,200) "WINGS OF THE MORNING" (20th-Fox) UPTOWN— (2,000) 25c-40c, 6 days. Gross: $3,300. (Average, 6 days, $3,500) Week Ending March 11: "ESPIONAGE" (M-G-M) "MAN WHO COULD WORK MIRACLES" (UA.) MIDLAND — (4,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $11,500) "READY, WILLING AND ABLE" (W.B.) "CONDEMNED ROW (Radio) NEWMAN — (1,900), 25c-40c, 8 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average, 8 days, $7,600) "NANCY STEELE IS MISSING" (20th-Fox) TOWER— (2,200), 25c-40c, 7 days. Stage: Sylvia and Clemence, Morey Amsterdam, Large and Morgner, La Paiva and Legary. Gross: $9,200. (Average, $7,000) Week Ending March IS: "THE PACE THAT KILLS" (Willis Kent) "GIRL OVERBOARD" (Univ.) DOWNTOWN— (800), 25c, 8 days. Stage: Mile. Corinne. Gross: $5,200. No average. Shows continuous from 9 a.m. to 5 a.m. Joins Grand National Detroit, March 16. — William Mat- tingly, formerly with Excellent Pic- tures Corp., has joined the sales staff of the local Grand National branch. Choose Tragic Ending London. March 8. — As a result of running "Beloved Enemy" with al- ternative endings at the Leicester Square, United Artists have decided on the "unhappy" ending for the gen- eral release of the picture. "Bandif'Now"War Lord" Hollywood, March 16. — "War Lord" is the new title cf the Boris Karfoff picture to be released by Warners. It was formerly "China Bandit." "Lloyds" on Dual $9,200, Portland Portland, March 16. — "Lloyds of London" with "They Wanted to Marry" was held for a second week at the Paramount. The take was $9,- 200, or $4,200 over the line. At the Orpheum "On the Avenue" and "The Great O'Malley" grossed $8,000, up by $3,000. Total first run business was $38,- 700. Average is $24,700. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 6: "DANIEL BOONE" (RKO) "SHE'S DANGEROUS" (Univ.) BROADWAY— (1,912), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,000) "THEODORA GOES WILD" (Col.) "LADY FROM NOWHERE" (Col.) BLUE MOUSE— (1,700), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days, 10th downtown week. Gross: $2,500. (Average, $1,700) "ONE IN A MILLION" (20th-Fox) "NIGHT WAITRESS" (Radio) MAYFAIR— (1,700), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days (5th DT Week). Gross: $5,000. (Average, $3,000) "ON THE AVENUE" (20th-Fox) "THE GREAT O'MALLEY" (W. B.) ORPHEUM— (1,700), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $5,000) "LLOYDS OF LONDON" (20th-Fox) "THEY WANTED TO MARRY" (Radio) PARAMOUNT— (3,008), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. 2nd week. Gross: $9,200. (Average, $5,000) "ESPIONAGE" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS— (945), 30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,000) 16 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, March 17, 1937 "Marines" and Vaude $5,100 Seattle Lead Seattle, March 16. — "Join the Marines," helped by Fifi Dorsay and a vaudeville show, turned in the best showing of the week, $5,100, at the Palomar. This was over par by $600. The only other attraction to get into the profit column was a dual, con- sisting of "The Last of Mrs. Chey- ney" and "Racing Lady." Total first run business was $33,700. Average is $36,500. Estimated takings to March 12 : "GOD'S COUNTRY & THE WOMAN" (W. B.) "DANGEROUS NUMBER" (M-G-M) BLUE MOUSE— (950), 25c-40c-SSc, 7 days, 3rd week, extended run from Fifth Ave. Gross: $3,300. (Average, $4,000) "LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY" (M-G-M) "RACING LADY" (RICO) FIFTH AVENUE — (2,500), 25c-40c-55c. 7 days. Gross: $7,600. (Average. $7,000) "WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE" (Col.) LIBERTY — (1,800), 15c-25c-40c-55c, 7 days, 3rd wek. Gross: $4,350. (Average, $5,000) "GREEN LIGHT" (F. N.) "CLARENCE" (Para.) MUSIC BOX— (950), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week, extended run from Fifth Ave. Gross: $3,400. (Average, $4,000) "WHEN'S YOUR BIRTHDAY?" (W. B.) ORPHEUM — (2,450), 25c-40c-55c, 5 days,- 2nd week. Vaudeville and stage band. Gross: $5,100. (Average, $6,000) "JOIN THE MARINES" (Republic) PALOMAR— (1,500), 15c-25c-35c, 7 days. Stage: Vaudeville headed by Fifi Dorsay. Gross: $5,100. (Average, $4,500) "SEA DEVILS" (RKO) "ESPIONAGE" (M-G-M) PARAMOUNT — (3,050), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $5,850. (Average, $6,000) Grand entertainment. The fans will certainly go for it. Jean Arthur, Charles Boyer and Leo Carrillo give fine performances. — E. J. SMITHSON Fawceti Publications Wings" Given 7th Week in Montreal Montreal, March 16. — "Wings of the Morning" is holding the spotlight among first runs at His Majesty's. The film has gone into its seventh week. The take for the sixth week was $5,500, or $500 above par. "When You're in Love," on a dual at the Capitol, registered an above- average figure of $10,000 and the sec- ond week of "Camille" at the Palace was good for $7,500. "Dangerous Number," heading the lengthy film- stage show at Loew's, accounted for $10,000. "John Meade's Woman" col- lected $6,500 as first feature at the Princess. Two hockey matches drew big crowds and there was much Easter shopping activity with the weather cold but fair. Total first run business was $39,500. Average is $43,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 13 : "WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE" (Col.) "WOMAN IN DISTRESS" (Col.) CAPITOL— (2,547), 25c-35c-40c-50c-60c, 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $9,500) "WINGS OF THE MORNING" (British-Fox) HIS MAJESTY'S— (1,700), 25c-35c-40c-50c, 7 days, 6th week. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $5,000) Held over. "DANGEROUS NUMBER" (M-G-M) "CAREER WOMAN" (20th-Fox) LOEW'S — (3,115), 25c-34c-40c-50c-60c, 7 days. Stage: Salicir Puppets and vaude- ville. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $10,500) "CAMILLE" (M-G-M) PALACE— (2,600), 25c-35c-40c-50c-65c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $11,000) "JOHN MEADE'S WOMAN" (Para.) "OUTCAST" (Para.) PRINCESS— (2,272), 25c-30c-35c-5Oc-65c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $7,000) New Mass. Booth Rules Boston, March 16. — New regula- tions have been imposed on Massa- chusetts projectionists by the Dept. of Public Safety, replacing rules of 51 years' standing. The new rules require that no operator may leave the operating side of a projector while projecting a picture. Pick-ups, so called, are prohibited when only one licensed operator is in a booth. Fire or accidents in booths must be reported separately, within 24 hours, by both operators and theatre mana- gers. No more than 2,000 feet of film may be wound on any one reel. An exhaust fan must be kept running while the projectors are in operation. Inspectors must approve any proposed alterations in either equipment or booths before such changes may be made. To Handle Republic Melbourne, Feb. 16. (By Air Mail Via London) — Associated Distribu- tors have secured the Australian dis- tribution rights to Republic pictures. Terms of the deal allow Associated a rejection right and Associated states that each film will be submitted to a selection board before acceptance for first-run presentation. Plan Films in Color London, March 8. — Mrs. Natalie Kalmus, on arrival here to super- vise the Movietone Coronation film in Technicolor, said she was currently negotiating for the production in Eng- land of two features and a number of shorts in Technicolor. Yellow, Not Red Toronto, March 16. — Ontario censors take no chances on Red propaganda. When "A Son of Mongolia" was pre- sented for inspection they hired a Russian interpreter to make sure the dialogue was something like the Eng- lish sub-titles. After a few minutes the in- terpreter said he couldn't tell what it was all about; the characters were speaking Chinese. The print was returned to the country of origin. "Murder" and Show Best in Milwaukee Milwaukee, March 16. — "Murder Goes to College," helped by "Green- wich Village Scandals" on the stage, turned in the best showing of the week at the Palace. The $7,800 take was $2,800 over normal. "Love Is News" and "Under Cover of Night" managed to get $500 over par in a nine-day stay at the Wiscon- sin and "On the Avenue" and "Crack- Up" just made a par $1,500 at the Strand. Mild, fair weather helped to raise hob at box-offices. Total first run business was $25,800. Average is $24,500. Estimated takings : Week Ending March 9: "YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE" (U. A.) "WE'RE ON THE JURY" (RKO) WARNER— (2,400), 25c-35c-50c, 5 days. Gross: $2,800. (Average, $5,000) Week Ending March 10: "LOVE IS NEWS" (20th-Fox) "UNDER COVER OF NIGHT" (M-G-M) WISCONSIN— (3,200), 25c-35c-50c, 9 days. Gross: $8,500. (Average, $8,000) Week Ending March 11: "MURDER GOES TO COLLEGE" (Para.) PALACE— (2,400), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Stage: "Greenwich Village Scandals." Gross $7,800. (Average. $5,000) "WOMAN IN DISTRESS" (Col.) RIVERSIDE— (2,300), 20c-30c, 7 days. Stage: "King's Scandals." Gross: $5,200. (Average, $5,000) "ON THE AVENUE" (20th-Fox) "CRACK-UP" (20th- Fox) STRAND— (1,400), 25c-35c-50c, 8 days. Gross: $1,500. (Average, $1,500) CEA Asks Conference On Building Problem London, March 8. — The Cinemato- graph Exhibitors' Ass'n overbuilding committee, under the chairmanship of Ken Nyman, has requested the presi- dent of the Board of Trade to re- ceive a deputation on the problem of excessive theatre erection. It is understood that the committee favors a request to the Board of Trade that statutory powers to con- trol building should be included in any new Films Act. There is some difference of opinion in the trade on the wisdom of asking for further Government control of the industry. •'Love News," $16,500 Hit In Cleveland Cleveland, March 16. — "Love Is News" at Warners' Hippodrome was the outstanding draw of the week. It grossed $16,500, topping average by $6,500. "You Only Live Once" at the RKO Palace with the "Broadway Midnight Follies" on the stage, ran a close second with $19,250 for the week as against a $15,000 average. "Maid of Salem" at the Stillman, following a good week at the State, ended the week $1,000 shy of par. Weather was snowy and blowy. Also it was tax paying time. Coupled with Lent, all these combined to lower the gross from recent weekly aver- ages. Total first run business was $55,250. Average is $51,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 12 : "THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS" (RKO) ALLEN — (3,300), 30c-35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $5,000) "ESPIONAGE" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE— (3,400), 30c-35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $15,000) "MAID OF SALEM" (Para.) LOEW'S STILLMAN— (1,900), 30c-35c- 42c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $6,000) "YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE" (U.A.) RKO PALACE— (3,100), 30c-42c-60c, 7 days. Stage: "Broadway Midnight Follies." Gross: $19,250. (Average, $15,000) "LOVE IS NEWS" (20th-Fox) WARNERS' HIPPODROME — (3,800), 30c-35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $16,500. (Aver- age, $10,000) Approve Child Matinees London, March 8. — Approval of weekly matinees for children at all theatres and of the provision of special films for young patrons, was registered at a conference here under the auspices of the Cinema Christian Council and the Public Morality Council. Praise of films as a means of entertainment for children was. expressed by the Bishop of London. Three Players Join Tobis Directorate By J. K. RUTENBERG Berlin, March 4. — Three of the most prominent players in Germany have been elected to the board of di- rectors of the Tobis Film Co. They are Gustav Grundgens, Emil Jan- nings and Willi Forst, the actor- director. They will handle matters referring to production and the plan- ning of cultural films. ♦ -fr 4s The Cinema Films A. G., leading Germany exporting company, which has been taken over by the Tobis Tonbild Syndikat A. G., reports a year's loss of 625,000 reichsmarks. The net loss after the application of heavy writeoffs amounts to 625,000 reichsmarks. A new Government edict prohibits an increase in admission prices at theatres in Germany. Sets Sioux City Changes Sioux City, la., March 16. — Dis- trict Manager Evert R. Cummings of Tri-States, has made the following changes in Sioux City : Manager Sol Shulkin of the Hipp promoted to supervising manager of the Loop and Hipp, promoted Assistant Manager Morris Mirkin of the Iowa to Granada manager, transferred Mana- ger Warren Butler from the Granada to the Hipp as manager and trans- ferred Assistant Manager Bernard Pollack from the Hipp to the Iowa as assistant. an / — i WALTER WANGER Pr*unh CHARLES BOVER j JEAN ARTHUR /, LEO CARILLO • COLIN CLIVE hi,t,h) ir FRANK B0RZAGE 0,,vu,A ,/«., IITED. ARTISTS Q U I C L E Y PUBLICATIONS MOTION PICTURE HERALD International weekly journal of the motion picture industry. Member Audit Bureau of Circulations. Edited by terry Ramsaye. MOTION PICTURE DAILY Swift accurate spot news from the world's film centers every 24 hours. Edited by Maurice D. Kann. BETTER THEATRES Devoted to maintenance, equipment, construction and operation of motion picture theatres. Published every four weeks as section 2 of Motion Picture Herald. Edited by George Schutz. FAME The Box Office Check-up, an audit of personalities in the world of entertainment. Edited by Terry Ramsaye. IN TERNATIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC Reference annual covering every department of the motion picture industry, including biographies of "1 3,000 players, directors, artists, writers, technicians and executives. Listing corporations, officers, financial structures, production titles, producing and distributing personnel, theatre circuits. Edited by Terry Ramsaye. T E A T R O A L D I A Published in Spanish and circulated to the industry in the Spanish speaking countries of the world. Issued quarterly and devoted to maintenance, equipment, construction and kindred phases of motion picture theatre operation. Edited by Pablo Colon. OP Quigley publications present a practical perspective of motion picture activities all over the world in a continuous cycle of publications, daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annually. With offices and correspondents throughout the world, Quigley Publications are international in scope and are acknowledged the dominant business journals of the motion picture industry. MARTIN QUIGLEY, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher Publication Offices: ROCKEFELLER CENTER, NEW YORK HOLLYWOOD Postal Union Life Building CHICAGO 624 South Michigan Avenue LONDON 4 Golden Square « 18 RADIO MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, March 17, 1937 F. C. C. Issues Licenses for Five Stations By CLARENCE LINZ Washington, March 16. — The F.C.C. today announced the issuance of licenses to five stations, as follows : KOY, Phoenix, 1,390 kilocycles, 500 watts night, 1,000 watts day; KTSM El Paso, 1,310 kilocycles, 100 watts night, 250 day ; WGAL, Lancaster, Pa., 1,500 kilocycles, 100 watts night, 250 day; KUSD, Vermillion, S. D., 890 kilocycles, 500 watts; WEEI, Boston, 590 kilocycles, 1,000 watts night, 5,000 day. The commission also authorized KRNR, Rosenburg, Ore., to assign its license from the Southern Oregon Publishing Co. to the News Review Co. Four applications for new sta- tions were ordered set for hearing, as follows : Press Union Publishing Co., Atlantic City, 1,200 kilocycles, 100 watts night, 250 day ; George W. Taylor Co., Williamson, W. Va., 1,370 kilocycles, 100 watts day only ; R. W. Page Corp., Phoenix City, Ala., 1,240 kilocycles, 1,000 watts; WRBC, Inc., Cleveland, 800 kilo- cycles, 1,000 watts. Also applications of stations WRAX, Philadelphia, for a power increase to 1,000 watts, and WPEN, Philadelphia, for increase to 1,000 watts. Dismissals Listed At their request applications of Radio and Television Research Co., Los Angeles ; James D. Scannell, Lewiston, Me. ; James R. Doss, Jr., Mobile, Ala., and Springfield News- papers, Inc., Springfield, O., for new stations, have been dismissed. Ap- plication of the North Jersey Broad- casting Co., Inc., Paterson, N. J., for a new station was denied. The commission announced receipt of applications for new stations from the Ohio Broadcasting Co., Steuben- ville, O., and Anne Jay Levine, Palm Springs, Cal., and the request of KFOR, Lincoln, for a frequency change to 1,450 kilocycles and a power increase to 1,000 watts night, 5,000 day. Mutual to Get "Coronet" "Coronet," local WOR program sponsored by the magazine of that name, will go to the Mutual network within a broadcast or so. Mutual is now clearing time on network stations for the series. Begin Television Survey Weed & Co., station representatives, are now undertaking a comprehensive survey of television developments for their clients. WMCA 15 Years Old WMCA celebrates its fifteenth an- niversary tomorrow. The station first began operating March 18, 1922. «0 SAYS'W I The only broadcast based on the life of a woman doctor is WHN's daily "Girl Interne." DIAL 1010 ' M-G-M " LOEWS,- i Radio Personals ► WILLIE HOWARD, who takes over the comedy assignment on the "Manhattan Merry-Go-Round" program shortly, leaves today for a two-week vacation trip to Florida . . . Dolph Opfinger, Mutual's program co- ordinator, yesterday became the father of a boy . . . Margo will be Jeff Spark's guest on WOR Sunday . . . Bert Squires, WINS chieftain, away on station business . . . Tom Martin, of the Rockwell-O'Keefe office, flies to Cincinnati on official business to- day . . . Don Shaw, head of McCann-Erick- son's radio department, left last night on a business swing that will take him to Detroit, Chicago and St. Louis . . . Arthur Boran has been set for a guest role on the WOR Schaefer Beer pro- gram this Sunday . . . Donald Cope, director of the Palmolive "Beauty Box" and "True Adventure" programs for Benton & Bowles, leaves for a three-week vacation tomorrow . . . Bob Lee has taken over the reins of the professional department for the Isham Jones office . . . Larry Nixon, WMCA press chief, yesterday was feted by his colleagues on the anni- versary of his 15th year in radio . . . Jean Ellington has signed for a guest spot on the Al Pierce Ford program March 30 . . . Gypsy Nina, CBS songstress now in England, sends word that her com- mitments will keep her there until Takes Radio Stand Ed Kuykendall, president of the M. P. T. O. A„ took a stand yesterday at the Miami convention against the "un- restricted and unlimited use of screen personalities" on the air. His views on the subject may be found on Page 7. after the coronation in May . . . Birthdays of famous people will be celebrated in a new weekly NBC series which will make its debut March 30, from 8 to 8:30 P.M., E.S.T., on the Blue. The program will feature Jack Norworth as master of cere- monies . . . Joe Marsala's orchestra will replace Mike Riley's bandsmen on WHN beginning next week. _ The broadcasts emanate from the Hickory House . . . Grace Moore gave up a command performance in England during the coronation to accept her new starring role on the Nash "Speedshow" ... J. Schainuck & Son now using a transcribed program on WMCA six mornings a week at 8 P.M. . . . "Tim and Irene" will be guests on "All Star Varieties" over WOR March 20 . . . Johnny Green and Fred Astaire have begun a series of recordings of all the numbers from "Shall We Dance?" . . . Zukor Dinner on Mutual The Mutual network will air the proceedings of the Adolph Zukor Tes- timonial Dinner to be given at the Waldorf Astoria March 29. The broadcast will begin at 11:15 P.M., E.S.T., and carry on for an hour. "The Answer Man" From Bridgeport, where he has been appearing on a local station, the Provident Loan Society of New York last night brought to WOR Al Mitch- ell, "The Answer Man." Mitchell proved himself to be an animated en- cyclopedia, supplying answers to all questions "within the bounds of pro- fessional ethics." The listeners fur- nished the questions. The program moves at a fast pace, entertains, informs and is highly en- joyable. We can ask no more of a radio program. Listening, one learned the meaning of the 14 karat gold symbol, the penalties for income tax evasion, the various characteristics of good diamonds and such information. Mitchell's answers are couched in the simple, albeit thorough fashion that bespeaks painstaking research and careful preparation. "The Answer Man" is presented twice weekly, Tues- day and Thursday, at 7:30 P. M. "Coronet on the Air" Not much can be said in favor of "Coronet on the Air," etherized ver- sion of the vest-pocket magazine, which is now in its second week on WOR. Last night's program dealt with subjects entirely unsuited to radio and exhibited definite traces of poor, or at least hasty, production. Example of material unsuited to radio was the attempt to describe pic- tures appearing in the magazine via musical setting. As a concrete ex- ample Robert Ambruster's orchestra tried to convey a description of "a reclining blonde," as appearing in the magazine, with 16 bars of "It's De- Lovely." Another example of poor selection was the reenactment of "typi- cal early morning sounds." The sound man did his level best, but heard were only unintelligible noises. We were later informed they were sounds made at the breakfast table by one gulping orange juice, cracking eggs, crunch- ing toast and rustling a newspaper. Two dramatized reenactments of stories in the current issue of the magazine were offered as well. "Castles of Romance" "Castles of Romance," a sustain- ing series of established standing on WJZ, took unto itself a sponsor last evening, the Harvey Whipple Co., makers of Mastercraft Oil Burners. Despite its newly-won dignity, the series remains a mediocre, run-of-the- mill offering. Featured on the program are Alice Remsen and George Griffin, vocalists, and a piano duo, Al and Lee Reiser. The "romantic" idea is carried out by references to the singers as "the boy" and "the girl," plus poetic phraseology by the announcer in set- ting the scene for the numbers to be offered. Among the offerings were "This Year's Kisses"' by "the girl" ; "Summer Night" by "the boy," and a duet, "By the Waters of Kalua." The series is heard on WJZ only, 6:35 to 6:45 P. M., Tuesdays. Banner New Answer Program Under Way on WOR A new program unexpectedly bowed in over WOR last night at 7:30 P. M., E.S.T. It is titled "The Answer Man," and features Al Mitchell. The series will be presented twice weekly, Tuesdays and Thurs- days, until April 20, at which time it will add a Saturday broadcast. The Provident Loan Co. of New York sponsors, through McCann-Erickson. The contract is for 39 weeks. Mitchell's program attracted the agency's attention while broadcasting over WICC, Bridgeport. Hastily summoned for an audition, he clicked with the present sponsor and was penciled in on the WOR schedule yes- terday afternoon. Mitchell supplies the answers to any questions of fact sub- mitted by listeners. Chandler Series for Ford in Time Change Rex Chandler's musical series for the Ford Motor Co., currently heard Fridays at 9 P. M., E.S.T. on the NBC-Blue network, shifts to a new time and network as of April 10. Thereafter the program will be aired Saturdays from 7 to 7:30 P.M., E.S.T. on the NBC-Red. Full details are not yet available, but it is believed that the number of stations carrying the program will be reduced. N. W. Ayer & Son is the agency. Oil Firm Setting Show Some weeks ago it was foretold in these columns that the Standard Oil of Indiana, through the McCann- Erickson agency, was setting plans for a new network show. Yesterday it was learned that an audition for the company had been held in Chicago, featuring Carl Hoff's orchestra, with Pat O'Malley as "em cee." The pro- gram, when talent has finally been determined, will be broadcast over the. CBS network. WNEW Gets New Accounts WHEW has completed another suc- cessful selling week. In the past six days the station's salesmen have writ- ten 18 contracts and renewals. The contracts bring in $2,794.13 additional each week. March and Wife on Lux Hour Fredric March and his wife, Flor- ence Eldridge, will offer a radio ver- sion of "Death Takes a Holiday" in the Lux "Radio Theatre," March 22. This will be the first appearance for either of the Marches on the Lux hour. WMCA Adds News Broadcast WMCA adds a Monday through Friday late news broadcast to its schedule, effective immediately, utiliz- ing International and Universal news dispatches. The broadcasts are for 15-minutes, 1 to 1 :15 A.M. KWK to Celebrate Today St. Louis, March 16.— KWK will celebrate its 10th anniversary tomor- row. NBC will carry a half hour of anniversary program and Mutual will feed two anniversary programs. More Radio— Page 20 PROJECTORS — DISTRIBUTED BY NATIONAL THEATRE SUPPLY COMPANY REGISTERED PEDESTAL TO ACCOMMODATE HEAVY DUTY EQUIPMENT MEET PROJECTIONIST REQUIREMENTS AND SECURE THE HIGHEST TYPE OF SCREEN PRESENTATION OUTSTANDING ADVANTAGES Provides excellent balance for heavy duty equipment Pivot point insures proper balance and minimum strain. Can be easily tilted between minus 3 and plus 33°. Lateral adjustment simplifies instal- lation and insures proper centering of picture on screen at all times. Weight gives steadiness heretofore unobtainable. Spacious internal compartment for all electrical connections. Conduit can be brought into compart- ment through floor or from side. Twist lock receptacles for change- over and motor allow ready discon- nection of circuit. • Two switches for motor circuit. • Four double pole standard outlet re- ceptacles for soldering iron, work light threading lamp, and arc lamp feed motor provided. • Universal type spirit level permits ac- curate levelling, and levelling bolts secure great rigidity. • Lamphouse support bracket permits accurate alignment of lamphouse and allows for differences in manu- facturing tolerances. Lamphouse support bracket of ade- quate length to support new style lamphouse. 100 ampere double pole knife switch furnished for low intensity or suprex arc lamps. Heavy switch supporting bracket can be furnished at additional charge for high intensity arc lamp. Any standard change-over switch may be attached. Spacers provided to accommodate existing port hole construction. Soundhead supports to meet require- ments of any soundhead attachment. The International Erojector INTERNATIONAL PROJECTOR CORPORATION 88-96 COLD ST. NEWYORK, N.Y. 20 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, March 17, 1937 Congress on Air Plan May Receive Study Washington, March 16. — The as- signment to a picked group of radio stations of certain frequencies for the broadcasting of the proceedings of Congress would be studied by the Senate Interstate Commerce Commit- tee under the terms of a resolution introduced by Senator Key Pittman of Nevada. Investigation of the possibilities of broadcasting from Congress, if under- taken by the committee, might prove to be the basis for a full investigation of the entire broadcasting situation, such as is being sought in the House by Congressman Connery of Massa- chusetts. If the Interstate Commerce Committee favors the proposal, it will probably be sent to at least four other committees for their considera- tion at the demand of Senator King of Utah, who pointed out that they would be interested in the broadcasting. Baseball Airing Starts March 22 The first play-by-play baseball broadcasts will be heard March 22 from 3 to 5 P.M., E.S.T. when WNEW broadcasts the spring train- ing games between the Yankees and the Newark Bears from Sebring, Fla. Five additional training games will be aired. The broadcasts inau- gurate WNEW's baseball schedule for General Mills Corp. Top Might entertainment. Headed for exceptional gros- ses. It will stand as one of Walter Wanger's finest offer- ings. A genuinely high class creation in every dimension. — Daily Variety Station WBIG "We find Motion Picture Daily one of the liveliest and most attractive publications we receive. Your radio items are interesting and are most- ly 'firsts.' All in all, it is a lively sheet and a fine addi- tion to the entertainment of listeners." — Edney Ridge, di- rector, Station WBIG, Greens- boro, N. C. Cukor Still Hunts For Scarlett O'Hara Joan Crawford and Miriam Hop- kins are being considered for the role of Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone With the Wind," George Cukor stated yesterday following his return from an extensive vacation abroad. He will direct the film for Selznick International. David O. Selznick is anxious to have a prominent player in the lead-, ing role, Cukor said, and no unknown actress will be chosen. He will leave for the south in a few days to search for a number of characters resembling those in the novel. Seidelman Off for Tour of the Orient Joseph Seidelman, head of Colum- bia's foreign department, left yester- day for the coast, en route to Japan, China and the Philippines. When he arrives on the coast he will sail on the Empress of Japan for a two- month general inspection tour. Prior to his departure yesterday, Seidelman said he did not contemplate any changes, that he was going to "look over the company's offices." _ Upon his return, he will spend some time on the coast for product confer- ences with Harry Cohn, president. Gets Imperial Franchise Cincinnati, March 16. — Maurice Chase, connected for a number of years with Universal and then with First Division, has obtained the Im- perial franchise for the local territory, comprising southern Ohio and Ken- tucky. U. A. in Mexico Deal United Artists has closed a deal with Exito, U. C. P. R. S., Mexico City, for the distribution in all Span- ish-speaking countries of "Que Hago Con La Criatura" and "Mas Alia De La Muerte," features, and a short, "La Cucaracha Mexicana." "Heaven" to Music Hall W. G. Van Schmus has completed negotiations with 20th Century-Fox for "Seventh Heaven." The picture has been dated into the Music Hall starting March 25. Warner Club Party Set The Warner Club will hold its an- nual Spring dance and card party Friday at 8 P. M. There will be a ballroom and tap dancing contest. Ettelson Takes House Dick Ettelson, who operates a small circuit of theatres in New Jersey, will take over the new Clifton, N. J., house as soon as it is completed. Industry Rule Is in Balance: Ed Kuykendall {Continued from page 7) ing "more unfair" each selling season, Kuykendall said. "The present situa- tion cannot go on. Distributors must give this more thought and considera- tion. The present near-sighted policy will boomerang on them." Cash awards and giveaways were cited as a problem which every ex- hibitor must answer for himself. Ex- hibitors were warned, however, that the artificial stimulants eventually lost their box-office attraction, or were outlawed, and patronage would become doubly difficult to win thereafter. Relief from the music tax may be possible through the passage of the Duffy Bill, Kuykendall told the con- vention, urging exhibitors to seek sup- port for it in Congress. The convention opened almost an hour late, which, by this time, is ac- cepted practice at all national exhib- itor conventions. About 200 assem- bled for the initial session with plenty of chairs vacant. Kuykendall Report First With amplification furnished by Mirrophonic speakers, the addresses of welcome were made by state and city officials and the return acknowl- edgment was by M. A. Lightman, a former M.P.T.O.A. president. Governor Cone was slated to ap- pear, but could not because of legis- lative business in Tallahassee and so he sent Alto Adams, an aide. Mayor Fossey of Miami was busy refunding a city bond issue and he failed to show up, but his substitute was Dr. George Henry Bradford, who put on a swell sales talk for Miami, its climate and its beaches and glossed over single hotel rooms at $25 per day. The first definite business on the convention was Kuykendall's report, which took 45 minutes to read. Morris Lowenstein, Oklahoma City, switched places with Edward G. Levy, and, as national secretary, confined the bulk of his report not to national affairs, but to the manner in which Oklahoma has developed its own state unit. He did cite, however, what he called the pass evil and urged upon those present the advisability of avoid- ing such "unnecessary exposure" to the whims of legislators. The way out, he said, was for exhibitors to build up the regard in which their theatres are held. Roster Half Complete Levy followed with his report as general counsel. Further details of Levy's report are on Page 8. Aside from entertainment furnished by Mitchell Wolfson, this marked the extent of the opening session. A preliminary registration roster later described by David Palfreyman as "approximately half complete" re- vealed that by 3 o'clock today 200 had been clocked by registration clerks. Of this number, a Motion Picture Daily check demonstrated that 86 actually were active exhib- itors. Twenty-five states and the Dis- trict of Columbia are represented by one or more theatre operators, accord- ing to this listing, including one ex- hibitor from Quebec and another from Winnipeg. States with representation are : Ala- bama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New York, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washing- ton, West Virginia. The other 114 includes accessory, equipment and distribution men plus exhibitors' wives. Notably absent from this list are Paramount men con- vening at the Roney-Plaza. Tonight there was an informal re- ception in the patio of the Miami- Biltmore. Tomorrow will be devoted to discussions of lighting, seating, the- atre fronts and general methods of improving theatre operations. Consolidated, 306 Have Third Session The third arbitration meeting be- tween representatives of Local 306 and Consolidated Amusements in re- gard to the recent "sit-down" strike by the operators was held yesterday at the Hotel Edison. Melvin Albert of Weisman, Celler, Quinn, Allen & Spett, attorneys for the I.T.O.A., represented the circuit, .vhich is a member of the unit. Ben Golden, member of Mayor La Guardia's labor survey board, pre- sided at yesterday's session. The dis- pute concerns an interpretation of the contract. Time, Inc., to Pay $2 Time, Inc., has declared an interim dividend of $2 on the common payable March 31 to holders of record March 20. Merle Oberon Injured London, March 16. — Merle Oberon was taken to a hospital today follow- ing an automobile accident. She was cut about the face and hands. Many Gains on Board Net High Low Close Change Columbia 35 34*6 34% — 54 Consolidated V/a, 454 #A Consolidated, pfd.. 16 16 16 — 54 Eastman Kodak ..16654 166 16654 + & Gen. T. Equip. . . 31 30 30 — $4 K.-A.-O., pfd 105 105 105 +2 Loew's, Inc 78% 77% 78% +154 Paramount 2554 24% 2454 + 54 Paramount 2 pfd.. 22% 22 22% +154 Pathe Film ty& &A 854 + 54 RKO 854 854 854 + 54 20th Century-Fox. 40 3954 3954 — 54 20th Century, pfd.. 4954 4954 4954 + Yt Universal, pfd. ... 90 90 90 —3 Warner Bros 1554. 15 1556 + 54 Curb Issues Steady Net High Low Close Change Grand National . . 35i 2% 356+54 Sonotone 1% 1% 1% — 54 Technicolor 2354 23 2354 + 54 Trans-Lux 454 4% 454 Universal Pict. . . . 12% 12 12 Bonds Hold Levels Net High Low Close Change Loew's 354s '46.... 9854 9854 9854 + ?4 Paramount B'way 3s '55 75 7454 74?4 — 54 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 10054 10054 10054 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 96 9554 96 + 54 (Quotations at close of March 16) WALTER W ANGER P*e\r.nl CHARLES BOYER anllim ARTHUR k LEO CARILLO • COLIN CUVE J)u.rifl h FRANK BORZAGECW""' •'«'/ i, Qta* Z«~n, ..i.Qr.l,** S.L.r Re/coied Ihru UNITED ARTISTS Kann is going places! - - - In Miami to cover the M* P* T* O* A* convention - - - then to Hollywood to take a look at new product, note trends and get a general close- up of the situation there* MOTION PICTURE DAILY at rf*S urn* ■■Mil IP;: 1 ■ ill w SPECIAL A I R EDITION MPTO A CONVENTION MOTION PICTURE DAILY SPECIAL A I R EDITION M PTO A CONVENTION VOL. 41. NO. 63 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1937 TEN CENTS Appeals Court Upholds Sales Tax on Films Affects New York City; Appeal to Be Sought Albany, March 16. — The Court of Appeals, the state's highest tribunal, today affirmed the ruling of the Ap- pellate Division upholding the right of New York City to levy and collect a sales tax on films exhibited within the city. The court also affirmed the earlier decision exempting from the tax the- atres located outside the city limits even though the film supply is ob- tained from New York City ex- changes. The decision was handed down in connection with the appeal of the New York United Artists exchange from an original assessment of two per cent for the municipal sales tax against its film rentals which was made almost two years ago by the city comptroller's office. On appeal to the Appellate Division, rentals de- rived from theatres outside the city, in Westchester, Long Island and New (Continued on page 2) Bank Night Royalty Actions Up in Mass. Boston, March 16. — Suits have been filed in the District Courts of Brock- ton, Marlboro, Lynn and Woburn by George S. Ryan, Bank Night attor- ney, against theatres allegedly refus- ing to pay royalty charges. The de- fendants are Campello Corp., Reading Theatre Corp., Hudson Amusement Corp. and R. B. Rubin. Bank Night has been declared legal by the State Supreme Court, but since that time the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled there can be no infringement of the Bank Night copy- right. The suits are based on alleged breach of contract. Plan No Substitutes For Bank Night Here With Loew's and RKO eliminating games in all of their local theatres and Skouras and Century in a number of its units, no substitutes are planned, according to executives of the four theatre organizations. The feeling among circuit repre- sentatives is that Bank Night and Screeno have been added attractions (Continued on pane 2) Industry Self-Rule At Stake, Says Kuykendall Spitz Heads KAO And Keith Boards Leo Spitz, RKO president, was elected chairman of the board of Keith-Albee-Orpheum and B. F. Keith Corp., two of the company's theatre operating subsidiaries, succeeding M. H. Aylesworth, resigned, the company reported yesterday. Spitz is also pres- ident of the two subsidiaries. A dividend of $1.75 per share on the K-A-0 cumulative preferred was declared out of capital surplus for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 1933, payable April 1, next, to holders of record on March 26. Dividend arrears on this stock thus will amount to $24.50 a share as of April 1. Radio News— Pp. 18-20 Reserve Decision On RKO Petition Federal Court Judge William Bondy reserved decision yesterday after a hearing on the petition of Irving Trust Co., trustee in the reorganization of RKO, for permission to pay the prin- cipal and interest of $600,000 worth of four per cent first lien notes. The trustee stated that $250,000 is now in the hands of the Chemical Bank and Trust Co., as trustee, and that the additional $350,000 can be paid from the cash surplus now held by RKO Radio Pictures, Inc., the producing subsidiary of RKO. A saving of $3,- 000 a month in interest charges will be effected. Hamilton C. Rickaby, representing the Atlas Corp., proponent of the RKO plan of reorganization, opposed (Continued on page 4) Court Permits G. B. Shareholder Action By BRUCE ALLAN London, March 16. — Justice Corss- man in the Chancery Division here today gave leave to the ordinary shareholders of Gaumont British who are objecting to the payment of the dividend on the preference shares to serve notice of a motion against the company on Friday. The dividend was declared by a five to four vote of the directorate recently, John Max- well and the 20th Century-Fox in- terests leading the opposition. The permission to serve notice (Continued on page 4) Allied No. Dakota Bill Becomes Law Bismarck, N. D., March 16. — Gov- ernor Langer signed the bill banning theatre ownership in this state by pro- ducers and distributors yesterday. The law becomes effective immediately. Under its terms circuits have one year to divest themselves of theatre hold- ings in the state. Columbus, March 16. — A hearing before the Judiciary Committee of the House on the theatre divorcement bill is scheduled tomorrow. Charles C. Pettijohn of the Hays office, here for the purpose of testifying, made this comment today : "The theatre divorcement bill and the censorship bill will be fought to the bitter end. The other side has in- vited a fight and they are going to get it." Exchange Employes Meeting With AFL Indianapolis, March 16. — Ex- change employes here have held sev- eral organizing meetings with A. F. of L. and I.A.T.S.E. representatives with indications that a union will be formed and new minimum wage scales drafted for presentation to exchange managers in the near future. The move here is the fifth to come to industry attention during recent weeks, although it is known that or- ganizing of exchange employes is pro- ceeding rapidly and on a nationwide scale. Earlier organizing moves were launched in Boston, Detroit, New (Continued on paae 2) "U" to Concentrate On Big Films: Rogers Charles R. Rogers, executive head of Universal production, said last night that the company would con- centrate more on major productions during the coming season than at any time in its past. Starting the end of this month, he said the company would have a release every week. Three are complete, he said, and others in production will make the maintenance of this schedule possible. Rogers will leave Saturday for the coast. Insists MPTOA Declare For New Campaign On Concessions By RED KANN Miami, March 16. — Continued ef- forts for self-regulation of the indus- try, as opposed to campaigns for leg- islation and litigation, were urged upon the M.PT.O.A. by Ed Kuyken- dall, president, in his annual report, highlighting the opening session of the exhibitor organization's national con- vention at the Miami-Biltmore here today. Pointing out that governmental reg- ulation of the industry could not be confined to production and distribu- tion but must inevitably extend to exhibition, as well, Kuykendall paved the way for the convention itself to declare for a resumption of the M.P. T.O.A. conferences with distributors to obtain liberalized trade practice con- cessions and for the prompt establish- ment of local conciliation boards for adjustment of industry grievances. "The objective of the M.P.T.O.A.," he said, "is to bring about a better understanding between the three divi- sions of the industry — exhibition, pro- duction and distribution. We must — we will — demonstrate to the public and the Government that we can con- duct our own business in an ethical and businesslike way." Kuykendall and all other officers of the M.P.T.O.A., with one exception, were reelected as anticipated, at a meeting of the board of directors this morning, which immediately preceded the first business session of the con- vention. Mitchell Wolfson of Womet- co Theatres, Miami, was elected a vice-president in recognition of his work as chairman of the convention committee, succeeding Ben Berinstein, who continues as a director. It was also felt that no one individual should (Continued on page 7) Paramount Theatre Men Continue Talks Miami Beach, March 16. — Para- mount theatre partners representing hundreds of houses are meeting here for an interchange of actual experi- ences in operation and therefore are following no set routine at the Roney- Plaza. The thought behind the meet- ing is a convergence of the group which is virtually a complete cross- section of the company's exhibition (Continued on paae 2) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, March 17, t937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 March 17, 1937 No. 63 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN. Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- cations : * MOTION PICTUBE HERALD, BETTER THEATRES, TEATRO AL DIA. INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Sts.; Boone Mancall, Manager, CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave., C. B. O'Neill, Manager. WASHINGTON: Albee Building. Bertram F. Linz, Representative. AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan 5; Philip de Schaap, Representative. BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest II; Endre Hevesi, Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientes 2495; N. Bruski, Representative. HELSINKI: Fredriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszio, Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square, W. 1; Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address, Quigpubco, Lon- don. MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins St. ; Cliff Holt, Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart, Representative. MONTEVIDEO: P. O. Box 664; Paul Bodo, Rep- sentative. MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern, Rep- sentative. PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre, Rep- resentative. PRAGUE : Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1; Harry Knopf, Representative. *IO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 3358; A. Weiss- man, Representative. ROME: Viale Gorizia; Vittorio Malpassuti, Rep- resentative. SHANGHAI: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Build- ing. 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler, Rep- resentative. STOCKHOLM: Kungsgatan 36; Ragner Allberg, Representative. TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken; H. Tominaga, Representative. VIENNA: Nuestiftgasse, 55; Vienna VII; Hans Lorant, Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Warners to Get RCA Sound in All Houses RCA Photophone has concluded a contract with Warners calling for the installation of new RCA high fidelity sound equipment in all the houses of the Warner circuit, totaling nearly 400, according to Edwin M. Hartley, head of RCA Photophone. A number of installations were made some time ago, it was indicated, in Philadelphia, Washington and Chi- cago. In all more than 80 houses already have been re-equipped in vari- ous sections of the country. The full circuit contract was then signed. The remaining installations will be com- pleted by the end of the year, Hartley said. Air Cooling Chief N. J, Allied Topic Air cooling of theatres, in prepara- tion for summer, was discussed at length by members of Allied of New Jersey at a meeting at the Lincoln yesterday. Jack Unger, secretary, presided in the absence of Lee New- bury, president, who is vacationing in Miami. Other topics aired included legisla- tion, exchange drives and games. MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Seventh Heaven" (20th Century-Fox) Hollywood, March 16. — The perennial "Seventh Heaven," written by Austin Strong, produced on the stage by John Golden, and filmed 10 years ago with Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell, again reaches the screen, with its simple telling of a great love and its emergence from the squalor of the Paris streets, and its great weight of sentimentality. Perhaps there is too much of the latter for many of the screen audience. It is true that this new version appears overly long, which causes it to drag on several occasions. It might well have been sharpened by reduced length of some sequences, and the picture strengthened thereby. The picture certainly does not suffer, however, by comparison. The per- formances are excellent throughout. Simone Simon is a perfect Diane, mistreated young girl protected and taken in by the boastful and great hearted Chico, played to the hilt by James Stewart. In support, and particularly noteworthy, are Gregory Ratoff, Chico's friend; Jean Her- sholt, the priest, who shows the young atheist the way to God; Gale Sondergard and J. Edward Bromberg. The story, adapted by Melville Baker, was directed ably by Henry King, who succeeded in drawing out the last possible portion of dramatic intensity inherent in the theme. Care is taken to indicate the circum- spect manner in which the girl and the boy occupy the same dwelling for several days, and when war calls him, they marry themselves, tak- ing their vows in the sight of God. Thus the girl who came hopelessly from the gutter finds courage and her heaven in a seventh floor garret, sees it crash about her ears as war comes, and lives on faith and hope and her love for the valient Chico, until he returns, blind but happy, to be reunited with Diane. Production Code Seal No. 3,013. Running time, 102 minutes. "G." (Additional Reviews on Page 10) Plan No Substitutes For Bank Night Here (Continued from page 1) which have outlived their popularity. From now on, the consensus is that pictures will not be faced with ex- traneous competition. RKO, Loew's and Skouras have tipped scales in some of their Greater New York houses, while Century has not. The latter circuit does not feel its theatres could stand an increase in admissions at this time, the con- tention being that prices are now at their peak. Consolidated Amusements and Springer & Cocalis units have not discontinued chance games, and ac- cording to representatives of both companies, no plans are afoot to change the present booking setup. Neither of the two independent cir- cuits has boosted admissions. Members of the I.T.O.A. continue to stand pat on the chance game situa- tion. There are no plans under way by exhibitors in the association to hike admissions. According to coun- sel for the unit, games will not be disbanded until the major circuits raise admissions. Meanwhile, Loew and RKO officials state they will make increases in situations where such moves are found feasible. As for independents not dropping games, the major circuits hold they are not concerned, since they will continue to operate under poli- cies generally accepted by the public. "Steele" Does $20,000 "Nancy Steele Is Missing" garnered approximately $20,000 in its first week at the Rivoli. The Strand tallied about $15,000 on the seven days of "The Great O'Malley." Paramount Theatre Men Continue Talks (Continued from page 1) interests, with the exception of A. H. Blank of Des Moines, and E. C. Beatty of Detroit, who are not in attendance. It is predicated on open discussions of conditions in the various areas on the theory that one far removed from a particular scene may learn some- thing to his advantage and for his application from the experience of another in the field. Admission prices are being discussed, but this does not mean the group necessarily will de- termine upon increases as a nationally applied decision. Insurance is of in- terest as are confirmed reactions to "B" product, although it was stated today "B" pictures will not play an essential part in the discussions. Adolph Zukor arrived from Holly- wood today, accompanied by Shirley Ross and her mother. He will touch upon production in view of the ap- proach of the new season. Primarily, however, this is not a production meet- ing or a distribution session, although Neil F. Agnew arrived from New York tonight. This is the theatre organization's own palaver. With preliminary sessions yesterday and today, the formal meeting opens Thursday. A banquet at the Roney- Plaza will conclude the meeting. Balsdon Leaves Today Los Angeles, March 16. — George Balsdon, booker for National The- atres, is scheduled to leave St. Jo- seph's Hospital, Stockton, Cal., to- morrow for New York. His family, which arrived from the east shortly after he was injured in an automobile accident, will accompany Balsdon home. Appeals Court Upholds Sales Tax on Films (Continued from page 1) Jersey localities, were exempted from the tax. With considerably more than $2,- 000,000 in back taxes, penalties and interest involved, other distributors joined United Artists in mak- ing a test case of the assessment against that exchange. Frederick W. Wood of Cravath, de Gersdorff, Swaine & Wood, who successfully argued the appeal which resulted in invalidating of NRA by the U. S. Supreme Court, was retained to rep- resent the other large distributors. With the United Artists counsel, O'Brien, Driscoll & Raftery, the ap- peal was taken to the state's highest court, where the constitutionality of the sales tax itself was attacked, as well as the right of the municipality to tax a "licensing transaction" in- volved in interstate commerce. The distributors argued that the licensing of film to an exhibitor did not con- stitute a "sale" and, hence, films should not be subject to the tax. The Court of Appeals rejected this line of reasoning and affirmed the lower court decision upholding the city's right to tax theatres without the municipal jurisdiction. A petition for a writ of certiorari will be sought in the U. S. Supreme Court in a further effort to have film rentals exempted from the two per cent city sales tax, it was stated yes- terday at the offices of O'Brien, Dris- coll & Raftery, attorneys for United Artists. New York exchanges have been col- lecting the tax from local exhibitors pending the outcome of the litigation and will continue to do so until the Supreme Court moves have been completed. Morton Baum of the Corporation Counsel's office, representing the city, said that no further appeal on the taxability of revenues from out-of- city sources would be' sought, thus apparently definitely exempting all theatres except those within the city limits from liability under the tax. Baum said he doubted whether the Supreme Court would hear the case, in any event, as he saw no Federal angle involved. Exchange Employes Meeting With AFL (Continued from page 1) Haven and Cleveland. Reports indi- cate that organization of the exchanges is linked with an impending drive to unionize theatre service staffs and ex- tend union projectionists to small city and rural theatres which never before have had union employes. Transamerica Profit Up San Francisco, March 16. — Trans- ameria Corp., has reported net profit for 1936, including its proportionate share of the net profits of subsidiaries, of $25,016,200.95, equal to $1.08 per share, after all charges, which totaled $5,524,697.37. The 1936 net profit compares with $20,319,276 in 1935. THANKS, THANKS 1000 THANKS MR. EXHIBITOR ! We asked for eo-operation in our recent campaign for playing time and you came through 100%. Qratefully yours, o(jexr But what a good thing for both of us ! We've got the playing time and you've got some of the greatest pictures in this or any season, including: MAYTIME Already proven! JEANETTE NELSON MAC DONALD EDDY FREDDIE BARTHOLOMEW SPENCER TRACY CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS Will absolutely electrify . . ."Breathes greatness! A DAY AT THE RACES Better than UA Night at the Opera'1! PARN E LL^J The last word in big pictures! METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER CLARK MYRNA GABLE lOY MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, March 17, 1937 Reserve Decision On RKO Petition {Continued from page 1) the motion on the ground that pay- ment will delay the proposed plan and that it would leave insufficient work- ing capital with the producing unit. He stated that RKO Radio Pictures would have only $1,000,000 in cash on July 1 and said that Leo Spitz, presi- dent of Radio Pictures, is opposed to payment at the present time. He pointed out that other producers main- tained at least $5,000,000 in cash and RKO would be in an unfavorable competitive position if payment were made. He also asserted that he has a purchaser for the notes who will accept a two per cent reduction in in- terest but refused to name the buyer. A. Hunt, representing holders of $1,- 118,500 extended second lien notes, op- posed the motion on the ground that litigation would develop between the Irving Trust Co., Central Hanover Bank and Trust Co. and Chemical Bank and Trust Co. on question of priority of payment. Updike Opposes Delay Stuart Updike, representing Time, Inc., which also holds extended sec- ond lien notes, opposed the motion on the ground that the plan of reorganiza- tion would be delayed. RCA, which holds 38 per cent of the debentures and 23 per cent of the stock, opposed payment on the same ground. The stockholders' committee favored the motion. Judge Bondy indicated that he might send the entire matter to a spe- cial master for a report. Security holders are apprehensive in view of the fact that the elimination of the notes may eliminate the secured position of the RKO debentures. Under the indenture, the debentures 'may be deprived of their second lien on the RKO( assets securing the gold notes if the notes are paid off, ac- cording to some legal interpretations. Blackton, Smith Testify Los Angeles, March 16. — Techni- color today produced two witnesses in the action of Tricolor against Techni- color for alleged infringement. The two were J. Stuart Blackton and Al- bert E. Smith, film pioneers. They said that in 1904, two years before the registration of Duplex, cameras existed embodying the principles claimed for the present apparatus. FLY Overnight TO CALIFORNIA in American's NEW14-berth Flag- ship Sleepers. Quietest, most luxurious planes. Only American flies the favorable lower-level Southern Transcontinental Route. Phone VAnderbilt 3-2580 or your travel agent Ticket Office — 45 Vanderbilt Ave. AMERICAN AIRLINES inc. i Purely Personal ► WG. VAN SCHMUS missed his • golf game on his vacation trip to Phoenix, Ariz. He said he sprained his wrist and was thereby prevented from playing during the three weeks he was away. Returning by way of Los Angeles, Van Schmus visited a number of the studios and said "there will be a lot of big pictures this fall." With no stories to tell about his form on this trip, Van Schmus was eager to recount some of his fishing experiences of last fall. But he de- cided that these stories were old and best forgotten at this time. • J. W. Watts Phillips, director of the London Play Co. and co-author of "Love on the Dole," will arrive from England today on the Beren- garia. Rudi Feld, former advertis- ing head of Ufa in Berlin, is on the same boat en route to Hollywood from Tel Aviv. • Major L. E. Thompson and A. P. Waxman flew to Miami yesterday to attend the M.P.T.O.A. and Para- mount theatre partner sessions. Ma- jor Thompson will talk to both groups on the Will Rogers Memorial Fund Drive. • Arthur Lee has booked passage on the Normandie for the latter part of April. He will attend the Coronation in addition to conferring with the Ostrers. • Lieut. Franklin Andreon, Jr., of the U. S. Marine Corps., Reserve, has sold an original to Monogram. It will be adapted for "The Marines Are Here." • Ralph B. Austrian, assistant vice- president of RCA Photophone, will sail on the Pilsiidski on Friday for a week in Bermuda. His wife and daughter will accompany him. • Reginald S. Evans, formerly with the New York sales staff of the Saturday Evening Post, has joined the eastern sales force of Jam Handy Picture Servic^. - I • Harry C. Arthur and William Schneider plan to return to St. Louis today, but may change their departure until the latter part of the week. Michael Balcon, scheduled to ar- rive yesterday on the Berengaria, has been delayed a day due to bad weather on the high seas. • W. A. V. Mack, Chicago branch manager for G. B. has returned to his headquarters after conferring with home office executives on openings of "Silent Barriers." • Norman H. Moray, Vitaphone shorts executive, arrives today in Portland on a business tour. He is due in San Francisco tomorrow. • I. Rappaport of the Hippodrome, Baltimore, was in town yesterday on his regular trip. • Mrs. Joseph L. Mankiewitz (Elizabeth Young) is in town for two weeks, at the Ambassador. • Hy Daab was home yesterday with a bad cold. MIKE RUDIN of Rapf & Rudin is in Miami. Ditto Harry Bux- baum of the local 20th Century-Fox exchange. Jack Sichelman of the distributor's home office sales staff is recuperating there from an illness and will be back in about two weeks. Joe Seider is due to return next week. • Roy Haines, eastern sales manager for Warners, last night was tendered a surprise party by the employes of the local exchange. The affair was held at the Suffern Country Club, Suf- fern, N. Y., with Harry Decker as m. c. • C. C. Moskowitz has delayed his Miami vacation until April, when Nicholas M. Schenck is due to re- turn from the coast. • Jack Ellis is back from Miami and already busy on the second issue of The Reel. • Frances Marion, new Columbia producer, is in town from the coast. Grace Moore also is visiting here. • George Skouras has gone to Golden Beach, Fla., for a three-week rest. Kansas Now Has 2% Occupation Tax Bill Topeka, March 16. — The Senate Committee on Assessment and Taxa- tion in Kansas has submitted a bill providing for a two per cent occupa- tion tax. This is regarded as an alternative to the two per cent sales tax, which the farmers particularly have been opposing. It would be al- most impossible for theatres to pass an occupation tax on to the public. Retailers would be responsible for payment of the occupation tax which would be based on gross receipts. Expect New Alien Bill Washington, March 16. — A new drive for legislation against alien art- ists, but primarily directed at the con- cert field, will be made in Congress in the near future, it was asserted by Charles Henry Freeman, star witness before the Dickstein Immigration Committee, in favor of the alien actor bill. Measures providing for a tax of 50 per cent of the gross fees of foreign artists in excess of $500 a week, and an investigation of alleged monopolis- tic control of musical activities in this country will be introduced within a few weeks, Freeman said. The rev- enue from the tax would be used to subsidize a Government grand opera company and a Government symphony orchestra. Advance Walkathon Bill Oklahoma City, March 16. — A bill by Senator W. C. Fidler, to make illegal marathons, walkathons and similar endurance contests has been reported favorably to the House by Judiciary No. 1 Committee. The bill already has passed the Senate. N. H. Against Daylight Time Concord, N. H, March 16.— A bill to establish daylight saving time in New Hampshire, except in isolated spots where it is adopted by local option, has been voted down nearly two to one by the House. Court Permits G. B. Shareholder Action (Continued from page 1) means in effect an application for an injunction to restrain the directors from paying the preference dividend. The application will be heard on Friday. * Dr. Burgin, Parliamentary secre- tary of the Board of Trade, declared in the House of Commons today in reply to a question that he was not aware G. B. is controlled by Amer- ican interests, and that he is not pre- pared to eliminate the word "British" from the name of the company. May Sell Griffith Assets Federal Court Judge Samuel Man- delbaum yesterday ordered all credi- tors and stockholders of D. W. Grif- fith, Inc., to show cause on March 26 why Joseph Gans, receiver, should not be permitted to sell the assets of the corporation at public auction. The assets include film and musical rights to 20 stories, property in Mamaroneck, N. Y. and office equipment. Cash on hand and cash held by the United Artists Corp. as proceeds of the pic- ture "The Struggle" will not be of- fered. Counsel for the stockholders who brought the receivership action and counsel for the corporation have consented to the sale. Cocalis to File Appeal Sam D. Cocalis says he will file an appeal from the ruling of N. Y. Supreme Court Justice Schientag placing the Melba in the Bronx within one mile of John Bolte's Burke Thea- tre. Cocalis says the ruling was based on a crow-flight measurement of the distance. He will contend that by street travel the distance is one and three-tenths miles. Cocalis asserts that he has never had any connection with the Craft, opposition house to Bolte's Wakefield. Dismisses Robbins Action Federal Court Judge Alfred C. Coxe yesterday dismissed the $1,000,000 damage suit brought by H. Miles against the Robbins Music Corp. The order was made by consent by both parties and stipulated that the dismiss- al was to be without costs. The ac- tion is based upon an alleged piracy of Miles' lyrics for the song "Anchors Aweigh" which he wrote while a stu- dent in the U. S. Naval Academy. 20th-Fox Asks Dismissal Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp. filed a motion in U. S. District Court yesterday to dismiss the suit brought by F. K. Kaplan on the ground that his complaint failed to state a cause of action. The action is for an ac- counting and an injunction based on an alleged infringement of an original painting of George White's "Scandals of 1935" which appeared as a color design on the August, 1929, issue of Theatre Magazine. Warner Trial March 29 Federal Court Judge Alfred C. Coxe yesterday set March 29 as the trial date of a suit brought by Al- fred Bein against Warners. Bein claims that the Warner picture, "The Mayor of Hell," infringed on his play which was known under the two titles, "Right Out of Hell" and "Little 01' Boy." An injunction and an account- ing of profits were asked. MOTION PICTURE DAILY Moon Over Miami Ten Committees in Hard WorkofMPTO Wednesday, March 17, 1937 Industry Rule Is in Balance: Ed Kuykendall (Continued from pane 1) be an officer as well as a specially ' designated director. * The officers, in addition to Kuyken- dall, are: M. E. Comerford, M. A. Lightman, E. C. Beatty, A. Julian Brylawski and Wolfson, vice-presi- dents ; Morris Lowenstein, secretary ; Walter Vincent, treasurer ; Edward G. Levy, general counsel, and Fred Wehrenberg, chairman of the board. All officers are directors automatically, which adds one member, Wolfson, to the board. In his report, which touched upon 12 outstanding industry subjects, Kuy- kendall made repeated references to the dissatisfaction with which M.P. T.O.A. leaders view the responses of distribution companies to the organiza- tion's trade practice program. In ad- dition to the M.P.T.O.A. negotiations with distributors, the report referred in detail and separately to cancellation, the score charge and the local con- ciliation boards, all of which are com- ponent parts of the organization's trade practice program. Reviews Practice Program The report also covered the new labor developments within the indus- try, current legislative developments, including the Allied States-sponsored measures for the separation of theatre operation from production and distrib- ution affiliation ; radio competition, double featuring, percentage engage- ments and the designation of preferred playing time, cash awards and other types of giveaways, the music tax and current product. Reviewing the M.P.T.O.A. efforts of the past year to obtain distributor support for the trade practice pro- gram, Kuykendall related that it took 10 months to get the first reply from a distributor and that one company, Warners, among the eight major dis- tributors, declined to participate. He stated, however, that despite the de- lays, refusals and evasions "a fair trade practice program must be worked out, and without the Govern- ment doing it for us." Citing cancellation as the most im- portant of the M.P.T.O.A.'s famous 10 points, Kuykendall declared that a fair cancellation percentage "with- out strings attached" holds the cure for "more of the rightful complaints from exhibitors than any other one thing. The cancellation privileges of- fered so -far by the distributors are not satisfactory." Attacks Score Charges Resuming his attack upon the score charges as "a racket," Kuykendall called for its complete elimination from percentage agreements and for consolidation with the film rental on flat buys. Voicing his discouragement over the "long delay" in the setting up local conciliation boards, the M.P.T. O.A. head asserted that, even allow- ing for the exercise of proper cau- tion on the part of the distributors in proceeding with the new agencies, "they should have been operating be- fore now." He asked for the estab- lishment of two or three trial boards Miami, March 16. — Bob and Mau- rine McNeil enjoyed their journey from San Francisco via the canal. They flew over from Havana which persuaded Jimmy Grainger to re- mark : "McNeil's been up in the air all of his life, but the first time in a plane." Confirmed by the head of Golden States Theatres. * * * Dave Palfreyman, aided by Mitchell Wolfson, who is in gen- eral charge of the convention arrange- ments, or perhaps the other way around, assembled a bevy of local beauties to register the delegates. Noticed was the length of time the male contingent spent around the en- try desks behind which sat the blonde array. * * * Percy Phillipson is hiding behind black sun glasses, but is fooling no- body. Mrs. Phillipson immediately repaired to the beach at the Roney for siestas and sun bathing. * * * Buddy Harris of Alexander Film — he of the wide rear girth — finds the chairs in the bar grill at the Roney exactly to his measure. When the place is crowded, which is practically before they are extended nationally and urged "fair exhibitor representa- tion" for their personnel. While scoring the distributors' "re- sistance and indifference" as "discour- aging," Kuykendall asserted that the M.P.T.O.A. "does not intend to abandon its efforts to advance its trade practice as rapidly as possible now." "The present slow progress can- not continue indefinitely," he said. "Either this industry will demonstrate that it has the ability, initiative and intelligence to work out its own busi- nes problems itself or we will inevi- tably get such regulation by legisla- tion and litigation, however stupid and costly that may be." Declaring that "serious labor trouble looms ahead," Kuykendall advised the exhibitors "to prepare for a battle to defend our interests and rights." He declared that "there can be no question as to where our sympathy is since, unless the men and women who work for a living earn more than barely enough to live, there can be no prosperity so far as our theatres are concerned. But there must be rea- son and common sense in labor de- mands." Hits Pettengill Bill He described the current attempts to organize exchange employes "and others of a like service" as "very un- fortunate, unworkable and without cause." Reviewing current legislative activ- ities, Kuykendall urged members to in- terest themselves in measures affect- ing the industry and to remain in con- tact with their state and Federal rep- resentatives. He referred to both the Dickstein alien actor bill and the Pettengill block-booking bill as unable to accomplish their ends and offering nothing of value to the industry. He predicted the defeat of the former and urged exhibitors to aid in de- feating the second if it is brought up at this session of Congress. Of the Allied States "theatre di- vorce" measures, the M.P.T.O.A. head always, Buddy squeezes in, then goes from one table to another with his chair firmly attached. * * * Bob Gillham arrived by air from New York. Shirley Ross is sole representative of the talent equation from the Paramount lot. * * * Oscar C. Lam of the Rome Amuse- ment Co. is here, five weeks of hos- pitalizing behind him. Suffering from arthritis, he states he is well except for additional treatment of his left arm. * * * The Erpi crowd expects to create amusement and perhaps some wonder- ment with a mechanical robot set up for exclusive convention amusement. They call him Oscar. Charlie Bunn is representing his company as are L. W. Conroy, "Red" Stong and Bert Sanford. Whitford Drake ar- rived Tuesday evening from New York. * * * The races are getting quite a play. Also Johnny Walker, Ballantine, Tom Collins. The latter gentlemen have been on familiar terms with those at this convention for years. said he could make "no prophecy on the final results," and added that "I am hopeful that it (the legislation) will be constructive." "What will happen to those Dakota theatres which are owned by a pro- ducer?" the M.P.T.O.A. head asked after observing that the theatre divorce measure had become a law in that state. "Will an independent take them over and will they then become an independently owned chain?" he con- tinued. "If so, where will the relief be? Are independent chains any more considerate of the little fellow than the producer-controlled chains? How long will it take to test the con- stitutionality of the legislation in the courts ?" Urges Radio Control Declaring that with proper regula- tion radio and films "could be helpful to each other," Kuykendall took the position that "to try and bar any and all screen stars from the radio is im- possible and stupid. On the other hand, the unrestricted and unlimited use of screen personalities and dra- matic material on radio programs is equally foolish and stupid. Many au- thorities in this industry have been and still are working on this problem, but very little actual progress is ap- parent. Unless the studios which have valuable property rights involved wake up and exercise reasonable control in such situations, they will inevitably find that the public, speaking through the box-office and film rentals, will show them their mistake." "Double featuring," Kuykendall said, "is apparently completely out of control. The number of second rate productions purposely made for double feature programs is rapidly increasing. Short subject production is being cur- tailed and cheapened. Some day," he observed, "double featuring will cure itself, after it has cost us millions at the box-office." Demands for percentage contracts and preferred playing time are becom- (Continued on page 20) Miami, March 16. — Ten committees will be the work horses of the M.P. T.O.A. convention. They will meet each day on the general theory that complaints, no matter of what nature, should be submitted to committees in closed sessions rather than clutter the open convention floor and thereby de- lay the set routine. M. E. Comerford, Scranton, Pa., is chairman of the committee on creden- tials and rules. This is an honorary post out of deference to Comerford who, in view of his long illness, ob- viously will not be active. Ten Groups Named The committees are : Resolutions — Edward G. Levy, New Haven, chairman ; E. M. Fay, Provi- dence ; B. N. Berinstein, Los Angeles ; William Vuono, Stamford, and R. A. McNeil, San Francisco ; music tax — Charles W. Picquet, Pinehurst, chairman ; William Benton, Saratoga Springs ; A. J. Brylawski, Washing- ton and J. A. Michael, Buffalo ; un- fair trade practices — O. C. Lam of Rome, Ga., chairman; H. W. Harvey, San Francisco ; Arthur H. Lockwood, Middletown, Conn, and Nat M. Wil- liams, Thomasville, Ga. ; radio and non-theatrical competition — John C. Stapel of Columbia, Mo., chairman; Samuel Pinanski, Boston and J. C. Shanklin, Ronceverte, W. Va. ; enter- tainment values — H. J. Griffith, Okla- homa City, chairman; Benjamin Pitts, Fredericksburg, Va. ; M. C. McCord, Little Rock, and Mack Jackson, Alex- ander City, W. Va. Additional Committees Public Relations and community af- fairs— M. A. Lightman, Memphis, chairman ; Max Tabackman, New Haven; William Missner, Lancaster, Pa., and Pinanski ; conciliation and arbitration — . Lewen Pizor, Phila- delphia, chairman ; William G. Ripley, Longview, Wash.; A. F. Baker, Kan- sas City. Kan., and Brownie Akers, Oklahoma City; labor relations — Fred Wehrenberg, St. Louis, chair- man ; I. W. Rogers, Cairo, 111. ; Sidney B. Lust, Washington, and Morris Leonard, Chicago ; legislation and tax- ation— Roy L. Walker, Lampasas, Tex., chairman; R. R. Biechele, Kan- sas City; Carter Barron, Washington, and M. C. Moore; credentials and rules — M. E. Comerford, Scranton, chairman; Dewey Mousson, Nashville and Louis C. Hehl, St. Louis. Moral Tone Better Miami, March 16.— "The moral tone of pictures is greatly improved," Ed Kuy- kendall, M. P. T. O. A. presi- dent, declared in his annual report submitted to the na- tional exhibitor convention here today. "I have never conceded that pictures were as bad as many contended," he said. "However, they are in better taste and less offensive to those who felt that there was room for improvement. A large number of pictures are being offered every day which are a credit to the industry, as a whole, and to Holly- wood, which makes them." 1 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, March 17, 1937 Court Trend Hits Games, States Levy Miami, March 16. — "The current tendency, due probably to recognition of the fact that all border-line lotter- ies are against public policy, is to put Bank Night behind the eight-ball on any tenable theory," Edward G. Levy of New Haven, general counsel, told the M. P. T. O. A. convention here today in the course of the annual re-, port of the general counsel. He cited the opinion of the Supreme Court of Texas at Austin in January in the case of Wink vs. Griffith Amusement Co., which held that "Bank Night is a violation of pub- lic policy and unconstitutional. The plan clearly comes within the con- demnatory terms of the constitution because it is a gift enterprise involv- ing the lottery principle." Levy also noted the decision of the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston, which, in deciding against Affiliated Enterprises, Inc., Bank Night owners, declared the theory of Bank Night is in the public domain and possessed no property rights that can be appropriated. Levy presented to the convention a brief outline of the setup of the M. P. T. O. A. and the manner in which the organization operates. He pointed out that the present board of directors consists of 22 state or regional units, five representing the affiliated national circuits and one representing M. P. T. G". A. members not connected with either of the other groups. Cites Perelman Case Levy reported "with regret" that there were no new developments in the past year in the pending case of the Government against Ascap. The general counsel went on to explain the significance to exhibitors of vari- ous cases pending or recently com- pleted in the courts, in which theatre owners have been involved. He mentioned, among others, the Perelman double bill case in Philadel- phia, in which exhibitors contested the legality of dual banning clauses in ex- hibition contracts, and the action of Brandt Theatres in New York against Loew's circuit, relative to Loew's re- cent action in shifting the week's split from four days and three days, to five and two. He also touched on the the- atre divorcement law just approved in North Dakota, and expresssed the firm belief that it will be attacked on constitutional grounds and that ulti- mately the U. S. Supreme Court will be asked to pass upon its legality. Pick Board Later Miami, March 16. — The men pictured on this page and noted as directors were not elected to the board at to- day's meeting of the directo- rate, since directors are elected by members in their respective territories at a date following the conven- tion. However, the men designated as directors are considered certain of reelec-. tion to the national board by their own units. Leaders of the M.RT.O.A. M. E. COMERFORD M. A. LIGHTMAN A. J. BRYLAWSKI E. G. LEVY Vice-President Vice-President Vice-President General Connsel F. WEHRENBERG Board Chairman WALTER VINCENT BEN BERINSTEIN M. 1LOWENSTEIN Treasurer Director Secretary J. BERNHARD Director L. E. THOMPSON Director S. P. SKOTJRAS E. A. SCHILLER Director Director E. M. FAY Director O. C. LAM Director JACK MILLER Director MORGAN A. WALSH C. E. WILLIAMS Director Director C. W. PICQUET SIDNEY B. LUST R. X. WILLIAMS Director Director Director HITCH UP A L LAUGHS ON EVERY KIKO THE KANGAROO in THE HAY RIDE FARMER AL FALFA kin FLYING SOUTH THE Sfiort TRAIL IS THE SUNNY TRAIL TO PROFITS 3. r4, KEATON IN Presented by E. W. HAMMONS "THE SPICE OFTHE PROGRAM" Reg. U. S. Pat. Off. DISTRIBUTED IN U.S.A. BY 20th CENTURY-FOX FILM CORPORATION 10 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, March 17, 1937 "Love News" Show$15,000 In St. Louis St. Louis, March 16. — "Love Is News" with a stage show had the best take in a below average week, drawing $15,000 to the Ambassador, or about $1,000 above par. The St. Louis with a return en- gagement of "Champagne Waltz" and a stage show including vaudeville and a chorus was the only other house to go above par, grossing $7,500, or $500 up. The weather for the week was very favorable, but it was apparent that the Lenten season was affecting at- tendance. "The Good Earth" at the Ameri- can did excellent business. Aside from the American, the total first run business was $57,000. Av- erage is $59,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 11 : "LOVE IS NEWS" (20th-Fox) AMBASSADOR — (3,018), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Stage, vaudeville. Gross: $15,000. (Average, $14,000) "JOHN MEAD'S WOMAN" (Para.) "MIDNIGHT COURT" (W.B.) FOX— (5,038), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $11,500. (Average, $13,000) "ESPIONAGE' (M-G-M) "MEN ARE NOT GODS" (U.A.) LOEWS — (3,162), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $14,000) "WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE" (Col.) "GREEN LIGHT" (F.N.) MISSOURI— (3,514), 25c-35c-5Sc, 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $11,000) "CHAMPAGNE WALTZ" (Para.) ST. LOUIS— (4,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Stage, vaudeville. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $7,000) "Holy Terror" Dual Lincoln's Best Bet Lincoln, March 16. — "Holy Ter- ror," on a dual with "The Great O'Malley," turned in the best show- ing of a dull week here. The $2,700 gross at the Lincoln was $500 over normal. A split week bill at the Orpheum consisting of "Midnight Court" and a stage show the first three days and "As You Like It" on a roadshow basis the last four turned in a total of $2,200 for the week. This was $450 on the profit side. Total first run business was $9,400. Average is $9,000. Estimated takings: Week Ending March 10: "LAWLESS NINETIES" (Republic) "WITHOUT ORDERS" (RKO) "MAN ON THE FLYING TRAPEZE" (Para.) "BOLD CABALLERO" (Republic) LIBERTY — (1,200), 10c-15c, 7 days. Gross: $800. (Average, $850) Week Ending March 11: "GREAT O'MALLEY" (W.B.) "HOLY TERROR" (2 / ./.«, i„ Qc.„ C„«n< ,,,,1 Qral,„,„ $A'•'» Reservations from WILLIAM BRANDT, Chairman Globe Thealre Times Square, New York RADIO MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, March 18, 1937 FCC Hearings From April to June Are Set Washington, March 17. — The F.C.C. today made public a tentative schedule of hearings from the middle of April to the end of June, as fol- lows : April 15 — Before the broadcast divi- sion : Applications of the Hannibal Broadcasting Co. and of the Courier- Post Publishing Co. for new stations at Hannibal, Mo., operating on 1,310 kilocycles, 100 watts ; Hunt Broadcast- ing Ass'n, Greenville, Tex., for new station on 1,200 kilocycles, 100 watts, and Stations KFPM, Greenville, Tex., for change of frequency to 1,420 kilo- cycles and increase of power to 100 watts, and KALB, Alexandria, La., for increase of time. April 16 — -Before an examiner : Ap- plications of Stations WIOD-WMBF, Miami Beach, for change of frequency to 610 kilocycles; and KJBS, San Francisco, for change of frequency to 1,080 kilocycles. Heavy Day for April 19 April 19 — Before an examiner: Ap- plications of Valley Broadcasting Co., Youngstown, for 1,350-kilocycle, 1,000- watt station; Abraham Plotkin, Chi- cago, for 1,570-kilocycle, 1,000-watt station; Philadelphia Radio Broad- casting Co., Philadelphia, for 1,570- kilocycle, 1,000-watt station; Ohio Broadcasting Co., Marion, O., for 880- kilocycle, 250-watt daytime station; Food Terminal Broadcasting Co., Cleveland, for 1,500-kilocycle, 100- watt daytime station, and Summit Radio Corp., Akron, for 1,530-kilo- cycle, 1,000-watt station; and Stations KGBX, Springfield, Mo., for increase of power to 500 watts ; WHK, Cleve- land, for increase of day power to 5,000 watts; WDAS, Philadelphia, for change of frequency to 1,390 kilo- cycles and increase of power to 500 watts night, 1,000 watts day; KQV, Pittsburgh, for increase of power to 1,000 watts; WSMK, Dayton, for in- crease of power to 250 watts night, 500 watts day; and WMBH, Joplin, Mo., for change of frequency to 1,380 kilocycles and increase of power to 500 watts. Arkansas Pleas to Be Heard April 20 — Before an examiner : Ap- plication of Radio Enterprises, Inc., Hot Springs, Ark., for 1,310-kilocycle, 100-watt daytime station, and Asso- ciated Arkansas Newspapers, Inc., Hot Springs, for 1,310-kilocycle, 100- watt daytime station. April 22 — Before the broadcast divi- sion : Application of Hildreth & Rog- ers Co., Lawrence, Mass., for 680- kilocycle, 1,000-watt daytime station, and Old Colony Broadcasting Corp., Brockton, Mass., for 680-kilocycle, 250-watt daytime station ; and Station WNBC, New Britain, Conn., for in- i£0 SAYS Happy Birthday ! WHN is fifteen years old today! m-g'-'m"loews "Definite Value" "I want you to know that I have read with interest your coverage on radio. I can only say that I believe it has a definite value to the exhibi- tor and I look forward with interest to it."— 72. J. O'Don- nell, general manager, Inter- state Circuit, Inc., Dallas. crease of time and increase of day power to 1,000 watts. April 23 — Before an examiner: Ap- plication of John C. Hughes, Pheonix City, Ala., for 1,310-kilocycle, 100- watt daytime station ; G. Kenneth Mil- ler, Tulsa, Okla., for 1,310-kilocycle, 100-watt station; Galesburg Printing & Publishing Co., Galesburg, 111., for 1,500-kilocycle, 250-watt daytime sta- tion, and Ann Arbor Broadcasting Co., Ann Arbor, for 1,550-kilocycle, 1,000-watt station. April 26 — -Before an examiner : Ap- plications of Clark Standiford and L. S. Coburn, Fremont, Neb., for 1,420- kilocycle, 100-watt station; Frank M. Stearns, Salisbury, Md., for 1,200- kilocycle, 250-watt daytime station, and Dan B. Shields, Provo, Utah, for 1,200-kilocycle, 100-watt station. April 29 — Before the broadcast divi- sion: Applications of George Harm, Fresno, Cal., for 1,310-kilocycle, 100- watt station, and Station WAAB, Bos- ton, for increase of day power to 1,000 watts. Coral Gables Asks Station April 30 — Before an examiner : Ap- plications of F. W. Borton, Coral Gables, Fla., for 1,420-kilocycle, 100- watt station; Roberts-MacNab Co., Bozeman, Mont., for 1,420-kilocycle station, 100 watts night, 250 watts day, and Earl Weir, St. Petersburg, Ha., for 1,370-kilocycle, 100-watt sta- tion. May 4 — Before an examiner : Appli- cations of C. P. Sudweeks, Spokane, for 950-kilocycle station, 500 watts night, 1,000 watts day; Clarence A. Berger and Saul S. Freeman, Coeur dAlene, Idaho, for 1,200-kilocycle, 100-watt daytime station. May 5 — Before an examiner : Appli- cations of George W. Young, St. Paul, Minn., for 920-kilocycle station, 1,000 watts night, 5,000 watts day ; National Battery Broadcasting Co., St. Paul, for 920-kilocycle station, 1,000 watts ; National Battery Broadcasting Co., St. Paul, for 580-kilocycle, 1,000-watt sta- tion; Northern Broadcasting Co., Traverse City, Mich., for 830-kilo- cycle, 500-watt daytime station ; North- west Publications, Inc., Duluth, for 580-kilocycle, 250-watt daytime sta- tion ; and Station WAAF, Chicago, for increase of time and increase of day power to 5,000 watts. To Consider Time Increases May 11 — Before an examiner: Ap- plications of Stations KFUO, Clay- ton, Mo., for increase of time to 1,000- watts night, 5,000 watts day ; WAAT, Jersey City, for increase of power to 1,000 watts; and KFRU, Columbia, Mo., for increase of night power to 1,000 watts. May 12 — Before an examiner : Ap- plication of Central Michigan Radio Co., Alt. Pleasant, Mich., for 570- kilocycle, 250-watt station. May 18 — Before an examiner: Ap- plication of Stations KVOO, Tulsa, Okla., for increase of power to 50,000 watts ; and KYW, Philadelphia, for increase of its power to 50,000 watts. June 1 — Before an examiner : Ap- plication of W. H. Hartman Co., Waterloo, la., for 1,420-kilocycle, 100- watt station. June 28 — Before an examiner : Ap- plication of Station KRKO, Everett, Wash., for change of frequency to 1,420 kilocycles and increase of power to 100 watts night, 250 watts day. KDYL in Store Tieup Salt Lake City, March 17. — KDYL has taken the lead in pro- moting and broadcasting a new idea in merchandising for department stores. A new contract with the Auerbach Co., leading department store, calls for five remote control broadcasts a day from the store. KDYL's Engineering Staff has wired the three-story building — pro- viding remote outlets in every depart- ment to which portable equipment can be connected. Department heads, sales people and customers, are interviewed. Broad- casts are planned 10 days in advance with the store's advertising depart- ment— coordinating the radio promo- tion with the store's newspaper and other advertising. "Welcome Valley" to Fade "Welcome Valley," long-term net- work favorite, fades from the NBC airwaves with the broadcast of April 30, and will be succeeded the follow- ing Tuesday, April 6, by a new pro- gram entitled "It Can Be Done." The new series will continue to star Edgar Guest, and will feature the band of Frankie Masters. The time and network, Tuesdays, 8:30 to 9 P.M., E. S. T. on the Blue, remain the same as at present. Sarnoff on Holland Program David Sarnoff, president of RCA, will broadcast greetings to the N. V. Philips Omroep Holland-Indie, Euro- pean shortwave transmitter, March 20, on the 10th anniversary of the founding of the foreign station. The address here will be carried over the combined NBC-Red and Blue net- works beginning at 9:21 A.M., E.S.T. Bette Davis, Bogart on Air Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart will offer a radio version of their latest film, "Marked Woman," on "Hollywood Hotel" March 26. The engagement marks Miss Davis' first appearance on the program this year, and Bogart's second "Hotel" appear- ance in the last month. He previ- ously appeared in "Black Legion." "Mason, Dixon" Starts March 23 "Mason and Dixon," new team dis- covered by Charles Wilshin, director of WMCA's artists' bureau, start a three-a-week series over the Inter- City network March 23. They will be heard Tuesday, Thursdays and Fri- days at 10:45 A.M. WINS to Broadcast Circus WINS will broadcast the Cole Bros.-Clyde Beatty Circus daily from the Hippodrome beginning March 18 and continuing through March 22. Ad- ditionally, the broadcasts will be fed to the affiliated stations of the New York State network. Plan Mexican Network San Diego, March 17. — Plans are under way for a new Mexican net- work linking border station in Tiju- ana and Mexicali, Lower California. Wave Bouncing Hits San Diego Reception San Diego, March 17. — The cur- rent prize CBS coast headache is self- interference which messes up KNX programs for the San Diego area. The network outlet has been via the Don Lee web, serving San Diego through KGB. The recent shakeup which left KGB a Mutual outlet and chopped CBS off at KNX created a situation which has both the San Diego listeners and the chain up in the air. The reason is that when night sets in, periodic mushiness messes up KNX programs here. Technical men say all stations experience this difficulty at certain distances. It seems the sky wave bounces back from the hea- vyside layer to clash with the ground wave. The twin waves go in and out of phase. In daylight the sky wave is ionized by the sun's rays and is absorbed before it gets a chance to bounce. Radio columnists, lacking satisfac- tory explanations from CBS as to its plans, are taking the KNX outlet for a ride, with fans bombarding the sta- tion and sponsors with squawks on reception. Most listeners have to turn to KSL, Salt Lake, which is just far enough away to fight with the noise level at times. Ruffner Switch Confirmed It was officially admitted yesterday that "Tiny" Ruffner is leaving Ben- ton & Bowles to accept a production position with Ruthrauff & Ryan, thus confirming Motion Picture Daily's exclusive report a week ago. Ruffner leaves for Hollywood in two weeks to supervise production on the Milton Berle, Joe Penner and Community Sing programs. Atlantic Gets Pirates Games The Atlantic Refining Co. has signed to broadcast all Pittsburgh Pirates games away from home over WWSW, Pittsburgh, on a recon- structed basis. N. W. Ayer & Son placed the account. Wall Street Board Off; U. Drops 8 Points Net High Low Close Change 34H 34 34 - Vi Columbia, pfd. . . . 43 43 43 - 54 45/i *H - V% Consolidated, pfd. 1654 16/8 1654 + 54 Eastman Kodak . 16534 164J4 16454 -254 Gen. T. Equip. .. 30 2844 29 —1 Loew's, Inc 7854 78 78 - % Paramount 2554 2454 24^6 -Vs Paramount 2 pfd. 223,4 2V/t 2VA —l Pathe Film 8% 854 854 — 'A RKO 834 m. m - 'A 20th Century-Fox. 40 3834 39 - 54 20th Century, pfd. 485^ 485^ - % Universal, pfd. . . . 89 82 82 —8 Warner Bros. . . . 1534 15 15 Curb Declines Fractionally Net High Low Close Change Grand National . . 35| 3lA 3A Sentry Safety .... 54 54 Va- — lA Sonotone VA VA VA Technicolor 23 2254 2254 — 54 Trans-Lux 434 44-i 4$A Warner, Paramount Bonds Gain Net High Low Close Change Loew's 354s '46. . . . 97J4 9754 9754 — 34 Paramount B'way 3s '55 7554 7554 7554 + 54 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 10054 10056 1005i Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 9654 96 9654 + 54 (Quotations at close of March 17) Thursday, March 18, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY RADIO KIDO, Boise, to Go Into NBC's Network KIDO, Boise, Idaho, will he linked to the NBC chain July 1. KIDO . operates on a daytime power of 2,500 watts; 1,000 watts at night. C. G. Phillips and Frank L. Hill own the station jointly. The station will join the North i Mountain group, which is an optional ! web of the NBC network. Effective with the amalgamation, KIDO will be the only network af- filiated station in the entire state. The ; nearest NBC station is approximately 230 miles away. When the lines are :. finally linked up, the station will have the longest wire haul of any NBC station. "Lum and Abner" in Chicago Chicago, March 17. — "Lum and Abner" arrive here Monday from Hollywood to confer with their spon- sors regarding a new premium plan which will be offered on their broad- casts for Horlick this spring. The comedians will continue their program from local studios here, returning to Hollywood next week. The new premium idea will involve thousands of dollars in cash and mer- chandise awards, it is reported. Use Radio in Crime Fight Detroit, March 17.- — Calling radio into service in its war against crime, the Delinquency Prevention Commit- tee of Michigan is presenting a series of educational broadcasts every Mon- day night at 10 :30 P.M., over WWJ. The purpose is to focus civic atten- tion on a basic essential of crime prevention, namely, the reduction of juvenile delinquency. CBS Men to Confer at Frisco Hollywood, March 17. — Donald W. Thornburgh and Fox Case, CBS coast officials, leave for San Fran- jisco and Sacramento, tomorrow, to confer with civic and Government of- ficials on the Golden Gate Fiesta in April. The executives will also hold a preliminary discussion on the World's Fair in 1939. "Coronet" May Be Switched "Coronet on the Air," currently heard on WOR, may switch to an NBC network instead of a Mutual hookup, it was reliably reported yes- terday. The report is that Mutual is experiencing difficulty clearing time for the program. i Radio Personals ► "Time" to Add Nine Stations The "March of Time" will add nine CBS stations to the 35 currently car- rying the program when it switches on April 15 to the sponsorship of Servel, Inc. Hal Dieker a Father Hollywood, March 17. — Hal Die- ker, sound effects man with NBC, is celebrating the arrival of a seven- pound girl. Pictures for Screen Guide Chicago, March 17. — Screen Guide, and not Radio Guide, will come out shortly as a pictorial magazine, it is reported here. McAllister, Menken to Crosley Cincinnati, March 17. — James Mc- Allister, dramatic player, and Law- rence Menkin, continuity writer, have joined the Crosley radio staff here. ARNOLD JOHNSON'S orchestra set for an eight week vaudeville tour, beginning in Philadelphia April . . Rudy Vallee will highlight the third annual Honor Society of the American Legion broadcast on NBC- Red April 3 . . . Patricia Barclay will be a guest on Crosby Gaige's "Kitchen Cavalcade" March 22 . . . Irene Del- roy will guest on Major Bowes' "Cap- itol Family" broadcast Sunday . . . Principal guest on Ted Hammerstein's "Music Hall" series March 23 will be Tom Chalmers of the "Eternal Road" cast . . . Rubinoff has written a new number, "Banjo Eyes," dedicated to Eddie Cantor, which he'll introduce on his program shortly . . . Pat Casey is Freddie Martin's new vocalist . . . WHN, in addition to WOR-Mutual, will broadcast the Adolph Zukor tes- timonial dinner March 29 . . . Depart- ing on official business today are John Anderson of Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn; W. T. Reddick of N. W. Ayer ; and E. L. Petley . . . + Ed East and Ralph Dumpke, the "Sisters of the Skillet," have been re- signed by Educational for another series of shorts . . . Virginia Seeds, publicity director of WLS, Chicago, is suffering from a broken foot . . . Advertising Age, in collaboration with the WMCA "High School Reporter" program, is offering $1,000 in cash prizes in an essay contest . . . Nellie Revell's guests for the next three broadcasts are as follows : Lannie Ross, March 23 ; Ethel Barrymore, March 30, and Beatrice Lillie, April 6 . . . Albert Payson Terhune added as guest on Joe Cook's "Shell Show" program this Saturday . . . Lee Sulli- van and Neila Goodelle, both of NBC, now beginning a new cycle of Educa- tional shorts . . . + Clyde Beatty will be the guest of Sam Taube on WHN this Sunday at 1 P.M. . . . Billy Glason's "Fun- fest" on WMCA will be heard at a new hour beginning Sunday. For- merly heard at 6 P.M., the program will thereafter be aired at 2 P.M. . . . "Fats" Waller headlines the CBS "Swing Club" Saturday night . . . Bud Rainey has again started his "Sunshine at Midnight" program on WHN . . . Cookie Bowers sails to- day on the N ormandie . . . + Lanny Ross has returned from At- lantic City . . . June Collyer and Stuart Erwin will be guests on this Saturday's Sealtest program . . . Wal- ter Winchell is en route east . . . + Alice Frost replaces Joan Banks on the Stoopnagle and Budd series . . . Amelia Umnitz, formerly of Para- mount, has joined NBC's press de- partment as assistant to Betty Good- win on fashions . . . Little Jackie Hell- er returning from England . . . + Chicago Town Pump Chicago, March 17. — Lily Pons and Andre Kostelanetz will be heard in two performances of the Chicago Civic Opera Co. this fall. Plans are being made for the broadcasts of these appearances over the CBS network but definite dates have not been set . . . Don Hancock is back at CBS after a 10-day siege of the flu . . . Hubert Carson, better known as "Shorty" with the Ranch Boys, plans to marry this fall. His engagement to Miss June Fosse, a local girl, has just been announced . . . Northwestern University journalism students at- tended a seminar at WBBM on Mon- day . . . Truman Bradley, James Patt and J. Oren Weaver addressed the students on radio news broadcasting. + Los Angeles Town Pump Los Angeles, March 17. — The op- tion of Ken Carpenter, announcer for Marion Talley's Ry-Krisp show, has been taken ud to June, 1938, and the program has been renewed for a year. . . . Frank Fay .set for Jack Oakie's college over CBS March 23. . . . Sid- ney Skolsky off the next Cantor show for a later appearance. . . . Cliff How- ell, announcer for KFWB for the past six years, has resigned to do free lance work. . . . Harriet Hilliard, Basil Rathbone and Vitya Vronsky and Victor Babin, Russian piano team, will be on Bing Crosby's Kraft pro- gram Thursday. New Accounts to Philly Stations Philadelphia, March 17. — Breyers Ice Cream Co. has returned for its seasonal campaign over WCAU. It is placed by the McKee-Albright- Ivey, and uses 312 spot announce- ments in addition to daily weather re- ports and news flashes. Two other national advertisers have joined the WCAU roster — Norge Rollator, re- frigerators, set through Cramer-Kras- selt of Milwaukee, will air twice weekly the "All Star Varieties" transcriptions for 13 weeks ; and Oenida, Ltd., silverware, set by B. B. D. & O. for a quarter hour weekly for 13 weeks for the "Peggy Tudor" transcriptions. At KYW, two new national adver- tisers have bought time. Richard Hudnut perfumes carry the Top-Hat- ters, studio swing- band, for a quar- ter-hour on Fridays, placed by B. B. D. & O., and Graham-Paige Motor Co., through U. S. Advertising Corp., sponsors a daily, five-minute news shot. WCTU Plans Spots On Drunken Driving The W. C. T. U. will spend ap- proximately $200,000 on a radio spot campaign to combat drunken driving. The platters will be placed on a score of stations beginning next month and running through the fall. Sober driving pledges will be dis- tributed to listeners requesting them. WKRC to Celebrate Cincinnati, March 17.— WKRC Columbia-owned station in the Hotel Alms, is planning an hour broadcast for the dedication of new studios and a 5,000-watt transmitter March 27. Governors of three states, Mayor Wil- son, and City Manager Dykstra and Timothy S. Goodman, station man- ager, will be heard. Dramatizations of the history of WKRC, the first radio station here and a history of the city will be among the features aired. Boltke, Sokolofif with WPA Los Angeles, March 17. — Guy Boltke has been named production manager and Dr. Nicolai Sokoloff has been placed in charge of all musical project work here for the WPA. Their first commission is to make 16- inch electrical transcriptions locally to add to the volume recorded at the RCA studios in New York. Crosley to Erect Building Cincinnati, March 17. — The Cros- ley Radio Corp. will erect a new build- ing to house the offices and studios of WLW, WSAI and W8XAL, affiliates of NBC and Mutual. Work is ex- pected to start soon. Propose Radio Censorship Albany, March 17. — Censorship of all advertising matter broadcast on any New York state station was pro- posed in a bill introduced in the sen- ate yesterday by William J. Murray, of New York City. A LABEL OFF OF A DEALER TRANSCRIPTION SERIES PLANNED BY RADIO EVENTS, INC. I want my money back . I didn't strike oil under my seal. SOLVE THE PROBLEM - PATRONS WANT PICTURES! TRICK OPPORTUNITY GAGS ARE A CONFESSION OF WEAKNESS . . Good features plus good shorts are all that's needed — Here is M-O-M's latest two-reel Showmanship Special which you can absolutely bank on at the boxofiice SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE The Story of the Constitution of the United States IT'S THE MOST TIMELY PICTURE EVER MADE-The most discussed subject in the nation's history will make short subject history on YOUR screen . . . READY FOR APRIL 9th RELEASE ''' Joke probably by George Jessel SPECIAL A I R EDITION M PTO A CONVENTION MOTION PICTURE DAILY SPECIAL A I R EDITION M PTO A CONVENTION ..VOL. 41. NO. 64 NEW YORK, THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 1937 TEN CENTS 20-Fox '36 Net Jumps to $7,924,126 More Than Double Total Reported for 1935 Net profit for 1936 of $7,924,126 was reported yesterday by 20th Century- Fox. The company's profit for 1935 was $3,563,087. The company's operating profit for the fourth quarter of 1936 amounted to $3,472,275, compared with $1,566,- 763 for the corresponding period of 1935 and $1,682,662 for the third quar- ter of 1936. The 1936 results include a dividend of $1,134,000 from National Theatres Corp., which paid no dividend during 1935. National Theatres had consoli- dated net income of $2,923,209 for 1936, compared with $2,192,194 the previous year. 20th Century-Fox owns 42 per cent of the outstanding cap- ital stock of National Theatres and its interest in the 1936 earnings amounted to $1,227,747. The report discloses that the com- pany received $3,500,000 from Loew's on Feb. 5, last, for "approximately a {Continued on page 11) GTE Has 7 -Month Net Profit of $959,509 General Theatres Equipment Corp. had a net of $959,509 after Federal income taxes and other charges for the seven-month period from June 1 to Dec. 31, 1936. A total of $58,550 was set aside for Federal surtax on undistributed profits, provision for un- collectable accounts and other deduc- tions. The net is equivalent to $1.80 per share of 532,461 no-par capital shares. The report includes International Projector Corp., National Theatre Supply Co., Theatre Equipment Con- tracts Corp., J. E. McAuley Mfg. Co., Hall & Connolly, Inc., and the Strong Electric Corp. Doubt Raised Over Validity Of Dakota Law MPTOA CONCERNED BY LABOR PROBLEM Oppose Similar Bill Hearing in Ohio at Columbus, O., March 17. — Doubt as to the constitutionality of the theatre divorcement law just signed by Gov. William Langer of North Dakota was expressed by the North Dakota assist- ant attorney general, C. E. Brase, in an opinion sent to the Governor, Charles C. Petti john of the M. P. P. D. A., was informed here today. Petti john is here attending the hear- ings of the Judiciary Committee of the Ohio House on a similar measure. A copy of the opinion made public by Pettijohn read: "It is my opin- ion that there are grave doubts as to the constitutionality of this law. It seems to me that, among others, it violates the constitutionally guaranteed right of equal protection of the law, of being deprived of property without due process of law, of taking property for a public use without a just com- pensation, as well as the right to ac- quire and use property for a lawful use. The only justification for the pro- posed law must be found in what is (Continued on page 11) Agreement Reached On Writer Credits Hollywood, March 17.— Screen Playwrights, Inc., with 75 active mem- bers, has reached an agreement with major producers extending the pres- ent Academy pact, but providing for changes in screen credits. Under its terms screen credits on features, except in unusual cases, will (Continued on page 11) Attack Reel Censor At Hearing in Ohio Columbus, O., March 17. — A sharp attack on newsreel censorship fea- tured the hearing today by the Senate Judiciary Committee on the bill which would provide for the elimination of the censorship of newsreels in the state. Keith Lawrence of Cleveland, spon- sor of the bill, declared the censor- ship of newsreels delays delivery of prints to theatres and held that cen- sorship of films is no more necessary than censorship of pictures in maga- zines or newspapers. Charles C. Pettijohn of the M.P.P. D.A. said that the reels represent a pictorial press with an average weekly (Continued on page 6) Conciliation Board Outlook Believed Dark Miami, March 17. — There is a well defined opinion among some M. P. T. O. A. leaders here that the establish- ment of local conciliation boards_ is re- mote at this time in view of the pos- sibility that President Roosevelt will again call for legislation along the lines of N.R.A. The views of these M. P. T. O. A. leaders coincide with those reported in Motion Picture Daily on Feb. 18, at which time sentiment both among M. P. T. O. A. officials and distribution executives was disclosed to the effect that no early establishment of the conciliation boards was likely and that the probability of enactment of a re- vised N.R.A. might eliminate the boards completely. The M. P. T. O. A. has held that six or seven of the trade subjects which make up its 10-point program depended upon or could be handled by the local boards. Without the boards, the major part of the program, there- fore, is threatened with collapse. The official opinion of a month ago, now reiterated here, obviously has a basis in fact in that the boards ad- mittedly are no nearer to realization (Continued on page 6) Paramount Partners Also Disturbed But Matter Is Soft-Pedaled Radio News— Pp. 14-15 Film Houses Out of Georgia Chain Tax Atlanta, March 17. — Film theatres have been eliminated from the chain store tax bill by the Senate Finance Committee on the theory that they are home owned. Other changes in the measure in- clude cutting of the proposed levies to a top of $200 for each unit in chains of 40 or more, instead of the original $500 maximum. RKO Hearings May Go Before Master Hearings on the RKO reorganiza- tion proceedings may be turned over to a special master by Federal Judge William Bondy today in order to speed up creditors' hearings on the plan it- self by separating such hearings from the maize of related litigation which is accumulating in the court. Judge Bondy has asked counsel for leading creditors' groups for their opinions on such a procedure and on acceptable nominees for a special mas- ter who, presumably, would proceed with hearings on the plan while Judge Bondy retained supervision over the other litigation. A hearing on the plan is scheduled for today, but whether or not it actually gets under way appears to be largely dependent upon what disposition is made of the (Continued on page 12) By RED KANN Miami, March 17. — The chief un- derlying theme of the M. P. T. O. A. convention and the meeting of Para- mount theatre partners here as well is a deep concern over the labor situ- ation, despite the fact that the mat- ter thus far has been mentioned only in one portion of his review of the year by Ed Kuykendall, M. P. T. O. A. president. It is probable that little or noth- ing in the nature of public utterances will come from the exhibitor parleys and certainly nothing from the Para- mount deliberations, yet the national move of the I. A. T. S. E. and C. I. O. to organize exchange workers as a potentially effective means of forcing union booths on small town theatres through threats on film shipments^ is the most significant development sim- mering at both meetings. In private, the move which is afoot is known, but Paramount's partners in particular are decidely loath to air their views or to indicate what, in their opinion, will be the outcome of the program. As a matter of fact, in- dustry leaders shy away from a dis- cussion of the subject and are refus- ing the usual and accepted assurance that what they may think will remain off the record insofar as quotations attributed to them may be concerned. Motion Picture Daily's story _ of Tuesday concerning the A. F. L. drive to organize exchange employes in Cleveland and New Haven has ex- cited deep interest here. Silent com- ment has taken the form of knowing nods with which facts of this latest (Continued on page 4) Report Wilcox Will End Woolf Alliance By BRUCE ALLAN London, March 17. — It is reliably reported here that Herbert Wilcox Prod, will drop its distribution ar- rangement with C. M. Woolf's Gen- eral Film Distributors following the delivery of the next two pictures of a nine-picture schedule. It is understood that both C. M. Woolf and his brother, John Woolf, who is general sales manager of Gen- eral Film Distributors, will leave the board of directors of Wilcox Prod, shortly. It is reported further that Wilcox will join Alexander Korda, head of London Films. MOTION PICTURI DAILY MOTION PICTURE DAILY5 HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Girl Loves Boy" (Zeidman-Grand National) Hollywood, March 17. — A small town drama romance told in the way that engages the attention of family and neighborhood audiences, B. F. Zeidman's contribution to the Grand National program looms as satisfactory entertainment in the field for which it is intended. Essen- tially it is a serious problem play, but it is not without those elements in drama, romance and comedy which are well interpreted by soundly conceived situations, dialogue and characterizations. Though not strong in name values, the film does present Eric Linden, Cecelia Parker and Roger Imhof, along with Dorothy Peterson, Bernadene Hayes and Pedro de Cordoba. The story tells how a small town boy who has made an unfortunate marriage is enabled to work out his moral and mental regeneration by a girl's love. Linden is relieved of the menace of his gold digging bride, Miss Hayes, when his father, Imhof, arranges a settlement and initiates annulment proceedings. In love with Miss Parker, daughter of Dorothy Peterson, a widow, Linden starts out to make a new man of himself. De Cordoba, a pianist, comes to town and discovers Miss Parker is a musical genius. As he trains„her, he secretly arranges with Linden to finance a concert. The night of her appearance, Miss Hayes, accom- panied by a shyster lawyer, lands in town to scandalize Linden and wreck the girl's debut. In the nick of time detectives expose Miss Hayes and her lawyer as blackmailers. The romantic finale has the young lovers in each others arms. The film has a human interest that inspires sympathy for all charac- ters but Miss Hayes. The original by Karl Brown and Hinton Smith and the screen play by Duncan Mansfield and Carroll Graham, as well as the direction by Mansfield, combine to give an appealing story an ap- pealing character. Previewed without production code seal. Running time, 75 minutes. "G." "Song of the City" (M-G-M) Hollywood, March 17. — Aimed at the same audiences which read the pulp magazines, this is a melodrama of the old type. If it is meant seriously it's appeal is nil for first run houses though it might possibly pass as burlesque. The involved story starts when Jeffrey Dean is rescued from San Francisco bay by Nat Pendleton and Charles Judals, fishermen. Dodging Maria Shelton, his socially prominent fiancee, Dean joins a fishing cruise and falls in love with Margaret Lindsay, Pendleton's sister. Miss Lindsay is ambitious to become a professional singer and is betrothed to J. Carroll Naish, ward boss of the Italian colony, who has volunteered to finance her musical education. Complications are piled up as the various romances become tangled and are straightened out after the fist fights between Pendleton and Dean and the fiery destruction of a liner in the bay. The story is by Michael Fessier, the direction by Erroli Taggart, the production by Lucien Hubbard and the whole is far below M-G-M standard. It suggests an independent rather than a major effort. The supporting players include Inez Palange, Edward Norris and Fay Helm. Production Code Seal No. 3,183. Running time, 65 minutes. "G." "When's Your Birthday?" this morning's opener ai the Music Hall, was previewed by wire from Hollywood on Feb. 13. "Maytime," another of this morning's openers, but at the Capitol, was re- viewed from the coast by wire on March 5. "Her Husband Lies," now current at the Criterion, was previewed on March 12 by wire from Hollywood. "Breezing Home," tonight's preview at the Roxy, was reviewed from Holly- ivood on Jan. 21 by wire. The current agitation over the child labor amendment, Voodoo cults and practices in Harlem, and British industry's recovery from the corona- tion crisis are offered in the latest of this first-rate series. The history of the child labor amendment is shown from its orig- inal submission to the states in 1924 to the recent arguments and opposition by various personages. There are scenes of child labor shown with the incisive revelation of the candid camera. Voodo is quite thoroughly covered with sequences of the child-like faith of Harlem residents in weird pow- ders, conjure bags and the attendant orgies. Also a flash to the conse- quences of voodoo-treated ills. The World-Telegram is credited with the exposure. It is a novel slant on a practically unknown condition. British Crown Situation Treated The Edward VIII-Mrs. Simpson story is a re-edited treatment of the Empire-shaking romance made to bear on the plight of Lloyd's loss in coronation business policies, when the monarch abdicated. In addition to the principal the manufacturers were also able to convert a quantity of the mementoes into George VI and dis- pose of Edward VIII stuff to the U. S. Reviewed without production code seal. Running time, 20 mins. "G." 2 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 March 18, 1937 No. 64 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. i uuiu ai lull uiuce . xttv oiiin .ave- nue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- cations: MOTION PICTURE HERALD, BETTER THEATRES. TEATRO AL DIA, INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Sts. ; Boone Mancall, Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave., C. B. O'Neill, Manager. WASHINGTON: Albee Building, Bertram F. Linz, Representative. AMSTERDAM : Zuider Amstellaan 5; Philip de Schaap, Representative. BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest II; Endre Hcvesi. Representative. BUENOS AIRES : Corrlentos 2495; N. Biuski, Representative. HELSINKI: Fredriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszio, Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square, W. 1; Bruce Allan. Representative. Cable address, Quigpubco, Lon- don. MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins St. ; Cliff Holt, Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart, Representative. MONTEVIDEO: P. O. Box 664; Paul Bodo, Rep- resentative. MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern, Rep- resentative. PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre, Rep- resentative. PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1; Harry Knopf, Representative. RIO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 3358: A. Weiss- man, Representative. ROME: Viale Gorizia; Vittorio Malpassuti. Rep- resentative. SHANGHAI: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Build- ing, 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler, Rep- resentative. STOCKHOLM: Kungsgatan 36; Ragnar Allberg, Representative. TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken; H. Tominaga, Representative. VIENNA: Nuestiftgasse, 55; Vienna VII; Hans Lorant. Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Saper stein Reelected Chicago, March 17. — Aaron Saper- stein was elected president of Allied Theatres of Illinois today for the sev- enth time. All other officers were re- named at the same time. Plans may be started shortly to campaign against dual bills in the lo- cal territory. The topic was discussed today, but no definite decision reached. Other matters taken up included bills now before the state legislature and an outline of the program for the unit in the ensuing year. Delay Kennedy Action Washington, March 17. — Members of a sub-committee of the Senate Commerce Committee are delaying action on the nomination of Joseph P. Kennedy as chairman of the Mari- time Commission, pending study of his eligibility under the law, due to the fact that he holds stock in the Todd Shipbuilding Corp. Para. Meet "Progresses" Miami, March 17.— Paramount of- ficials reported "progress being made" at the close of today's meeting of the company's theatre partners. The for- mal sessions start Thursday at the Roney Plaza and continue through Saturday. Program arrangements are now being completed. Seek Labor Act Help Portland, March 17. — A petition for permission to lodge a complaint charging violation of the Wagner Act against four theatres in Klamath Falls, Ore., has been received here by Charles W. Hope, regional direc- tor of labor relations. The petition charges that Harry Poole, owner of the theatres, discharged Eugene Bailie and Gordon Shirley, operators, for union activities. Build at Hudson, N. Y. Cocalis Enterprises is building a new 1,600-seat theatre at Hudson, N. Y., in association with Grossman & Frieder. William Hohauser is the architect. Studio Opening April 15 London. March 17. — The Amalga- mated Studio is scheduled to open on April 15, with M-G-M definitely set to produce its British pictures there. Thursday, March 18, 1937 Short Subject "March of Time, No. 8, Vol. r (RKO) Ampa Talent Lined Up Rudy Feld, former Ufa director; Ludwig Lore, New York Evening Post columnist; Mrs. Adrienne Pea- bodv, numerologist and writer, and Elizabeth Allan, RKO player, will headline the Ampa talent list at to- day's luncheon at the Edison College Room. An election of a nominating com- mittee will be held before the session winds up. ITOA Meet Routine The I.T.O.A. held a routine meet- ing at the Astor yesterday. The ses- sion was cut short by Harrv Brandt, president, who was not feeling well. GREAT EXPECTATIONS REALIZED * * * MEET ME AT BOOTHS 2 AND 3 Miami-Biltmore J. George Fein berg Spreading Comfort to Millions SEE The Sensation of Seating Original Streamline Posture WARNERS' 4 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, March 18, 1937 Time Out Under the Palms Time out from convention discussions at the M. P. T. 0. A. meeting in Miami, for a chat under the palms. Left to right are: A. F. Baker, Kansas City; Dick Biechele, secretary-treasurer of the Kansas- Missouri Theatre Ass'n., Ed Kuykendall, M. P. T. O. A. president, and H. V. Harvey, secretary-treasurer of the I. T. 0. of Northern California. Moon Over Miami Labor Problem Chief Concern Of M.P.T.O.A. {Continued from page 1) development have been received. It is obvious that the union moves are not being received with cheers here. Cir- cuit men understand that the problem in its external aspects is not theirs but distributors'. On the other hand, they appreciate the dangers of the situation, and also the manner in which they will be involved if bookers, ship- pers and inspectors are successfully organized to a degree making impos- sible the shipment of prints, in the event labor leaders some day should determine on a strike to force small town and country theatres into the I. A. T. S. E. The formal portion of the second day of the convention opened one hour behind schedule, with the poor attendance excused by Kuykendall on the ground that it was the number of theatres represented, and not individ- uals, that counted. Francis M. Falge, Nela Park, Cleveland, was first with the delivery of a very interesting discussion, ac- companied by equipment and slides, to demonstrate the latest methods of lift- ing the faces of theatres through the intelligent use of lighting. The dis- play embraced brightly lit samples of corrugated metals, glass bricks and marble slabs which were rear-lighted to provide unusual optical appeal. Halpin, on Earphones Dan D. Halpin, vice-president of Dictograph Products, New York, on behalf of the Acousticon ear phones for the deaf and hard of hearing es- timated that $1,600,000 annually rep- resented the untapped gross through catering to "forgotten audiences." Among other interesting facts, he pointed out that the Music Hall in New York had in this manner devel- oped 3,000 new patrons. The third speaker was E. L. Pat- ton of the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co., who based a talk on modern theatre fronts on the observation that "sight is the most compelling factor in mak- ing sales." He added that theatres trail all other businesses in relieving the drabness and antiquated appearance of their dress and he advised exhibitors to obtain the best value in rehabilita- tion measures by initial consultations with architects. "When television finally comes — and it will not be here tomorrow — (Continued on page 6) Miami, March 17. — Further check: The bevy assembled for registration detail, it appears, was drawn from the runners-up in a statewide bath- ing beauty contest. Joe Pincus could do business here for Zanuck, even if Lou Irwin is on the ground. * * * Lobby scene at the Roney: John Balaban in earnest conversation with John Hertz, the latter sporting a very Florida-looking tan. * * * Mrs. Karl Hoblitzelle journeyed from New York with the Leon Net- ters and met her husband here. * * * Al Wilkie has been here 10 days propagandizing for Paramount. He hopes to skip over to Nassau for a couple of days of deep-sea fishing with Bob Gillham when the excitement subsides. * * * Glimpsed at the Casa Moresque which is a very good place for din- ing— gambling tables upstairs front — were James R. Grainger entertain- ing Bob and Maurine McNeil, N. L. and Mrs. Nathanson and J. J. and Mrs. Fitzgibbons. * * * Mrs. Robert Wilby is in from At- lanta to join her husband. * * * Barney Balaban and his wife and Nathanson and his were sitting on the observation platform of the Florida Special when the observation car jumped the track in the suburbs of Richmond Saturday night. The Filipino steward ordered them to stretch flat on the floor of the car to avoid injury from flying glass. It was an uncomfortable moment. * * * Memorable sights : Dave Pal- freyman, nude except for trunks, needing a shave badly and wearing dark glasses lunching and drinking hot coffee in a blazing sun off the 19th hole of the Miami Biltmore golf course. His companion, Helen O'Toole. Both looked about the last word in discomfort. * * * Grainger turned in at 2 :30 the other morning and four hours and a half later was on the links. "What a man !" sighed Mrs. Nathanson. * * * Snow news from the north makes the lead story in the local papers. One headline telling of the slushy snow snarling New York traffic finds Gotham-ites looking at each other with a look that can mean only great contentment with the world. * * * Charlie Segall has been here for several months and Joe Seider of the Prudential Circuit for weeks. If they don't look like redskins, they'll do until a couple come off the reserva- tion. * * * Tom Connors, sunshade and all, is catching up on his golf. He's been here three weeks and today played a foursome strictly along Metro lines. The other three were O'Shea of Buf- falo, Applegate and Schwartz of Philadelphia. Halsey Raines of the M-G-M publicity department who spends his vacations penetrating country new to him was here today. Merely passing through from Havana en route to Tampa by way of the Tamiami Trail Tom Gerety of the same department is at Fort Myers on the West Coast of the state. Neil F. Agnew is a late arrival. Jack Sichelman of 20th Century- Fox, who has been ill, is rounding out his fifth week here and expects to re- main a few more. Not officially iden- tified with the convention or any of its goings on, Jack, nevertheless and I in keeping with your true film man, couldn't help but look in at the Bilt- more this afternoon. * * * George Skouras is due Thursday from New York. His family has been spending the winter at Gold Beach which hovers somewhere be- fl tween Miami and Hollywood, 17 miles j up the line. * * * Y. Frank Freeman, with Mrs. Freeman as hostess, entertained Paramount theatre partners with a large-scale cocktail party in their' suite at the Roney Monday evening. With the possible exception of Boe Wilby of Atlanta and E. V. Rich- ards, Jr., of New Orleans who is compelled to continually guard his ' health and who left early for his home in Ft. Lauderdale, 18 miles out \ of Miami, the entire roster turned out, wives and all. * * * In case you may have wondered exactly what the spirit of the New Universal is, transcribed into terms of the visual, you may want to know how James R. Grainger interprets it. He employed two very striking young blondes, bedecked them in the most abbreviated of bathing suits and had them hand out matches advertis- ing "Top of the Town" to arriving delegates. Introduced by names, the conventionites reacted. A slant at the blondes makes the reason why under- standable. * * * Bob O'Donnell is promoting a mid-winter session of The Off-the- Record Club. The charter members are here, all three of them— Herman Robbins, Sam Dembow and Red Kann. * * * Domestic scene : Sam Dembow car- rying his infant daughter up the Roney's elevators. * * * Charlie Picquet, 14 years presi- dent of the Theatre Owners of North and South Carolina, Inc., is touting the forthcoming 25th jubilee conven- tion of his organization at the Carolina Hotel, Pinehurst, the first week of next December. * * * Mrs. Herb Ochs has joined her husband here, having entrained from Atlanta where the Warner sales ex- ecutive's family still lives. Pretty soon now, the Ochs will be united en masse m New York close to papa's head- quarters. * * * Kuykendalliana : "Deemonstrated" for demonstrated. "Unik' for unique. 'Legislation" with a hard "g" * * * The Phillipsons are heading for Palm Beach the end of the week with Tom Drew at the helm, or the wheel. A Crack Miami, March 17.— Para- mount is distributing a hand- some brochure done up in color and ballyhooing the com- pany's new releases. Special strips are inserted with material aimed at the con- vention. One carries a pencil sketch of the convention chairman addressing the gathering and with it is this copy: "Excuse me, gents, but here's news from Paramount to keep you awake." Just a Panic! Miami, March 17. — The beauties of life in Florida had been touted by the native propagandizers, state and city. Up went Ed Kuyken- dall: "I like the idea and I hope that when you all are out of business, you will come here to spend the rest of your days." Arthur W. Eddy leaned over and remarked at that point : "Headline : *Kuyken- dall Predicts Panic.'" ifcwvj smart mm toy,** fa ANOTHER f MAIN rfW ^ NEW UNIVERSAL! MOTION PICTURi DAILY Labor Problem Chief Concern Of M.P/T.O.A. (Continued from page 4) it is going to help rather than hurt the theatre box-office, in my personal opinion," Thomas F. Joyce, advertis- ing manager of the RCA Manufac- turing Co., declared in an address be- fore the convention today. Joyce expressed the belief that pro- ducers will make use of television for advance trailers on outstanding forth- coming product. "I am sure that far sighted film executives see in televi- sion the greatest advance agent and exploitation medium that the indus- try has ever seen," he said. Joyce emphasized the importance of good sound to the exhibitor, and out- lined recent developments in the im- provement of sound apparatus and recording equipment. He cited the deal just closed whereby Warners have taken RCA sound for all of the Warner circuit of nearly 400 houses. Afternoon Session Tardy The afternoon session was off to another delayed start but better attend- ance, with late sleeping, golf and swimming behind an increasing num- ber of delegates. By the close of the day the program was running seven speakers behind schedule. Ben Schlanger, New York architect, opened the resumed agenda with a discussion of modern functional de- signs in theatres. He told of the S. M. P. E.'s efforts at seeking infor- mation directly from exhibitors in an effort to establish theatre construc- tion standards. Replete with interest- ing information, among the points he emphasized was the maximum depth of the perfect auditorium which, he declared, must not exceed two and one- quarter times its width, while the ac- tual auditorium seating width should never be more than three times the width of the screen. Seats beyond such limitations, he held, were wasted, since from them a spectator could only get distortion. Byoir Talks Advertising Carl Byoir. publicity man. but a self-styled "public relations counsel," took it upon himself to tell wherein motion picture publicity was "all wet." Exhibitors were dissipating a cool $100,000,000 annual gross which might be theirs, he said, by having failed to develop a publicity formula which stressed the continuity of their entertainment, thereby failing to prove persuasive enough to bring patrons back as regular patrons. "Sustaining elements" in film ex- ploitation were what Byoir viewed as essential, which he followed with the bland statement that advertising, as currently keyed, "was driving the pa- tron away." Willingly supplying the information that he was not interested in motion pictures, Byoir also made it quite clear that he might be if some producer came along and offered him a retainer. "What Air Conditioning Means to the Box Office" was the general title of a paper read by L. L. Lewis, rep- resenting the Carrier Engineering Corp., Newark — the designation con- veying the substance of the message. Hal Kopplin, advertising manager of Wometco Theatres, Miami, took as his theme "Theatre Advertising in Newspapers" and, by samples of copy prepared for attractions currently play- ing his circuit's houses, illustrated his points. He struck for hand-drawn ads to supplement press books, and set up as a guiding note for his listeners a theorem that the copy should first sell the exhibitor himself before he tries it on the public. Roy L. Smart of the Wilby-Kincey Management Co., Charlotte, declared that it was essential for exhibitors to win new patrons in view of the produ- cer demands for a greater share of the gross. This, he said, meant a greater intake and, therefore, more customers. Untapped sources, such as direct appeals to those engaged in pro- fessions and trades illustrated in cur- rent product, were available for exhib- tor application and ingenuity, he stated. Kuykendall Promises "Fireworks" Kuykendall late today promised "fireworks" for the final session Thursday. There are some who have their doubts, so regimented is the con- vention procedure. The highlight of the meeting, now, is expected to be the address by Adolph Zukor. His appearance will swell the attendance. For one thing, Paramount partners will attend en masse as a gesture to the chairman of the board of the com- pany. The banquet which usually termi- nates all M. P. T. O. A. conventions is slated for Thursday evening at the Miami Biltmore, followed by an elabo- rate water carnival in the hotel's spa- cious pool. Cotton blossoms appeared from nowhere today with a "Come to Memphis" tag attached and were considered to be M. A. Lightman's effort to bring the 1938 convention to his city. The inly other sentiment voiced thus far is for Pinehurst, but the decision, as usual, will be made by the directors in due course. Despite the approaching termination of the meeting, visitors continued to arrive today, including Frank C. Walker, Major Leslie E. Thompson, who will address both M. P. T. O. A. and Paramount on the Will Rogers Without Armor Miami, March 17. — Uncon- scious humor entered the official registration list of the M. P. T. O. A. today. Ed Goldstein was the name, New York the home town and his business: "Bank Knight." Nine Prizes Set for MPTO Golf Tourney Miami, March 17. — Nine prizes are set for the golf tournament which is to be held Friday at the Miami-Bilt- more Golf and Country Club. Albert Warner is in charge. The first prize will consist of a modern cocktail tray and glasses, con- tributed by American Seating Co. The second award will be a leather golf and traveling bag, donated by Nation- al Screen Service through Herrnan Robbins. Prize three : a silver golf trophy with silver sea shell background, con- tributed by National Theatre Supply. Prize four : one case Cutty Sark Scotch, given by Alexander Film Co. Prize five : a W altham onyx clock with an inscribed plate, given by Charles Kessnick, Loew's southern district manager. Prize six : an RCA radio, given by RCA. Prize seven : a leather golf bag, con- tributed by Warners. Prize eight : a set of golfing acces- sories comprising an umbrella, rain- coat and 19 balls ; given by Universal through James R. Grainger. Prize nine : set of Bobby Jones wood clubs, presented by Erpi. Memorial Hospital fund drive, Colvin Brown, Austin Keough, Joe Unger and A. P. Waxman. The weather, which has been cool, took a turn for the warmer today, which is more than can be said for developments on the convention floor. Thursday, March 18, 1937 Conciliation Board Outlook Believed Dark (Continued from Page 1) now than they were two months ago, when the last of the distributor replies to the M. P. T. O. A. trade practice program was received. Nothing has been done in the way of defining the procedure of the boards, their juris- dition, the type of complaint they may hear or in agreeing upon their person- nel. No distribution company has au- thorized its branch managers anywhere to participate in the establishment of a board. Without these steps being taken, M. P. T. O. A. leaders here admit, little or nothing can be done in the way of setting up a board or permitting it to function. Also, as disclosed by Motion Pic- ture Daily a month ago, distributor attitudes toward the boards are sharp- ly divided. No two are in complete agreement on the type of complaint in- volving their contracts with exhibitors which they would be willing to leave to a conciliation board to settle. More- over, some contend that they will not support the boards unless exhibitors, as well as distributors, contribute to the cost of maintaining them. Attack Reel Censor At Hearing in Ohio (Continued from page 1) circulation of 75,000,000 and that the publicity given Ohio in the reels is worth 100 times as much as the cen- sorship revenue, which was estimated at $35,000 annually. No cuts ever were made in newsreels, he said, and called such action discriminatory. Reels are entitled to the same freedom as the press, he held. Jack Connolly, general manager of Pathe News, said there is no profit made from newsreels. "Our profit last year was less than $400. We paid $5,400 in Ohio censorship fees," he said. He cited the fact that only two other states, Maryland and Virginia, censor newsreels. Franklin H. McNutt, of the state Educational Dep't opposed the drop- ping of censorship of reels because of the loss of revenue, part of which goes to the schools to maintain film libraries, the balance going for the publicizing of the state. Action by the committee was de- ferred until some time next week. Hold Ban on "Flames" Columbus, March 17. — Although "Spain in Flames" recently was re- ported released by the censors, the board at the eleventh hour refused to remove the ban, although it con- sented to another review. It now is officially stated that the ban will be permanent in Ohio because of the film's "extremely partisan propaganda and decidedly negative attitude to- ward religion." Two Held Over in B'lyn Si Fabian is holding over "A Mid- summer Night's Dream" at the Brook- lyn Strand and "When You're in Love" at the Fox. The first named film garnered about $14,000 for the first seven days, ending last night. Paramount Partners At Ease Round-tabling under a Miami Beach umbrella prior to the opening of Paramount theatre partner discussions, which start today. From the left are: Robert J. O'Donnell, Dallas; Barney Balaban, Para- mount president; William K. Jenkins, Atlanta; Y. Frank Freeman, vice-president in charge of theatres; Karl Hoblitzelle, Dallas; Adolph Zukor, board chairman; E. V. Richards, New Orleans. GREAT STARS IN "one of the most delightful pieces of entertainment of the season ... a box-office sensation wherever it plays" HOLLYWOOD REPORTER "charming cameo of delightful entertainment .. certain box-office" DAILY VARIETY "quality production from title to fadeout . . . graceful entertainment delight" BOX-OFFICE "quaint and charming picture . . . ladies will love it . . . and men" FILM DAILY KATHARINE R K O RADIO PICTURES V ["HER FINEST SINCE 'LITTLE WOMEN — M. P. DAILY WITH THIS STELLAR CAST- ERIC BLORE W W IE . . "as the flirtatious sergeant, proves a comedy treat" — Variety Daily CORA WITHERSPOON . . "stands out in a well-defined characterization" — Variety Daily DIRECTED BY FAY BAINTER . . "is magnificent . . GEORGE ST EV ENS no more 'nfe///'9enf acting has ever been seen" — Hollywood Reporter r,SZs»mm ESTELLE WINWOOD . ."proves a scene-stealer in each appearance" — Hollywood Reporter DAILY VARIETY.. "a first class production . . . Appealing in its quality, amusing in its comedy treatment and dialog, excellently acted and intelligently directed, it is a credit to all who had a hand in its making ... The picture is produced with infinite care and admirable taste and is destined to do a flattering cash register business." HOLLYWOOD REPORTER . . "It is inconceivable that 'Quality Street' will be anything other than a box-office sensation wherever it plays . . . Only in a trade journal could it be reported that the picture has honest belly laughs . . . Laughter mounts and continues to mount until the audience is in gales of laughter." FILM DAILY ■ "Charming picture from the Barrie play gives Hepburn a delightful comedy role . . . Packed with delicious humor that rolls along with never a dull moment . . . 'Quality Street' should do well everywhere— the ladies will love it, but it will also amuse the men." M. P. DAILY.. "completely captures the delicacy of Barrie's work ... The situations build as the action progresses, finally culminating in a degree of hilarity that will surprise . . . Credit for the mirth is largely due to the direction of George Stevens, who maintains the atmosphere while driving home the comedy." 1 Thursday, March 18, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Doubt Raised I Over Validity Of Dakota Law (.Continued -from fiac/e \) commonly termed the police power of the state. "If the proposed law does not bear a real and substantial relation to the public health, safety, morals or some other phase of the general welfare, then it is an unconstitutional invasion of the rights enumerated above. The question, therefore, is debatable with, it seems to me, the preponderance of the argument against the constitution- ality. "It seems to me that this proposed law is, in all essentials, like the law of Pennsylvania which prohibited the ownership and operation of drug stores by anyone other than registered phar- macists. This law was held to be un- constitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States by a seven to two decision of the justices in Louis K. Ligget Co. vs. Boldrige." Points to Inconsistencies Replying to a defense of the theatre divorcement measure presented before the Judiciary Committee of the Ohio House today by P. J. Wood, secretary of the Ohio I. T. O., Pettijohn de- clared, "The bill was not drawn by Ohio citizens but by a group without financial investment who never made or distributed pictures. The bill omits reference to an exhibitor engaging in distribution." Pettijohn cited the fact that produ- cer-controlled houses pay $8,000 to $10,000 for first runs when subse- quents pay as little as $10 for the same pictures. He noted that there are only 39 affiliated houses out of 546 in the Cleveland area and only 66 affiliated out of a total of 830 in the Cincinnati territory, including Louisville, outside of Ohio. "There is no monopolistic practice here," said Pettijohn, "any more than the fact that three automobile compa- nies control 85 per cent of the automo- mile output. If there is to be a penal- ty for success or genius, then the bill applies. The group framing the Ohio bill framed similar measures in other states with almost identical verbiage. The sole aim was to stir trouble. You certainly should not place a penalty on a man earning an honest living. If exhibitors get back into the show business and eliminate Bank Night, double features and other schemes, the industry will be better off." Constitutionality Doubted Pettijohn declared further that the bill is invalid on constitutional grounds. | Wood declared the bill is not de- signed to force anyone out of business or to decrease employment. It is designed, he held, to take the produ- cer out of competition with the cus- tomer, the exhibitor. He declared the combination jeopardizes the public in- terest. He called the producer opera- tion a -monopoly, "which is being daily drawn tighter unless checked by the proposed legislation." Martin Blum, attorney and officer of the Cleveland stagehands' union, declared his organization is "absolute- ly opposed" to the passage of the bill, observing that there is no reason for i Purely Personal ► MITCHELL LEICHTER, vice- president of Advance Pictures, Inc., has left for a trip that will in- clude stops at Salt Lake City, Den- ver, Dallas, Atlanta, St. Louis, Chi- cago, Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Buffalo, Boston and Phila- delphia. • Edward Golden, general sales man- ager for Monogram, yesterday cele- brated another birthday. Golden says he's 40, because that's when life begins, according to Walter B. Pitkin. • Arthur W. Kelly and Monroe Greenthal have returned from the coast after attending production con- ferences with Dr. A. H. Giannini and George J. Schaefer. • Sam A. Galanty, Columbia divi- sion manager with headquarters in Washington, will wind up a two-day meeting with home office executives today. • Moe Streimer held a special home- coming party for Leo Justin at the Tavern Tuesday. A number of friends attended. • Harry Gold will leave today for Miami and then Havana. He plans to be gone several weeks. • H. Dulin of Universal flew to the coast yesterday via American Air- lines. • L. A. Wileman of Wilbar Photo Engraving will leave for Detroit to- day by plane. • Alfred Newman, musical director for Walter Wanger, leaves the coast today for a vacation here. • Margaret Lindsay left for the coast yesterday. PAUL GRAETZ of Paris Export . may sail today for home on the Normandie. Then again he may de- lay his trip until next week when the Queen Mary sails. He said yester- day that Ludovico Toeplitz is plan- ning to produce six pictures a year in Italy. • Eddie Carrier of Loew's left yes- terday for Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington. He'll be gone several days in connection with "The Good Earth" showings. • George J. Schaefer has postponed his departure from the coast and is not expected at his office until the lat- ter part of next week. • Charles Pati of Loew's purchas- ing department will add another year to his age today. Max Wolff's falls on March 24. • Harry Goldberg, director of War- ner theatre advertising and publicity, arrives in Pittsburgh today to pre- pare Easter campaigns. • John W. Hicks, Jr., Paramount vice-president, sails today on the Nor- mandie. It is his semi-annual survey trip. • George E. Quigley, former vice- president of Vitaphone, arrived from Europe yesterday on the Berengaria. • Charles Farrell sails today on the Berengaria. He will make a film in England. • Joseph I. Breen is expected here today from Hollywood. • Dave Rubinoff will play at a con- cert at Bristol, Conn., March 29 for the benefit of the Bristol Hospital. divorcing production, distribution and exhibition. Other opponents of the measure were Frank Drew, M-G-M manager and president of the Cleveland Film Board of Trade, who declared independents in his territory are satisfied at pres- ent, and J. M. Ullmer, theatre attor- ney, who said all independents are not in favor of the legislation. Sidney Hess, chairman oi the Ju- diciary Committee, declared, "There is insufficient information to enable us to form a proper conception of the situation. Action will be deferred un- til some future meeting." Others in attendance at the hearing were Ike Libson, Maurice White, Stanley Jacques, Nat Holt, John Schwalm, Harry Schreiber, Edward Finney, Duke Clark, John Bancroft and A. W. Hill. Theatre Men Unconcerned ami, March 17.— An attitude of •jpsicofl^ern is apparent among theatre (3SQJ..h4fe in discussing Allied's efforts !n "•jebfcjf of state laws to force pro- d'icfi5 and distributors out of the ex- hibiticr. field. Major companies will figlit ftle law on constitutional grounds up to the U. S. Supreme Court. Typical of this attitude was the com- ment of a theatre operator who said : "What of it ! It will take four or five years to prove the legality of the meas- ures. This will carry the issue well into 1942, or thereabouts, and that's a long time off." Agreement Reached On Writer Credits (.Continued from pane 1) not be shared by more than three, the writers chiefly responsible being those to receive the credit. The only ex- ception to this rule will be on musi- cals where one writer or a team writes both the original story and screenplay. An established writing team will be deemed one writer. No production executive can share in screen authorship credit unless he does his writing without collaboration of another writer. Where more than one writer has contributed to screen authorship all contributors may agree among themselves as to which one, two or three shall have credit. If the writers cannot agree, the producer will notify the writers which has been chosen. Credits become final if no protests are made within a specified time. If writers request the privilege of reading the script to ascertain how much of their work has been used 48 hours must be allowed before credits become final. Disavow Michael Mindlin Morgan Prod., Ltd., of London, has cabled Motion Picture Daily, de- claring that Michael Mindlin no longer represents the company for the sale of "our British product in America, including 'The Mill on the Floss'." 20-Fox '36 Net Jumps to $7,924,126 (Continued from page 1) one-half interest" in its investment in Metropolis & Bradford Trust, Ltd. (Gaumont British). The sum was added to working capital. The re- port also states that the company's in- vestment in M. & B. was reduced to $7,237,368 by writing off $9,850,250 of the investment under the provisions of a $14,500,000 reserve for revalua- tion of investments authorized under the company's 1933 financial reorgani- zation plan. The $4,649,750 balance of this re- serve fund was written off the com- pany's investment in Movietonews, Inc., and sundry other companies, re- reducing this item to $611,649. Total dividends paid by the company amounted to $5,066,280 for 1936 The company's balance sheet shows cash, of $5,718,032. Operating in- come amounted to $54,031,780, of which $51,670,694 was income from sales and rentals of film and litera- ture. In his report to the stockholders, Sidney R. Kent, president, states, "The management of your corporation be- lieves that the results for the past year were satisfactory. New sales records were established and your corporation's product continues to be well received by exhibitors and the public throughout the world." Frankly devised for the box- office! Spectacular repre- sentation of a shipwreck, calculated to rivet you to your seat! - PHILIP K. SCHEUER Los Angeles Times WALTER WANGER Pre,l,i, CHARLES B0YER JEAN ARTHUR LEO CARILLO- COLIN CLIVE t„ FRANK B0RZAGE Rrleaied thru UNITED ARTISTS. - 12 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Thursday, March 18, 1937 Balcon Arrives for Coast Conferences Michael Balcon, new British pro- duction head for M-G-M under Ben Goetz, arrived yesterday from Eng- land on the Berengaria to spend the next three to four weeks searching for stories and conferring on produc- tion matters on the coast. Balcon left yesterday on the Cen- tury to talk with Nicholas M. Schenck, J. Robert Rubin, Louis B. Mayer, Goetz, Benny Thau and Bob Ritchie on the number of pictures to be made in England and details in connection with players and technical staffs. Goetz, Thau and Ritchie ar- rived last week on the Queen Mary and are now in Hollywood. The first two stories, Balcon said, are being prepared. They are "Rage in Heaven," by John Hilton, and "Yank in Oxford." No casts have been selected as yet, but there is an indication that a number of M-G-M players in Hollywood will be sent over to appear in the British lineup. George A. Wright Dead South Norwalk, Conn., March 17. — George A. Wright, Sr., one of the first settlers of the theatrical colony here, is dead at his home in Rowayton after a brief illness. A son, George A. Wright, Jr., for years stage di- rector for Golden and now in Holly- wood, survives. Gabriel Signoret Dead Paris, March 17. — Gabriel Signoret, prominent French stage and screen player, died yesterday following an operation. He was 59. Brilliantly clever mixture of comedy, drama, mystery and melodrama . . . something for everybody, with superb per- formances by Jean Arthur, Colin Clive, Charles Boyer and Leo Carrillo. -BILL MOORING Film Weekly and London Daily Mail Boston Trust Suit Dismissal Is Asked Boston, March 17. — A plea to dis- miss the $100,000 anti-trust suit brought by Commonwealth Amuse- ment Enterprises, Inc., against Colo- nial Theatres, Inc., in Federal Dis- trict Court here was taken under ad- visement this morning by Judge Sweeney. The case is one of six be- ing prosecuted by George S. Ryan, attorney for the Charles Morse Cir- cuit against major distributors. Ryan has announced his intention in court of trying these six cases and two similar actions, one for Mrs. Loretta Momand and one for Louis Anger, at a single trial. The M. A. Shea Circuit of New York claimed this morning that inas- much as only a few of its booking duties are performed in Boston, where- as contracts and other details are attended to in New York, that the local Federal court does not have ju- risdiction in the present matter, which alleges conspiracy in restraint of trade and monopoly in the Nashua, N. H., theatre situation. Voteur Ruling Reserved Justice Charles B. McLaughlin in N. Y. Supreme Court reserved de- cision yesterday on a motion made by Columbia for an order which would require Ferdinand Voteur, a writer, to submit a bill of particulars in sup- port of his $1,000,000 suit against Co- lumbia. Voteur asserts that he sub- mitted a play, "Resurrection Morn- ing," to Columbia, that the play was rejected and that subsequently Co- lumbia produced "The Man Who Lived Twice" which was identical in most .particulars with his work. Columbia would have the plaintiff show in what respect the two plays are similar and explain what facts and situations are alike. Gaige Sues 20th-Fox Crosby Gaige, writer, has filed suit in N. Y. Supreme Court against 20th Century-Fox in which he charges plagiarization of the title of "Little Miss Nobody." He asks damages of $50,000. The suit was revealed yes- terday when Justice Cottillo denied the writer a bill of particulars in support of the film company's general denial. Warners Seek a Dismissal Warner Bros. Pictures yesterday filed a motion in Federal Court here to dismiss a S100.000 damage suit brought by Richard Carroll, writer, on the grounds that the complaint failed to state a cause of action. Carroll alleges that he submitted two scenarios to Warners, which were rejected. Subsequently, he charges, Warners filed notice with the M.P.P. D.A. of intention of producing a film based on the building of the Panama Canal, the subject of the scenarios. Warners deny that notice to produce such a picture was filed by the com- pany. Tricolor Questions McKeown Los Angei.es, March 17. — An all day cross examination of Samuel S. McKeown, assistant professor of phy- sics at California Tech, marked the resumption of trial here today of the Tricolor patent infringement action against Technicolor. McKeown had previously testified for Technicolor, supporting the latter's claims to prior- ity of patents covering the color cameras involved in the action. Tri- Premature Henry Henigson, former Universal studio head, yes- terday got a great kick out of a report that he had re- joined the company in the same capacity. A friend who had read the item in a coast trade paper sent Henigson a wire con- gratulating him on his ap- pointment. According to Henigson, he came east to visit a sick member of the family and at- tend a few shows. Another two days in town and he will be on his way to Hollywood again. Hii, Chinese Bull, Here Led by Phifer Hii, the Chinese bull in "The Good Earth," will arrive today from Bos- ton, where he has been for the past two days. The bull will spend two days in town and then leave for Philadelphia where the picture is showing at the Locust. Hal Phifer of Loew's exploitation department is conducting the appear- ance tour of the animal under Wil- liam Ferguson's direction. The itin- erary so far calls for the following visits : Baltimore, March 22-24 ; Washing- ton, March 25-27; Pittsburgh, March 29-31; Cleveland, April 1-3; Chicago, April 5-8; Buffalo, April 10-12; Erie, Pa., April 13 : Akron, April 14 ; Can- ton, April 15 ; Zanesville, April 16 ; Columbus, April 17 ; Dayton, April 19; Cincinnati, April 20-21; Detroit; April 23-27. "The Good Earth" will be playing in each city where the bull arrives. "Girls" London Success Lord Portal, General Film Distribu- tors, Ltd., executive, called J. Cheever Cowdin, chairman of the Universal board, yesterday morning on the trans- Atlantic telephone to report the highly successful opening of "Three Smart Girls" in London's West End. It was a charity affair and, Portal added, not only did it establish Deanna Dur- bin at the box-office, but any of the other three featured players could carry a starring picture of his own in England. color attorneys failed today to alter his testimony. Technicolor will continue the presen- tation of its case on Thursday, with indications that the hearings will be concluded by the end of the week. N. O. Cases Postponed New Orleans, March 17. — Two court cases, Federal and state, in which exhibitors are asking the courts for relief against so-called arbitrary methods of exchanges have been de- layed again. In the Federal case, Fuller vs. 20th Century- Fox and six others, has been postponed to March 22 by re- quest of attorneys for the exchanges. The United Theatres vs. Columbia case wherein United asks an injunc- tion prohibiting Columbia from sup- plying "Theodora Goes Wild" to other houses has been postponed until next week because of the absence of wit- RKO Hearings May Go Before Master (Continued from page 1) side litigation. Included in this cate- gory are three actions brought by holders of the old RKO Class A stock to test the validity of RKO's recap- italization plan of 1931 ; actions by Orpheum Circuit preferred stock- holders to set aside RKO's acquisi- tion of Orpheum assets and a move for court authority to pay off the out- standing RKO secured notes. Litigation of this kind has monop- olized the court's time so that no hearings on the plan itself have been held since it was presented to the court last November. RKO Gets Interest In Brooklyn Houses RKO yesterday completed negotia- tions for the purchase of a half in- terest in Randforce's Republic and Lefferts in Brooklyn. The deal be- comes effective in September, with the start of the new season. It will make the houses first runs on a day-and- date arrangement with the entire RKO metropolitan circuit. Nate J. Blumberg represented RKO, while Sam Rinzler acted for the in- dependent circuit. The deal had been on and off for almost a year. Within the next few months, con- struction on a new RKO 4,000-seat house on W. 23rd St. will get under way. Plans for another de luxe the- atre by the circuit on upper Broad- way will most likely be abandoned now that pooling negotiations with Skouras are under way. Several RKO and Skouras uptown houses are involved. This deal also will be ready for operation by September. Zirn Says Stadium Paid Out $143,000 Samuel Zirn, attorney for San Fran- cisco holders of Orpheum Circuit pre- ferred stock, charged at a hearing be- fore Federal Judge Murray W. Hul- bert yesterday that Stadium Theatres Corp., RKO subsidiary, acquired Or- pheum's assets for a cash outlay of $143,000, instead of the $700,000 cash consideration provided for in the Sta- dium bid. Zirn contended that Stadium had $557,000 cash on hand, which he claimed was derived from Orpheum, thereby reducing the cash outlay in- volved by that amount. Without dis- closing the amount of cash on hand, counsel for Stadium admitted that Stadium had realized on a liquidation of Orpheum assets. Zirn is endeavoring to have the transaction by which Stadium ac- quired the Orpheum assets set aside and the sale reopened. He also asks the removal of Oscar W. Ehrhorn as referee in the proceedings and the re- moval of Douglas Black as counsel to Marcus Heiman, Orpheum trustee in bankruptcy. The hearing will be resumed todav. Wary on Joining AFL New Haven, March 17. — Senti- ment of a group of exchange employes toward making application for an A. F. of L. charter for their budding union organization here appeared to be uncertain following a meeting to- day. Only seven names were reported to have been given in favor of the charter application. A new organizing meeting has been called for Monday. WALTER W ANGER ,>r,<, / CHARLES BOYER mi JEAN ARTHUR & LEO CARILLO • COLIN CLIVE J>.. ../..' *, FRANK B0RZAGE -VT- /->-p -\TT-p A T hf IN. d^iNlJKAJL/ 7,404 1 11 AZ1 10/ Illinois l,/24 51 ,080 Indiana 1 086 15 416 Michigan 1 557 23 728 Ohio 2*196 36^50 Wisconsin 841 10,483 WT "NT rVWTT) A T W. IN. L-1^1N 1KAL - AT? 30,0^*5 Iowa 1,016 8,502 Kansas 77 2 //o 7 710 Minnesota 871 11,881 Missouri 1,212 19,217 Nebraska 618 4,789 North Dakota 267 1,947 South Dakota 306 2,267 C A TT A MTi C O. AHjAJNIIU 1 OQ7 oy,/iu Delaware 70 1,083 District of Columbia loo 7Q1C Florida 594 11,349 Georgia 671 5,248 Maryland 426 10,683 North Carolina 712 7,350 South Carolina 371 3,071 Virginia 607 8,096 West Virginia 390 A Ol S E. S. CENTRAL 2,088 20,939 Alabama 495 4,539 Kentucky 613 7,810 Mississippi 304 1,421 Tennessee 676 7,169 W. S. CENTRAL 3.629 41,525 Arkansas 448 3,756 Louisiana 453 4,974 Oklahoma 833 8,379 Texas 1,895 24,416 MOUNTAIN 1,719 19,091 Arizona 158 2,379 Colorado 452 4,861 Idaho 243 2,331 Montana 226 2,902 Nevada 66 1,218 New Mexico 145 1,455 Utah 254 2,266 Wyoming 175 1,679 PACIFIC 3,602 82,236 California 2,619 66,805 Oregon 388 5,865 Washington 595 9,566 TOTALS FOR U. S. 37,677 $699,051 William Murray Dies Pittsburgh, March 18. — William J. Murray, 72, for the last 15 years a manager for Harris Amusement Co., died this morning in Youngstown, O., of pneumonia. He was stricken prior to departing on a leave of absence granted because of ill health. James Wiest Passes James Wiest, theatre manager, whose last post was at the Regal, Hartford, passed away suddenly Wed- nesday morning. His widow and one child survive. Sentry Net Is $1,792 The financial report of Sentry Safety Control Corp. and its subsid- iaries for the year ended Dec. 31, 1936, showed a net profit of $1,792 after depreciation and charges. This is equivalent to less than one cent a share on 267,950 shares of common stock. The net compares with $3,622 in 1935, which was equal to one cent a common share Mayer at Frisco Lunch San Francisco, March 18. — Louis B. Mayer was one of the principal speakers here yesterday at a St. Pat- rick's Day luncheon staged by the Shrine temple and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. More than 1,000 were present, including most of the princi- pal city officials. S hour as Party Enroute Los Angeles, March 18. — Spyros Skouras, William T. Powers, Ed Zabel and Milton Hossfeld entrained for New York today after completing details on the Fox West Coast deal for 20th Century-Fox product next season. John D. Clark, general sales man- ager for the distributor, will leave, tomorrow. Herman Wobber, western division head for 20th Century-Fox, plans to remain here several days con- ferring with Al Hanson, Charles Skouras' assistant, to iron out minor details. i Purely Personal ► MILT KUSELL returned yester- day from a tour of the south, Hollywood, where he visited his family, and Cincinnati, Columbus and Pittsburgh. Next week he will visit New England, Philadelphia and Washington. After this trip he will have covered 50,000 miles by air in connection with the Zukor Silver Jubilee drive. • Marquis' James biography of Sam Houston, called "The Raven," will most likely be produced by a major film company shortly. Several firms are after the Pulitzer prize book. One company has had an option on it, which has just expired, with C. C. Wilkenning & Son now refusing fur- ther optional agreements. • Tilly Losch, who made a personal appearance yesterday at the Astor in conjunction with "The Good Earth," in which she appears, will leave for Hollywood today with her mother. • Dinty Moore, metropolitan district manager for Warners, has gone to Homer, 111., to attend the funeral of his mother-in-law. He will be back next Tuesday. • Sam Goldstein, treasurer of Guar- anteed Pictures, arrives today on the Manhattan from a two-month busi- ness trip in Europe. • William K. Saxton, city man- ager for Loew's in Baltimore, was in town yesterday conferring with Joseph R. Vogel. • Vladimir Verlinsky, president ol Amkino, is due today from a month in Hollywood, where he bought films and equipment. • Belle Goldstein, secretary to Adolph Zukor, left for the coast Tuesday to join the casting depart- ment. • Elizabeth Allan sails tonight on the Europa for a vacation in England She will attend the coronation. • Buddy Marcus, Loew librarian, will return Monday on the Volendam from a cruise to Bermuda. • Arthur Gottlieb of DuArt Lab- oratories, leaves the coast Monday by car for New York. • Keith Falkner, English -player signed by Warners, arrives on the Queen Mary Monday. • Paul Graetz of Paris Export sailed yesterday on the Normandie after a 10-day visit here. • Joseph I. Breen arrived in New York from Chicago by plane yester- day. • Mrs. Henry Ginsberg will take a train west tomorrow. • Charles Sonin, Loew purchasing head, is Miami-ing. • Arthur Lee is due back tomor- row from Chicago. Edwin Willis en route to fhe coast. 9''''/ c 1 no word in the Dictionary BIG enough to describe it! Matt ME means EXTENDED PLAYTIME! Ifil THEY'LL LIFT YOUR GROSSES TO THE STARS in this tenderest romance of our time! Two young personalities who soar to fame s pinnacle ...capturing the fragile heauty and youthful freshness in this great story of an all-possessing love that trans- figures with a golden glow their hard, harsh world of reality. SIMONE SIMON greater than you ever dreamed as "Diane , the role she was horn to play ! and JAMES STEWART as the valiant "Chico whose love gave her courage! H£W£Jt with JEAN HERSHOLT • GREGORY RATOFF GALE SONDERGAARD • J. EDWARD BROMBERG JOHN QUALEN • VICTOR KILIAN • THOMAS BECK SIG RUMANN • MADY CHRISTIANS Directed by Henry King Associate Producer Raymond Griffith Adapted from the stage play "Seventh Heaven" produced and directed by John Golden, written by Austin Strong Darryl F. Zanuck in charge of Production IJntM, have tern oil kinds o$ pictures . . For three decades producers have wanted to make this great Kipling adventure story. But Korda was first to dare the staggering dangers it involved! THE PICTURE WITH A THOUSAND ELEPHANTS AND A MILLION THRILLS! Photographed in Asiatic jungles never before penetrated! Acted by the Maharajah's own hunters. NEVER ONE LIKE THIS! • 1 f Based on "Toomai of the Elephants" by RUDYARD KIPLING directed by ROBERT FLAHERTY and ZOLTAN KORDA a London Film Re/eased thru UNITED ARTISTS MOTION PICTURE DAILY 8 Film Players On Air Target Of Miami Meet (Continued from page 1) sets as "20,000,000 wolves threatening the box-office" and a statement by Morris Lowenstein of Oklahoma, na- tional M.P.T.O.A. secretary that the language was not strong enough, to a discussion of ways and means of barring the product of offending stars from the screens and the bringing of the offending producers to their knees by seeking to cut off newspaper pub- licity through the prestige of individ- ual exhibitors turned loose on their local newspaper editors. Fred Wehrenberg of St. Louis, chairman of the board, denounced this phase of radio not as the ally it has been called but as a definitely harm- ful influence. "Stars used to complain their values would be worn thin by appearing in more than two pictures annually, yet some of them appear on the air each week," he stated. "Broadcasts are said to aid the box-office. They failed to during the depression, yet the reason for better business is being attributed to radio exploitation, when as a mat- ter of fact the reason actually is bet- ter times." Berinstein Hits Radio Tieup Ben Berinstein of Los Angeles re- ferred to the General Mills radio sponsorship, directly from sound stages of five major Hollywood lots, from Monday to Friday inclusive, and said he wanted to know why and how it came about. "William R. Wilkerson, editor of the Hollywood Reporter, had ar- ranged a deal when certainly each studio must have someone competent to enter upon such an arrangement without recourse to the middleman." Jules Michaels of Buffalo sought passage of an amendment seeking a clause in contracts allowing exhibitors to cancel any picture previously bally- hooed over air lanes, but the sugges- tion was killed following argument. H. V. Harvey of San Francisco held Michaels' plan unworkable. "I have been trying to place Fred Astaire musicals in the lower brackets with RKO for nine months on the contention the star had lost ground because of his radio appearances, and have failed." McNeil Also Sought Astaire Cuts "You can't get such a clause," he concluded. His idea was to kill off important product exploited on the air by relegating it to the short half of the week and thereby make distribu- tors realize exhibitors mean business through hitting at producers' returns. It developed that R. A. McNeil of Golden States Theatres, San Fran- cisco, was another theatre operator who had been seeking reductions on Astaire films without results. His ob- servations on radio at large was that it had long been doing his business harm. The suggestion that producers might be made to feel the pinch by cutting off their usual channels of newspaper publicity was advanced by B. P. Mc- Cormick of Canyon City, Colo., who was quite certain a plan could be made to work nationally if exhibitors would make up their minds to do it. "Why not extend it to national ma- Industry Fire Loss Low, Says Anderson Miami, March 18. — Fire losses in the theatre industry during the past eight years have been less than those of any other industry in the United States and, possibly, in the world, manager of Paramount's insurance de- partment, told the M.P.T.O.A. conven- tion today. Anderson paid tribute to the M.P.P. D.A.'s fire prevention activities, es- pecially in the 376 film exchanges throughout the country for its part in bringing about the result noted. He said that Paramount has had a total fire loss of less than $1,500 dur- ing the past eight years. Speaking on all forms of theatre insurance, Anderson declared that ex- ercising proper precautions and utiliz- ing common safeguards against incur- ring any type of liability, theatre owners will find that losses, risk and basic insurance rates ultimately are reduced. "If the losses in any class of busi- ness, such as the theatre business, are high," Anderson pointed out, "the rates for that industry are made cor- respondingly high. If the losses are low, we may expect to obtain lower rates. Our interests and those of the insurance companies are not opposed." He urged the M.P.T.O.A. to appoint an insurance committee to carry on fire and accident prevention campaigns in the theatre industry and maintain contact with the insurance companies. gazines?" was the cry of W. G. Ripley of Long View, Wash. But it was M. C. Moore, president of Southeastern Theatre Managers' Ass'n, who threw cold water on the newspaper and magazine suggestion in favor of exhibitor action against of- fending stars by sluffing their attrac- tions. Even on this score he was not sanguine, pointing out exhibitor com- petition in given situations could and would turn to profit any product re- jected by another exhibitor in any en- deavor to penalize radio film players. As an entirely new angle, A. Julian Brylawski of Washington, D. C, posed the question if exhibitors were entirely blameless. "Radio is doing us no good, I grant you, but what about trailers that vir- tually tell the entire story in advance of the film itself?" he asked. "Certain- ly exhibitors are not guiltless of the charge of spreading free publicity." There was a sharp exchange of words when the 10-point plan was dis- cussed. Wehrenberg struck the stand for its immediate adoption and charged Kuy- kendall with having been too tolerant. He furthermore asked Zukor why Paramount did not abandon the score charge, but the chair choked that off with the pronouncement that Zukor was an invited guest and would not be submitted to embarrassing ques- tions. Turns to Allied Point of View "Maybe Allied is not so wrong after all," pondered Wehrenberg. "Perhaps we should not go quite so far and en- courage adverse legislation, but I am getting tired of endless round table conferences without results." Obviously peeved, Kuykendall popped up with this : "I have tried every method I know, but those who criticize have offered no substitute. I am tired of being patient with those who say I am too patient. If exhibitors of the country Phillipson Proposes Show For Apparatus Miami, March 18. — A proposal that the M.P.T.O.A. sponsor a comprehen- sive trade showing of equipment, ac- cessories and furnishings in connec- tion with its national conventions was made by Percy Phillipson, president of Automaticket, Ltd., of London, in ad- dressing the M.P.T.O.A. today. Phillipson urged that the trade ex- hibition be patterned after the one which has been held in connection with the annual meetings of the C. E. A. in England since 1928. The showing is now an official part of the British exhibitor organization's summer con- vention. It is comprised of 100 to 150 exhibits and virtually underwrites the expenses of the convention. He urged that if such an exhibition should be made possible here that it be confined strictly to trade attendance and pointed out that it would provide an opportunity for theatre operators to study at first hand technical ad- vances made during each year in the industry's vital equipment and acces- sories fields. Hands-across-the-sea sentiment was expressed in two cables which Phillip- son read from London. Both extended felicitations to the M.P.T.O.A. from Charles P. Metcalfe, vice-president; Ken Nyman, vice-president; Major Gale, treasurer, and W. Fuller, sec- retary of the C.E.A. of England and from the London and Home Counties Branch of the same organization. stood solidly together for one week, we'd have every distributor on bended knee. But exhibitors won't and you know they won't." Harvey, by this time, was appar- ently irked by inaction and made his attitude quite clear. "This is my third M.P.T.O.A. convention and nothing is ever done. Last year I brought 25 from northern California to New Orleans. This year I came alone and I am paying my own way. What we want from distribu- tors will do them no harm. I say we ought to get it ; if not, I'm going to remain passive in the future on legislative matters. "Most of the legislation, anyway, is aimed at major interests and is of little concern to small exhibitors ; yet the majors depend upon our influence with local legislators to fight their battles. I say if they don't give us the 10-point program let them fight their own legal battles." His pyro- technics brought applause. Executive Com. to Work on Plans Smoke cleared, a resolution was eventually adopted. It instructed the executive committee to work unceas- ingly for plans of adoption and au- thorized it to either continue a plotted course or "adopt and utilize any other means that will effectively aid in at- taining the M.P.T.O.A. 10-point plan." All indications of what new course might be followed was glossed over, but it is inevitable that earlier hints at relief, via Washington, were merely trial ballons, testing distributor reac- tion. Harvey warned against 16mm com- petition. He cited a company called Films, Inc., which is selling such sound equipment and offering current releases on sub-standard width. While he conceded many distributors were refusing to service such accounts, he added churches, schools, auditoriums and other non-theatrical accounts were Friday, March 19, 193V MPTOA Asks Support for Duffy's Bill getting product anyway through pro- testations made by authorities of such institutions to the regularly constituted1 exhibitor who, he added, finds it diffi- cult for fear of estranging local sen- timent. The convention, therefore, deter- mined on a committee to. be named to ascertain policies of major companies on this question, and draw a plan of action based on its findings. Support of the Duffy Copyright Bill which would eliminate Ascap's mini- mum $250 penalty for copyrighted music violations was urged by Charles W. Picquet of North Caro- lina, reporting for the music tax com- mittee. The convention went for it. Pizor for Concilliation Boards Development of conciliation and ar- bitration boards was urged by Lewen Pizor, chairman of the committee on this matter, and it was approved uni- mously by delegates. "They can serve nothing but useful purposes," read the report, "and pro- vide for settlement of all local dis- putes and controversies outside the contract and establish home rule in each zone or territory." Speaking for Buffalo, Michaels stated 200 exhibitors there already had signed a document asking for the cre- ation of such a system. The big underlying worry of the convention, despite expectations to the contrary, did reach the floor in a re- port on labor by Wehrenberg. His was the warning of moves to extend two-men-in-the-booth law in various sections of the country. He recited the I.A.T.S.E. plan to organ- ize exchange employes as means of ultimately seeking to unionize op- erators in the country and small theatres and urged his listeners to prepare for the eventuality. Insurance Reductions Sought Following the reading of a paper on insurance by Henry Anderson of Paramount, Kuykendall named a committee composed of Anderson, Pizor and Levy to discuss reductions with insurance rate bureaus, particu- larly in the field of public liability coverage. In long harangues on score charges, Michaels at one point sought adoption of an amendment binding theatre men not to buy from distributors who in- sist upon its maintenance. Kuykendall asked how many pres- ent would agree. One arm shot up. It belonged to Wehrenberg. Notably absent was Michaels. He merely was the one who made the original sug- gestion. This, if nothing else, con- veys the idea on how exhibitors func- tion in their own conventions. Block Booking Up Again Following well established lines, the M.P.T.O.A. frowned on elimination of block booking by law by repeating its stand for unconditional 20 per cent cancellations on product bought in groups of 10, or more. Before the session terminated, the program was fairly rounded out. Brownie Akers of the Griffith Amusement Co., Oklahoma City, re- cited pointers in systematizing theatre (Continued on following page) Friday, March 19, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Lockwood Talks on Admission Prices (Continued from preceding page) operation in all situations. Arthur H. Lockwood of Middle- town, Conn., deliberated on admissions and their proper economic level, drawing the conclusion that no for- mula was possible in light of localized conditions. As a digression he made an interesting observation when he cited, as his opinion, that radio with its advance content of future films with members of the original cast actually had assumed the character of the first runs of the nation, while first run theatres, per se, automatically were being pushed into the back- ground. While he said he held no brief for lower admissions, he cited examples in this and other industries, including public utilities and transportation, where tariffs had been cut with soar- ing business as a consequence. Effective approach for future guid- ance on the price problem would be a clearing house of information predi- cated on actual experience, he con- cluded. Griffith Discusses Star Names H. J. Griffith of Oklahoma City aired his views on star values. He said there always would be a short- age, but stressed his belief that every picture had something to sell. What that may be was up to the live ex- hibitor to ascertain, he declared. On theatre operation at large, he intrigued his audience with this : "We follow the policy of not trying to make a college graduate a theatre man, but a theatre man a college graduate." Griffith, with his brother, operates a large circuit of theatres in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. M. A. Lightman, as in others of these conventions, discussed com- munity value of theatres. Having flown especially from New York, Major Leslie E. Thompson exhorted the M.P.T.O.A. men to get behind the drive for the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital. Urges Support for Rogers Memorial "We are seeking to place a hospital at Saranac on an endowment basis and in four or five years anticipate getting $1,000,000 or more to make it self sustaining," he said. The drive starts April 30, with 3,000 local Rogers' chairmen. Circuit theatres and film salesmen nationally are ready to go on a membership drive encompas- sing theatres. By resolution, producers were con- demned for making prestige pictures and clubwomen for supporting them. Familiar was a new resolution of the old problem of designated play- dates which the convention naturally opposed. Score charges again were castigated; Mitchell Wolfson was thanked for his convention arrange- ments, and trade papers for their cov- erage. Resolution to Woodhull Family M. E. Comerford acknowledged with a rising vote the memory of R. F. Woodhull which was borne in mind. A resolution will be directed to his family. The gavel then struck and off went the final and faithful few to prepare for the banquet for an attendance of 650, and the water carnival tonight, which ended the meetings. Moon Over Miami Miami, March 18. What with the seasonal lure of Miami, its cabanas, and climate, not to overlook the ban lifted partially from the gambling places, the city and the beach are jammed to the gun- wales with motion picture people. The Paramount contingent, ensconced at the Roney-Plaza where many of those registered at the Miami Bilt- more wish they were, hovers around 80 or more. A handsome cross-sec- tion of many of the nation's best the- atres is represented. * * * M. A. Lightman drove from Mem- phis. A mere 1,200 miles. Bill Rodgers, sales maestro for M-G-M pictures, is already in ahead of sched- ule and today visited his sons in a nearby military academy just to see them drill and feel proud. Tom Con- nors is with Rodgers. * * * Bert Sanford, the Erpi man, is at hand. He was one of a sizeable num- ber who came in over the road. His clock registered 1,400 miles from New York. * * * George Feinberg, the seat manufac- facturer, startled many of his friends with his appearance. Once rotund and roly-poly, Feinberg has been having a time of it with an illness which he describes as "high pretension." The Mayos gave him up and told him to go home to die. But Feinberg has fooled them. Sixty pounds lighter, his clothes hanging on him, he is weak, but declares he is well. Careful diet- ing and plenty of rest, he anticipates, will return his strength. Immerman continues to do very well by the Dembos — Sam and George. Among the tops in sartorial ensembles in any film crowd, this is the place which gives them opportunity to go in for E.squire-like combinations of sport jackets and off color slacks. It is correct to report they are living up to their opportunities. Jack Skirball forgot all care to- day in a beach chair at the Biltmore facing the sun and daring the conse- quences. Louis Nelson, ardent member of the I. T. O. of New York, is here, not to attend the M. P. T. O. A. palavers directly, but on vacation. He is reporting to Harry Brandt as soon as something happens. * * * The Mirrophonic horns are swell for soundings of the gavel. When Mitch Wolfson called the conven- tion to order, the sound went through the loud speakers with a roar, a bang and a resounding crash. M. B. Horwitz, one of Cleveland's stormy petrels and strictly an Allied man, attended the opening session of the Kuykendall gathering. "I came down specially for it," he said, know- ing nobody believed him. * * * Claude Ezell is here, declaring he is feeling fit again. He listened with rapt attention to the presidential speech on Bank Nights and later, General Counsel Levy's comment on the legal aspect of that game. * * * The bar off the Roney's lower lobby Zukor Holds Bigger Returns Are Needed is jammed nightly with these and those drinking this and that, mostly beer and long, cooling summer drinks. Aside from a gypsy orchestra which, never- theless, knows how to pound out "My Wild Irish Rose," the entertainment includes a palm reader who uses a miniature headlight to trace the ex- tent of the patient's life line, et al. Larry Farrell, a Comerford part- ner who runs the Irving, Carbondale, Pa., submitted the other night. "You had a marvelous business year last year and next season's will be better," she divined. Ted O'Shea, M-G-M branch man- ager, beamed, for Farrell is one of his accounts. Ted automatically and mentally chalked him up for a 10 per cent increase on the 1937-38 lineup. Jack Cohn walked into the Roney barber shop today for a once-over- lightly treatment. "Are the Brandt brothers around?" he inquired casu- ally. "No, sir, they left for New York in a hurry. One of their big- gest pictures was about to open," came the reply. "What?," asked Cohn. " 'Lost Horizon,' " the razor wield- er explained. Now Cohn is telling the story which has its angle in view of the fact that Columbia's deal for the Globe, New York, guaranteed the Brandts a flat sum. The operation is strictly Columbia's. * * * Robbins, the Dembows, Cohn and others are about to take off for Ha- vana even as you read this. The rea- son, they say : to buy cigars. Their wives are carrying around looks, all dubious. * * * Madhouse item : The Four Yacht Club Boys, the three Ritz Brothers, Joe Louis and Lou Irwin sunning themselves in the solarium of Demp- sey's Vanderbilt. * * * It was only one of the merry groups that foregathered at the Park Ave- nue for a huge steak dinner. Tables shoved together on the quick made room for Jack and Mrs. Cohn, Sam and Mrs. Dembow, Herman and Mrs. Robbins, George and Mrs. Dembow and Charlie Sonin of Loew's who has been indulging in his annual holi- day here. * * * The Cohns leave for Hollywood next month, Jack on regulation Col- umbia business and Mrs. Cohn to see her son, Ralph, and her daughter-in- law, who is a daughter of tire manu- facturer Jimmy Martin, a close buddy of Jack's. Joe McConville and Louis Astor are also representing Columbia. Abe Montague, general sales manager, cannot make it. When McConville returns to New York, however, Mon- tague will get a chance of his own at sunshine. Bermuda. * * * Lou Irwin is here squiring his cli- ents, the Ritz Brothers, about the the resort on a short holiday. The comedians hie back to Gotham from this point and report to the 20th Cen- tury-Fox studio April 12 for another musical. Thereafter, they go to Sam- uel Goldwyn for his "Follies," this by July 10. (Continued from page 1) come about. The public has been educated to get big pictures, and when I say that I don't mean Para- mount alone. I am talking for the whole industry. "Exhibitors today do not appreciate they are getting something outstand- ing. Business is better and Holly- wood naturally is aware of it, there- by encouraging producers to step out. "Taken by and large they are tak- ing all the risk. On the basis of total investment those in production are finding the return is not worth the gamble and that's why I say exhibi- tors will have to see to it those re- turns are increased." In the presence of all Paramount theatre partners who thronged Con- vention Hall as it had not been at any other time during the sessions, Zukor sketched briefly his coordinating ef- forts at the studio and said: "If I had to stay in Hollywood at no pay at all I would remain for the thrill in making pictures," he told the assemblage. The studio is working out, he concluded, on a general slogan of "put Paramount back where it was." Cuts Rialto Assessment Referee Jacob Marks, acting for the N. Y. Supreme Court yesterday_ re- duced the assessment of the Rialto Theatre property on Broadway & 42nd St., for 1935 and 1936 from $2,825,- 000 to $2,535,000. Tops in adult entertainment, superb direction, splendid per- formances . . . it's box-office ! - WARREN STOKES Jay Emanuel Publications WALTER W ANGER prescnl, CHARLES B0YER „wJEAN ARTHUR & LEO CARILLO • COLIN CUVE J>„i,i„) kif FRANK B0RZAGEO..V"' •'»"/ MOTION PICTURE i. radio DAILY 1 Radio Personals ► THE Eton Boys have been booked for the week of March 25 at the RKO, Boston, and at the Earle, Washington, for the week of April 2 through the CBS artists bureau . . . Gregory Ratoff will appear on Eddie Cantor's program March 21 . . . The Horn and Hardart "Children's Hour" will celebrate its seventh consecutive year on WABC this Sunday . . . The Mills Brothers were set for a guest appearance on Ed Wynn's program April 3 through Rockwell-O'Keefe . . . Also, Art Jarret and Bernice Claire have signed Rockwell-O'Keefe contracts . . . + NBC will broadcast the Harvard "Hasty Pudding" show on the Blue, March 23 at 11 :15 P. M. . . . Elisa- beth Rethberg and the Philadelphia Orchestra will guest appear on the RCA "Magic Kev" program Easter Sunday . . . E. P. H. James, NBC manager of promotion, is the co-au- thor of a tome now on sale, "Mar- keting Research". . . The Casa Loma orchestra will celebrate the seventh anniversary of its incorporation with a dinner at the New York Athletic Club April 7 . . . Betty Finley has re- signed at CBS to follow her boss of the past seven years, Ralph Wonders, in the Rockwell-O'Keefe office. + Herman Bernie has set Ethel Barrymore for a guest appearance on the Maxwell House "Showboat" next Thursday . . . Dorothy Mackail will be interviewed on the WHN "Movie Club" this week . . . Vallee on Canadian Stations Montreal, March 18. — After a absence from Canadian stations since Sept. 17, 1936, the " Vallee program returned to CFCF, Montreal, and CRCT, Toronto. It has been booked on both stations for the rest of 1937. Canadian commercials will be cut into the program, plugging Fleish- mann's yeast, and not Royal Gelatine, which has sponsored Vallee in the United States only since the Septem- ber switch. Air Stockholders' Meeting Hollywood, March 18. — Five Mu- tual-Don Lee Pacific Coast stations and KFOX of Long Beach will broadcast the annual stockholders' meeting of the Southern California Edison Co. tomorrow between 12 and 1 P. M. This is the first time the 75,000 California stockholders have been given an opportunity to sit in on the meeting. Local release is KHJ. Renew Oakie Program Los Angeles, March 18.— The full cast of Jack Oakie's College, includ- ing two orchestras, has been renewed for an additional 13 weeks on Camel's CBS program. Greetings to a new A sponsor — Sobol .^R ■ jfl Brothers on WHN | Afcsf 15 times a week! B JVi Mg|H|j dial loio mW, FCC Has Pleas for Four New Stations Washington, March 18.— The F. C. C. today announced the receipt of four applications for permission to construct new broadcasting stations, as follows : Ohio Broadcasting Co., Salem, O., 780 kilocycles, 250 watts ; Hickory Broadcasting Co., Hickory, N. C, 1,- 370 kilocycles, 100 watts, daytime only; Clark Standiford, L. S. Coburn and A. C. Sidner, Fremont, Neb., 1,- 370 kilocycles, 100 watts; Dan B. Shields, Provo, Utah, 1,210 kilocycles, 100 watts. The F.C.C. has set the following calendar of examiners' hearings for the coming week : March 22: application of WAOO, Chattanooga, Tenn., for power in- crease to 250 watts day and time in- crease ; March 23 : applications of Salinas Newspapers, Inc., Salinas, Cal., for new 1,390 kilocycle, 250- watt daytime station, and the Bend Bulletin, Bend, Ore., for new 1,310- kilocycle station, 100 watts night, 250 day; request of KDON, Del Monte, Cal., for frequency change to 1,400 kilocycles and power increase to 250 watts night, 1,000 day; March 24; application of Juan Piza, San Juan, P.R., for new 1,500-kilocycle station, 100 watts night, 250 day, and request of WSPA, Spartanburg, S.C., for fre- quency change to 880 kilocycles and power increase to 5,000 watts ; March 26: application of WHBB, Selma, Ala., for time increase from day only to unlimited. WWSW to Air Baseball Pittsburgh, March 18. — The At- lantic Refining Co. will sponsor a play-by-play telegraphic account of all of the Pittsburgh Pirates' away- from-home baseball games next sum- mer over WWSW. In contests played in Brooklyn and New York, however, there will be only a summary of the results by innings since wires for broadcasting purposes are prohibited in these parks. When the Pirates are at home, a resume of each game will be made under the same sponsorship. Joe Tucker, WWSW's sports announcer, will probably handle the broadcasts, although this hasn't yet been con- firmed by N. W. Ayer & Son. WCCO Renews Baseball Pact Minneapolis, March 18. — For the fifth successive year, General Mills will sponsor broadcasts of the Minne- apolis Baseball Club over WCCO. Contracts for the 1937 season were signed this week. All games played by the team in the American Ass'n., except Sundays, will be aired. Don Bernard Quits KHJ Hollywood, March 18. — Don Ber- nard has resigned as production man- ager for KHJ to free lance in radio production. No successor has been named. Sam Pierce Is Married Hollywood, March 18. — Sam Pierce, writer and producer of "Call- ing All Cars" for KHJ, was mar- ried recently in Riverside. KFI Takes Dempsey Series Hollywood, March 18. — The trans- cribed series starring Jack Dempsey and sponsored by Nihi, Inc., will be aired over KFI. Speech Gets Lost A "ghost" speech is floating about the airwaves today. The speech was made by Pre- mier Mussolini in Tripoli, and it was scheduled to be heard yesterday at 11 A. M., E.S.T., on the NBC-Blue network. Through a mixup in signals, NBC was unable to pick up the address, with the result that a studio stand-by or- chestra was summoned to fill the 15-minute breach in the network schedule. One hour later, also from Tripoli, NBC broadcast an English transla- tion of the speech that wasn't heard. The irony of the affair is that NBC cancelled a com- mercial program. P. & G.'s "The O'Neills," in order to broadcast Mussolini's address. Paris to Have Huge Television Station Paris, March 18. — The French Ministry of Posts, Telegraphs and Telephones yesterday announced an order for the erection of a 30,000- watt commercial television station. The order was from La Materiel Telephonique Licensee, a subsidiary of the International T. & T. Co., New York. The station will be installed on the Eiffel Tower, and will be the world's most powerful television unit thus far. It will be put into service early in July and will operate with full power as soon thereafter as prac- ticable. "The Garden of Allah" will be televised. Renew on Ray Knight The contract of Ray Knight and his "gang" has been extended for an additional 13 weeks on the Sunday night Mutual program sponsored by Feenamint. The renewal was effected through James Appel of the CBS artists' bureau department. Report Breen Program Set Despite the denial by Sol Lesser that Bobby Breen would appear on a program of his own this summer, it is reliably reported again that the juve- nile singing star has been set for a series of his own, to begin this sum- mer after Eddie Cantor leaves the air. Siepman Due Here March 22 Charles Siepman, chairman of the program board of the BBC will ar- rive here from England March 22 as a guest of the Rockefeller Founda- tion. Siepman will visit University stations throughout America to study educational programs. Renew Jolson, Martha Raye The Tuesday night CBS series star- ring Al Jolson and Martha Raye has been renewed for a full year beginning with the broadcast of March 23. The series is sponsored by Lever Bros, for Rinso and Lifebuoy, through Ruth- rauff & Ryan. Kraft Artists Scheduled Schedule of concert guests on the Kraft "Music Hall" series includes Ernest Schelling, April 1 : Kathryn Meisle, April 8; Percy Grainger, April 15; Rose Bampton, April 22; and Grete Steuckgold, April 29. Friday, March 19, 1937 FCC Discloses RCA Executive Salaries Washington, March 18. — The highest salary paid by RCA in 1935 was that of David Sarnoff, president, who received $75,000, it was revealed here today by the F.C.C. Reporting on the compensation of officers, directors and others employed by companies under its jurisdiction who received $10,000 or more a year, the commission disclosed that in addi- tion to the president 14 officials of RCA received $10,000 or more. The chairman of the board received $54,- 000 and $1,940 in other compensation, two vice-presidents, $25,000 each; the general solicitor, $20,000; the assist- ant to the president, $18,000; the treasurer, $17,000, the attorney in charge of patent litigation and the manager of the license division, $15,- 000 each; the assistant treasurer, §12,000 ; the general patent attorney, $10,500, and the secretary, assistant general counsel, comptroller and re- search supervisor, $10,000 each. Tim and Irene on for Year Tim and Irene, and Bunny Berri- gan's orchestra, who had an audition for the Admiracion Laboratories re- cently, have been set for a coast-to- coast Mutual program, beginning April 18, from 6:30 to 7 P. M., E.S.T. The contract is for 52 weeks. The program will be carried over stations WOR, New York; WGN, Chicago; CKLW, Detroit; WAAB, Boston; WBAC, Baltimore; WCAE, Pittsburgh; WGAR, Cleveland; KHJ, Los Angeles ; KFRC, San Francisco ; KDB, Santa Barbara; KGB, San Diego ; KWK, St Louis. Wright in New CBS Series "Will Wright, Vice President," a new CBS series, will make its air debut on the network March 23 at 3 P. AL, E. S. T. The program will be presented twice weekly, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Will Wright is the author and star. Wright is currently announcing the Al Pierce Ford program. "News of Youth" to End "News of Youth," heard Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 6:16 P. M., E.S.T., on the CBS network, leaves the airwaves after tonight's broadcast. The series was for the Ward Baking Co. through Fletcher & Ellis, Inc. It was indicated at the agency that the show may return to the network in the fall. National Silver Signs Kaufman Irving Kaufman has been signed for a new half-hour series of programs to be sponsored by the National Silver Co., it was learned yesterday. No de- tails are available as yet, but it is known that the program will be heard over WOR, with the possibility of a Mutual network tieup. Radio Use Hit The use of film stars on radio programs was attacked as the M.P.T.OA convention came to a close in Miami yes- terday. Details of the discussion of the situation will be found on Page 8. MOTION PICTURE DAILY 1 Friday, March 19, 1937 , Pittman Will Seek Inquiry On Air Profit (Continued from page 1) may lead to the press becoming "in- creasingly susceptible to Government K influence" and control, and declared that the "control of the press and radio by a single interest is unsound. Congress must move with celerity or a situation will have been created with which it will be too late to cope." Senator Pittman pointed out that it has been charged that the networks are obtaining a monopoly and that it has been alleged the F.C.C. has as- sisted such a development even to the "disregard of its own procedural rules and its established engineering stand- ards." Because of the many directions in which unsatisfactory conditions have developed and the promise of "great events" in radio in the near future, he said, a full investigation of the en- tire broadcasting division and the ac- tivities of the commission should be undertaken by Congress. Major Distributors Win Point in Macon (Continued from page 1) E. Gore and Mary E. Gore, his wife, alleged conspiracy on the part of the defendants in violation of the Sher- man anti-trust law and the Clayton Act. The injunction sought was de- signed to restrain the defendants from conspiring to prevent the exhibition of films by the petitioner's theatre. The court held that the evidence in- troduced was insufficient to warrant the issuance of an injunction. The court further stated that a decision regarding the existence of conspiracy "can better be determined at a final hearing with witnesses before the court and with evidence much more complete than it is at the present time." The Tampa corporation has insti- tuted a damage action in Northern District Court against all the de- fendants listed. Child Bill in Albany Albany, March 18.— The admission of unaccompanied children between eight and 16 years to film theatres in cities and villages outside Greater New York is provided in a bill intro- duced today in the New York As- sembly by Harold B. Ehrlich, Buffalo. Under the terms of the measure, the children must all be kept in the or- chestra and in charge of a licensed matron. It would also be unlawful for any person, not the parent or guardian, to purchase for or give to any child a ticket of admission to any theatre, unless such house is author- ized to admit unaccompanied children. The bill is similar to the law recently enacted for Greater New York. Para. Gets "Gettysburg" Hollywood, March 18. — Paramount today announced it will make "Gettys- burg," the Mackinly Kantor story, with Henry Hathaway directing and Albert Lewin producing. Fred Mac- Murray will be starred. Master Will Hear RKO Proceedings (Continued from pane 1) a new petition into the already com- plex reorganization situation to fur- ther complicate the proceedings and render more remote the possibility of hearings on the plan itself, unless a part or all of the proceedings are turned over by the court to a special master. The new petition was brought by Edward J. Hickey of Washington, a holder of old KKO Class A stock, who charges that Section 77-B of the Federal bankruptcy statute under which RKO is being reorganized is unconstitutional, and that the RKO refinancing plan of 1931 which elimi- nated the old Class A stock by an ex- change for the present common un- lawfully violated the rights of the Class A holders. Three other similar actions have been instituted in the course of the reorganization by holders of the old Class A stock. Judge Bondy indi- cated that he would first consider whether the Class A holders have abandoned their legal rights through undue laxity in failing to press their actions for relief from the 1931 refinanc- ing plan until now. If the court finds that such is not the case, lengthy hear- ings on the Class A holders' actions would be necessary and would more than likely be held before a special master. Such a procedure would have the advantage of continuous hearings by the special master in contrast to the limited amount of time which Judge Bondy is able to devote to the reorganization proceedings. The court asked counsel yesterday to submit petitions for the appoint- ment of a special master, probably during the next week, and set April 19 for the adjourned hearing on the plan. Decision Reserved On Orpheum Assets Decision was reserved yesterday by Federal Judge Murray W. Hulbert on the petition of Orpheum first pre- ferred stockholders of San Francisco, represented by Samuel Zirn for the reopening of the sale of Orpheum assets to Stadium Theatres Corp., RKO subsidiary. Answering Zirn's charge of Wednesday that Stadium had $557,- 000 cash on hand, much of which was obtained through liquidation of Or- pheum assets, O. C. Doering of coun- sel for the RKO trustees, asserted yesterday that RKO had been ad- vancing funds to Orpheum for years and that if it continued to do so "RKO ventually would be bled to death." He also pointed out that claims against Orpheum amounted to $6,875,000, whereas a recent ap- praisal placed the value of Orpheum assets at $2,800,000. He said that even successful recovery actions, if instituted, could not bring more than $3^000,000 into Orpheum, which still would be insufficient to permit stock- holders to participate in a liquidation. Judge Hulbert allowed Zirn until March 24 to file briefs and set March 29 for the completion of defendants' reply briefs. Set Brooklyn Fox Hearing Federal Court Judge William Bondy yesterday set April 6 for a hearing on the plan of reorganization of the Flatbush Ave. and Nevins St. Corp., which operates the Fox The- atre and office building in Brooklyn. The plan was proposed by the Pound Committee of first mortgage bond- holders. Judge Bondy ordered all claims filed before April 20 and ruled that objections to the plan must be filed by April 26. The Pound Committee was author- ized to file claims on behalf of the bondholders who have deposited with them under the deposit agreement. Continental Bank and Trust Co. of New York, trustees under the mort- gage, was authorized to file for all other bondholders. The debtor cor- poration may file for stockholders. The Pound Committee has on de- posit $4,540,900, or approximately 80 per cent of the $5,650,000 outstanding first mortgage bonds. The theatre is under lease to Fabian Theatres. Inc., for five years to Sept. 1, 1939, at an annual rental of 15 per cent of the gross with a minimum of $135,000 per year. Deny Fuller Charges New Orleans, March 18.— Harold Wilkes of Paramount today filed an answer to the suit of the Fuller circuit against 20th Century-Fox and six other major companies, denying a con- spiracy in restraint of trade. He emphatically denied being a party to deprive M. Fuller of receiv- ing films for his Pensacola houses and said he never acted with Warners or other firms. J. Studebaker Lucas, Fuller's attor- ney, is making a strong effort to bring the case to early trial, despite nu- merous delays asked by the defendant. Roxy Month Net $20,198 Howard S. Cullman, trustee of the Roxy, yesterday filed in U. S. District Court his monthly report covering the period from Jan. 29 to Feb. 25, re- vealing net profit of $20,198. He received in cash $207,581 from which is deducted disbursements amounting to $237,637, showing an excess of dis- bursements over receipts of $30,056. Cash on hand amounts to $84,204 compared with $114,260 of the previ- ous month. The net profit is before deduction for interest, funded indebt- edness, depreciation and amortization, trustee and counsel fees. Fitch Sues Shuberts Richard W. Fitch yesterday filed suit against Jacob J. Shubert, Lee Shubert, Select Theatres Corp. Shu- bert Theatres Corp. and the Columbia Broadcasting Co. in which he asks for an injunction and an accounting of the profits for alleged infringement of his father's play "Barbara Frietchie, the Frederick Girl" in the operatta "My Maryland" which the Shuberts produced. Columbia Broad- casting is sued because they broadcast some of the songs from "My Mary- land." Grants RCA Injunction Federal Court Judge Alfred C. Coxe yesterday granted a consent de- cree for a permanent injunction in favor of RCA and the A.T.&T. in their suit against the Amplex Radio Corp., Frank Komstant and Arnold G. Landes. The suit charged infringe- ment on patents owned by the plain- tiffs. An accounting will follow. Settle Andreasian Suit Mahran K. Andreasian's suit against Warners for $100,000 damages was II Pathe to Put Up $200,000 For Monogram (Continued from page 1) by Pathe in nine months. Motion Picture Daily several months ago exclusively reported Pathe would re- enter the finance field for independent production. Nine of Monogram's program of 26 features for 1937-38 are now in various stages of production under Scott R. Dunlap's supervision. War- ren Hull has been signed for a role in "Paradise Isle." Marion Orth wrote the screenplay and Mrs. Wal- lace Reid, who will supervise the unit, is now in Samoa for background material. Ken Goldsmith will super- vise "College Sweetheart," and Rob- ert Lee Johnson is working on a screen treatment for "The Hoosier Schoolboy." Other pictures being prepared include : "Blazing Barriers," "The Marines Are Here," "A Bride for Henry," "Romance of the Lim- berlost," "The Luck of Roaring Camp" and "Federal Bullets." Norton V. Ritchey, president of Ritchey International Corp., who re- cently resigned as general manager of Republic's export department, will leave today for a vacation in Florida. When he returns it is expected he will again act as foreign representa- tive for Monogram. For many years his company served Monogram in the foreign field before the company be- came a unit of Republic. Chi CubsforM-G-M Short Hollywood, March 18. — M-G-M today signed the Chicago Cubs for the next Pete Smith short. Dave Miller will direct with Erni Orsatti, St. Louis National League player, as technical director. The players will be filmed at their training camp at Catalina Island. Flash Previews "Old Louisiana" — With fact and fiction merged, this is a drama built around the events leading to the Louisiana Purchase. "Bill Cracks Down" — Average pro- gram fare telling a rather implausible story against the background of a steel mill. These films will be reviewed in full in a coming issue of Motion Picture Daily. settled by stipulation yesterday in U. S. District Court. Andreasian charged that he was portrayed as a thief and blackmailer in a picture pro- duced by Warners titled "From Head- quarters." Ball Heard for Technicolor Los Angeles, March 18. — J. Arthur Ball, vice-president of Technicolor, was chief witness today in the Tri- color suit against Technicolor. He offered a minute analysis of 16 Tri- color exhibits, including the Jones Duplex camera. He picked out flaws of each and declared none were of commercial value, adding that exhibi- tors would turn them down. He showed different features of Techni- color cameras and how they differed from Duplex. He will be cross-exam- ined tomorrow. 12 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, March 19, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILYS HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "That Man's Here Again" {Warners) Hollywood, March 18. — Drama, romance and comedy are the ele- ments of this picture. It is pointed to appeal to family type audiences. The romantic drama concerns Tom Brown and Mary McGuire, who makes a promising film debut. Comedy in the hands of Hugh Herbert and Joseph King provides the menacing melodramatic contrast. Practically all the action takes place in an apartment house. Finding Miss McGuire hiding in the basement, Brown, an elevator boy, gets her a job as Herbert's maid. As the boy and girl fall in love, she cannot force herself to tell him that she is to have a baby and when she acci- dentally breaks a supposedly valuable Chinese vase belonging to Her- bert, the frightened girl runs away. There ensues a suspense-laden search in which Brown, who has Herbert's financial and moral support, finds Miss McGuire in a hospital where her child has been born. While Miss McGuire had been in the employ of Herbert, King had done his utmost to make her life miserable. When the girl and child are found, Herbert, who has been dispossessed, stages a reunion party in King's apartment. Just when everyone is most happy, King returns and threatens to make trouble for all. But when informed by Herbert that associations with other women than his wife may be exposed, King takes the easiest way out to assure a happy romantic ending for Miss McGuire and Brown. Herbert is up to his usual standard as a fun provider and Teddy Hart checks in a bit that adds to the gayety. Minor parts are capably handled by Dorothy Vaughn and Arthur Aylesworth. Louis King directed. Production Code Seal No. 2,875. Running time, 60 minutes. "G." "Jim Hanvey, Detective" (Republic) Hollywood, March 18. — Essentially comedy mystery, but with romance, melodrama and suspense not ignored, the exploits of Jim Han- vey, detective, promise to serve well as a sustaining feature. In the title role, Guy Kibbee creates a unique lovable character. While he dominates the film, he is capably supported by Tom Brown, Lucie Kaye, Catherine Doucet, Edward Brophy, Edward Gargan, Helen Jerome Eddy, Theo- dore von Eltz and Kenneth Thomson. Based on an Octavus Roy Cohen story which a quartet of writers transcribed to the screen, it has been directed by Phil Rosen with an eye to providing attractive entertainment for average audiences. Irascible Kibbee would rather hunt and fish than detect. A necklace is stolen. To Kibbee come Brown and Miss Kaye, who admit they have stolen it for a joke. Under orders of von Eltz and Thomson, Brophy and Gargan, small town highjackers, arrive to steal it from the young- sters. While attempting to put it back, a butler is killed. From then on Kibbee has a multitude of problems to solve in his own peculiar way. He has to foster the Brown-Miss Kaye romance, shield the boy from sus- picion, protect the scared crooks, Brophy and Gargan, calm down Cath- erine Doucet, stall off the police, trap the killer and uncover the thief. He does so in novel fashion and in a manner that should prove satis- factory in the neighborhood and small town trade. Production Code Seal No. 3,120. Running time, 70 minutes. "G." Universal to Raise Budget 25 Per Cent (Continued from page 1) production values generally, it was stated. The annual election of officers of Universal Pictures Co., Inc., will be held at the April meeting of the com- pany's board. The entire present slate of officers headed by J. Cheever Cow- din, chairman, and R. H. Cochrane, president, is scheduled to be reelected. Rogers and William Pierce, his ex- ecutive secretary, leave for the coast today. Skouras Is Making Single Film Tests {Continued -from page 1) split week booking arrangement, at- tractions are dated for four days on the long half and three days on the short half. Executives of the circuit have been discussing the plan for some time and decided to try it out at the new unit, it was stated. So far the policy has been well received at the Manhasset. No changes in the current dual fea- ture bookings in the balance of the circuit will take place until George Skouras returns from a vacation at Golden Beach, Fla., in three weeks. , Simply swell. So bright, so sparkling and so different that it is one of the most interest- ing pictures I've ever seen. Grand performances. A bril- liant picture. - GRACE WILCOX Detroit Free Press Syndicate St. Louis Exhibitor Group toMeetF&M St. Louis, March 18. — Independent exhibitors are to hold a conference with Harry Arthur, F. & M. general manager, in the hope of working out an agreement to prevent the spread of price slashing. The committee includes Fred Weh- renberg, Louis K. Ansell and Fred and Clarence Kaimann. Rob Los Angeles House Los Angeles, March 18. — Bandits here forced Leo Papkin, manager of the Million Dollar, to return to the house from his home five miles away and open the safe. They escaped with $1,500, but overlooked another $1,000. Papkin was bound and gagged and I beaten. Brandt Plans Three Houses for 69 Total Negotiations have been completed by the Brandt circuit for three new theatres which are to be constructed in the metropolitan area shortly. The new additions will give the circuit a total of 69 units. One of the three new houses will be built at 79th St. and 2nd Ave. The second will be constructed at 23rd St., at 8th Ave. The last is scheduled for 231st St., east of Broadway. Honor Raymond Willie San Antonio, March 18. — Ray mond B. Willie, former city manager for Interstate here, who has been ad- vanced to an executive post at Dallas, was tendered a farewell dinner at the Gunter Hotel by about 125 associates and friends. Variety Club Kansas City Kansas City, March 18. — Elmee C. Rhoden, president of Fox Mid- west Theatres, Inc., has been elected president of Variety Club. Finton H. Jones has been named first vice- president, and R. R. Biechele, second vice president. Homer Blackwell continues as secretary and Samuel Abend as treasurer. The new board of directors has George Baker, Arthur Cole, R. F. Withers, R. C. Libeau, Earl Jameson and F. C. Hensler. Rhoden and Jones are delegates to the national convention with Black- well and Abend as alternates. The new clubrooms on Film Row will be opened March 29 for members only. At that time the new officers will be initiated. The opening for members, their wives and friends will be April 5. Ten new members have been ad- mitted to membership. They are : Walter Shreve, L. E. Silcott, Ed Haas, Lon Cox, Ralph Morrow, Charles Knickerbocker, Rube Mel- cher, Lauren Turner, Karl Howe, and Max Barewin. Major Planning Eight Major Prod, plans eight features a year for release through Paramount, Victor M. Shapiro, publicity director of the organization, stated yesterday. There will be one each a year with Bing Crosby and Mae West, he said. Shapiro expects to return to Holly- wood by plane Tuesday or Wednes- day. LeMaire Going Abroad Hollywood, March 18. — Rufus Le- Maire, who recently signed a new contract as executive assistant to Charles R. Rogers at Universal, will leave for England March 24. He will take with him some scripts which he will show to George Arliss, whom he has under personal management. Wall Street Board Losses Range V& to 11 Points High Low Close Change Columbia 3334 32% 33 —1 Columbia, pfd. . . 4254 42 42 —1 4% 454 454. -% Consolidated, pfd. 1654 16% 1654 Eastman Kodak . 162 16054 16154 —3" Gen. T. Equip. .. 2954 29 29 K-A-O, pfd 106 106 106 +1 78 7654 78 2454 2334 23% -V* Paramount 1 pfd. .16654 16654 16654 —11 Paramount 2 pfd. 22 2154 2134 - % Pathe Film m m m + % RKO 8% 8% 8% - 54 20th Century -Fox. 38% 3734 38 - 54 84 84 84 +2 Warner Bros. . . . 15% 1434 1434 -54 6154 6154 6154 - 34 Light Curb Changes Net High Low Close Change Grand National ..354 3 3% + Vt Sentry Safety .... 34 34 34 Sonotone 1% 1% 1% Technicolor 22 21% 22 — }4 Trans -Lux 434 4% 4% — Yi Most Bonds Decline Net High Low Close Change Keith B. F. 6s '46 98 97% 98 — % Loew's 354s '46... 98 9754 98 + 54 Paramount B'way 3s '55 75 75 75 — 54 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 IOO54 100% 10054 + % RKO 6s '41 pp.... 113 112J4 11254 —254 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 9654 94}4 95 —1 (Quotations at close of March 18) WALTER WANGER Rfe,e»b CHARLES BOYER JEAN ARTHUR & ,VOL. 41. NO. 66 NEW YORK, SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 1937 TEN CENTS U.A. May Add Two Producers For Next Year Laemmle, Jr., and Gordon Expected to Join At least two new producers are expected to be added to the United Artists roster, it was indicated at stu- dio conferences held last week, accord- ing to executives who have returned after attending the sessions. Max Gordon and Carl Laemmle, Jr., are the names mentioned. Gor- don's association with the company would be as a partner in the new Harry Goetz play and picture produc- ing firm. Goetz has been a producer for United Artists through Reliance, whose last picture was "Last of the Mohicans." Under the new Gordon- Goetz setup, three pictures annually are planned. The first will be a Robert Donat picture which is being produced in England. Goetz is now in London sitting in on production details. He is due back. Gordon, meanwhile, is with RKO on a special assignment. Laemmle, Jr., has been negotiating with Dr. A. H. Giannini for some (Continued on page 3) Decision Deferred On Sale Tax Moves Major distributors deferred until Monday their decision on a further course of action following the Court of Appeals decision this week holding film rentals derived from theatres within the city to be subject to the two per cent city sales tax. The court's opinion was discussed yester- day at a meeting of legal representa- tives of the major companies at M. P. P. D. A. headquarters. Frederick Wood of Cravath, de (.Continued on page 3) "Salem" at $42,000 In Its Second Week "Maid of Salem'r was the outstand- ing attraction on Broadway last week. With Benny Goodman and his band on the stage, the Paramount garnered approximately $42,000 in the second week of the combination show. The rest of the theatres showed fair re- sults. At the Capitol, "Romeo and Juliet" in the second week tallied $21,000. The second week of "Love Is News" (Continued on page 3) Radio News — Page 4 Says Charges Against Film Men Continue Dickinson Testimony Is Revealed by House By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, March 19. — Com- plaints against the film industry con- tinue to be received by the anti-trust division of the Dept. of Justice in large numbers and one case has re- cently been instituted in Texas, mem- bers of the House Committee on Ap- propriations were told by Assistant Attorney General John Dickinson, since resigned, during the recent hear- ings on the department's appropriation bill for the coming fiscal year. The investigation as a whole, Dick- inson said, has not yet produced any evidence "on which a major proceed- ing can be based." Transcript of the hearings made public today with the reporting of the bill to the House showed that mem- bers of the committee are interested in the possibiilties of the Federal (Continued on Page 3) Action Adjourned On G.B. Dividend By BRUCE ALLAN London, March 19. — The legal ac- tion instigated by Charles L. Nordon, attorney representing a group of or- dinary shareholders of Gaumont Brit- ish, to prevent the payment by the board of directors of a dividend on the preference shares, today was ad- journed until Tuesday by Justice Crossman in the Chancery Division. The security holders are seeking an injunction to prevent payment of the dividend. G. B. is undertaking no (Continued on page 3) By RED Miami Beach, Fla., March 19. — Divisions of playing time and consid- eration of an anticipated demand that percentages and rentals will take a jump forward were considered here today at the continuation of delibera- tions by Paramount partners at the Roney Plaza. Gathered at the meetings are many of the nation's most important the- atre operators who are pondering an Holdovers Pile Up From Aug. 1 to the current weekend, 20th Century-Fox has chalked up 6,785 hold- overs, the extra playing time ranging from one day to eight weeks. The picture which rated the most extra dates in the seven months was "One in a Million," with "On the Avenue" runner up. Stock Details For Monogram Given to SEC Washington, March 19. — The ad- dition of 11 stock-owning regional dis- tribution companies to the new Mono- gram Pictures organization, in addi- tion to other franchise holders and the company's wholly owned New York, Philadelphia and Washington ex- changes, is revealed in a statement detailing Monogram's financing plan presented today to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Herschel Stuart, former Fox and RKO theatre official and now general manager of Consolidated Amusements, New York City circuit, will become treasurer of Monogram. Sol A. Ro- senblatt and William B. Jaffe are counsel for the company and Rosen- blatt is to be a member of the board. The financing plan involves an is- sue of 1,000,000 shares of $1 common stock from which revenue up to $6,- 875,000 may be derived. The company explained that it has acquired all of the stock of W. Ray Johnston Enterprises, Inc., its predec- essor, in exchange for 37,299.9 shares of the new stock and that Johnston subscribed for an additional $53,250 of the issue. The registration statement discloses (Continued on page 3) KANN assortment of problems affecting their interests. The sessions late this after- noon were characterized as "produc- tive of much good." The complexities being faced include the downward adjustment of insur- ance rates and changes in admission scales. On the latter subject, the delegates are posing decisions on whether or not, and in isolated areas, (Continued on page 3) Wage Raises To Forestall Union Drives Distributors in Plan to Meet Union Demand Large distribution companies moved during the past week to check the organizing drive of exchange em- ployes, now under way on a national scale, by increasing wages of their exchange staffs to levels equivalent to or in excess of the scales sought by the unions now in existence, it was learned on good authority yesterday. The wage increases were decided upon during the week and will become effective immediately in all exchanges where employes are receiving less than the average of all scales presented thus far by organized groups, it was said. In some instances, the increases will bring salaries above the union scale of demands. Individual com- pany scales, of course, will vary, as will the scales in different sections of the country. The general aim, how- ever, is to effect a minimum scale which will be at least equal to union demands in organized sections. The wage increases are the distrib- utors' answer to the organizing ac- tivities of the I.A.T.S.E., A. F. of L. and C.I.O. Branch managers in cities where no evidence of organizing is ap- parent will be instructed to keep in close, friendly contact with their em- ployes and to increase scales where (Continued on page 2) Studio Labor Talks Open Here April 4 The annual meeting of major com- pany officials with heads of the five studio international unions on wage scales and working conditions of or- ganized studio crafts is scheduled to open here April 4 at the offices of Pat Casey, major studio labor repre- sentative. Casey is expected here from the coast late next week. The five unions included in the (Continued on page 3) Special Plane Flies Newsreels to Texas Within three hours after word was flashed of the New London, Tex., school disaster, Universal, Paramount and Pathe News cameramen were aboard a plane bound for Fort Worth. Because of the short notice, neither company could get reservations on the regular American Airline plane, but (Continued on page 3) Paramount Partners Discuss Exhibitor Problems inMiami MOTION PICTURE DAILY Saturday, March 20, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 March 20, 1937 No. 66 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco. New York." All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Company. Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- cations: MOTION PICTURE HERALD. BETTER THEATRES. TEATRO AL DIA, INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Sts. ; Boone Mancall, Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave.. C. B. O'Neill, Manager. WASHINGTON: Albee Building. Bertram F. Linz, Representative. AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan 5; Philip de Schaap, Representative. BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest II: Endre Hevesi. Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientos 2495; N. Bruski. Representative. • , HELSINKI: Fredriksgatan 19C: Charlotte Laszio. Representative. „ LONDON: 4 Golden Square, W. 1; Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address, Quigpubco, Lon- MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins St. ; Cliff Holt, Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart, Representative. _ , _ MONTEVIDEO: P. O. Box 664; Paul Bodo, Rep- resentative. n _ MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern, Rep- PARIs':2'^6' Rue Marsoulan ; Pierre Autre, Rep- resentative. _ „ _ _ PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1; Harry Knopf, Representative. RIO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 3358; A. Weiss- man, Representative. ROME: Viale Gorizia; Vittorio Malpassuti. Rep- resentative. _ „ , SHANGHAI: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Build- ing, 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler. Rep- resentative. STOCKHOLM: Kungsgatan 36; Ragnar Allberg, Representative- TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken; H. Tominaga, Representative. VIENNA: Nuestiftgasse. 55; Vienna VII; Hans Lorant, Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Bernstein Loew Buy Reported by S. E. C, Washington, March 19. — Acquisi- tion by David Bernstein, New York, in January of 13,890 shares of com- mon stock of Loew's, Inc., of which he is an officer and director, was re- ported today by the Securities and Exchange Commission in its semi- monthly summary of stock transac- tions. At the close of the month, Bernstein held 15,680 shares of Loew's common. The summary also showed the dis- position by gift by Albert Warner of 65,000 optional six per cent con- vertible Warner debentures, reducing his holdings to 1,567,000, and a simi- lar disposition of 65,000 by Jack L. Warner, reducing his holdings to 1,- 587,000. The commission announced also the receipt of amended reports from Albert Warner showing the sale of 35,000 debentures in November and disposition by gift of 65,000 in December, 1936. To Drop Cleveland Game Nat Holt, RKO division manager in Cleveland, has stated that a move is in progress to discontinue Bank Night at the Lincoln, Cleveland, in line with the circuit's decision to eliminate the policy in all its houses. < Purely Personal ► MARK BLOCK, president of The- atre Trailer Corp., returned yes- terday from a winter vacation at Los Angeles, San Antonio and Hot Springs. He says he lost 14 pounds after taking the baths at Hot Springs. • Beatrice Kaufman, eastern story editor for Samuel Goldwyn, leaves today by plane for Tucson, Ariz., to confer with Goldwyn. From there she will continue to the coast for talks with Sam Marx, story head. • Norman H. Moray, Vitaphone executive, will arrive in Los Angeles today for short subject production conferences with Jack Warner. • Clara Fargo Thomas, artist, has been signed by United Artists for work on posters for David O. Selz- nick's "A Star Is Born." • Jean Rogers is due here early next week. She is en route to her home in Belmont, Mass., for a brief vaca- tion. • Richard Jaeckel, fur expert, left for the coast yesterday to assist on "Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1938." • Frank Tuttle, director, will ar- rive Monday from the coast, en route to France for a vacation. • Harry C. Arthur has returned to St. Louis for the weekend. He'll be back Tuesday. • Harry Goetz is not expected to return from England for another three months. • Martin Moskowitz has gone to Lakewood for the weekend to visit his mother. • Janet Gaynor left yesterday for the coast after several weeks in New York. e Mrs. Martin Johnson will lecture at Carnegie Hall March 29. Fritz Lang, director, leaves today by train for the coast. • Joseph Bernhard sails on the Paris March 27. Flash Preview "The Golem" — The 17th Century story of the deliverance of Jews from the oppression of their half-crazed rul- er, done in a silent version some years ago, is here remade in sound in a highly impressive manner. This film will be reviewed in full in a coming issue of Motion Picture Daily. W. B. Executives in L. A. Hollywood, March 19. — Jack Warner, Gradwell L. Sears and S. Charles Einfeld are here in preparation for the Warner Bros, meetings which start Monday. Joe Levy in Hollywood Hollywood, March 19. — Joe Levy, assistant to Joe Vogel, arrived on the California today for Loew conferences. Charlie Misses It Hollywood, March 19.— If the Santa Elena had not been delayed until night by storms S. Charles Einfeld and the missus would have received a bit of a shock at San Pedro. Joan Blondell and Dick Powell had chartered tugs with welcoming banners and an airplane to duplicate the stunt S. Charles pulled when the honeymooners reached New York on the same boat. Bondy Delays Ruling On Stadium Transfer Federal Judge William Bondy yes- terday reserved decision on a motion by Irving Trust Co., trustee of RKO, for approval of an agreement for the transfer to Stadium Theatres Corp., an RKO subsidiary, of Keith-Albee- Orpheum's remaining interest in Or- pheum Circuit. No opposition to the motion was made at the hearing. The agreement for which approval is sought provides for the transfer to Stadium of a final $486,830 of Orphe- um notes and collateral held by K-A-0 and the withdrawal of the latter's proof of claim against Orphe- um. Stadium recently acquired the going Orpheum assets under a trans- action now being attacked in two separate actions by preferred stock- holders of Orpheum. The RKO trustee asked approval of the agreement between K-A-0 and Stadium on the grounds that it would speed the conclusion of the RKO re- organization proceedings and eliminate the necessity of an expensive new appraisal of Orpheum assets next Jan. 1. Defendants Testify Upon Ohio Play dates Columbus, March 19. — Defendants are taking depositions in the case of RKO Distributing Corp. vs. the State of Ohio, to test validity of the pre- ferred playing time law. Plaintiffs are said to have completed their deposi- tions. Both sides must file briefs by April 1, after which a three-judge special court will decide the case. RKO Allowances Up April 1 Federal Judge William Bondy yes- terday set April 1 for hearing of a petition for interim allowances for Irving Trust Co., RKO trustee, and its counsel, Donovan, Newton, Leisure & Lumbard. Irving Trust asked $60,- 000 for interim services while its counsel petitioned $85,000. No Consolidated Ruling Wilmington, March 19. — No ses- sion of the Supreme Court was held today. It had been expected that a ruling on the Consolidated Film In- dustries recapitalization plan would be made today. Technicolor Rests Defense Los Angeles, March 19. — Trial of the suit of Tricolor against Techni- color charging infringement of a camera patent was continued here to- day as Technicolor rested its defense and Tricolor called two more wit- nesses. Tricolor also stated that it has arranged for a theatre demonstra- tion of its Duplex camera for Judge William P. James on Sunday morning Wage Raises To Forestall Union Drives (.Continued from page 1) they are below average even though no unionizing drive appears to be threatened. Whether or not the distributor strat- egy will prove effective in checking or dissipating the current national or- ganizing drive among exchange em- ployes remains to be seen. Early in- dications are that it will prove to be a decisive factor in many local situa- tions where organizing has not been completed or attempted as yet. It will assure employes of wages as high, or higher, than those sought by the unions without the employe being obligated to pay organization dues. It was pointed out that the organizing effort in New Haven already has lost its drive, to all appearances. At a meet- ing of exchange employes there on Wednesday, only six names were ob- tained for an A. F. of L. charter application. Another meeting is sched- uled for Monday. In Kansas City, Indianapolis and Cleveland, the prog- ress made by organizers does not ap- pear to be impressive. Boston and Detroit Strongest Only Boston and Detroit actually have unions in existence which evi- dence sufficient strength to present their demands formally. The organization of exchange em- ployes in itself is not regarded as serious by either labor officials or in- dustry executives. As a weapon for the extension of unionism to theatres, however, the organizing of the ap- proximately 7,500 exchange workers is admittedly an instrument by which the more than 200,000 theatre em- ployes throughout the country could also be organized. Theatres refusing to recognize employe representatives might have film service from a union- ized exchange shut off. Whether the I. A. will move di- rectly to organize and extend theatre unions, if the exchange drive is checked, appears doubtful. Daniel N. Bousquet Dead Boston, March 19. — Daniel N. Bousquet, at the Capitol in East Arl- ington for the past 12 years, died suddenly at Symmes Arlington Hos- pital after being ill with pneumonia a week. His father passed away only a week before. The theatreman is survived by his widow, Mrs. Victoria Bousquet. in an effort to prove the authenticity of its color projection. Find Bingo Is Lottery Baltimore, March 19. — Joseph Kane, manager of the Royal, a colored house, came to trial here yesterday, before Judge Eugene O'Dunne, charged with operating a gambling es- tablishment and conducting a lottery. He was found guilty only on the second charge. The jury decided that a Bingo game operated in con- nection with theatrical performances is illegal. Bingo cards were given patrons as they entered the theatre and the Bingo game was held after the show. Saturday, March 20, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Stock Details For Monogram Given to SEC Paramount Partners Discuss Exhibitor Problems inMiami {Continued from page 1) that 150,000 shares of the new issue ..are outstanding, 500,000 shares are subject to options at a price beginning at $4 and running up to $8 plus 25 per cent, or a total of $10, and 350,- 000 shares will be offered to the pub- lic at $3.75 per share through J. A. Sisto & Co. as underwriter, the un- derwriter to get 75 cents per share as commission. Additional stock subscriptions, sug- gesting Monogram's stock-owning dis- tribution line-up, were reported in the following amounts : Monogram Pic- tures of California, $10,000; Royal Pictures, Inc., $4,500; Selected Pic- tures Co., $3,850; Monogram Pic- tures, Inc., Detroit, $4,500; South- ern Film Exchanges, Inc., $10,500; Monogram Pictures Corp., Omaha, $3,600 ; Intermountain Pictures, $3,- 600 ; Monogram Pictures Co., Okla- homa, $3,600; Amity Film Ex- changes, $13,100; Monogram Film Exchanges, Buffalo, $4,500; Midwest Film Co., $1,100; that 7,333 1/3 shares are outstanding, issued to John- ston in exchange for 22,000 shares of old $1 common Class B stock, and that 66,666 2/3 shares have been re- served for issuance to Pathe Interna- tional Corp. in liquidation of a $200,- 000 indebtedness. The 150,000 shares represented by these transactions may not be resold by holders for one year. Option Given Underwriter The underwriter agrees to sell 83,- 333 1/3 shares of the stock within 120 days after its issuance or to pur- chase up to that amount. He is also to have an option en 222,500 additional shares at the same rate as the holders of other options, who include Pathe International, 10,000 shares ; Johnston and others, 197,717.4 shares ; Leon Fromkess, as finder's fee, 34,891.3 shares, and Rosenblatt, for services, 34,891.3 shares. These options may be taken up at a price of $4 up to Dec. 28, 1938, and at an advance of $1 per year for each year thereafter until Dec. 8, 1942. Outlining the setup of the corpora- tion, the registration showed that Johnston is to be president at a sal- ary of $25,000 a year for five years. He is also to attempt to obtain $250,- 000 of life insurance in favor of the company and at the company's ex- perse. Officers Listed Scott R. Dunlap is to be vice-presi- dent in charge of production at $300 per week for five years ; Herschel Stuart is to be treasurer ; M. S. White, secretary, and Edward A. Golden, sales manager. The board of directors is to con- sist of not less than five persons and is to include Johnston, Dunlap, J. A. Sisto, Rosenblatt and William Rhine- lander Stewart. Of the funds to be secured through the issue of stock, about $1,050,000 is to be devoted to production ; $50,- 000 to the organization of a new sub- sidiary to operate exchanges and to establish exchanges in New York, Philadelphia and Washington, and $200,000 to liquidate debt to Pathe In- ternational. (.Continued from page 1) it should be deemed advisable to in- crease prices in view of the fact that many increases were put into effect during the past few months. It is understood that one significant phase of the deliberations veers around the methods of making it possible for Paramount to act as one national unit despite the fact that its partners now make their own film buys with New York serving principally in the manner of a service depot. This is not to be construed as meaning that the company will again centralize pur- chases in New York as once prevailed but rather is giving consideration to ways and means of enabling the or- organization to act as one national entity, when actually it is not, in point of film buys aggregating millions of dollars each season. Balaban Host Today "Waikiki Wedding" was screened this morning. Meetings will be continued tomor- row and a cocktail party will be held in the afternoon with Barney Balaban as host. Official termination is set for Saturday evening with a dinner at the Roney Plaza. Action Adjourned On G.B. Dividend (.Continued from page 1) payment without first obtaining a new resolution by the board. The decision to declare a dividend was approved by a vote of five to four. Nordon contended that the company had no profits of reserves, but had a deficiency of £500,000, plus a produc- tion loss of £623,000. He also held that the board resolution on the divi- dend was carried by a deciding vote of an unqualified director. The answer of the company was that reserves cover all losses. The judge declared he would not decide until the new board, with two mem- bers recently added, had met. The two new members are Allen Messer, representing the Ostrers, and Robert T. Kane, head of English production for 20th Century-Fox, who is repre- sentative of the 20th Century-Fox in- terest in G. B., and which had sided with John Maxwell in opposing the payment of the dividend. M. P. T. O. A. Golfers Compete Miami, Fla., March 19. — As an aftermath to the meeting of the M. P. T. O. A., which closed yesterday, 35 delegates engaged in a golf tourna- ment today at the Miami Biltmore. It was the final scheduled event of the convention. Grainger Starting Back Miami, Fla., March 19. — James R. Grainger, general manager of Uni- versal, will leave for New York Sun- day. For the past five days he has attended the convention of M. P. T. O. A., where Universal maintained open house at the Miami Biltmore. Andy Sharick will accompany him to New York. Md. MPTOA Reelects Baltimore, March 19. — All officers of the M. P. T. O. A. unit have been reelected as follows : Frank A. Hor- nig, president ; Arthur B. Price, vice- president ; Herman A. Blum, treas- urer, and Helen Connelly, secretary. Those on the board of directors are Walter, Pacy, Samuel Soltz, J. Louis Rome, J. L. Whittle, William Hicks, Jack Levine, Max Cluster and Lauritz Garman. Quigley Silent Upon Keller-Dorian Moves Moves under which a European fi- nancial group was to have exercised an option" for the acquisition of con- trol of Keller-Dorian Colorfilm ap- pear to have been stymied although the exact status of the deal is un- known. George E. Quigley, fiscal agent for the European group, who returned early this week from conferences with his principals, said yesterday that he would be unable to make a statement on the situation before Monday. Kel- ler-Dorian officials have not been available for comment all week. Decision Deferred On Sale Tax Moves (Continued from page 1) Gersdorff, Swaine & Wood, who rep- resented major distributors in the ap- peal of the sales tax case, was unable to attend yesterday's session, and in- dications are that a decision on ap- plying for a writ of certiorari from the U. S. Supreme Court was de- ferred until Monday's meetings for that reason. The rentals were held to be tax- able by the state's highest tribunal in deciding a $61,000 assessment against rentals received by the local United Artists exchange for the first assessment period of 1935. Local dis- tributors are liable now for an accu- mulated tax, with penalties and inter- est, of more than $2,000,000, about half of which has been collected from exhibitors during 1936 and is held in escrow pending the outcome of the litigation. The tax, hereafter, is esti- mated at a total of about $750,000 a vear. Says Complaints on Film Men Continue {Continued from page 1) Trade Commission taking over cer- tain investigating work now done by the anti-trust division. Dickinson explained that at present the department cannot call upon the commission for service of this nature, but he expressed the view that such an arrangement, if made, would be workable. The division now has four men working continuously on film matters, he told the committee. Asks Distributor Inquiry Washington, March 19. — Charg- ing that distributors are "putting inde- pendent exhibitors out of business" through block booking and blind sell- ing, designated playdates and similar practices, Representative Hobbs of Alabama today introduced a resolu- tion calling for an investigation of alleged violation of the anti-trust laws. The inquiry would be conducted by a special subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee and the Alabama Congressman tonight said he would seek an early hearing before the Rules Committee on his resolution so that the probe could start without delay. "Salem" at $42,000 In Its Second Week {Continued from page 1) at the Roxy took $34,800. The second week of "Nancy Steele Is Missing" at the Rivoli ended last night with about $13,000. "Strangers on a Honeymoon" drew about $6,800. "Sea Devils" took in approximately $10,000 at the Rialto, while the Strand, with "Ready, Will- ing and Able," ended a first week last night with $15,000. The Music Hall tallied about $58,000 on "Wings of the Morning." Both "The Good Earth" at the Astor and "Lost Horizon" at the Globe on two-a-day policies continue to do good business. Next Thursday, a third roadshow will be added when "Silent Barriers" opens at the Cri- terion. U.A. May Add Two Producers in 1938 {Continued from page 1) time and is expected to close his deal before the new season gets under way. When he returned from an extensive tour abroad recently, Laemmle said he intended to make three to four big pictures a year. Selznick-International will produce 12 for United Artists next season. Other producers are now mapping their plans. Walter Wanger may make eight, and Samuel Goldwyn from six to eight. The first Skippy cartoon is ready. It was shown to eastern executives while they were on the coast. The new animated series will replace the Walt Disney subjects next season, RKO having signed a term deal for the release of Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphonies. Studio Labor Talks Open Here April 4 {Continued from page 1) studio basic agreement are the car- penters, teamsters, musicians, elec- tricians and stagehands. Their five- year agreement with the studio pro- vides for annual negotiation of wages, hours and related working conditions. Only minor adjustments in schedules are anticipated this year. Applications may be received from new studio unions who desire to come under the five-year agreement, but whether or not this year's meeting will take ac- tion on the applications is uncertain. Special Plane Flies Newsreels to Texas {Continued from page 1) after a little quick thinking by the airline, a special plane was chartered to take the newsreels to the point of the accident. The pictures are due to arrive this morning and to be shown on Broad- way this afternoon. MOTION PICTURE DAILY 4 RADIO 4 Radio Personals ► SYLVIA FROOS sails for Europe March 28 to make appearances in London and Dublin . . . Carl Ravell's orchestra replaces Ozzie Nelson's ag- gregation in the Lexington April 29. He will have a network wire . . . Arturo Rodzinski, conductor of the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, which is heard Sundays on CBS, will be presented the Polish Government's Legion of Honor medal today. Am- bassador Jerzey Potocki will make the presentation . . . Richard Crooks will be guest soloist on the Ford "Sunday Evening Hour" March 28 . . . + Jack Benny will not make his sched- uled guest appearance on the Stoop- nagle & Budd program tomorrow, because he has to write a new script for his own Sunday show. The script was based on his school days. Due to the school disaster in Texas, Benny has destroyed the script and will pre- sent another instead . . . "Story of the Song" returns to the CBS sched- ule shortly . . . Paul Whiteman's birthday will be celebrated four days before the event itself when NBC presents him in a birthday party on the Blue network, 10 to 11 P. M., E.S.T., March 24. Whiteman's or- chestra will combine with the NBC symphony, and Paul will direct . . . Confirm "Coronet" Transfer Confirmation of the report that "Coronet on the Air" would leave WOR for a period on NBC is now at hand. Beginning April 2, the program will be heard weekly from 9:30 to 10 P. M., E. S. T. on the NBC-Blue network, coast-to-coast. Batten, Barton, Durstine and Osborn is the agency. It is believed that Deems Taylor, now commentator for the program, will be replaced when the series moves to NBC. Taylor is under- exclusive contract to CBS, and received special permission from that network to broadcast for the program while it was on WOR. Such permission will not be granted for the NBC broad- casts, it is reported. Renew on Katheryn Craven Katheryn Craven's "News Through a Woman's Eyes," heard Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on CBS, will continue on the network into the summer, through a contract renewal just effected. Pontiac Motor Co., sponsors ; McManus, John and Adams, Inc., is the agency. Talk to Advertising Men Bob Carter, Howard Doyle, Char- lotte Buchwald, and Larry Nixon, all of WMCA and the Inter-City net- work, presented an hour of talk on radio before the annual guest night meeting of the Ass'n of Advertising Men yesterday. Three hundred adver- tising executives attended . Dunkel Rejoins Agency Richard Dunkel, who left Benton and Bowles a year ago to set up his own business organization, returned to the agency yesterday as spot an- nouncement time buyer. Dunkel had been in the media department as an assistant account executive. From Richards "I think now as I have from the beginning — radio helps good pictures and fair pictures and to some extent hurts some good stars and helps some bad stars in the viewpoint of people who do not distinguish between radio and screen ability. "Your good work will un- doubtedly help clarify the confused points as far as the people in show business are concerned." — E. V. Richards, president and general man- ager, Saenger Theatres Corp., New Orleans. WKRC Will Dedicate Studio on March 27 Cincinnati, March 19. — Combin- ing the latest developments known to radio science with the most modern studios in Southern Ohio, WKRC will officially dedicate its new home in a gala program March 27, begin- ning at 6:30 P. M. In an effort to standardize all CBS owned and operated stations, the stu- dio construction was carried along lines similar to those employed at the CBS headquarters in New York. Air conditioning has been provided for all studios, control rooms, audi- ence rooms, transcription rooms and offices. The innovations include tech- nical equipment and new control rooms, clients' and reception rooms. Al Pierce Program Renewed The Tuesday night Al Pierce pro- gram for the Ford Motor Co. has been renewed for another 13-weeks of broadcasting, effective April 6. The program will continue to feature its present personalities. Entitled "Watch the Fun Go By," the series is heard weekly from 9 to 9:30 P. M., E.S.T. N. W. Ayer & Son is the agency. No renewal has been affected as yet for the companion Ford program, "Universal Rhythm," heard Fridays on NBC. Lyman Goes to Dallas Dallas, March 19. — Appointment of Jack Lyman, formerly announcer at KFSD, San Diego, as program direc- tor at the Greater Texas and Pan- American Exposition, was announced today by James W. Crocker, director of radio for the exposition. He is the first member of the new staff to be named. Lyman was chief announcer for the San Diego Exposition and held the same position at the Gulf Radio Studios of the Texas Centen- nial Exposition. Du Pont Series Is Set E. I. du Pont de Nemours will sponsor a transcribed program featur- ing Ray Perkins and Gloria Miller, beginning early in April. The trans- criptions are now being "waxed," and will be heard on a dozen or more sta- tions. The recordings, 16 in number, will be aired twice weekly for 15-minute periods. Batten, Barton, Durstine and Osborn placed the contract. WBT Heads in Atlanta Charlotte, March 19. — William A. Schudt, Jr., general manager, and Dewey Long, sales manager, WBT, are in Atlanta this week on business. Phillips Signs for Its Eighth Program The Charles H. Phillips Chemical Co., a division of Sterling Products, yesterday signed for a new script pro- gram to be heard on the NBC-Red network Mondays through Thurs- days, from 4 to 4:15 P. M., E.S.T., beginning April 26. The contract is for 52 weeks, and was placed through Blackett-Sample-Hummert. The tentative title for the program is "Lorenza Jones," a comedy script. The series will be aired in the inter- ests of Phillips Milk of Magnesia Tablets and the company's tooth paste. With the new addition, Sterling Products will have eight programs weekly on NBC networks. They are "The Sweetest Love Songs Ever Sung," "Waltz Time," "Broadway Merry-Go-Round," "Manhattan Merry- Go-Round," American Album of Fa- miliar Music," "Famous Actors Guild," "Backstage Wife" and "How To Be Charming." All are placed through Blackett-Sample-Hummert. WFIL Contracts Renewed Philadelphia, March 19. — The WFIL sales staff reports that new busi- ness for the week includes two new ac- counts and one renewal among na- tional advertisers and five locals. George S. Washington & Sons, date pudding, renew direct their thrice weekly participation in the WFIL Women's Club for an indefinite period ; Lord & Thomas places New Departure Mfg. Co., bicycles, for three weeks, buying 18 spots weekly, and the Bachman Chocolate Mfg. Co., New York, placed through E. W. Hellwig Agency, starts a 26-week contract on March 29 for three quarter-hour periods weekly and two sponsored news flashes daily. N. H. Interviews Start Today New Haven, March 19. — The Bouve Motors two-a-week man-in- the-street interview, scheduled to start on WBRY last Saturday, was post- poned and will take off tomorrow noon, E. S. T., from the New Haven Clock Shop. A one-word spelling bee idea will be used, with $1 cash awards to each successful interviewee, and a $15 credit slip on a used car for the best all-round interview. Sound trucks will give the stunt advance publicity on Saturdays and Tuesdays. Kellogg Series on Today Bridgeport, March 19. — The Kel- logg Sport Broadcast with Bill Cun- ningham, tomorrow at 7 :30 P. M., E. S. T., will be brought to Yankee Network listeners from spring train- ing quarters of the Boston Braves, Hotel Pfiel, St. Petersburg, Fla. Williams Going to England Columbus, March 19. — Dr. Byron B. Williams, program director WOSU, Ohio State University sta- tion, will sail March 22 for a six- month fellowship in the British Broadcasting Corp. The fellowship is financed by Rockefeller Foundation. Academy Winners on Kraft Hour Hollywood, March 19. — Gale Son- dergaard and Walter Brennan, Acad- emy award winners for 1936 in the supporting player divisions, will be guests of Bing Crosby on the Kraft show over NBC March 25. Betty Jaynes, juvenile singing star, will also be on the program. Saturday, March 20, 1937 Equity Turns Down Voting Change Plan A proposed amendment intended to revise the present Actors' Equity Ass'n procedure of voting by mail was defeated yesterday at a meeting of 750 Equity members at the Astor when it failed to receive the plurality re- quired by the constitution of the or- ganization. A second similar amend- ment was tabled. Both had been dis- approved by the Equity council in advance of the meeting. The meeting elected six members of a nominating committee which, with three additional members selected by the council, will meet in the near future to prepare the regular ticket of officers and councillors of Equity to be submitted to the annual meeting. Warners Set Patent Deal with Catchings Warners have signed an agreement with Waddill Catchings, a director, whereby, in consideration of his or- ganization of a group to exploit the patents of James A. Miller, former employe, he will be given an option on 49 per cent of a subsidiary com- pany for $490,000, the company re- ported to the N. Y. Stock Exchange yesterday. Catchings, under the agree- ment, will expend $510,000 in the next five years to develop the subsidiary. Warners also reported the dissolu- tion of Shore Theatres Corp., Bijou Enterprises, Hoquiam Enterprises, Santa Barbara Theatres, and South Lawn Theatre Corp., and the merger of Wyoming Theatre Co. and Bird Theatre Corp. Plan Imperial SEC Plea Imperial Pictures plans to file an application with the Securities and Exchange Commission next week for permission to issue new securities, fol- lowing the completion of an agreement for the issuance of new common stock. William M. Pizor has completed ar- rangements with the underwriters of the stock, who will be the Refinance Corp. and A. R. Titus & Co., New York, and T. L. Chapman, Chicago bankers. Legal matters are being han- dled by M. D. Kopple, local attorney. Wall Street Columbia Best Gain on Board Net High Low Close Change Columbia 34 33% 34 +1 Consolidated 4% 4% 4are for the annual conferences there >etween major company representa- ives and heads of the five studio inions embraced in the five-year basic agreement on April 4. Victor H. Zlarke goes east in a day or two for he same meeting. Wage increases, continuance of the ix-hour day and the application of he Screen Actors' Guild for inclu- ion in the basic agreement are on he agenda. Sunset Over M.P.T.O.A. By RED KANN Miami, March 21. — Not quite so rough in its accommodations, mind you, but this so-called "center of the world's winter playgrounds" is just as sprawling, just as dizzy and as crowded and hysterical as Alaska must have been during its gold rush. You can drop into Fan and Bill's for a steak dinner, which will be a very good steak dinner, and try your luck at slot machines which practically block your entrance and your exit, too, for that matter. What look like and actually are restaurants have roulette wheels in the rear, almost invariably shrieking at you in loud and modernistic trimmings. You might go to a variety of places beyond the first-line night spots and, if you are lucky, you might fight your way to the five- way crap game which is an unholy feature of the Grand Central waiting- room-sized gambling ground at the Royal Palm. If you had been here last week, no doubt you would have done all of these things. You might have golfed. You might have gone swimming. Invariably, you drank. In fact, you did everything but remember until it was all over, and perhaps not then, that the M.P.T.O.A. was holding its 17th annual convention at the Miami Biltmore. T A few of the faithful made appearances religiously. No matter how you look at it, Ed Kuykendall had to be at the podium calling this and (Continued on page 2) Radio's Best Takes Air in Theatre Hours The issue over film players ap- pearing on national radio hookups during choice box-office hours flared up again at the M.P.T.O.A. conven- tion in Florida, and regulation of the practice was demanded. The following chart reveals what the exhibitor is up against when he Additional developments in radio on pages 6 and 7. attempts to buck the free screen talent and features presented on the air in competition with the features pre- sented at his theatre : Sundays : Toe Penner, 6 P. M. ; Rubinoff, 6:30; Phil Baker, 7:30; Victor Moore and Helen Broderick. 8; Eddie Cantor, Bobby Breen and (Continued on page 7) Set New Rules on Pictures of Navy By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, March 21. — New regulations surrounding the making of pictures with Navy cooperation have been drafted by the Navy Dep't. and, after approval, will be issued as General Order No. 35 in the near fu- (Continued on page 7) Paramount to Have 58 for '37-38 List Paramount will announce a pro- gram of 58 features for 1937-38 at the annual sales convention. Of this num- ber, six will be Hopalong Cassidy westerns produced by Harry Sherman. For the current season, the com- pany had a schedule of 60-65, but will release only 53, it was learned over the weekend. Titles, stories, casts and directors for the first 15 of next season's lineup have been announced. Two are com- plete with a third now in production. Ernst Lubitsch is down for two of the 15 pictures, Cecil B. DeMille one and Frank Lloyd one. The two completed films are "Souls at Sea." with Gary Cooper, George Raft, Frances Dee, Henry Wilcoxon. Harry Carey, Joseph Schildkraut and (Continued on page 8) Time, Inc., Plans Two-Reeler Series Miami, March 21. — Time, Inc., al- ready a producer with "The March of Time," is preparing to embark upon a series of two-reelers under the gen- eral title of "Life." The plan provides for a release a month through RKO Unlike "The March of Time," each (Continued on page 8) Gain in High Cost Pictures Seen Planned Fewer Low Priced Films Are Anticipated A reduced output of low cost pic- tures and a corresponding increase in .he number of higher budgeted pro- ductions is in view from major studios for the 1937-38 season, home office and circuit officials stated on Satur- day. Generally higher playing terms will be sought from theatres by distribu- tors, and a direct result of the revised schedules may bring about a curtail- ment of cash awards and other give- aways and may even be extensive enough to reduce double featuring in advanced run situations, New York executives believe. Increased admis- sion scales are also viewed as a possi- bility, although this development is expected to be confined to individual localities and situations where give- aways and duals may be retained, where scales are still too low or where new or increased local taxation be- comes effective. Some estimates hold that the in- crease in high cost productions may run as high as 60 to 80 pictures from the major studios and may increase Hollywood's budget by $35,000,000. Numerically, the major studio out- put is expected to show little or no change, with all companies schedul- ing approximately the same number (Continued on pane 7) Reich Takes Ufa; Controls Industry Berlin, March 2-1. — The Nazi Gov- ernment has taken another step in the monopoly of all agencies of propa- ganda, with the acquisition of Ufa, leading German company, by an anonymous group ostensibly headed by the Deutsche Bank and Disconto- Gesellschaft. Majority stock control (Continued on page 8) Dinner Ends Miami Meet of Paramount Miami Beach, March 21. — A din- ner at the Roney Plaza last night terminated the three-day meeting of Paramount partners. Barney Balaban expects to remain another week. Adolph Zukor and Christopher Dunphy will leave for New York to attend the Zukor testi- monial dinner March 29 and then will go to the coast MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, March 22, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Sunset Over M.P.T.O.A. (Continued from page 1) Vol. 41 March 22, 1937 No. 07 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN. Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON. Advertising Manager Published dally except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc.. Martin Quigley. president; Colvln Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-31U0. Cable address: "Qulgpubco. New York." All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Company. Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- cations: MOTION PICTURE HERALD. BETTER THEATRES. TEATRO AL DIA. INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building. Vine and Yucca Sts. : Boone Mancall, Manager. CHICAGO: 024 S. Michigan Ave.. C. B. O'Neill, Manager. _ WASHINGTON: Albee Building. Bertram F. Linz. Representative. AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan 5: Philip de Schaap. Representative. BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2. Berlin W. 3d: Joachim K. Rutenberg. Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest II: Endre Hevesl. Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientos 2495: N. Bruskl. Representative. HELSINKI: Fredriksgatan 19C: Charlotte Laszlo. Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square. W. 1: Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address, Qulgpubco. Lon- MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings. 191 Collins St. : Cliff Holt. Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269: James Lockhart, Representative. , • MONTEVIDEO: P. O. Box 664: Paul Bodo, Rep- resentative. " MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8: Beatrice Stern, Rep- resentative. PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre. Rep- resentative. _ m PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1; Harry Knopf. Representative. „ . , RIO DE JANEIRO: Calxa Postal 3358: A. Weiss man. Representative. ROME: Viale Gorlzia; Vlttorlo Malpassuti. Rep- resentative. SHANGHAI: Rooms 38-41. Capital Theatre Build ing. 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler. Rep resentatlve. STOCKHOLM: Kungsgatan 36; Ragnar Allberg. Representative TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka, Ichtkawa-shl, Chlba-Ken: H. Tomlnaga, Representative. VIENNA: Nuestlftgasse. 55; Vienna VII: Hans Tyrant. Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 12; R. Sillel. Representative. 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 $6 In the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Bveen Europe-Bound To Study Reactions Joseph I. Breen, Production Code Administrator, is en route to Europe to confer with representatives of the American industry in Paris and Lon- don on European reaction to Ameri- can films produced in accordance with Production Code regulations. Breen arrived here from Hollywood late Thursday afternoon and sailed on the Europa. He will visit Paris and London, returning to New York in about three weeks. It was stated at M.P.P.D.A head- quarters that Breen's trip was primarily for a vacation and rest. No particular "problem" involving recep- tivity of American product has arisen, and the occasion for Breen's confer- ences on current attitudes abroad toward American films is incidental to the trip and will be for his own in- formation and guidance, it was said. AVAILABLE • High type motion picture junior executive accustomed to close executive contact desires new connection with greater promise. Possesses versatile ex- perience with major film company. Ex- cellent education and references. Box 960, MOTION PICTURE DAILY Legion Approves All Of 14 New Pictures that to order. Ed Levy, the general counsel from New Haven, might have been expected to attend as a national officer, but he spent part of one day, at least, in the Biltmore pool, no doubt splashing about and reflecting how a kindly, pleasant world brought him to Miami in winter. Ed Fay, on the other hand, took in all that was to be taken in, which was not much. Trade paper reporters generally stuck to the job, which was what they came down for, but even in that direction there were wanderings from time to time. You couldn't blame them much. You couldn't actually blame anyone and, in a manner of speaking, last of all Kuykendall. He tried to get the wanderlust out of everyone's system and he failed. The fact that he sought solace at one of the sessions by seeking to point out individuals might be few, but their theatres in the aggregate many, was no soap. Not even a lather. ▼ If you insist that we dig around in order to place the blame where it ought to hurt most, we are afraid the best we can do is to work up a rant and a rave against the exhibitor at large. Mavbe, as a matter of fidelity to our art, we should. And, moreover, we'll try, but take the circumstances : It is now early afternoon. There is a big party about to get going in the attractive cabanas of the Roney Plaza Beach Club. Sam Dembow is annoyed because we haven't even seen the beach yet; we've been covering the meeting and wiring New York at continued great expense to the publisher. Jimmy Grainier wants us to go fishing. Bert Sanford says we must listen to "Oscar," his electrical robot: Lou Irwin insists Dempsey's Vanderbilt has the best solarium in town ; the other day Frank Freeman had us at the cocktail party he and his wife threw for the Paramount partners ; Saturday, the Balabans returned the courtesy. That's how it goes in this land of manana. T But to get back to that rant and rave. Nobody expected this would be much of a convention. It was a hell of a party and definitelv the deadliest business session the M.P.T.O.A. has held in its history. Mavbe there were no issues to talk about, although we might drum up a few kicking around that demand attention and, in paltry measure, got them on the floor. It was a sunset-like procedure for the organization, deep down and inside, because exhibitors, the obvious truth is, either do not want a national organization or they don't want one like the M.P.T.O.A. Our conviction is they simply do not want one and we expect to hear from Abram F. Myers by return mail. Even the waving palm tree below our window must know the simple truth which is that very old one — if you will pardon us — about the way following the will, if there is a will. ▼ If this be so, why bother to try? Kuykendall knows it. He said so when Fred Wehrenberg accused him of being too tolerant in pushing the ten-ooint program. There was no denial. There couldn't have been one. The organized distributors, few in number and obviously- easv to band together in their own one association, for years have been telline exhibitors where to e-et off and indications are this will go on ad infinitum. The M.P.T.O.A. gets nowhere because its sinews are milk and water and its sinews are milk and water because the exhibitors who can furnish the brawn are dawdling on other pastures. All of which is old, old stuff, but it helps round out a column of observations on the late and lamentable proceedings. Dull as they were and enlivened only slightly as thev were planned to be, the weakling fireworks that were shot off, in themselves, were painfully and embarrassingly ineffectual. . . . ▼ Much fuss was made over radio and films. Boycotts were suggested, which made the boys appear very juvenile for the grown men the eye insisted they were. Film publicity was to be shut off in local newspapers through the advertising hold maintained by the exhibitor on his local editor. A clause in the contract giving to the exhibitor the right to cancel films earlier submitted to aircasts and thereby presumably damaged for the box-office was proposed and argued over while the sunshine beckoned. And so finally, a condemnatory resolution was passed, carry- ing with it a committee of three which will be named to tell the producers where they alight. Nobody tried to recognize the situation — nobody tried to solve the problem. ▼ In radio, there is a problem. Everyone knows that. That is, apparently, everyone but the boys who rambled on loosely at the convention. When Wehrenberg spoke of film stars who objected to more than two films a (Continued on page 8) The National Legion of Decency, in its list of new pictures for the cur- rent week, approved, either for gen- eral patronage or adults, all of the 14 new pictures reviewed and classified. Eleven were approved for general patronage and three for adults. The new films and their classification fol- low. Class A-l, Unobjectionable for Gen- eral Patronage: "Alte und der Junge Koenig" (German), "Elephant Boy," "Jede Frau Hat Ein Geheimnis" (German), "Let's Get Married," "Pa- role Racket," "Romance and Riches," "Soder om Landsvaggen" (Swedish), "Standschuetze Bruggler" (German), "Time Out for Romance," "Trouble in Texas," "We Have Our Moments." Class A-2 Unobjectionable for Adults : "Hogueras en la Noche" (Spanish), "Maytime," "Swing High, Swing Low." Goldsteins Expand New England Group Miami Beach, March 21. — As an initial steo in an expansion campaign throughout New England, the Gold- stein Bros., who are affiliated with Paramount, will build a 1,200-seat the- atre in Brattleboro, Vt. It will be their first theatre in that town and will be operated by Western Massa- chusetts Theatres, Inc., Nathan Gold- stein said here yesterday. Other locations planned by the Goldsteins are in Utica, N. Y., where a new house will be built and in Pitts- field, Mass., where the Colonial will be remodeled. Three other properties are to be acquired within a few weeks. ITOA Talking Suit Over Score Charges The I. T. O. A. is preparing to file an action seeking to force distribu- tors to return sums collected from its member exhibitors as score charges, it is stated in the current issue of The Independent, official publication of the organization. The complaint is now being drawn by the attorneys for the I. T. O. A., Weisman, Celler, Quinn, Allen & Spett, the publication states, and will charge that the imposition of the score charge is a violation of the anti- trust laws. Set Zukor Party Details Final details of the Adolph Zukor testimonial dinner, scheduled for the Waldorf-Astoria March 29, are being completed under the direction of Wil- liam Brandt, in charge of the affair. Mutual Broadcasting System will broadcast the dinner from 11:15 P. M. to 12:45 A. M. WHN will have the affair on the air from 8:45 to 10:15 P. M. Will Hays will be one of the speakers. G. N. Tries New Color Grand National has been licensed to use the Keller-Dorian Colorfilm process and the Richard Rowland pro- duction, "Grand Canyon," on which work will start in about six weeks, will be the first feature length pic- ture employing this process, it was stated at Grand National on Saturday. The company, heretofore, has used the Hirlicolor process. CHAMPION EASTMAN Super X was used in the great majority of all 1936 feature productions . . . in three out of every four "box-office champions". . . in nine of the "best ten" pictures chosen by the country's critics. It continues as the unchallenged cham- pion among motion picture negative films. Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N.Y. (J. E. Brulatour, Inc., Distributors, Fort Lee, New York, Chicago, Hollywood.) EASTMAN SUPER A PANCHROMATIC NEGATIVE MOTION P1CTURC DAILY Monday, March 22, 1937 99 "Love News, Waring High On the Loop Chicago, March 21. — "Love Is News," aided by Fred Waring and his orchestra, had a bang-up week at the Chicago and took $45,000, which was $13,000 above average. Another winner was "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney" at the Roosevelt which did well aided by the big name appeal of the cast. At the Oriental the Major Bowes Amateurs helped "1 Promise to Pay." The take was $20,- 500. The weather was warm and busi- ness was generally much better. Total first run business was $146,- 200. Average is $120,500. Estimated takings : Week Ending March 11: "GOOD EARTH" (M-G-M) APOLLO— (1,400), 50c-$1.50, 2 shows daily, 3rd week, 7 days. Gross: $9,600. (Average, $9,000) "LOVE IS NEWS" (20th-Fox) CHICAGO— (4,000), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Fred Waring and Band. Gross: $45,000. (Average, $32,000) "I PROMISE TO PAY" (Col.) ORIENTAL — (3,490), 35c-55c, 7 days. Stage: Major Bowes Amateurs. Gross: $20,500. (Average, $15,000) "WE'RE ON THE JURY" (RKO) PALACE— (2,509), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. St-qre: Ethel Shutta and revue. Gross: $18,000. (Average, $19,000) Week Ending March 12: "GREEN LIGHT" (W.B.) GARRICK— (900), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days, 3rd Loop week. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $6,500) "THE LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY" (M-G-M) KOOSEVELT— (1,591), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $19,600. (Average, $11,000) "BREEZING HOME" (Univ.) STATE-LAKE — (2.776), 20c-35c-40c, 7 days. Stage: Vaudeville revue. Gross: $14,000. (Average, $13,000) "MEN ARE NOT GODS" (U.A.) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,700), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $15,000) THEATRE ACCOUNTING by WILLIAM F. MORRIS (Certified Public Accountant) Telia all the facta about your business each week. • Payroll data for Social Security Taxes. • Profit at a glance — Daily or Weekly. • All expenses deducted — In- cluding Rent, Taxes and Depreciation. • Complete record of ad- vance bookings. • Itemized Schedule of All Assets and Equipment with Table of Depreciation Rates. • Does not require a book- keeper to handle it. $3 ENOUGH FOR A FULL YEAR'S BOOKKEEPING QUIGLEY BOOKSHOP ROCKEFELLER CENTER NEW YORK MOTION PICTURE DAILYS HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Waikiki Wedding* {Paramount) Hollywood, March 21. — Bing Crosby's latest is gay, airy entertain- ment. It is a frothy combination of music, romance, comedy and colorful spectacle. There is not much plot, such being hardly necessary as Crosby combines his talents with those of Bob Burns, Martha Raye, Shirley Ross, George Barbier, Leif Erikson, who checks in a high grade per- formance, and Gracy . Sutton. The introduction of native Hawaiian music and ceremonial dancing, in contrast with the numbers prepared by Leo Robin and Ralph Rainger, helps greatly to hold together the plot which takes liberal license with formula story construction. Mainly, the idea of the picture is to give the principals an opportunity to perform in the fashion most pleasing to most audiences. The thin plot brings Miss Ross to Honolulu as a contest winner. The stunt is to have her write her impressions for advertising purposes. She does not like the place. This makes it necessary for Crosby, Burns and Miss Raye to kidnap her. They take her to an isolated island. There Miss Ross falls in love with Crosby. A series of gags, music and dance num- bers are hitched on that theme. In their solo spots the leads create desirable entertainment. It is the kind of a show that makes the audience feel good. It is ol the character that permits enthusiastic advance publicity. It should be able to hold a top spot in any competition. The film is a credit to the showmanship talents of Arthur Hornblow, producer, Frank Tuttle, director, and the collective writing talents of Frank Butler, Don Hart- man, Walter De Leon and Francis Martin. Karl Struss photographed. Production Code Seal No. 3,135. Running time, 90 minutes. "G." "Racketeers in Exile" (Columbia) Hollywood, March 21. — George Bancroft, reformed gangster, becomes an evangelist in a story that furnishes entertaining program fare. The story gets out of bounds, but the characterizations and the direction are good, the tempo speedy. Bancroft, his girl friend, Wynne Gibson, and his mob which includes Marc Lawrence, John Gallaudet and George McKay, find the big city too hot for their racket and so retire to Bancroft's former home town. In an impromptu speech to the home folks Bancroft hits his stride as a public speaker and becomes an evangelist, taking advantage of the inno- cent charms of Evelyn Venable, his schooldays chum, as a nucleus for an evangelist organization. Business becomes better when Bancroft erects a temple with a broadcasting station which is used to financial advantage in exposing racketeers. After shaking down a public enemy in an adjacent town, Miss Venable is injured. This forces Bancroft into an about-face. He believes he has aided her recovery through studying the Bible, and succumbs to his own preachments. His cronies desert. Bancroft returns the shakedown money, but promises an expose with the result that gangsters, spotted in the audience, shoot him while he is at the microphone. Bancroft recovers and the gangsters are arrested. Miss Venable and Miss Gibson are good in the romantic competition for Bancroft with the former winning out. Richard Carle is outstanding as the go-between for Bancroft. Erie C. Kenton directed. Harry Sauber and Robert T. Shannon wrote the screenplay from Sauber's original story. Production Code Seal No. 3,048. Running time, 66 minutes. "G." "We Have Our Moments (Universal) Hollywood, March 21. — Crook drama is presented as farce in this one. It is moderately amusing when it does not reach too deeply for gags. The story concerns Sally Eilers, a school teacher, who takes a European trip before settling down to a small town marriage with Grady Sutton. On her trip Thurston Hall, Marjorie Gateson, Warren Hymer and David Niven, a quartet of thieves, conceal their loot in her baggage to prevent James Dunn, a detective, from discovering it. When the group arrives in France, Mischa Auer, a French policeman, joins them to aid Dunn. Auer delivers the picture's best comedy. After the various ensuing complications clear up, Miss Eilers decides that married life with Dunn will prove more interesting than life with Sutton. Credits for the original story are shared by Charles Belden and Fred- erick Stephani. Bruce Manning and Charles Grayson did the screenplay. Alfred Werker's direction is speedy. Edmund Grainger produced. The picture should fit any program that requires fast action and humor. Production Code Seal No. 2,991. Running time, 65 minutes. "G." 'Maytime"Big In Dull Week On the Coast Los Angeles, March 21. — "May- time" was outstanding in week of dull business. It hit $16,140, over normal by $3,650, at the Chinese, and reached $20,700 at Loew's State. The latter gross was $6,700 into the profit column. "Lost Horizon" opened with a rush at $5 top at the 4 Star, and during the rest of the week at $1.50 top piled up $14,000. Normal for the house at 55 cents top is $3,200. None of the other first runs was in the money. Total first run business was $108,- 940. Average is $107,950. Estimated takings for the weekend- ing March 17: "THE GOOD EARTH" (M-G-M) CARTHAY CIRCLE— (1,518), 50c -$1.50, 7 days, 7th week. Gross: $11,800. (Average, $17,000) "MAYTIME" (M-G-M) CHINESE— (2,500), 30c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $16,140. (Average, $12,500) "LOST HORIZON" (Col.) 4 STAR— (900), 50c-$1.50, 7 days. Gross: $14,000. (Average, $3,250) "LES MISERABLES" (French) GRAND INTERN AT'L— (750), 35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $2,400. (Average, $1,200) "THE MAN WHO FOUND HIMSELF" (RKO) "GIRL OVERBOARD" (Univ.) HILLSTREET— (2,700), 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $8,000) "MAYTIME" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE— (2,500), 30c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $20,700. (Average, $14,000) "THE MAN WHO FOUND HIMSELF" (RKO) "GIRL OVERBOARD" (Univ.) PANTAGES— (3,000), 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $8,000) "WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE" (Col.) "THE CRIME NOBODY SAW" (Para.) PARAMOUNT— (3,595), 30c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week. Stage: Rube Wolf and his orchestra, F. & M. revue. Gross: $10,500. (Average, $18,000) "GREEN LIGHT" (F.N.) WARNER BROS. (HOLLYWOOD) — (3,000), 30c-65c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $10,500. (Average, $14,000) "GREEN LIGHT" (F.N.) WARNER BROS. (DOWNTOWN) - (3.400), 30c-65c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $10,900. (Average, $12,000) Columbia Club Elects Lillian Stark has been elected presi- dent of the Columbia Club, organiza- tion of home office employes, for the ensuing year. Other officers are : Guy Wood, first vice-president ; Seymour Zwilling, second vice-president ; H. L. Smith, treasurer ; Jack Bass, finan- ciay secretary ; Carmel Latell, secre- tary ; Margaret Kapfer, assistant sec- retary ; Henry Strauss, press agent ; Nellie Keogh, chairman of the board of governors. Wilkinson Coming Here London, March 21. — C. Norman Wilkinson, director and sales man- ager of National Provincial Film Dis- tributors, will reach New York before March 30 to negotiate American dis- tribution for "The Mill on the Floss," "Mr. Stringfellow Says No" and "Dreams Come True." Flash Preview "Sing While You're Able"— Pinky Tomlin and Toby Wing in a story of a hill billy singer who makes good on the radio. This film will be reviewed in full in a coming issue of Motion Picture Daily. Monday, March 22, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Out Hollywood Way 4 Purely Personal ► Y FRANK FREEMAN, vice- • president of Paramount, heads a home office delegation returning from the company's Miami theatre meeting tomorrow. Adolph Zukor, Barney Balaban and Neil F. Agnew are Expected here within the next day or two. Constance Cummings, her hus- band, Benn W. Levy, Keith Falk- ner, William K. Howard, Louis Bovell and the cast of "Young Ma- dame Conti" from the Savoy in Lon- don, are due today on the Queen Mary. m Whitford Drake, executive vice- president of Erpi, together with C. W. Bunn, L. W. Conrow and Bert Sanford, also of Erpi, returned from Miami over the weekend. • Frank C. Walker is expected here Wednesday morning. Adolph Zukor, in from the coast via Chicago, arrives Tuesday. E. C. Mills, Ascap general man- ager, is expected here today from Ta- coma. Jules Levy is in Buffalo for con- ferences. Exchange Union Elects Boston, March 21. — Max Magof- sky was elected president of the newly formed Boston Film Exchange Workers Union, A. F. of L., at a meeting held here yesterday. Others elected are : Anna Rolfe, vice-presi- dent ; Francis Rahilly, financial sec- retary, and Mattie Moriarty, treas- urer. Ann Earley and Mae Rogers were tied for recording secretary. The executive board consists of Charles Lynch, Al Cohen, Gilbert Houghs, Margaret Tedder, Edward Smith, Charles Murphy, Jeannie Feldman, Louis Zaccardo, Mabel McDowd, Sam Isenberg, Sam Lavine, John Hill, Jr., G. Girade and Norman Portetsky. Warners Set 'King* Drive Warners have planned an elaborate exploitation campaign for the opening of "The King and the Chorus Girl" at the Strand next Saturday. Among the stunts will be the distribution of 100,000 sets of stills of Fernand Gra- vet, the star, from door to door in the better residential districts of Man- hattan. Halt Eisenstein Film Moscow, March 21. — The Soviet Film Trust yesterday charged Ser- gius M. Eisenstein, director, with pic- turing the Communist revolution un- favorably in his new film, "Bezhum Lug." He has been ordered to halt production on the film, on which he has worked for two years. RKO May Meet on Coast RKO is discussing plans for hold- ing its annual convention on the coast about the middle 'of June. The ses- sions will probably run three to four days. Hollywood, March 21. — Sigmund Romberg is to do the score of "Girl of the Golden West" for M-G-M as well as the musical numbers. Jo Swerling assigned by Para- mount to write closing scenes of "Souls at Sea," with shooting sus- pended pending a decision . . . Dolph Zimmer, assistant director for W. S. Van Dyke on M-G-M's "They Gave Him a Gun," back at work following an illness . . . George Sidney, M-G-M test director, on the job again after a minor operation . . . M-G-M moving exterior sets for start of construction on new sound stages. Cecil Holland succeeds Jack Ca- sey, resigned, as head of Hal Roach makeup department. + Casting — Eleanor Wesselhoeft in "The Prisoner of Zenda," Selznick International . . . Virginia Verrill in "The Goldwyn Follies" . . . Alan Marshal borrowed by M-G-M from Selznick International for "Night Must Fall" and "Countess Walewska" . . . Barnett Parker, Ian Wolfe, Frank Dawson, Sidney Brace, Rollo Lloyd, Clarence Wilson and Bert Rosen in "Emperor's Candlesticks," M-G-M. Ada Leonard in "She's Got That Swing," RKO . . . Helen Vinson in "Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1938" . . . Maurice Case in "Big Business," Paul McVey in "One Mile from Heaven," and Harold Huber in "Love "Ready, Willing" Indianapolis Hit Indianapolis, March 21. — "Ready, Willing and Able," with Leon Errol heading the stage attraction, "Holly- wood Follies of 1937," took $11,000 for the Lyric, $4,000 over normal. "Green Light" pulled $5,800 at the Apollo, $1,800 into the black. The weather was cold and snowy, particu- larly toward the close of the week. Total first run business was $24,800. Average is $21,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 12: "GREEN LIGHT" (F. N.) APOLLO— (1,100), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,800. (Average, $4,000) "SEA DEVILS" (RKO) "DON'T TELL THE WIFE" (RKO) CIRCLE — (2,800) , 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $4,000) "MAN WHO COULD WORK MIRACLES" (U. A.) "ESPIONAGE" (M-G-M) LOEWS— (2,800), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $6,000) "READY, WILLING AND ABLE" (W.B.) LYRIC— (2,000), 2Sc-40c, 7 days. Stage: Leon Errol and "Hollywood Follies of 1937." Gross: $11,000. (Average, $7,000.) Winnipeg Fees Shifted Winnipeg, March 21. — The City council has approved a new scale of license fees for theatres, increasing charges on larger houses and reducing them on small ones. The new scale will run : $150 up to 300 seats; $250 from 300 to 499 seats ; 50 cents a seat from 500 to 1,- 499 seats, and 55 cents above this ca- pacity. Theatres seating from 300 to 499, but open only after 5 P. M. excepting Saturdays and holidays, will be charged $175. Under Fire," 20th Century-Fox . . . Ann Sothern and Gene Raymond in "There Goes My Girl," RKO . . . Patric Knowles and Mary Ma- guire in "The Pit and the Pendu- lum," Warners . . . Mary Gordon and Viola Callahan in "The Cop," Universal. Don Ackerman, Eddie Foy, Nick Lukats, Donald McKinney, Gloria Williams, Marie de Forest, Hen- rietta Haddon, Hal Price, Harvard Mitchell and Harry Strang in "Turn Off the Moon," Paramount . . . Robert McWade in "The Old Soak," M-G-M. + Writers — Lester Cole finishes screen treatment of "Fighting the Underworld," Universal ; may do scenario . . . Frederic Stephani signed to term contract at M-G-M . . . Thyra Samter Winslow finishes script of "Sister Act," Warners, and leaves for New York vacation . . . Lionel Hauser to do the script of "World of Women," RKO . . . Vin- cent Lawrence on screenplay of "Gunga Din," Radio. + Directors — Richard Rosson to di- rect "Tomorrow's Headlines," RKO . . . David Miller assigned to "Flick- er Flaws," M-G-M short. + Title Changes — "The Stones Cry Out," Universal, now "Let Them Live" . . . "Love Derby," Warners, now "He Wouldn't Get Married." "Light" Sets Mark For Dual in Omaha Omaha, March 21. — "Green Light" and "Racing Lady" set a house record for double feature bills last week at the Brandeis, grossing $7,300 or $3,300 over average. Only the Astaire- Rogers pictures on single feature pro- grams have had bigger weeks since this house was opened for films more than three years ago. Held over for six days, the pro- gram had a better gross the opening day of the second week than did "When You're in Love" two weeks before. The Omaha also had a good week, grossing $7,800, or $2,300 over par, for "Love is News" and "Fugitive in the Sky." Total first run business was $22,500. Average is $16,700. Estimated takings : Week Ending March 9: "LOVE IS NEWS" (20th-Fox) "FUGITIVE IN THE SKY" (W.B.) OMAHA— (2,200), 25c -40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,800. (Average, $5,500) Week Ending March 10: "GREEN LIGHT" (F.N.) "RACING LADY" (RKO) BRANDEIS— (1,200), 25c-35c-40c. 7 days. Gross: $7,300. (Average, $4,000) Week Ending March 11: "YOU LIVE ONLY ONCE" (U.A.) "CLARENCE" (Para.) ORPHEUM — (3,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,200. (Average, $7,200) Hulling, Matin on Trip Portland, March 21. — Mel Hulling, division manager for Grand National, accompanied by Danny Matin, is con- tacting the Washington and Oregon trade territory. "Green Light" Tops Buffalo at $15,000 Buffalo, March 21. — "Green Light" led the downtown theatres with a neat $15,000 at the Buffalo, breaking par by $3,000. "Head Over Heels in Love" and "Conflict," dualed at the Lafayette, was next in line with $8,000, up by $2,000. "You Only Live Once" beat the $7,300 average at the Great Lakes by $1,200 and the Century's dual, "Bulldog Drummond Escapes" and "Fugitive in the Sky," pulled $7,800, over the line by $2,000. Competition included "Idiot's De- light. Total first run business was $44,600. Average is $38,400. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 13 : "GREEN LIGHT" (F.N.) BUFFALO — (3,000), 30c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $15,000. (Average, $12,000) "JOHN MEADE'S WOMAN" (Para.) "THE MAN WHO COULD WORK MIRACLES" (U.A.) HIPPODROME— (2,500), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,300. (Average, $7,300) "YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE" (U.A.) GREAT LAKES— (3,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,500. (Average, $7,300) "BULLDOG DRUMMOND ESCAPES" (Para.) "FUGITIVE IN THE SKY" (W.B.) CENTURY— (3,000), 25c, 7 days. Gross: $7,800. (Average, $5,800) "HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE" (G.B.) "CONFLICT" (Univ.) LAFAYETTE— (3,300), 25c, 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $6,000) Whittman Joins RKO Pittsburgh, March 21. — Wade Whittman, once assistant at the Penn here, has returned as a salesman for RKO. Unquestionably a boxoffice hit. Possesses every essential for the best in entertainment -and more important- profit. - IVAN SPEAR Associated Publications WALTER W ANGER CHARLES BOYER JEAN ARTHUR » LEO CARILLO- COLIN clive J),,.. I.,) b, FRANK B0RZAGE6U,.™/ ./».» i„ Qcan Z..~nc .,.,,) JiA,, JMcatrd thru UNITED ARTISTS 6, RADIO MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, March 22, 1937 4 Radio Personals ► CHARLES AGNEW's orchestra begins a dance tour of Big Ten Colleges April 1, through Consolidated Radio Artists. . . . "Follow the Moon," Jergens serial hear on the NBC-Red, adds another station to its hookup, WHO, Des Moines, today. . . . Ken Murray's new program, with Gracie Allen as a guest, bows in on CBS Wednesday. . . . Zeke Manners and "Gang" will guest appear on the Al Pierce series tomorrow night. . . . "Aunt Susan" program yesterday cele- brated the beginning of its fourth year on CBS. . . . Charles E. Green, president of Consolidated, returned to New York Saturday following a two- week swing through the west and mid-west. . . . Tyrone Power will head the guest talent on the Vallee program Thursday night. . . . San Francisco Town Pump San Francisco, March 21. — Bob Young and his orchestra broadcasting over KPO in place of Herb Samen, who shifts to a Los Angeles night club. . . . Don Hambly of KRE wait- ing for the F. C. C. to approve that power increase the East Day station wants. . . . Bill Stuart, Young & Ru- bicam press contact for Jack Benny, Fred Allen and a few more top-shots, in town. . . . Johnny Dolph leaving for Los Angeles and that new job as assistant to Vice-President Donald W. Thornburgh of CBS. . . . Mort Werner back of the mike at KJBS. . . . Stan Breyer of the same station signing 'em up at a great rate. . . . Helen Civelli of the News gathering in some radio copy. . . . KFRC's Pat Kelly lining up a new program. . . . + St. Louis Town Pump St. Louis, March 21. — Robert T. Convey, president of Thomas Patrick, Inc., operators of KWK, Mutual out- let, is the father of a son. . . . Thomas Reid, formerly with KWTO-KGBX, Springfield, has joined the newscasters at KSD. . . . KWK announcers now are: Allen C. Anthony, chief; Mar- tin Bowes, John Neblett, Tom Dailey, Hal Culver and Bill Cook. Rancho Fiesta on Air Hollywood, March 21. — "Rancho Fiesta" is a new feature over KNX and the Columbia Pacific network Thursdays, 10 to 10:30 P. M., P. S. T. Don Pedro is starred with the support of Wilbur Hatch's Or- chestra. Spanish music is played by the Eduardo Durant Ensemble. T. W. Symons to Manage KXL Portland, March 21. — T. W. Sy- mons, formerly of Spokane, is assum- ing active charge of KXL here follow- ing his joint purchase with E. B. Craney of H. B. Read's 80 per cent interest in the station. Craney is a resident of Butte. Smart sponsors know that WHN's No. 1 showmanship helps increase sales ! «W W^R M-G-'m" LOEWS Approved "Radio is edging in so closely on motion picture activities that it is important for us to follow the develop- ments in the broadcasting field. Your daily coverage of what is happening makes it possible to keep in touch with all the plans that are under way." — Joseph Bern- hard, general manager, War- ner Bros. Circuit Manage- ment Corp. Nazis Tighten Grip On Radio in Reich Berlin, March 21.— Strengthening even further its grip on all propa- ganda media, the Nazi Propaganda Minister, Dr. Joseph Goebbels, has created a new director of all of Ger- many's radio activities. Heinrich Glas- meier, former broadcasting direc- tor of Cologne, has been named to the new post of Reich Intendant The Nazi press has hailed this ap- pointment, and that of Hans Kreigler as chief of the radio department of the Ministry of Propaganda. There can be no question now, the press points out, of the complete domination of the Nazi Government over all radio service in the country. WINS to Feature Orchestras Beginning today, WINS will fea- ture the orchestras of topflight band- leaders on the "Matinee Frolic" pro- gram daily, in conjunction with an arrangement completed between WINS and Consolidated Radio Artists, Inc. The program will be further supplemented by guest appear- ances of artists under the Consolidated banner. Russ Morgan's orchestra will lead off today at 4 :30 P. M. To Air Easter Services St. Louis, March 21.— The KMOX special events department, headed by Jerry Hoekstra, has completed ar- rangements to feed to the coast-to- coast Columbia network the annual Easter Sunrise Services at the St. Louis Municipal Opera outdoor thea- tre in Forest Park from 7 :30 to 8 :30 A. M., E.S.T., March 28. The mu- sical background arranged by Howard Barlow will be played by Ben Feld's Symphony Orchestra. McKesson & Bobbins Renew McKesson & Robbins renew their 'Beauty Forum" program as of April 8. The series is presented Thursdays from 9 :45 to 10 A. M. over Mutual stations WOR, WGAR, WAAB CKLW, and from 10:30 to 10:45 P. M. over WGN, KOIL, WHB, also over Mutual. Brown and Tarcher. Inc., is the agency. To Resume "Story of Song" 'Story of the Song" will be re- sumed on the CBS network April 6, from 3 :30 to 4 P. M., E. S. T., and weekly at the same time thereafter. Concert artists will be featured. Co- lette D'Arville and Benjamin De Loache will introduce the renewed series. Esquire Program to Start on WOR Soon When "Coronet On the Air" vacates its current WOR period to begin a new cycle of broadcasts on the NBC- Blue network, April 2, it will be succeeded on WOR by a new series sponsored by Esquire, companion pub- lication to Coronet. The initial Es- quire program will be aired April 6. Batten, Barton, Durstine and Os- born handles both programs. The program pattern for the Esquire pro- gram has not yet been evolved. To Start Baseball Series St. Louis, March 21. — Ray Schmidt, sport announcer, and James Burke, chief engineer, KWK, have left for Daytona Beach, Fla., to open the 1937 season of baseball broadcasts. The broadcasts will feature interviews with prominent players of the St. Louis Cardinals. The KWK men will also include broadcasts direct from other Florida training camps. Later they will move over to the Browns camp in San Antonio. Hyde Park Brewery, St. Louis, is sponsoring the broad- casts. Jack Benny Captures Milwaukee Air Poll Set Mrs. Roosevelt's Time The time and network for the Lamont Corliss program featuring Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt has been set by J. Walter Thompson, agency handling the account. Beginning April 21, the series will be presented from 7:15 to 7:30 P. M., E.S.T The hookup includes the NBC Basic Blue, Blue Mountain, and Blue Coast networks, plus WLW, Cincinnati, and WABY, Albany. RCA Makes Dealer Records Camden, N. J., March 21. — A series of spot announcements for use dur- ing breaks between programs, elec- trically transcribed, to sell the need for competent radio service and re- lated sales specialties, has been made available to RCA dealers and radio service engineers on a single record. Florence Fick to Blackett Florence Fick, of the Neff-Rogow agency, has left that organization to assume production supervision of sev- eral of the Blackett-Sample-Hummert programs. Miss Fick formerly was traffic man- ager of the Mutual network. Set Milwaukee Series Milwaukee, March 21. — "The Un- believable," a 15-minute transcribed program, is now being presented each Wednesday at 9:30 P. M., C.S.T., over WISN under the sponsorship of the National Lead Co. Celebrates Fourth Air Year St. Louis, March 21. — Jane Porter, who directs the KMOX "Magic Kitchen," will celebrate the fourth anniversary of the feature on the air for an entire week, March 29 to April 3. Elin Takes "Allie Lowe Mile Club" Elin, Inc., through the Scheck ad- vertising agency, starts a sponsorship of the Friday 10:30 to 11 A. M. "Al- ie Lowe Mile Club" program on WOR, with announcements on Mon- days and Wednesdays, 3 :30 to 4 P. M. Milwaukee, March 21.— Jack Ben- ny was voted the favorite comedian, and the Benny program the favorite in that category, in the seventh an- nual radio poll conducted by WTMJ, operated by the Milwaukee Journal. Thousands voted from 184 cities in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota. Bing Crosby was voted the favorite masculine popular singer and best master of ceremonies. Wayne King, for the seventh time, was named top in dance orchestras ; Frances Lang- ford, most popular girl singer; Tom, Dick and Harry, harmony singers ; Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, the most popular in its division; Nelson Eddy, most popular masculine con- cert singer. Grace Moore led the feminine concert singers, John Olson of WTMJ headed the studio an- nouncers with Don Wilson running second; Rus Winnie, WTMJ, the sports announcers, with Ted Husing, second. The leading dramatic program picked by listeners was the Radio Theatre. "One Man's Family" was first in the serial story classification; Irene Wicker top in children's pro- grams; Nancy Grey, WTMJ, the women's programs; Boake Carter, leading news commentator, and Jesse Crawford, leading organist. Babe Ruth Show Prizes Set Babe Ruth's program for Sinclair Refining Co., starting on the CBS network April 14, will offer weekly awards of two Nash automobiles, 20 RCA radio sets, and 500 autographed baseballs to listeners participating in a contest feature of the program. The listeners will be asked to forecast the scores of the 16 major league ball games scheduled each week. Fed- eral Advertising Agency set the pro- gram and contest for the sponsor. Bette Davis Substitutes Named Due to Bette Davis's illness, the March 26 "Hollywood Hotel" re- enactment of "Marked Women" has been postponed. Instead the program will feature Olivia de Havilland, Anita Louise, Ian Hunter, Roland Young and Alice Brady in a radioized version of "Call It a Day." A. S. Feldman Promoted Boston, March 21.— Arthur S. Feldman has been named manager of the special event programs originating at WBZ and WBZA by John A. Holman, manager of the NBC outlets in Boston and Springfield. R. M. Tigert to St. Augustine St. Augustine, Fla., March 21. — R. M. Tigert of Nashville, brother of Dr. John J. Tigert, president of the University of Florida, has come to St. Augustine, to serve as commercial manager of WFOY. For several years Tigert has been in the com- mercial department of WSM, Nash- ville. Booke on Mutual Script Milwaukee, March 21.— Earl Booke, former WTMJ script writer, has been signed to write Mutual's "Behind the Camera Lines," which starts April 2. Monday, March 22, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Radio's Best Takes Air in Theatre Hours (Continued from page 1) Deanna Durbin, 8:30; Milton Berle, 10, all on CBS. NBC presents Jack Benny and Mary Livingstone at 7 > P. M. Mondays: Lux "Radio Theatre," which might more aptly be termed "Screen Theatre," is on at 9 P. M., CBS. Tuesdays : Al Jolson, Martha Raye, Parkyakarkus, 8:30 P. M. ; Jack Oakie and screen guests, 9:30 P. M., both CBS; Ben Bernie and screen guests, 9 P. M. ; Fred Astaire and Charles Butterworth, 9 :30 P. M., both on NBC. Wednesdays : Ken Murray, Shir- ley Ross, 8:30 P. M.; Nino Martini, 9 P. M., on CBS; Gladys Swarthout, 10:30 P. M., on NBC. Thursdays : Rudy Vallee and screen guests, 8 P. M. ; "Showboat" at 9j P. M., with Lanny Ross and screen guests ; Bing Crosby and Bob Burns, 10 P. M., all on NBC. Fridays : "Hollywood Hotel," with Fred MacMurray and screen guests,: plus picture dramatizations, 10 P. M.,' CBS ; "The First Nighter" with Don Ameche, NBC at 10 P. M. Saturdays : Grace Moore, 9 P. M. ; "Hit Parade," with weekly film guests at 10 P. M., both CBS; Joe Cook and screen guests, 9 :30 P. M. ;, Irvin S. Cobb, 10:30 P. M., both on NBC. Wood in Air Protest Columbus, March 21. — The follow- ing wire has been sent to Nicholas M. Schenck, M-G-M president, by P. J. Wood, secretary of the I.T.O. of Ohio : "Have heard indirectly that you contemplate permitting stars to broad- cast regularly. If such is your in- tention, on behalf of the members of the I.T.O. of Ohio I vigorously protest. Up to this time Metro stars have been premier theatre attractions exclusively and they should be con- tinued as such. In the opinion of several groups who listened to Fri- day night's 'Hollywood Hotel' pre- view of Universal's 'Top of the Town' this broadcast irreparably damaged box-office value of what might pos- sibly be an outstanding attraction. You, like us, are in theatre business. Let's stay there." Loew's Midland Gets Plug Kansas City, March 21.— One of the local programs over KXBY is a daily Organlogue from Loew's Mid- land, 9:30 to 10 A. M., C.S.T., daily except Sunday, when it is 10 to 10 :30. Besides carrying the name of the the- atre, the program plugs Midland's current picture. CKY Signs for Record Series Winnipeg, March 21. — Burns & Co., packers and wholesale meat dealers, has signed with CKY for 52 weekly half hour transcription shows Sundays at 1 P.M., C.S.T. The pro- gram features British bands. This sponsor has had similar show on a Calgary station for four years. Salesman Faces Mike San Diego, March 21.— J. O. Van Keuren, KFSD sales manager, sold himself with a news broadcast. The sponsor, Farley's clothing store, in- sisted Van read United Press news he sold them for a quarter-hour soot daily at 5:45 P. M., P.S.T. Studio an- nouncers have no laughs on him, because he looks up pro- nunciations in the dictionary before facing the mike. Bachem Named Aide For Witmer at NBC John H. Bachem, NBC's eastern division sales manager will become as- sistant to Roy C. Witmer, vice-presi- dent in charge of sales, April 1. Bachem's new duties will include supervision of sales operations in De- troit, Cleveland and the Pittsburgh di- visions of the network, and various special assignments. Bachem joined the sales force of NBC in 1932, after spending 14 years in the magazine sales field. He was promoted to assistant eastern division sales manager in 1934, and eastern sales manager in 1936. Design New Train Receiver Cincinnati, March 21. — A new type of radio receiving set, specially designed by Crosley engineers to over- come certain apparent "dead spots" in the Potomac Valley, has been installed on the B. & O. Diplomat running be- tween St. Louis and Washington. The receiver has seven tubes, and operates on the 32-volt lighting system of the train. The installation includes a standard automobile under-car antenna about three and one-half feet long, placed horizontally and lengthwise of the car. No auxiliary equipment or shielding has been added. Reception of some 30 stations in the Potomac Valley area has been reported under all conditions during daylight hours. Harvard Men Broadcasting Boston, March 21. — A series of lec- tures by Harvard faculty members has started over WAAB and the Colonial network under the direction of The Guardian, a new Harvard ma- gazine devoted to the purpose of fur- thering public knowledge of govern- ment, economics and related subjects, from 9 to 9:15, E. S. T. Fritz Morstein Marx, assistant professor of government, inaugurated the series with a lecture on "The Professionalization of the Civil Ser- vice." Radio-Films Tieup New Haven, March 21. — Eli City Filling Stations and Loew's College and Poli Theatres are sponsoring a new man-in-the-street broadcast, con- ducted on Tuesdays and Fridays on WELL bv Golly, _ the Roving Re- porter. The questions and answers will come from the College lobby on Tuesdays and the Poli on Fridays, and will revolve about the current show and screen personalities. Form Ohio Radio Company Youngstown, March 21. — The Youngstown Broadcasting Corp. has been incorporated here for $25,000. Set New Rules on Pictures of Navy (Continued from page 1) ture, it was learned here yesterday. Navy officials explained that no im- portant changes are to be made in the rules surrounding the filming of scenes involving naval personnel, vessels or establishments, but that an effort has been made to clarify the rules. The new rules will stress the importance of eliminating any scenes, in features or newsreels, which divulge material held secret by the Navy. In all in- stances, a naval officer or other quali- fied expert will be detailed to act in an advisory capacity to prevent dis- closure of objects which the Navy does not wish to be photographed. Experience, it was said, has shown that a majority of the pictures requir- ing censorship could have been re- leased for publication were it not for inadvertent disclosures of confidential matter in the background. Navy Dep't Will Aid In the making of features, the de- partment will provide for supervision of all footage taken within naval jur- isdiction and, where practicable, for prompt local provisional censorship of such footage as may be considered by the supervisor to contain confidential information. It is stressed that this censorship is for the purpose of quickly bringing to the attention of both the producer and the department any film which is questionable, and is not for the purpose of questioning script or dialogue. Final review and censorship, as heretofore, will be made by the Navy film board of review in Washington. Newsreels will be given final cen- sorship by the Commandant of the Third Naval District at New York. When any footage is condemned by either reviewing agency, the producer will be required promptly to surren- der all prints, "levenders" and nega- tives of the censored footage. The new regulations will permit the taking of spectacular scenes, such as fleets in simple maneuvers, aircraft in flight, distant views of ships firing, interior views of living quarters and similar scenes which do not disclose information of a confidential nature, subject, of course, to final censorship. Milwaukee Business Shows February Gain Milwaukee, March 21. — Improved business in February over the same month last year has been reported by the Milwaukee Ass'n. of Commerce, whose research bureau found an in- crease of 15.8 per cent in bank debits, a 13.3 per cent increase in bank clear- ings, a 15.5 per cent increase in the factory employment index and an in- crease of 14.7 per cent in department store sales. New car registrations, according to the bureau's figures, topped those of last February by 49.1 per cent, while telephones in use increased 5.4 per cent. Mortgages showed a drop of 13.3 per cent and building permits in- creased 104.6 per cent. Form Rex Amusement Wilmington, March 21. — The Rex Amusement Co. has been incorporated at Dover to operate theatres. In- corporators are W. E. Cumberland, Ethel Goldstein and George E. Bond. Gain in High Cost Pictures Seen Planned (Continued from page 1) of pictures as in recent years. One or two companies may cut their pro- duction schedules by five to eight fea- tures, while others may make up the numerical difference by increasing theirs in the same minor degree, it was said. The home office views appear to be based for the most part on the al- ready fairly well defined new season production plans of such companies as Paramount, Universal, RKO and United Artists. These companies have held comprehensive production con- ferences at which plans for increas- ing production budgets and allocating the bulk of the increase to individual pictures rather than to a greater number of productions, were decided upon. Moreover, Adolph Zukor's admoni- tion to the M. P. T. O. A. exhibitor convention at Miami last week to pre- pare to support more costly produc- tion is regarded in New York as fairly representing major studio sentiment in Hollywood. Pointing out that "the public has been educated to get big pictures," Zukor declared that exhibitors must be prepared to give either extended runs or higher prices to make it possi- ble for the producer to continue to supply them. He emphasized that he was not speaking for Paramount alone "but for the whole industry." Mills Replaces Rowland Kansas City, March 21. — Ferris Mills has been replaced by Charles Rowland as manager of the Dickin- son at Olathe, Kan. Rowland was at the Dickinson, Herington, Kan., where he is succeeded by John Krie- ger, formerly assistant manager of the Dickinson at Manhattan, Kan. Wall Street GTE Best Stock Movement Net High Low Close Change 34 34 34 42 42 42 Columbia Columbia, pfd Consolidated Film Industries, pfd.. . Eastman Kodak... General Theatre Equipment Loew's, Inc Paramount Paramount 2 pfd.. Pathe Film RKO 20th Century-Fox. Warner Bros 16/ 16/ 16/ - / 160/ 159 159 30/ 30/ 77/ 77/ 24/ 23M 30/ 77/ 24/ +1/8 + % + 'A zm 2m 21% — / 8/ &a m 8'/8 38/ 37M 14% 14% 8/ 37& 14% Technicolor Off on Curb Net High Low Close Change Grand National. . . 3 3 3 Sentry Safety H u ■ VA VA m Technicolor . 21/ 21/ 21/ Trans Lux 4K Warner Bonds Off Net High Low Close Change Keith B. F. 6s '46. 98 98 98 Loew's 3/s '46.... 98 98 98 Paramount Broad- way 3s '55 74J4 74J4 74J4 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 95 95 95 — / (Quotations at close of March 20.) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, March 22, 1937 Paramount to Have 58 for '37-38 List (Continued from page 1) Porter Hall ; and "High, Wide and Handsome," with Irene Dunne, Ran- dolph Scott, Dorothy Lamour, Wil liam Frawley, Charles Bickford, Ben Blue, Akim Tamiroff and Elizabeth Patterson. Henry Hathaway directed the first and Rouben Mamoulian the second. In production is the first Lubitsch picture in three years, "Angel," star- ring Marlene Dietrich, with Herbert Marshall, Melvyn Douglas, Edward Everett Horton, Mischa Auer, Ernest Cossart and Laura Hope Crews. DeMille's production is "The Buc- caneer," with Randolph Scott, Fran- ciska Gaal, Olympe Bradna, and others to be selected. It is the story of Jean LaFitte, river pirate, Louis- iana dandy and lover and military ally of Andrew Jackson. Another for Cooper "What Ho!" will be the second to star Gary Cooper. This is down as an Emanuel Cohen production, from a story which appeared in Pictorial Review by Richard Connell. Jack Benny is listed in three, "Big Broadcast of 1938," "Artists and Models" and "Cuckoo College." In the first, which will be directed by Frank Tuttle, the radio star will have as his support Martha Raye, George Burns and Gracie Allen, Shirley Ross, Ben Blue and Ray Milland. Edward Sutherland is now shooting "Artists and Models," in which Randolph Scott, Dorothy Lamour, Ben Blue and the Yacht Club Boys will appear. Tuttle has also been assigned the third Benny comedy, "Cuckoo Col- lege," which will have Martha Raye, George Burns and Gracie Allen, Ben Blue, Eleanore Whitney, Johnny Downs and Yacht Club Boys cast. "Life of Victor Herbert" will fea- ture Gladys Swarthout, Fred Mac- Murray and Edward Arnold under Wesley Ruggles' direction. Scott in "Wells Fargo" The Frank Lloyd production will be "Wells Fargo," in which Randolph Scott, Frances Farmer and Charles Bickford are tentatively set to appear. "That Kind of a Woman" is the tentative title for the next Mae West film to be produced by Emanuel Co- hen. The story will have the Gay Nineties as its background and music furnished by Sam Coslow. "Beau Geste" is set for a remake in color with George Raft, Frances Farmer, Ray Milland, William Fraw- ley and others to be named later. Henry Hathaway, who directed "Lives of a Bengal Lancer," will han- dle the megaphone on this. The second Lubitsch production will be "Bluebeard's 8th Wife." Clau- dette Colbert and Fred MacMurray are the only two players assigned so far. "Double or Nothing" will star Bing Crosby. Martha Raye, Mary Car- lisle, Andv Devine have been cast so far and Ted Reed will direct. "Show Business," by Fanny Hurst, is the last of the group and without production details. A list of releases from April to Sunset Over M.P.T.O.A. (Continued from page 2) year on the plea it hastened an end to popularity but broadcast regularly each week notwithstanding, he did touch upon something to think about. But he failed to follow it up and nobody pursued it for him. We shall. We go back to earlier comment from this typewriter on radio to stress anew two points in a method of approach satisfactory and reasonable to both industries. One, is frequency of appearance, which should be controlled to the benefit of the producer and his customer and also to the benefit of the radio sponsor. Second, type of material, to the end that the popularity of the player which, in the first place, induced the radio sponsor to hire him, is sustained and, if possible, augmented. Beyond that, we are stumped and, being stumped, we ought to stop writing. One more point, however. Radio was condemned far, wide and hard. Everyone who sounded off on it knew, quite positively, naturally, it was hurting theatre grosses. They simply knew it and, being all-wise, furnished no proof. They were permitted to get away with their sweep- ing statements, furthermore, since nobody asked them to present facts to back up their assertions. It was not suggested that they might be wrong, or at least if they were right, to demonstrate how they had learned they were. Of course, they would have been licked on any approach such as this, but it was funny and ludicrous for no one to even try. Peculiar, too, was the situation across on the Beach where the Paramount partners were con- vening. Many of them had different ideas about radio. They didn't believe it was so terrible a competitor and they run theatres, too. Or hadn't you heard? ▼ At any rate, it was a dismal flop as a convention, but a four-star success as a party. If we can find Kuykendall, we propose asking how many he thinks would have turned out if the M.P.T.O.A. had elected Chicago in March for the meeting place, not Miami. Thinking it over, perhaps we won't. Unfair to the local Chamber of Commerce. Time, Inc., Plans Two-Reeler Series (Continued from page 1) ssue will deal with one subject throughout its entire length. A national advertising and exploi- tation campaign linking the series with the magazine, Life, is an ex- tremely important part of the plan, along lines turned to in the develop- ment of "The March of Time" on the air and in the advertising columns of Time, Inc.'s, three publications, Time, Fortune and Life. Unique in its way, what is believed to be the first contract for the new series was signed on a Miami Bilt- more napkin late last week by Mit- chell Wolfson and "Sonny" Shephard of the Lincoln, Miami Beach, a Wo- metco house. John S. Martin, man- aging editor of Time, who is here for a few days from Augusta, Ga., signed for his organization. A Life cameraman was busv at the water carnival at the Miami Biltmore Thursday evening shooting film nota- bles for the "Life Goes to a Party" weekly feature in that magazine. It may run in next week's issue. August has the following pictures set : April : "Internes Can't Take Money." May : "Make Way for Tomorrow," "I Met Him in Paris," "Turn Off the Moon," "King of Gamblers/' June : "The Last Train from Ma- drid," "Mountain Music." July : "Exclusive," "Easy Living," "The Barrier." Aueust : "Artists and Models." Neil F. Agnew, general sales man- ager, and J. J. Unger, eastern division head, will return from Miami today after attending the M. P. T. O. A. convention and meetings by Para- mount's theatre partners. Reich Takes Ufa; Controls Industry (Continued from page 1) of the company thus passes from pri- vate hands to the Government. The acquisition of Ufa makes the film industry comnletely Government- dominated. Of the three companies which virtuallv monopolized the in- dustry, Ufa, Tobis and the Bavarian Film Corp., Tobis was quietly ab- sorbed late last year bv a similar group, which through Tobis acquired control of Bavarian Film. Only Ufa was left as an independent organiza- tion. It is generallv understood here Dr. Toseph Goebbels, Propaganda Minis- ter, is behind the move, and will de- termine company policy and control finances. Previous means of control failing, Goebbels ordered that players and directors be placed on the direc- torates to raise the level of produc- tion. Tobis obeyed, but Ufa did not. Up to this time control of Ufa has been in the hands of Dr. Alfred Hu- genberg. Hitler's former Minister of Economics and leader of the defunct Nationalist Party, but he apparently has surrendered his slightly less than half interest in the company's stock. The final step is expected at the general stockholders' meeting earlv in May. The industry here has been forced to accept Government aid for a long time, since Nazi product has been greeted with a conspicuous lack of interest abroad, particularly in the United States. "Venus'* Off the Boards "Arms for Venus," stage play which opened March 11, closed Saturday night after a run of 12 performances at the John Golden Theatre. Expect Jump In Term Deals Next Season (Continued from page 1) negotiations during the warm months are eliminated. Some exhibitors hold that the long term deals save them time and money. This applies to large operators mak- ing several trips to New York before concluding deals. Under the term ar- rangement, only one trip will be nec- essary, unless there is room for a re- vision of contract for one reason or another. Practically every company already has sold a good portion of its con- sistent accounts for next season. When the sales conventions get under way these deals are announced. Most of them are long term pacts. There are a number of new one-year deals al- ready closed, too, sales executives de- clare. National Ups Capital Dover, Del., March 21. — National Pictures Corp. has increased its capi- tal here from $100,000 to $1,000,000. The Corporation Fiscal Co. is the agent for the concern. 20th-Fox Changes Title Hollywood, March 21. — "Sing and Be Happy" will be the release title of the 20th Century-Fox pictures tenta- tively titled "Everybody Sing." Surefire. This engagingly im- pudent melange of rollicking comedy, stark melodrama and romantic drama is grand en- tertainment and will be strong boxoffke. - Hollywood Reporter WALTER WANGER ,.,,„„/, CHARLES B0YER JEAN ARTHUR /,, LEO CARILLO • COLIN CLIVE J>„ ../,.' I, FRANK B0 RZ AG E 0,„, / Alert. Intelligent MOTION PICTURE DAILY VOL. 41. NO. 68 NEW YORK, TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 1937 TEN CENTS 20-Fox Sets Product Deal With National Marks First Important New Season Pact John D. Clark, general sales man- ager, and Herman Wobber, western division sales head for 20th Century- Fox, have closed the first important product deal for next season with the signing of a contract with National Theatres on the coast. Spyros Skour- as and Edward Zabel of National Theatres returned from Los Angeles after negotiating the pact with all of the circuit's divisional operating heads. The one-year agreement calls for 52 features, exclusive of four west- erns and two Tarzan pictures Sol Lesser will produce, and the distribu- tor's lineup of shorts. The short subject deal has not yet been com- pleted, but will be worked out here. William T. Powers, film buyer for the circuit, and Milton Hossfeld, his (Continued on page 11) Studios Maintain Pace; 37 in Work Hollywood, March 22. — Produc- tion activity here held to approxi- mately the same level as last week, with 37 features in work, compared with 36 previously. Only one short was in work, as against three last week. Ten features were started, four at Republic and one each at Warners, 20th Century-Fox, Wanger, Selz- nick International, Paramount and M-G-M. Eight pictures were finished, in- cluding two each from Warners and 20th Century-Fox, and one each from Columbia, M-G-M, Paramount and (Continued on page 8) Report Actors' Guild For Labor Showdown Hollywood, March 22. — A secret meeting of the Actors' Guild held here today is reported to have culminated in a decision to demand 100 per cent A.F.L. and I.A.T.S.E. backing and producer recognition at the joint pro- ducer-actor meeting scheduled for April. _ An immediate switch to the C.I.O. is said to be threatened if the actors' demands are not met. Today's reported move is said to have taken shape following a meet- ing between the Guild president, Robert Montgomery, and James Cag- ney, both of whom allegedly favored the action. UP Out Front In Supplying News for Air Lists 150 Big Stations With Clients Gaining Since setting up a separate news service for its radio subscribers, UP has become the unquestioned leader in the radio news field, listing among its subscribers 150 of the biggest and most powerful stations in America, with the number of subscribers in- creasing weekly. The Scripps-Howard news gather- ing organization was the first, and Additional developments in radio on pages 10 and 11. so far is the only newspaper-controlled news organization to distinguish be- tween the printed and oral technique in preparing the news, with the result that subscribers are enabled to pre- sent the news on the air without re- writing and editing, thus cutting down the station's operating expense by do- ing away with a staff writer, and (Continued on page 11) Israel Wins Point In Hearing on Roxy Carlos Israel, counsel for the Pound bondholders' committee, which pro- posed the reorganization plan for the Roxy, won a point yesterday as the hearings on the plan started in U. S. District Court before Special Master Addison S. Pratt. The latter ruled that all objecting bondholders' com- mittees must file certificates from banks showing that the bondholders whom they represent still own Roxy Theatre bonds. Robert G. Reed, counsel for Ernest (Continued on page 2) See Nazis' Efforts To Revive Industry The desperate efforts on the part of the Nazi Government of Germany to resuscitate a failing film industry, and at the same time to make it com- pletely an agency of propaganda for the Nazi regime, with Dr. Joseph Goebbels, Propaganda Minister, as the spearhead of the effort, are indicated in a comprehensive study of the sit- uation from Berlin published by the New York Times. The latest step in the drive, which involved the virtual control of Ufa by an anonymous group understood (Continued on page 2) Goes Patriotic Miami Beach, March 22.— In for a swim today, Red Kann lacked the proper equipment. Mrs. George F. Dembow obliged with a start- ling beach robe, very patri- otic in color and flounced gracefully in front. The Paramount theatre partners were holding a con- tinuing meeting in the Roney Beach Club cabanas. Bob O'- Donnell, general manager of the Interstate Circuit, took one look and remarked: "Aha! Red, White and Blue Kann." K-A-0 and Keith '36 Profits High Keith-Albee-Orpheum Corp., and subsidiaries yesterday reported net profit for the year to Dec. 31, 1936, of $1,237,141.34, compared to $403,- 073.40 for the previous year, and B. F. Keith Corp., and subsidiaries for the calendar years 1936 reported net profit of $1,056,257.20, which compares with a net profit of $464,644.94 after Federal taxes for 1935. Both are subsidiaries of RKO. The K-A-0 net was after all charges, including a provision of $63,- 600 for the surtax on undistributed (Continued on page 8) Monogram Finishes Sales Organization The organization of Monogram Pic- tures' new distribution setup, consist- ing of 31 branch offices, was com- pleted yesterday, W. Ray Johnston, president, stated. As disclosed earlier, the company will own and operate the New York, Philadelphia and Washington ex- changes through Monogram Distribut- ing Corp., a home office subsidiary. Franchise holders and other distribut- (Continued on page 2) Toeplitz Assets to Frenke, Moliniere All assets, stories and other prop- erties of Toeplitz Prod, have been acquired by Eugene Frenke and Jac- ques Moliniere, Frenke said yesterday on his arrival on the Queen Mary from England. Production plans for the new com- pany to be formed to replace Toeplitz are for two pictures a year, for the present, he said. Frenke is the hus- band of Anna Sten, who is now in Hollywood negotiating film contracts. One of the two pictures will be (Continued on page 8) Para. Circuit To Tip Scales As Costs Rise Held Only Way to Meet Changed Situation By RED KANN Miami, March 22. — Admissions in the majority of situations where Para- mount and its partners operate are heading for increases to meet rising costs within the industry. This was made clear by Paramount theatre operators on the conclusion of their national meeting here. The de- cision coincides with views advanced by officials of other national circuits in New York over the weekend, and reported in Motion Picture Daily yesterday. Increased production costs generally, a greater number of pic- tures in the higher budget brackets from all major studios during the new season, and actual and anticipated higher labor costs are the factors which will make admission boosts in- evitable, it was said. A deterring ef- fect on cash awards, giveaways and double featuring is also expected to be noted in many situations throughout the country. Of the assortment of problems dis- cussed here late last week by Para- mount's complete roster of theatre op- erators with the exception of E. C. (Continued on page 11) No Plan Is Decided On Sale Tax Appeal Legal representatives of major dis- tributors, meeting yesterday at M.P. P.D.A. headquarters for the second time since New York's highest court ruled that film rentals collected in New York City were subject to the two per cent municipal sales tax, were unable to agree on a further appeal to the U. S. Supreme Court. A third meeting was scheduled for Friday, at which time, it is expected, a decision will be reached. In addition to considering the ad- visability of applying for a writ of (Continued on page 11) Renew Pressure for Film-Radio Probes Washington, March 22. — Agita- tion for Congressional investigations of the film and radio industries was renewed here today with efforts being made to obtain action by the House Rules Committee on the resolutions calling for the inquiries. Representative Hobbs of Alabama is (Continued on page 10) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, March 23, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 March 23, 1937 No. 68 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN. Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at Rockefeller Center. New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Company. Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- cations: MOTION PICTURE HERALD. BETTER THEATRES, TEATRO AL DIA, INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building, Yine and Yucca Sts. : Boone Mancall. Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave., C. B. O'Neill, Manager. WASHINGTON: Albee Building, Bertram F. Linz, Representative. AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan 5: Philip de Schaap, Representative. BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest II; Endre Hevesi. Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientos 2495; N. Bruski, Representative. HELSINKI: Fredriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszio, Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square, W. 1; Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address, Quigpubco, Lon- don. MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins St. ; Cliff Holt, Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart, Representative. MONTEVIDEO: P. O. Box 664; Paul Bodo, Rep- resentative. MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern, Rep- resentative. PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre, Rep- resentative. PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1; Harry Knopf, Representative. RIO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 3358; A. Weiss- man, Representative. ROME: Viale Gorizia; Vittorio Malpassuti, Rep- resentative. SHANGHAI : Rooms 38-41. Capital Theatre Build- ing, 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler. Rep- resentative. STOCKHOLM : Kungsgatan 36; Ragnar Allberg. Representative. TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken; H. Tominaga, Representative. VIENNA: Nuestiftgasse. 55; Vienna VII; Hans Lorant. Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Air Line-Goldwyn in Film Producing Pact Hollywood, March 22. — Samuel Goldwyn has closed with William Van Dusen, of Pan-American Airways, for the filming of the official test flights for the company's trans -Atlantic op- eration in the autumn. All equipment, personnel and ex- perience of Pan-American will be placed at Goldwyn's disposal for the production of a film entitled "Trans- Atlantic Flight," employing, in addi- tion to the Hollywood cast, pilots, technicians and executives of the air line, all of whom will actually appear. Israel Wins Point In Hearing on Roxy (Continued from page 1) Angell, regional director of the S.E.C., declared at the opening of the hear- ing that the S.E.C. was intervening in the proceedings as a "friend of the court" at the request of Federal Judge Francis G. Caffey. Reed was assisted by two accountants. Five bondholders' protective com- mittees filed objections and suggested amendments to the plan. Lamar Hardy, U. S. attorney, and Arthur G. Sawyer, assignee of Harry G. Koch, original equity receiver of the Roxy, also filed objections. The stock- holders' protective committee is ex- pected to file today. Russell Z. Cruickshank was the principal witness. He stated that he appraised the value of the Roxy realty at $3,500,000 on March 3. The land was appraised at $1,300,000, the bal- ance for the theatre. The assessed valuation of the Roxy is $3,325,000. Cruickshank said that he set the value of $3,300,000 in August, 1935, but had increased the valuation because of the rise in the real estate market. Ten Objections Advanced The Tipton committee, representing $3,528,000 in first mortgage bondhold- ers, submitted 10 objections and sug- gestions to the proposed plan, includ- ing the fact that it does not give the definite terms of the proposed film franchise to 20th Century-Fox, nor that the franchise may be terminated by 20th Century-Fox if the corpora- tion fails to pay interest or principal on the bonds. Harold P. Seligson, counsel for the Tipton committee, charged that payment to Artco of $60,174 for advisory supervision was grossly excessive. The class A stockholders' protective committee objected to the plan on the ground that it made no provision for them. They proposed a substitute which would set up two classes of preferred stocks and would allow class A stockholders one-sixth of the com- mon stock. Hardy objected on the part of the Government because $7,969 of unpaid income tax for 1931 and 1932 is not provided for in the plan. He also claimed that the Government is en- titled to priority. Brings "Ecstasy" Action Lakeland, Fla., March 22. — Re- quested by a Mrs. Craig of Jackson- ville, County Solicitor Manuel M. Glover has filed an information against the Harbot Amusement Co., operators of the Lakeland, and R. J. Thorstad, manager, charging that the film, "Ecstasy," shown in the local theatre, had not been approved by the National Board of Review or the state censor of New York. Validity of the statute under which the information was filed will be tested at a habeas corpus hearing before Circuit Judge H. C, Petteway on March 25. Pickets Protest Cullman Members of the Empire State union yesterday began picketing the Roxy in a personal protest against Howard S. Cullman, trustee of the theatre, who served on Mayor LaGuardia's labor survey board in the negotiations between Local 306 and Allied. When the merger was effected be- tween Local 306 and Allied, all I.T. OA. houses agreed to install Local 306 men. A number of the exhibitor organization's members who had been employing Empire State operators dicsharged them and took on Local 306 men. The pickets' signs read that Cull- man "had us fired and we demand immediate reinstatement." On the re- verse of the signs is the usual plea "not to patronize the theatre because it does not employ a full safety crew of expert projectionists, members of Empire." Cullman could not be reached yes- terday, but it is understood efforts were being made late last night by Sam Lewisohn and Ben Golden of the Mayor's labor committee to straighten out the matter. Silent Ballyhoo Omaha, March 22. — Joe Jacob, publicity chairman for the national Variety conven- tion to be held here in April, has had trouble doing his ballyhooing lately, being un- able to talk after a tonsil op- eration. See Nazis' Efforts To Revive Industry (Continued from page 1) to be Goebbels-directed, is aimed to bring the hitherto recalcitrant Ufa into line. Tobis and Bavarian Film have been dominated in similar manner. Under the Goebbels arrangement, all Tobis subordinate companies must have one script-reading department, one casting office and a single adver- tising office. The original Tobis schedule of 60 features next season has been cut to 50, as a means of improving product. These three major companies are in sorry financial condition, despite the fact the Tobis owns valuable pat- ents, Ufa controls 111 theatres in 49 cities, and film attendance is said to have increased by more than 200,000,- 000 annually since 1933. It has been estimated that the deficit on 110 Ger- man films produced last year will be 12,000,000 to 15,000,000 marks. Pro- duction costs have shown marked in- creases in recent years. A major cause of the German film losses is the lack of interest in Ger- man product displayed in foreign countries. It is pointed out that in 1932-33, during the period of economic stress, the Reich earned 12,500,000 marks from exported films, while last season the foreign market's return amounted to only 5,000,000 marks. The industry is suffering from a serious lack of working capital, and the few small semi-independent com- panies, which distribute only through Ufa and Tobis, are heavily in debt to the Government-owned film bank. The latter provided funds only on con- dition that it control scripts and casts. In all, 153 features were scheduled for production, and probably about 140 actually will be made. Ufa's annual statement showed a net profit of only $5,100 and Bavaria a paper profit of $3,000 for the year. Monogram Finishes Sales Organization (Continued from page 1) ing affiliations will operate in Albany, Buffalo, Detroit, Chicago, Indianap- olis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Cleve- land, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Denver, Salt Lake City, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Charlotte, New Orleans, Memphis, Omaha, Des Moines, St. Louis, Boston and New Haven. Canadian distribution is now being negotiated. Pathe Films, Ltd., will handle British distribution for Mono- gram. Edward Golden is general sales manager of the company and Norton Ritchey is in charge of foreign dis- tribution. "Crosstown" Closes "Crosstown," stage play which opened Wednesday at the 48th St. theatre, closed Saturday after a run of five performances. Matron for Each 35 Children Required Albany, March 22. — The amend- ment to the general municipal law in- troduced in the New York legislature, providing for the admission to the- atres of unaccompanied children be- tween eight and 16 years, on condi- tion that a matron be in charge, calls for one matron for each 35 children. In the specification of the number of children for whom one matron be provided, the new bill differs from the Joseph law, passed last year, and now effective in New York City. That law provides that only one matron is necessary to each theatre. The new bill is intended to apply outside of New York City. The measure, which was read once and has been referred to the Commit- tee on Cities, provides, like the Joseph law, that matrons be licensed by the municipality and that the fee, not to exceed $2, paid by the theatre. Kansas Bill Seeks Tax on Advertising Kansas City, March 22. — A two per cent privilege tax on gross re- ceipts from the sale or furnishing of advertising in Kansas is proposed in a bill introduced by the Commit- tee on Assessment and Taxation. The bill specifically covers, newspaper, magazine, billboard, radio, and film advertising. The tax would be payable in monthly installments on or before the 15th of each month. Failure to file a return or filing of a fraudulent re- turn calls for a penalty of 25 per cent of the tax due plus interest at the rate of one per cent per month from due date until paid, in addition to the amount of the tax itself. Also possible is a fine of not to exceed $500 or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. The collec- tions would go into the state's general revenue fund. Illinois Bill Aims To Legalize Prizes Springfield, March 22. — A bill to legalize prize drawings, including Bank Night, has been introduced in the Illinois Legislature here. The bill would permit a person engaged in business to offer and to give any customer, free, chances on prizes posted in appreciation of the custom- er's patronage. AFA Nominates Vallee Rudy Vallee was nominated for re- election as president of the American Federation of Actors at a membership meeting, presided over by Ralph Whitehead, executive secretary. The election will be held May 8. Other officers nominated for three-year terms were : Sophie Tucker, honorary presi- dent; Joe Laurie, Jr., first vice-presi- dent; Ben Bernie, second vice-presi- dent; Chick York, third vice-presi- dent; Harry Richman, fourth vice- president ; Whitehead, executive sec- retary; Charles Mosconi, treasurer. Eight were nominated for four-year terms on the A. F. A. Council. Gary Cooper Under Knife Hollywood, March 22. — Held in Florida by what is described as a "minor surgical" operation, Gary Cooper has delayed his return to the studios. Phooey to your old man, I gotta date at a "WAIKIKI WEDDING" FOLLOW HIM SOME PARTY! YEAH. ..AND SOME SHOW! . . .The Biggest Silver Jubilee Box-Office Smash of 'em all. Paramount gives you Bing and Bob Burns and Martha Raye, the Trio that made "Rhythm on the Range" the ace money-maker of last Spring, plus Shirley Ross, the singing sweetheart of "Big Broadcast" in a glorious big time Paramount Musical. GRASSHOPPERS... And, boy, can they go to town in that brand-new Hawaiian Swing . . . You'll be booking passage on the next boat to the Islands. 1 1 PING HAWAIIAN HIT MAKERS... Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin, those old Hawaiian music masters (from Hollywood), give you a new set of top radio hits: "Sweet is the Word for You," "Blue Hawaii," "In a Little Hula Heaven," "Okole- hao" and "Sweet Leilani." SWING THOSE WEDDING BELLES . . .When that "Waikiki Wedding" scene gets under lei, and the hundreds of natives start the old fire-dance... wow-w-w what a production number! Tuesday, March 23, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tri-States in Deal With Harry Schiller Grand Island, Neb., March 22. — Tri-States theatres here will be man- aged by Harry Schiller, former inde- pendent operator, who is building the new $85,000 Grand here, according to Everett Cummings, Tri-States dis- trict manager in Omaha, who ar- ranged the deal. The agreement with Schiller makes him the director of the Capitol and Majestic here. Eddy Forester, now city manager, will be moved to a new position with the circuit. Schiller will operate his own house, the Grand, when it opens in mid-April, in addi- tion to his circuit duties. The deal will give Tri-States a total of 10 houses. Keller-Dorian Men Silent on Finances Officials of Keller-Dorian Colorfilm were unavailable again yesterday for questioning concerning the exercise by European financial interests of an option to acquire control of the com- pany, a decision on which had been expected by the company early in March. George Quigley, fiscal agent for the European financial group, who re- turned to New York a week ago after conferring abroad on the lifting of the option, also was unavailable. Quigley had promised to issue a statement on the situation yesterday. From all ap- pearances, no action is being taken. i Purely Personal ► Hanson's Total Now 24 Toronto, March 22. — The rapidly growing Ontario circuit of Hanson Theatres Corp. took a sudden jump to 24 with the acquisition of six the- atres in Northern Ontario operated formerly by Mascioli Bros. This group, in the thriving gold mining area of the North Country, comprises theatres in Timmins, Kirkland Lake, Ansonville, New Liskeard and Por- cupine. Two are in Timmins. "Show Boat' in Record Universal reports that "Show Boat" has entered its 40th week at the Lib- erty in Sydney, Australia, beating the former record of 39 weeks and three days. The film has played to 374,- 587 admissions. The film may run a year. Henie-Power to Co-Star Hollywood, March 22. — Darryl Zanuck will capitalize on the Sonja Henie-Tyrone Power romance pub- licity by co-starring them in "Rings On Her Fingers." The Tavern MEETING PLACE of the INDUSTRY MAKE THIS YOUR LUNCHEON — DINNER — SUPPER CLUB 158 W. 48th St. Toots Shor Miami Beach, March 22. — John Balaban will extend his stay here until Fridav. then return to Chicago. Barney Balaban will remain until the end of the week and then return to New York. Adolph Zukor is uncertain about his departure for New York, but has set the tentative date for Wednesday. He will be accompanied by Chris Dun- phy, head of the Paramount studio publicity department. Sam Dembow flies to New York Wednesday, but his wife and children probably will remain. Mrs. George F. Dembow goes north the middle of the week with Charles Casanave and his wife. Robert M. Gillham has chartered a boat and is fishing off Bimini with Al Wilkie. They put in here Tuesday when Mrs. Gillham will join the fishing expedition and Wilkie goes back to New York. Sam Spring is a new arrival. Jack and Mrs. Cohn flew to New York on the midnight 'plane Sunday. Major Leslie E. Thompson and A. P. Waxman, left on the two o'clock plane Sunday. James R. Grainger and Andy Sharick entrained for Universal headquarters at Rockefeller Center Sunday. Mrs. Morris Rubens finishes a three month vacation here and hies to Chicago shortly. Harry Rubens, brother of J. J. and Morris, winds up his winter holi- day here very soon now. Y. Frank Freeman was presented with a ring and his wife with a silver serving tray by the Paramount the- atre partners by way of observance of their 24th wedding anniversary which took place during the partners' three day meeting last week. The dinner which terminated the sessions at the Roney Saturday night was pretty much of a gala affair. The women were presented attractive gifts and the men participated in a large scale Bank Night. Nate Goldstein of Western Massachusetts Theatres, Inc., won the top prize of $100. Para- mount News cameramen recorded a number of the partners and the foot- age is headed for inclusion in the reel shortly to play their own home towns. Toasts in wine which flowed freely was drunk to Zukor, Balaban, Free- man, Neil F. Agnew and Stanton Griffis as the operating heads of the company. • Irving Levy of Columbia, who writes under the pen name of Eliot Lange, has just finished a play called "Cabin in the Woods" and has turned it over to Margaret Wall. • Harry G. Kosch, film attorney, has moved to the Paramount Bldg, and formed the firm of Kosch, Lewis and Reuben, with Harry Lewis and Milton H. Reuben. • E. C. Mills, Ascap general man- ager, delayed in his departure from the west coast, is not expected in New York until tomorrow. Scott R. Dunlap, vice-president in charge of Monogram production, is in town. It is his first visit here in years. Nicholas M. Schenck and Leo- pold Friedman are due back from the coast the early part of April. George Balsdon of National The- atres returned from the coast over the weekend and is at the Neurological Hospital, Medical Center, under ob- servation for several days. He suf- fered severe injuries in a coast auto accident. • Monte Proser of the Blackstone Agency returned yesterday from the coast after escorting a group of models west for "Walter Wanger's Follies of 1938." He was away two weeks. • Beatrice Kaufman, eastern story head for Samuel Goldwyn, is now at Tucson, Ariz., conferring with Goldwyn on stories for next season. • Phyliss Brooks, new 20th Cen- tury-Fox find, flew to the coast over the weekend to start on her film con- tract. • Charles Reagan, Paramount's west- ern division manager, is en route to Hawaii on a business trip. He will be gone for about a month. • Harold J. Fitzgerald will leave Milwaukee soon for a vacation at Miami. • Joseph Seider has returned from a Miami vacation. He managed to do plenty of fishing in southern waters. • Tom Connors of Leow's has re- turned from Miami and a tour of the south. Ditto William F. Rodgers. William R. Ferguson plans to leave for the coast by plane in a few days. • Truman Talley will sail in three weeks for England and the Corona- tion. • Lowell Calvert, eastern represen- tative for Selznick International, is back from Hollywood. • Jean Rogers has arrived from Hollywood for a vacation here and in Belmont, Mass. • Paul Lazarus, U. A. home office sales executive, is back from a south- ern cruise. • Buck Jones is in town for a short vacation. • Barbara Pepper has arrived from the coast for a three-week vacation. Variety Club Cincinnati Cincinnati, March 22. — Club mem- bers and guests were entertained Sat- urday night by Count Berni Vici and his "Spices of 1937" company appear- ing at the RKO Schubert. Arthur Frudenfeld was responsible. Jack Goldman, skipper of the Roosevelt is the latest recruit into resident membership. Roy Haines, eastern executive of Warner Bros, was a visitor at the club over the weekend. Installation of officers at the Netherland Plaza was the high- light of last week's activities. Of- ficers for the current year are : H. J. Wessel, chief barker; A. M. Frudenfeld, first assistant chief barker; Manny Shure, second as- sistant chief barker; Ralph Kinsler, dough guy, and Joe Rolling, prop- erty master; Allan S. Moritz, Joseph J. Oulahan, William Bein, James J. Grady, Harry Hartman and William Onie, canvasmen. Din- ner and entertainment details were handled by Joe Goetz and Joe Oula- han, forming a committee of two. Among out-of-town guests among the 100 present were W. R. Schaffer, Ir- vine, Ky., and Charles Behlan, Lexington, Ky. Russell Wilson, Mayor of Cincinnati and an associate member, was master of ceremonies. Drop Cleveland Game Cleveland, March 22. — Bank Night has been discontinued in the Lincoln, RKO house here, according to Nat Holt, division manager, in accordance with the policy of the circuit nation- ally. Ends Bank Night in N. O. New Orleans, March 22. — The National here has discontinued Bank Night voluntarily. Wall Street A-Mike Vogel older today. will be a year Paul Gallico flew to Detroit yes- terday via American Airlines. • Jack Goldhar, U. A. district man- ager, was in from Chicago yesterday. • Bernard Waldman has arrived from the coast to begin exploitation on "Vogues of 1938." • • Col. E. A. Schiller will return from Boca Grande, Fla., a week from today. • Tyrone Power arrives today from Chicago. He will be here for 10 days. • Robert Riskin is due this morning from the coast. Many Off on Board High Columbia 34 Columbia, pfd. ... 4V/s Consolidated 454 Consolidated, pfd.. 16 Eastman Kodak .160 Gen. T. Equip. ...2954 Loew's, Inc 7654 Loew's, pfd 106%? Paramount 23*4 Paramount 2 pfd.. 21 Pathe Film 854 RKO 854 20th Century -Fox. 37J4 20th Century, pfd.. 45 Universal, pfd. ...8554 Warner Bros 14*4 Warner, pfd 61 Low Close 33 3354 WA 4V/» 454 454 1554 1554 159 160 2854 2854 74 7454 106% 106% 22*4 23 20 54 2054 854 7*4 754 34 34 45 45 8554 8554 1354 WA 61 61 Net Change - 54 +1 —m -254 - 'A —154 - % -54 - 54 -154 -2*4 +154 - 54 - 54 Curb Drops Fractionally Net Low Close Change High 3 54 Grand National Sentry Safety Sonotone V/% Technicolor 2154 Trans -Lux 4J4 27A 2V» 54 54 VA VA 21 2154 Bonds Decline Slightly Net Low Close Change High Keith B. F. 6s '46 98 98 98 Loew's 6s '41 ex war . . . . 9854 9754 9754 Paramount B'way 3s '55 _ 74*4 7454 7454 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 10054 10054 10054 RKO 6s '41 pp.... 113 11254 11254 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 9554 95 95 (Quotations at close of Mar. 22) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, March 23, 1937 Toeplitz Assets to Frenke, Moliniere (Continued from page 1) made in Hollywood, the other in Eng- land. Frenke will leave for the coast shortly to begin work on "I'm Taking the Low Road" for Associated Brit- ish Film Distributors. He will select his cast in Hollywood. Grand National has closed a deal with Frenke for American distribution rights to "Woman Alone," starring Miss Sten. United Artists will release it in all countries but the United States. Benn W. Levy arrived on the same liner with his wife, Constance Cum- mings. Levy will direct "Young Madame Conti," in which Miss Cum- mings will star on Broadway. The play, which is being produced by Warners, will open at the Music Box on March 31. Asked if he and his wife had any film plans, Levy stated that there were no immediate signs of reentering the picture field. Other arrivals included Louis Bor- rell, English actor signed by M-G-M. He left for the coast yesterday. Oscar 'Hammerstein was a passenger as well as Charles Siepman, chairman of Brit- ish Broadcasting Corp. William K. Howard, the director, did not make the crossing. He was reported on the boat, but canceled. Danubia Takes 5 Films Danubia Pictures has completed a deal for five Hungarian features, "Romance at the Danube," "Sister Marie," "Storm Over Pusta," "Man of Gold" and "A Scotchman in Hun- gary." The first named will open at the Modern Playhouse March 24. Ship it GENERAL AIR EXPRESS 1. Merely phone Postal Telegraph. Pick-up is immediate ... by messenger or high speed truck . . . direct to the field. 2. The first plane out carries your shipment via the shortest, fast- est route coast to coast. It travels swiftly as any passenger. 3. At the destination, delivery is made at once. Overnight coast to coast. — and it's there Only General Air gives you shortest, fastest coast to coast. Phone Postal Telegraph, any TWA office ... or GENERAL AIR EXPRESS Division of TWA MOTION PICTURE DAILY5 HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW « Sing While You're Able' (Melody-Maurice Conn) Hollywood, March 22. — Music, comedy, a touch of drama and ro- mance are the elements of this average production. Pinky Tomlin is starred and Toby Wing, H. C Bradley, Monte Collins, Sam Wren, Michael Romanoff and Bert Roach are featured. The musical content for the story which Stanley Lowenstein and Charles Condon wrote and which Sherman Lowe and Condon adapted gives Tomlin three typical solos and a duet with Miss Wing. James Newell sings another. It's spot is the lesser half of dual bills. Bradley, a toy manufacturer, offers Tomlin, former hill billy singer, a radio job. A chance to be near Bradley's attractive daughter, Miss Wing, causes Tomlin to accept. Collins and Wren, competitors, deter- mined to wreck Bradley's business, kidnap and dump Tomlin into a river. Rescued, he loses his voice, but Miss Wing gets him a clerk's job. Her purpose is to use him as a buffer to discourage the advances of an unwelcome suitor. Romanoff gives a party at which all the guests are dressed as juveniles. Invited to attend, Tomlin recovers his voice, but also learns how the girl has been using him. He starts back to the mountains, but is trailed by Miss Wing for a romantic conclusion. Production Code Seal No. 2,892. Running time, 65 minutes. "G." Looking 9Em Over "The Golem" (Metropolis Pictures) Out of a legend recounting the strange deliverance of the Jews of Ghetto of Prague from the tyranny and oppression of a half-crazed ruler of the early 17th Century, has been woven a highly impressive, often stirring and noteworthy production. Produced by A-B Film of Paris and Prague in the latter city, the film is characterized by high quality in performances, photography and direc- tion, emerging certainly as one of the better things to come from abroad. Years ago a silent version of "The Golem" was offered. The legend tells of the Golem, a monster figure created by an earlier Jewish leader for the protection of the people of the Ghetto. At his death he told of the reawakening of the monster in time of greatest need, and imparted the secret to Rabbi Jacob, played with a fine sensitivity by Charles Dorat. In a difficult role, that of the almost insane ruler, who is at times more to be pitied than hated, Harry Baur offers another of his masterly performances, while the support, including Roger Karl as the chancellor, Germaine Aussey as the king's mistress and Jany Holt as Jacob's wife, lend added strength to the cast. In fear of the Golem, led on by the unscupulous chancellor, the king makes more miserable the lot of the Jews, until at last, with gallows on the horizon, soldiers' horses in the streets, Jacob and his wife in the dungeon, the Golem, stolen by the king's mistress for reasons of her own, is brought to animation, crashes through the riotous palace, crushes king and chancellor and brings freedom to the Ghetto's inhabitants. Numerous titles make for ready understanding for those lacking a knowledge of French. Julien Duvivier directed. Reviewed without production code seal. Running time, 88 min- utes. "A." "Bill Cracks Down" (Republic) While set among the spectacular activities of the steel industry, "Bill Cracks Down" is an inconsequential item, stereotyped, uninspired and barely diverting. There is feeble humor but it unfolds weakly. When Pierre Watkin, owner of the steel plant, dies, Grant Withers takes over. Watkin's playboy son, Ranny Weeks, returns from France, where he has pursued an art career, and soon gets in Withers' hair. By the terms of Watkin's will, Weeks must work for a year in the mill before coming into his inheritance. This irks him somewhat and he proceeds to steal Beatrice Roberts, Withers' sweetheart. But Withers can take it, and only after the appearance on the scene of Judith Allen and her mother, Georgia Caine, and the complications they create do things evolve in the proper manner. Withers hands the estate to Weeks, re- ceives a half interest, and romance heals the differences. There is little name appeal in the cast. Production Code Seal No. 3,103. Running time, 60 minutes. "G." K-A-0 and Keith 1936 Profits High (Continued from page 1) profits, and is equal to $19.23 per share on the 64,304 shares of seven per cent cumulative preferred stock outstanding. The 1935 K-A-0 net was equal to $6.26 per share on the same preferred stock then outstanding. Theatre admissions of K-A-0 for 1936 totaled $13,739,404.12, which compares with $12,998,229.03 for 1935. The consolidated statement of operat- ing deficit showed a deficit balance at Dec. 31, 1936, of $1,479,164.39, which compares with a deficit balance at Jan. 1, 1936, of $2,772,440.73, a decrease in the deficit of $1,293,276.34. The consolidated statement of capital surplus indicated a balance as of Dec. 31, 1936, of $8,152,076.03, compared with a Jan. 1, 1936 balance of $8,939,- 800.03. Dividends paid out of capital surplus during 1936 amounted to $787,724. _~ The B. F. Keith statement showed theatre admissions during 1936 at $9,380,140.24, which compares with $9,033,895.45 during 1935. According to the consolidated statement of oper- ating surplus, the balance at Dec. 31, 1936 was $648,311.96, comparing with a balance at Jan. 1, 1936, of $367j- 624.76. Added to the latter balance were the net profit for 1936, discount on bonds retired, less Federal tax thereon, and a liquidation dividend from an affiliated company, carried at a nominal amount. The total addition was $1,080,687.20, from which is de- ducted $800,000 in dividends paid, and resulting in the Dec. 31, 1936, balance. Studios Maintain Pace; 37 in Work (Continued from page 1) Universal. A total of 20 features were in preparation, and 53 were being edited. M-G-M, Radio, Hal Roach and Warners each accounted for one of the four shorts finished. Seventeen shorts were in the cutting room, eight at M-G-M, three each at Columbia and Radio, two at Roach and one at War- ners. The features started this week in- cluded: M-G-M's "Emperor's Candle- sticks," Paramount' s "A Night of Mystery," Republic's "Michael O'Hal- loran," "Cappy Ricks," "Gun Smoke" and "Rough Riding Rhythm," 20th Century-Fox's "One Mile from Heaven," Wanger's "Vogues of 1938" and Warner's "Lady Luck." Philip Armstrong Dies Seattle, March 22. — Philip Ever- hardt Armstrong, 44, for many years editor of the Seattle Post-Intelli- gencer's film and drama department, died suddenly here from a heart at- tack. His dismissal from the Post- Intelligencer last fall precipitated the Newspaper Guild strike that forced the paper to suspend publication for more than three months. "Earth" Gets $16,200 Approximately $16,200 was garn- ered by "The Good Earth" in its seventh week at the Astor on a two- a-day policy. Set "Earth" London Run London, March 13. — "The Good Earth" will be presented by M-G-M here in a special two-a-day run at the Palace, opening on March 24. RAIN SWEET HEARTACHE LOVE IS GOOD tor Anything That Ailt You LAST NIGHT I Dreamed of You if* 10 RADIO MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, March 23, 1937 New Shows On the Air "Speedshouf With Grace Moore at the helm, the refurbished Nash-Lafayette "Speed- show" got off to an auspicious start last Saturday. Miss Moore was at her vocal best for her air debut this season — and her best is well nigh unbeatable. The show adheres to a straight mus- ical formula in which the chief ele- ment is the quality of the singing. The orchestra, of Vincent Lopez, while thoroughly enjoyable, was mainly for background. The chief marring note was the bombastic and slightly ridiculous in- troduction of Miss Moore by Floyd Gibbons. Of course, it wasn't Floyd's fault — he read what was in the script — but his spiel of Miss Moore's past vocal glories, plus the information that she had passed up a command performance in England to accept a berth on the program, would have been better left unsaid. Once Miss Moore began to sing, however, the program zoomed upward and remained in the higher entertain- ment brackets for the balance of the stanza. The series is presented Saturdays at 9 P. M., E.S.T., on CBS. Banner Women's Unit To Award Six Radio Prizes "Young America Speaks" Kansas City, March 22. — "Young America Speaks," a new kind of man-on-the-street broadcast that in- terviews children rather than adults, is neither so smooth as its prototype, nor so dull. The humor is spon- taneous, the children more entertain- ing, and the program has greater variety. On KMBC at 4:45-5:00 P. M., C.S.T., Monday through Friday, the show has just been renewed by Curtiss Candy Co., Chicago, for a second 13 weeks to July 9, and it looks strong enough to spread to other stations. Two staff announcers, Jack Starr and Neal Keehn, park a short wave car near a school or playground. Chil- dren give their names and are asked questions likely to interest them. The youngsters do surprisingly well for impromptu work, and are much more natural than grownups in the same spot. Their sincerity often produces some startling and amusing answers. "A Night at the Inn" ' Pittsburgh, March 22. — For the campaign in behalf of Old Shay Ale, the Victor Brewing Co. seems to have made a good choice in this show. It is the idea of Ed Harvey, program manager of WCAE. It goes out once a week for half an hour with music, singing and drama. It dramatizes some incident in the history of a famous inn. The first one was consistently interesting, at the same time managing to capture the atmosphere an ale manufacturer would naturally try to get. The or- chestra, under the direction of Earl Truxell, is well balanced and the work of the Tavern male quartet stood out. The dramatization itself was nicely handled by the WCAE dramatic staff and the show, while paced a little too slowly, shows much promise. The Women's National Radio Com- mittee, an organization representing 15,000,000 club women throughout America, will confer awards for the year's six most popular programs at a luncheon at the St. Regis Hotel, New York, March 31. The awards will be broadcast over the combined NBC Blue, Red, CBS and Mutual networks, from 1 :30 to 2 P. M E. S. T. The accolades will be conferred on the basis of a popularity poll voted by committees representing 27 nation- al groups of federated women's clubs. The complete returns are not yet in the hands of the radio committee. The voting is for the best programs in the following divisions : music, drama, variety, news, adult education, and children's programs. Radio Executives to Attend Special guests for the occasion of the luncheon and the broadcast will be William S . Paley, president of CBS; Alfred McCosker, president of Mutual, and a representative of NBC. Lenox R. Lohr, who had accepted an invitation to be on hand, will be un- able to attend, due to a business trip. Anning S. Prall, chairman of the F. C. C, will preside at the broad- cast and luncheon and will make the awards. George Denney, conductor of the "Town Hall of the Air" broad- casts, will be a speaker. Last year the Women's National Radio Committee selected four award winners. They were: "America's Town Meeting of the Air," best edu- cational program; Rudy Vallee's pro- gram as radio's best non-musical of- fering ; "Wilderness Road" as the best children's program; and the Cities Service concerts as the best light mu- sical offering. Mme. Yolanda Mero-Irion is the founder and advisory chairman of the Women's National Radio Committee. The awards will be prcs-ented not to the artists participating in the pro- grams, but to the comercisl sponsors. In the event a sustaining program is selected for an award, the honor will be conferred on the individual sta- tion. "Step Forward" "I want to congratulate you on the inauguration of radio coverage in your paper. The two industries, motion pictures and radio, are so closely allied in the enter- tainment field, it is fitting that they be combined in one news service. Congratula- tions on this step forward" — Emanuel Cohen, president, Major Pictures Corp. Dyke Named Eastern NBC Sales Manager Kenneth R. Dyke, formerly general advertising manager of Colgate-Palm olive-Peet, will become eastern divi sion sales manager of NBC April 1, succeeding John H. Bachen, who is to become assistant to NBC vice- president in charges of sales, Roy Witmer on the above date. Dyke resigned his post at Colgate- Palmolive-Peet last July, and has just returned to America after spending the past six months in the Far East. Before joining the soap company he was vice-president in charge of sales promotion for the Johns-Manville Corp. Formerly Association Executive At the time of his resignation from Colgate-Palmolive-Peet, Dyke was chairman of the board of the Assn. of National Advertisers and a director of the Advertising Federation of America. With the appointment of Dyke, NBC in all likelihood will make a special drive to secure a part of the Colgate-Palmolive-Peet radio busi- ness. At one time NBC placed all this trade. At present CBS monop- olizes it, with four radio programs. WROK Starts New Plant Rockford, March 22.— WROK's new |14,000 RCA transmitter was placed in operation the past weekend, marking the station's increase of power from 500 watts day and night to 1,000 watts day and 500 watts night. In effect, the new transmitter and increase in power will triple the station's strength, it is claimed. Walter Koessler has been named sales manager for WROK. He comes to the station from Janesville, Wis., where he filled a similar position with WCLO. "Don Winslow" Starts March 29 "Don Winslow of the Navy," a new radio series based on the newspaper cartoon strip of that name, will be heard daily except Saturday and Sun- day at 5:15 P.M., E.S.T., over the NBC-Red network, beginning March 29. Renew Pressure for Film-Radio Probes (Continued from page 1) the sponsor of the resolution calling for an investigation of the financing, organization and trade practices of the film industry by the House Judiciary Committee. The proposal for the in- vestigation of the radio industry, which has also been referred to the Rules Committee, was introduced by Rep- resentative William P. Connery of Massachusetts. Chairman John J. O'Connor of the Rules Committee, said today there was "a good chance" that the inquiry would be authorized. WIP Adds National Accounts Philadelphia, March 22— WIP has added five new national accounts. Chrysler Motor Corp. has taken daily spot announcements for an indefinite period, placed by the Anderson Ad- vertising Co., Detroit ; E. P. Reed Co., for Matrix shoes, is using weekly 15- minute transcriptions, set for 10 weeks by Geyer, Cornell & Newell, New York; Spatola Importing Co., through Adrian Bauer Advertising Agency, Inc., Philadelphia, for Mount Royal Whiskey, three spot announce- ments weekly, contract indefinite; Tappins, Inc., for refrigerators, two times signals daily on an indefinite contract, Schillin Advertising Corp., New York, and Garden Nursery, Osage, la., Northwestern Radio Ad- vertising Corp., three five-minute periods weekly, contract indefinite. 4 Radio Personals ► U*RANK MASON, NBC vice-presi- * dent, took off for the west coast via American Airlines yesterday. . . . John Tucker Battle, radio scripter now in the city contracting agencies after a winter spent in Florida. . . . Pat O'Brien has been set as the fea- tured guest on the Camel program March 30. . . . E. J. Rosenberg, Trans- american vice-president, in town from California for a brief business stay. . . . Joe Jacobs, American represen- tative for Max Schmeling, conferred with William S. Paley yesterday re- garding radio rights for the Schmel- ing-Braddock fight in Berlin, in the event it materializes. . . . Tiny Ruff- ner leaves for Hollywood following Thursday's "Showboat" offering to take up his new duties for Ruthrauff and Ryan. . . . + Paul Whiteman will have a Mutual wire when he succeeds Clyde Lucas at the Drake Hotel in Chicago, begin- ning April 9. . . . William Wright has been signed for two years by the CBS artists' bureau. . . . Mrs. Martin John- son, widow of the explorer, will be a guest on the "Magazine on the Air" March 29. . . . The Bill Tilden-Fred Perry tennis match tomorrow night on WHN will be suponsored by Adam Hats. ... + John Reed King has been booked as announcer for the forthcoming Babe Ruth series. . . . Jessica Dragonette is offering a $500 award to listeners for the best designs submitted for a gown. . . . Buddy Rogers will sail from London for New York March 26 to return to the "Twin Stars" pro- gram. Buddy's first broadcast will be on April 4. . . . Clyde Pangborn, 'round the world flyer, will be to- night's guest on the "Thrill of the Week." . . . Kay Chase, author of the network serials, "Painted Dreams" and "Romance of Helen Trent," left yesterday for Florida and the Carib- bean. . . . Kirsten Flagstad will be the soloist in the General Motors Con- cert March 28. The concerts, inci- dentally, move to the NBC-Blue net- work and a new time the following week. . . . Bunnell in New KLO Post Ogden, March 22.— Merrill Bun- nell, formerly promotion manager, has been named advertising manager of KLO, succeeding L. F. Haller who resigned to reenter the newspaper field. Heintz Signs Fred Edwards Cincinnati, March 22.— Fred Ed- wards, WKRC news commentator, has been signed by the Heintz Motor Car Co., local De Soto distributors. He will be on the air at 10:45 every night except Thursday. Renew Camel Series _ The Camel-sponsored cigarette se- ries starring Jack Oakie has been re- newed for an additional 13 week per- iod on CBS, effective March 30. Prouty Joins Transamerica Norman Prouty, formerly in charge of radio sales for the E. Katz ad- vertising agency, yesterday began his new. duties as account executive for Transamerica. MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, March 23, 1937 UP Out Front In Supplying News for Air (Continued from page 1) increasing the station's news dissem- inating efficiency. UP subscribers are fed over separate leased wires, with the news emanating from three main trunk lines located in New York, Chicago and San Fran- cisco. A separate, radio-trained news staff of 50 reporters prepares the news. The rate for the news service is 25 per cent of the station's time charge, with a minimum guarantee to UP each week amounting to the station's top night hour rate. The news is re- leased daily for 18-hour periods. As part of the general service and at no extra cost, UP supplies Hollywood, fashions, foreign, and Washington features. Several of the competing news ser- vices, notably INS and Transradio, are now short-waving news readings which are available to small stations desiring to pick them up at a cheap rate. UP experimented with a similar system a few months ago, but dis- carded it as impractical. NBC-CBS Heavy Users Heaviest users of the UP service are CBS and NBC. These chains buy the service for all their owned and operated stations and, in the main, sell it commercially. As an example, WEAF and WJZ each broadcast four five-minute UP news readings a day, all of which are sponsored by Stand- ard Oil for Esso gasoline. The time charges alone for the eight five-minute periods aggregate approximately $1,200 a day, of which 25 per cent belongs to UP. Exactly how much additionally Esso pays for the spon- sorship is not known. Thus, on a weekly basis for WEAF and WJZ alone UP receives a minimum pay- ment of $1,800 for each six-day period. Additional NBC owned and operated stations which sell UP news to Esso, Penn Tobacco, Richfield Oil and other sponsors are WBZ, WRC, WBZA, WMAC, KDKA, WTAM, WENR, WMAQ, WGY, and the Pacific coast Red network stations. Other chain and topflight independ- ent stations which purchase and sell commercially the UP news are WXYZ, WCCO, KMOX, WOW, WGR, WBT, KDKA, KSTP, WRVA, KJR, WTMJ. WLW, KNX, KFI, WMAQ, WBBM, WHO, KRNT, WWL, WBAL, WEZI, WBZ, WHAS. UP estimates it has increased its operating expenses by $15,000 a month just for the special leased wires to the stations. The profits accruing to the organization since it gave up its processed service to treat radio as a separate unit apart from newspapers has proved, however, that the under- taking was a wise one. WLW-WHN May Get Vitalis The first commercial program to be fed over the regional network lines of the newly formed WLW-WHN combine appears likely to be an offer- ing sponsored by the Vitalis Corp. through Pedlar and Ryan. A pro- gram for Vitalis is now being lined up. Error of NBC -AT&T Cuts Off James Cox Through a mixup in signals NBC and A. T. & T. last night accidentally cut off from the air the voice of James M. Cox, former Governor of Ohio. Cox, from Miami, had been scheduled to introduce former Supreme Court Justice John H. Clarke, speak- ing from San Diego on the ques- tion of the legality of President Roose- velt's proposed Supreme Court changes. As a result of the accidental cut-off, NBC officially apologized by broad- casting a bulletin acknowledging their error. Iowa Web Scores on Texas Blast Report Shenandoah, la., March 22. — While the nation waited for further news of the New London, Tex., dis- aster Thursday night and networks tried unsuccessfully to get lines in, Iowa Network stations, KSO and WMT and KMA, had a complete eye- witness account direct from the scene of the wrecked schoolhouse. Responsible for the entry to the explosion area and the quarter-hour broadcast on the three stations was Robert Kaufman, program director of KMA. He telephoned to KOCA, Kil- gore, Tex., asking that a man be sent to the wrecked schoolhouse to give a telephone account of the dis- aster, work of the rescuers and new developments in the tragedy. It was arranged that the KOCA announcer give his long distance telephone ac- count at 9:15. It was plugged into the KMA control board and was the first graphic story to come from the scene by radio. Swarthout Program To Go on NBC-Blue Beginning April 4, the Gladys Swarthout program, currently heard from 10:30 to 11 P. M., E.S.T. on the NBC-Red network, will switch to a Sunday period on the Blue, from 10 to 10 :30 P. M. National Ice Ad- vertising, Inc., sponsors. Although confirmation is lacking, it is believed that the American Tobac- co Co., for its "Hit Parade" series, will purchase half of the Red network time which the Swarthout series is vacating. It is known that the Amer- ican Tobacco Co. some time ago de- sired to increase by 15 minutes its present Wednesday 10 to 10 :30 P. M. Red network niche, but the time was not then available. The CBS "Hit Parade" program was recently ex- tended from a half-hour to a three- quarter hour period. A. L. Beghtol Dead Lincoln, March 22. — A. L. Begh- tol, 70, president of the KFAB Broad- casting Co. from 1930 until 1936, died at his home here. He retired in favor of Frank Throop when Lincoln news- papers purchased a half interest in the station and formed the Central Broadcasting Co. with KFOR of Lin- coln and KOIL of Omaha as other units. Rambeau Opens New Office William G. Rambeau, station repre- sentatives, will open a Detroit office this week in the General Motors Bldg. George W. Diefenderfer of the Chi- cago sales staff will be in charge. Para. Circuit To Tip Scales As Costs Rise (Continued from page 1) Beatty of the Butterfield Circuit, Michigan, the problem of how to meet increased operating overhead was one of the most significant. The consensus of expressed opinion was that price hikes represented the only way out, although there was some skepticism voiced as to whether or not the public will be receptive. It was agreed there is no alterna- tive. It was learned today that, when Adolph Zukor told the M. P. T. O. A. convention that exhibitors must pre- pare to pay more for film either by way of extended runs or more pre- ferred playing time, or through up- pages in admission if they would as- sure themselves of a sustained flow of high quality product, he was mere- ly repeating what he had told his own associates in Paramount. He in- formed them negative costs were high- er and might be expected to go even higher. Many Factors Considered The partners, it is understood, gave consideration to the rising curve in theatre construction and reconstruc- tion costs, to the increased cost of liv- ing and the necessity for wage in- creases for employes in the light of this. They were informed by a man who was described as "of high re- pute, conservatism and utter reliability" that union labor scales may be ex- pected to increase 25 per cent this year and were urged by this individ- ual to make the longest term deals possible while the wage scales were at present levels. The general sentiment of those who attended the meetings and of whom many are still here for a few days' holiday is that the labor eventuality was one which cannot be licked and that consequently it might be taken in as good grace as can be mustered. In the light of this combination of circumstances, present and future, the inevitable conclusion, reluctantly ar- rived at by some, is that the costs will have to be passed on to the public in increased prices. While opinion on the outcome is mixed, the domi- nant slant appears to be a belief the public will meet the added tariff. One Paramount partner, whose reputation as a showman is national, put it this way: Asks 3 to 5-Cent Jump "We can do it. My figures show that the national admission average across the nation is still 35 cents. Many theatre men have hesitated to jump prices on the theory the Govern- ment will get most of such increases in taxes. I believe, however, that we can arrange the adjustment on a basis that will make the increase, all kept by us, from three to five cents. You would be surprised to learn what a startling difference this would make. As a matter of fact, I believe it would be sufficient." Paramount's step, obviously, will have a vital bearing on the policy of the other national circuits. It is very likely Paramount partners will seek to swing Loew, RKO, Warner and National Theatres into line in situa- 1 1 20-Fox Sets Product Deal With National (Continued from pane 1) assistant, are still on the coast iron- ing out individual situations on the deal. Details for Milwaukee and Kansas City will be completed here shortly when Harold J. Fitzgerald and Elmer C. Rhoden arrive from their headquarters in the field. Approximately 420 theatres now be- ing operated by National are included in the agreement. The circuit has about 75 additional houses which are closed. Last yearj National signed a two- year deal with Paramount and a three- year franchise with Loew's. In all probability, Warners will be the next product deal to be set. Gradwell L. Sears, vice-president and general sales manager, is now on the coast confer- ing with Jack L. Warner on data for the 60 features planned next season. Talks on this deal are expected to get under way as soon as Sears re- turns from the coast. Powers and Hossfeld are scheduled to return from Los Angeles the latter part of the week. By that time they will have the contracts ready for sig- natures. No Plan Is Decided On Sale Tax Appeal (Continued from page 1) certiorari from the U. S. Supreme Court yesterday's meeting also dis- cussed a recommendation for allocat- ing the bulk of the local distributor's revenue to the non-taxable copyright licensing privilege and a minor portion to the film service itself, to which the two per cent sales tax would apply. Considerable objection to this proposal was voiced, however, and no decision was made, as a result. Short to Test Talent Hollywood, March 22. — Ted Les- ser, head of Paramount's talent de- partment, and Herbert Moulton, di- rector, are preparing the script for a two-reel short so written as to provide individual parts for 15 candidates whose portrayals in the finished short will substitute for the usual screen tests. tions where any one or more of the remaining chains operate. As reported in Motion Picture Daily yesterday, other national cir- cuits expect to adjust their policies to playing a greater number of more costly productions next season, but have not yet fashioned definite plans. Admission increases" are regarded as inevitable for some situations, as is the curtailing of cash awards and giveaways. Loew's and RKO have al- ready taken action on the latter and Skouras (National Theatres) is ex- perimenting with single features. De- cisions on increasing admissions, how- ever, are not expected to be made be- fore mid-summer and then will be based upon local conditions and in- dividual situations, it was said. High- er film costs and increases in other operating overhead next season are anticipated generally. THE K and the CHORUS G RL" Starring the Idol of the Continent— "1937's Most Promising Addition to the American Screen"* FERNAND GRAVET with JOAN BLONDELL EDWARD EVERETT HORTON Alan Mowbray • Mary Nash • Jane Wyman • Kenny Baker Luis Alberni * Story by Groucho Marx and Norman Krasna Songs by Werner R. Heymann and Ted Koehler A MERVYN LEROY PRODUCTION Praised to the Skies by Every Paper in the Industry Advertised to the Skies by WARNER BROS. On Billboards In 1200 cities, providing thirty solid days of the biggest 24-sheet cover- age known to the industry! In The Papers With a coast-to-coast day- and-date drive that tops Warners' most wide-spread space schedules of the past! In Magazines With full-page announce- ments timed for a tie-in with this greatest all-angle promotion ever offered! jft 4.0 s Angeles Examiner Alert. Intelligent to theNVKqtion Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY First in Film and VOL. 41. NO. 69 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1937 TEN CENTS Loew's-Para. Set for Talk On Franchise Expect Negotiations to Start in April Negotiations are expected to get under way the middle of April on a new Paramount product franchise deal with Loew's, the pact to supplant the current 10-year deal which expires this season. Paramount and Loew executives are awaiting the return from Hollywood of Nicholas M. Schenck, who is due about April 5. Although Paramount last year sold numerous two-year franchises, sales executives have not yet decided on the term of the Loew contract. It may be for four or five years, con- tingent on how distribution heads feel about Paramount's franchise falling due either simultaneously, ahead or after the RKO circuit term deals with Warners and 20th Century-Fox. RKO's franchise with 20th Cen- tury-Fox expires Aug. 31, 1941 ; the Warner product deal on Aug. 31, 1939. In the event a five-year ar- rangement is considered, it will end {Continued on page 9) Columbia to Have 48 Features Next Year Columbia will announce a program of 48 features, including 16 westerns next season, according to company ex- ecutives. The number of two-reel short subjects will probably be main- tained, but indications point to a de- crease in the lineup of single reelers. Jack Cohn and Abe Montague are expected to leave for the coast in 10 days to confer with Harry Cohn on convention and new production plans. While most of the other companies are heading for coast sales sessions, Columbia will not hold its annual meetings there. N. 0. "Theodora" Ban Granted to Affiliated New Orleans, March 23. — Affili ated Theatres this afternoon was granted a temporary restraining order against Columbia prohibiting it from releasing "Theodora Goes Wild" to opposition houses in New Orleans as well as to theatres outside the city in sections where Affiliated is repre- sented. Affiliated's action is the third suit against Columbia within a week on the same subject. The Affiliated book- ing combine is working from the Saenger headquarters. No hearing date has been set. Maxwell Sues Ostrers, Charges Breach of M.&B.Sale Contract By BRUCE ALLAN London, March 23. — John Maxwell, head of Associated British Pictures, today filed suit against the Ostrer brothers, alleging breach of agreement and fraudulent misrepresentation in the sale to him by the Ostrers of the latters' non-voting shares of Metrop- olis & Bradford Trust, holding company which controls 57 per cent of Gaumont British. Maxwell is asking a refund of the money paid for the securities and damages. The action is seen here as another step in the open fight between Maxwell and the Ostrers for control of G. B. Nate Manheim Quits As "U" Foreign Head Will Announce His Plans After a Vacation Group to Work Up Equipment Show Is Urged By RED KANN Miami, March 23.— A national equipment council to work with the M. P. T. O. A. has been proposed to Ed Kuykendall, president of the asso- ciation, and is understood to have been received by him with willing- ears. The idea would not commit M. P. T. O. A. nationally or otherwise to the purchase of the product of the con- tributing manufacturers, but would bring into being at each annual con- vention an accessory exhibit far be- yond the .size of the 21 -booth display to which 'the accommodations at the Miami Biltmore convention last week were limited. It is felt such a move would meet the convention costs and even return a profit which might be turned over to the association treasury or con- verted into additional convention en- tertainment. Those manufacturers who {Continued on page 9) 48,200 Delawareans Plead Sunday Films Dover, Del., March 23. — Petitions advocating passage of Delaware's bill permitting film shows after 2 P. M. on Sundays, and signed by 48,200 citi- zens of the state, were presented be- fore the Senate and House here today. Of the signers, 38,522 were from Wil- (Contimted on page 9) ITOA to Fight New Albany Matron Bill The legislative committee of the I. T. O. A., composed of Bernard Barr and George Rudnick, will go to Al- bany to lead the fight against the Rossi bill, when hearings are called on {Continued on page 9) RenewRequest For Air Probe By Congress Washington, March 23. — Renewed appeals for investigation of the broad- casting situation were heard today by the House Rules Committee consider- ing the Connery resolution for a spe- cial committee to examine alleged monopolies, political favoritism and law violations in the industry. Reiterating charges made last week by Representative Connery, Democrat, Additional developments in radio on pages 12 and 13. Congressman Wigglesworth, Republi- can, also of Massachusetts, held that the F.C.C. is accountable for the pres- ent situation. "It appears today that we are con- fronted by a virtual monopoly in the hands of the three big broadcasting companies of the nation," he told the committee, and added, "It also ap- pears in the absence of any further {Continued on page 13 J RKO Signs First Big Deal for New Season RKO closed its first important product deal for the new season yes- terday with the signing of a three- year franchise with the Schine cir- cuit. Ed McEvoy, eastern division sales head for the distributor, and George Lynch, booker and buyer for {Continued on page 13) B'way Spurt Shown By Revenue Bureau Washington, March 23. — A sharp upturn in theatre attendance in the Broadway sector was reported today by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, which stated that total admission tax {Continued on page 13) N. L. Manheim, Universal Pictures foreign manager, who has been asso- ciated with that company for the past 18 years, resigned yesterday, effec- tive on the appointment of a succes- sor. Manheim, one of the industry's best known foreign managers, said that he planned to leave as soon as possible for a vacation in the south and could not discuss his future plans until after his return. Inasmuch as the resigna- tion was accepted by the company only yesterday, no successor to Manheim has been named yet. Manheim was associated with the Shuberts in legitimate production for five years prior to joining Universal in 1919 as a salesman. Subsequently, he became assistant general sales man- ager for the company, short subject manager and general service mana- ger. He was appointed general for- eign manager 14 years ago and has continued in that post since. Commenting on the resignation, R. H. Cochrane, Universal president, said, "I am sorry to see Nate go. He has always been one of our standbys and one of the old guard. I have nothing but admiration for the way he handled his duties and I am going to miss him, not only as an associate but as a friend. I know he will be successful in his new undertaking. My best wishes go with him." Resume Testimony On G.B. Dividend London, March 23. — The applica- tion of C. L. Nordon, attorney repre- senting ordinary shareholders of Gau- mont British, who seek an injunction restraining the directorate from pay- ing a dividend as voted on the prefer- ence shares, resumed today with the (Continued on page 8) Levine Will Quit at Republic on April 3 Hollywood, March 23. — Nat Levine will finish up his duties at Republic on April 3. By that time he will have "Hit Parade," his last for the com- pany, out of the cutting room. Herbert J. Yates is due from New York in two weeks, following which a successor to Levine will be ap- pointed. MOTION PICTURE DAILY 2 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Resristered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 March 24, 1937 No. 69 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published dally except Sunday and ^holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at .Rockefeller Center. New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- cations: MOTION PICTURE HERALD. BETTER THEATRES, TEATRO AX, D1A, INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building, Vine and Yucca Sts. ; Boone Mancall. Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave.. C. B. O'Neill, Manager. WASHINGTON: Albee Building, Bertram F. Linz, Representative. AMSTERDAM: Zulder Amstellaan 5: Philip de Schaap, Representative. BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest II; Endre Hevesi. Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientos 2495; N. Bruskl. Representative. HELSINKI: Fredriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszio, Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square, W. 1; Bruce Allan. Representative. Cable address, Quigpubco. Lon- don. MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins St. ; Cliff Holt, Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart, Representative. MONTEVIDEO: P. O. Box 664; Paul Bodo, Rep- resentative. MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern, Rep- resentative. PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre, Rep- PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1; Harry Knopf, Representative. RIO DE JANEIRO : Caixa Postal 3358: A. Weiss- man, Representative. ROME: Viale Gorizia; Vittorio Malpassuti, Rep- resentative. SHANGHAI: Rooms 38-41. Capital Theatre Build- ing, 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler. Rep- resentative. STOCKHOLM: Kungsgatan 36; Ragriar Allberg. Representative. TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken; H. Tominaga, Representative. VIENNA: Nuestiftgasse. 55; Vienna VII; Hans Lorant, Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Sillei. Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Aylesworth's Posts Are Going to Spitz Leo Spitz, RKO president, is be- ing elected to the chairmanship of the boards of the company's various sub- sidiaries where the post was left va- cant by the resignation of M. H. Aylesworth, the company stated yes- terday. The post of chairman of the board of RKO probably will not be filled prior to completion of the par- ent company's reorganization, it was stated. Among the subsidiaries of which Spitz is president and either has or will become chairman, as well, are : RKO Radio Pictures, K-A-O, RKO Service Corp., RKO Midwest Corp., RKO Pathe News, B. F. Keith Corp, RKO Proctor Corp. and RKO Union Hill. Aid Kennedy Nomination Washington, March 23. — The Sen- ate Commerce Committee today re- ported favorably on a resolution de- signed to assure confirmation of Jo- seph P. Kennedy's nomination as a member of the Maritime Commission. The resolution would make the con- firmation possible without forcing Kennedy to dispose of his stock in shipbuilding concerns. 20th-Fox Film Deal Queried in Commons London, March 23. — Robert Gibson questioned the Board of Trade in the House of Commons today relative to what action was contemplated in the situation under which the Greenock circuit in Scotland allegedly was re- fused 20th Century-Fox features un- less it used Fox Movietone News in place of British newsreels. Walter Runciman, president of the Board of Trade, replied that he had no information on the matter, but de- clared that such action would be an instance of block booking, which was the subject of a specific recommenda- tion by the Moyne Committee in its study of possible revision of the Films Act. Reveal Price for Ufa Berlin, March 23. — It is reported that the new owners of Ufa paid 29,000,000 marks for all the company's stock. The total outstanding shares have a par of 45,000,000 marks and are quoted at 74 on the Boerse. De- spite the lack of official confirmation, it is considered certain that the Gov- ernment has purchased control of the company. Close for U. A. Reissue Loew's Metropolitan Circuit has booked "Transatlantic Merry-Go- Round," Reliance film released by United Artists. The deal was closed by Harry Gold for U. A. and Charles C. Moskowitz for Loew's. Deals al- ready have been set with Interstate, Sparks, Comerford, Mort Shea, Robb & Rowley, Sanger and Wilby and Kincey. Brandt Acquires House Harry Brandt, head of the Brandt circuit, has acquired the Manhattan, in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. It will be named the Strand. The corporation name is Rayrita Theatre Corp, list- ing officers as David Weinstock, president ; Brandt, vice-president ; Ben Weinstock, secretary, and Emanuel Hertzig, treasurer. Mayor at Zukor Dinner Mayor F. H. LaGuardia has ac- cepted an invitation to attend the Adolph Zukor testimonial dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria Monday night. It is possible Postmaster General Farley will attend, if he returns from Texas in time. Poll the Pickets Ben Serkowitch, publicity and advertising head for the Capitol, says someone took a poll of the pickets in front of the theatre on their reaction to "Maytime." The result was unanimous approval, he states. Hepburn Stage Take Is Put at $300,000 RKO has accumulated figures on the grosses obtained in the stage en- gagements of "Jane Eyre," starring Katharine Hepburn, in an effort to de- termine the value of screen back- ground as a factor in building the box- office power of a player in a legitimate production. RKO reports that Theatre Guild figures indicate the play has drawn "close to $260,000" in 15 cities and is headed for $27,000 in Washington this week. An estimated total .gross of more than $300,000 for 14 weeks in 17 cities is reported by RKO. J. B. Clinton Dead Jacksonville, Fla, March 23. — James Brownlee Clinton, 62, owner of a theatre circuit in Duluth, Minn, died today of a heart attack at Lake Worth. Clinton formerly was president of the Allied Theatre Owners of Minnesota. His widow survives. The body will be returned to Duluth. Charles Ridgway Dies Kansas City, March 23. — Charles Howard Ridgway, father-in-law of George S. Baker of the Electric, Kansas City, Kan, is dead here at the age of 71. "Barriers" Display Set The lobby of the Criterion has been turned into a replica of the Windsor Station, Montreal, by G. B, for the opening of "Silent Barriers" there to- morrow night. A miniature locomo- tive which responds to the commands of anyone speaking into the attached phone has been made available by General Electric. Pathe in SEC Request Washington, March 23. — Pathe Film Corp. has applied to the S. E. C. for permission to register on the New York Stock Exchange 625,310 shares of $1 par value common stock, of which 585,095 shares have been issued. Wednesday, March 24, 1937 Fox Counsel to Ask Sentry Suit Delay Counsel for William Fox will ap- pear before Justice Salvatore A. Cot- til lo in N. Y. Supreme Court today and ask for an indefinite adjourn- ment of the prosecution of a $300,000 suit brought against Fox and the Fox Film Corp. by J. E. Cohen, president of the Sentry Safety Control Corp. The court will be advised that Fox is now being examined by a referee in Atlantic City in connection with his bankruptcy proceedings which were in- stituted in the U. S. District Court in New Jersey last May. The at- torney for Fox will point out that the examination in Atlantic City will continue for several months and that it will be impossible for him to ap- pear at the trial of the Cohen action or prepare a defense until these exam- inations are ended. The court will also be asked to defer prosecution of the suit until 12 months after the ad- judication of the bankruptcy proceed- ings. Cohen's suit is based on an agree- ment made in Dec. 1927, whereby Fox allegedly obtained 22,500 shares of Sentry stock on the strength of an agreement to install Sentry devices on projectors in all theatres operated or controlled by the defendants. These devices, it is alleged, were installed on but 62 machines for a weekly rental of $2.50 each. Technicolor-Tricolor Case Rests Los Angeles, March 23. — Techni- color and Tricolor, principals in the suit in which the latter charges the former with infringement of a camera patent, have been given sixty days in which to file briefs in support of their testimony and oral arguments. The final ruling of Judge James is not ex- pected for 10 weeks or 90 days. Meanwhile, Judge James has con- tinued his order restraining Tricolor from mailing to exhibitors letters threatening legal action in the event that Tricolor's case is upheld. Producer Sues Universal Los Angeles, March 23. — Sam Van Ronkel, producer, today filed suit in Superior Court against Universal for $13,000. He alleged that he was employed to make 13 shorts at $1,000 each but that Universal failed to live up to the agreement. Studios File Debtors Petition Los Angeles, March 23. — Holly- wood Studios has filed a debtor's petition under the Bankruptcy Act. It cites as its principal asset its prop- erty lease valued at $100,000. Machinists - Studio Row Report to D. C. Hollywood, March 23. — A com- plete report of the controversy be- tween the machinists' union and seven Hollywood studios on the question of collective bargaining has been for- warded to Washington by Towne Nylander, director of the National Labor Board. The machinists demand an election under board auspices to decide the question. Six other A. F. L. unions are involved and the board feels that each union should treat the subject individually. Studios affected are Roach, War- ners, Universal, United Artists, Col- umbia, Paramount and United Re- search. Cheyenne Tries 6-Film Bill Cheyenne, Wyo., March 23. — Something new under the exhibition sun was tried out recently at the Princess, which booked six features on one program for three days. Shorts also were sand- wiched between features. Advertising the regular admission price of 10 and 25 cents, the exhibitor also gave the exact time when each picture was shown on the different days. No picture was shown the same time at any of the three days. Only one showing was given a feature on each of the three days and patrons were notified in advance that anyone leaving the theatre for any reason would be required to purchase another ticket to return. The six features were: "Silly Billies," "The General Died at Dawn," "Devil's Squadron," "Private Number," "Daniel Boone" and "Trail of the Lonesome Pine." Shows were started daily at 1:30 P. M. No meals were provided for patrons, if any, who sat through all six features and shorts on one day. The event was advertised as "Wholesale Days." VICTOR FLEAMNfe'S PRODUCTION OF RUDYARD KIPLING'S MASTERPIECE ' CAPTAINS A GREAT MOMENT HAS COME IN THE HISTORY OF THE SCREEN! The power and poignancy of Rudyard Kipling's stirring novel have been so realistically cap- tured by the magic of the M-G-M cameras that this picture is destined for a fame exceeding that of any entertainment in your memory. Freddie BARTHOLOMEW Lione| BARRYMORE • • Spencer TRACY Melvyn DOUGLAS A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture • Directed by Victor Fleming • Produced by Louis D. Lighten Wednesday, March 24, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Missouri Game Case Hearing Date Is Set Kansas City, March 23. — The Bank Night case of Missouri vs. R. W. McEwan has been set for hear- ing before the state Supreme Court May 5. The case was taken to the high tribunal last year after Judge Marion C. Waltner in Circuit Court here had held no consideration was in- volved in the promotion, and that, therefore, it did not violate Missouri's anti-lottery laws. The prosecutor of Jackson County filed the appeal. McEwan, who is the Missouri- Kansas distributor for Bank Night, was arrested in connection with the sale of the giveaway to the Ashland. Business Bureau Attacks B.N. Boston, March 23. — The Boston Better Business Bureau has issued a sharply worded denunciation of Bank Night, declaring, "Get gambling out of business." The article points out that the use of such expedients is fraught with danger to good will and causes disgruntled customers. "The few who win do not com- plain," the article continues, "but among the others are good customers but poor losers. . . . From the view- point of the bureau, it is regrettable that business men should be so short- sighted as to destroy public good will by gambling with it." No Games in Portland Portland, Ore., March 23.— Lead- ing exhibitors in Portland use no games in their theatres, while in the suburban houses Bank Night is em- ployed. In the Portland area gen- erally, outside of the city and suburbs, Bank Night is used, but to a less extent than last year. First Runs Use No Games Cleveland, March 23. — All five lo- cal first run theatres, two Loew houses, one RKO and one Warner are entirely free of giveaways or the use of double bills. The same is true of the affiliated Class A subsequent runs, although about 50 houses in the Greater Cleveland area are using var- ious types of games. Wall Street K.-A.-O. Leads Gains on Board Net - y* + % - 54 High Low Close 3354 33 33 454 Consolidated, pfd. 1554 15/2 1554 Eastman-Kodak. . 16254 160 160 Gen. T. Equip. . 29 29 29 K.-A.-O., pfd. ... 110 110 110 7654 75 7654 Paramount 235,6 227^ 23% Paramount 2 pfd. 2VA 2QVs 8/s 21% Pathe Film 8}4 RKO m 7*4 8% 20th Century-Fox. 37 35% 36% 20th Century, pfd. 4554 4554 4554 Warner Bros. . . . 14/8 13% 14% + % +4 +154 + ¥i + v$ + 54 + % + % + y + 54 Curb Off Slightly Net High Low Close Change Grand National . . 2% 2% 2% — % Sonotone 2 1% 1% Technicolor 21% 2154 2154 Trans -Lux 454 454 4/ — % Little Bond Movement Net High Low Close Change Keith B. F. 6s '46 98 98 98 Loew's 6s '41 ex war 9754 9754 9?54 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 10O54 100 100 — % Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 95 9454 9454 + 54 (Quotations at close of March 23) i Purely Personal ► BILL HOLLANDER, publicity and advertising head for B. & K. in Chicago yesterday was tendered a luncheon at the Astor by a number of former associates, now identified with other companies. Among those attend- ing were Ben Seekowitch, Capitol ; Jack McInerney, Paramount; Byron Bilwell, 20th Century Fox ; J. Albert Hirsch and Lew Pollak, Universal ; Les Kaufman, Columbia; Oscar Doob, Gene Murphy and Art Schmidt, Loew's ; Dave, Lipton CBS; Lou Goldberg, Major Bowes Enterprises ; Ned Williams, Mills Artists Bureau; A-Mike Vogel, Quigley Publications. Hollander last Sunday celebrated his silver wedding anniversary and on Friday will sail for a Caribbean cruise. • J. C. Hunter, general manager of Ralph Talbot Theatres, operating the Ritz, Orpheum, Rialto, Majestic and Akdar in Tulsa, Okla., is in town on a vacation. Yesterday he was a vis- itor at the Warner home office. • Ted Lewis will follow Helen Mor- gan into the State April 1. Ed Sul- livan will headline the stage show beginning April 8; Horace Heidt, April 15, and Cab Calloway, April 22. • Mrs. Al Lichtman has returned from the coast. Lichtman was in St. Louis yesterday and is due back in New York either tomorrow or Friday. • Edward Schnitzer, Republic dis- trict manager, was in Pittsburgh yes- terday and is in Cleveland today. He will return to New York tomorrow. • Harry Goldberg, director of Warn- er theatre advertising and publicity, is due back today from a quick trip to Washington. • Byron (Dinty) Moore returned yesterday from Homer, 111., where he attended the funeral of his mother- in-law. • Keith Falkner, under contract to Warners in England, is now on a seven-week concert tour in this coun- try. • John D. Clark, 20th Century-Fox general sales manager, returned yes- terday from the coast. • Joel Levy, out-of-town booker for for the Loew circuit, is due back from his vacation April 1. • William Scully, Loew district sales manager, has returned from Miami. • Joseph D. Basson, president of Lo- cal 306, will return from Albany to- day. • Clarence Budington Kelland, has returned from the coast. • Sol Rosenblatt will return from the coast next week. • Jake Lubin of Loew's is due back from Miami today. • Buck Jones is in town from the coast. • William Rowland and H. E. Pommer arrive today on the Paris. GEORGE CUKOR is due to return from a business trip to Washing- ton today. He will leave Sunday for Atlanta, where he will confer with Margaret Mitchell, author of "Gone With the Wind." The director plans to remain in the south from one to two weeks. • Victor M. Shapiro flew to the coast last night. He was here for two weeks taking in the shows. • Fenn Kimball and Max Kravetz of General Pictures arrived from the coast yesterday. • Jean Rogers, Universal player, is in town for a vacation, stopping at the Edison. . . . Pittsburgh Harry Rees, United Artists sales- man is mourning the death of his father. John McGreevey, chief booker for the Harris circuit, has gone to St. Petersburg, Fla., to visit his wife and son. Clarence Eiseman's son, 16, is abed with scarlet fever. Jackie Heller is home for a short rest after three months of picture- making and vaudeville in England. Mrs. Joe Feldman is back from New York and Mrs. Tony Stern from Parkersburg, W. Va. Cullman Stops Roxy Three-week Bookings Future attractions at the Roxy will not play more than two weeks unless business is extraordinary on the sec- ond stanza, according to a new pol- icy adopted by Howard S. Cullman, trustee. The first picture to be affected by the new ruling is "Top of the Town," which opens Friday and will be re- placed after two weeks by "Soldier and the Lady," formerly titled "Mi- chael Strogoff." The latter film also is dated for a fortnight. Recent experiences by the theatre on "Three Smart Girls" and "One in a Million," which were held three weeks, prompted the new booking set- up. Circuits in and around New York usually date in Roxy bookings two weeks from the time they open at the Broadway house. In several instances, major and independent cir- cuits in the neighborhoods have been nlaying day-and-date with the third Roxy week. Cullman feels it is not worth losing a week's protection by holding over pictures beyond a second week. The gross on the third week, it is figured, may amount to the same take, or low- er than the first seven days of a new picture. Plans Show for Blind Blind children of New York will attend a special showing of "Elephant Boy," at the Rialto next Sunday morn- ing through the courtesy of Arthur Mayer, operator of the house. Ap- proximately 600 blind children will at- tend. Columbia Changes Title Hollywood, March 23. — "Two Gun Law" is the final title of the Columbia western formerly known as "A New Trail Ahead." Quigley New Head of Keller-Dorian Board George E. Quigley, fiscal agent for European financial interests which hold an option to acquire control of Keller-Dorian Colorfilm, was elected chairman of the board of Keller- Dorian yesterday, succeeding Bayard Colgate, resigned. The election followed the acquisition of additional Keller-Dorian stock by the interests represented by Quigley, although the group has not yet com- pleted its acquisition of control. Its option was extended from March 1 to Dec. 1, next, during which time its proposes to take up additional stock which is to be deposited by Bayard and Henry Colgate and William Cele- stin, whose total holdings represented 75 per cent of the outstanding Keller- Dorian stock, Quigley said. Celestin continues as president of the company. Quigley was also elect- ed a vice-president, and Henry Colgate was reelected vice-president. Lawrence Brown was reelected secretary and treasurer. Grand National First Licensee Eastman Kodak has failed to exer- cise its option to retain exclusive rights for the manufacture of raw stock to be used in the Keller-Dorian color process, as a result of which the company or its licensees may obtain raw stock from any manufacturer, Quigley said. Grand National is the first com- pany to be licensed by Keller-Dorian for the use of its process for feature production. Two Keller-Dorian cam- eramen will leave here for the coast on Saturday to begin work on Grand National's first feature employing the process, and a crew of technicians from the Keller-Dorian French labor- atories will arrive on the He de France within the next week, en route to the coast in connection with the work for Grand National. The technicians will arrange for the manufacture of filters and other required camera equipment, will set up laboratories on the coast and train American camera- men, Quigley said. Oscar Hanson Recovered Toronto, March 23. — 111 since last November, Oscar R. Hanson, presi- dent of Empire Films, Ltd., Hanson Theatres Corp., and associated com- panies, has returned to his office in Toronto fully recovered. TO LOS ANGELES FLY "FIRST- CLASS' SLEEP Overnight in new FLAGSHIPS Over the all-year Southern Transcon- tinental Route, in NEW 14-berth Flag- ship Sleepers; the most luxurious, quietest, longest-range planes. Fly on the AMERICAN MERCURY, 3 stops only. Phone VAnderbilt 3-2580 or your travel agent Ticket Office— 45 Vanderbilt Ave. AIRLINES inc. THEY WORK THE WAY HE TELLS 'EM . OR ELSE! Here's that special brand of Davis dramc you haven't had for a year, in the firs authentic screen slant on the "wronc dames"— and what makes 'em that way! It' a pictureful of sensational ad angles — anc biggest of 'em all is the great news tha is back for good in MARKED WOMAN with HUMPHREY BOGART LOLA LANE • ISABEL JEWELL • JANE BRYAN EDUARDO CIANNELLI • MAYO METHOT ROSALIND MARQUIS • Allen Jenkins • John Litel Ben Welden • Henry O'Neill • Directed by LLOYD BACON Songs by Warren and Dubin • A First National Picture WARNER BROS. Will Release It As Your Follow-Up Hit for 'THE KING AND THE CHORUS GIRL'! MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, March 24, 1937 Resume Testimony On G.B. Dividend (.Continued from page 1) taking of evidence before Justice Clau- son in place of Justice Crossman. The hearing was adjourned until tomorrow, following evidence in be- half of W. H. J. Drown, shareholder, whose contention was that the prefer- ence dividend could only be paid from capital. He alleged the company had a loss of £623,000 against a profit of £347,000. The court declared that the audited balance sheet showed a profit, and that he had to be satisfied that that bal- ance had vanished. If the £623,000 had been lost since March 3, 1936, there would be a loss of £400,000 after considering a special reserve of £200,- 000. For the company it was stated that arrangements made would prevent losses recurring and show a profit, and that there was a general reserve of £500,000 and profits from other sources of £520,000. The plaintiffs abandoned their plea that the five to four vote of the board on the dividend was in- valid, since another board meeting yes- terday resulted in a second approval of the preference dividend by a vote of six to four. MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW Flash Previews "Oh, Susanna!" — Western action and music combined in a story of a chase after an escaped murderer. The film should please. "Navy Spy" — Tale of a naval officer on the trail of foreigners who have kidnaped a lieutenant and stolen Gov- ernmental secrets. "California Straight Ahead" — Pro- duction technique is the strongest point of this story of the overland trucking business. These films will be revietved in full in a coming issue of Motion Picture Daily. Charter Union in N. H. New Haven, March 23. — A charter has been granted for a New Haven A. F. of L. union, it was revealed at a meeting of exchange employes last' night. "San Quentin" ( Warners) Hollywood, March 23. — Realistic human-interest melodrama charac- terizes this film. It is meaty material told in straight-from-the-shoulder fashion, and is adult fare. - The plot centers upon the efforts of an army officer to establish humane discipline in a penitentiary filled with desperate convicts. Con- vinced that the incorrigibles cannot be reformed, Pat O'Brien devotes his attention to giving inmates who show a desire to make a new start a chance to make good. His task is made difficult by the double-cross- ing and cruelty of Barton MacLane, a guard, and the fact that the girl he loves, Ann Sheridan, is a sister of a convict, Humphrey Bogart, upon whom O'Brien concentrates his character-building influences. His ap- parent favoritism causes the convicts to riot. Bogart is given a road gang assignment with a group in which MacLane has dishonestly included Joseph Sawyer. MacLane is in- flamed by Sawyer's insinuations that O'Brien's relations with his sister are not ethical. The escape of the pair precipitates a thrilling chase in which Sawyer is killed, O'Brien is shot by Bogart in Miss Sheridan's apartment, and MacLane is wounded by the police. Dying, he makes his way back to the penitentiary, where he begs the guards to tell the convicts who have hope for future reformation to play ball with O'Brien. O'Brien, MacLane and Sawyer dominate the action, but Miss Sheri- dan is acceptable as the romantic element and Veda Ann Borg is impres- sive as the moll who arranges the road camp escape. James Robbins, Joseph King, Gordon Oliver, Garry Owen, Marc Lawrence, William Pawley and Al Hill appear to good advantage in character roles. The film is based on an original by Robert Tasker, John Bright, with the screenplay by Peter Milne and Humphrey Cobb. Lloyd Bacon's direction combines personal drama with exciting action. Production Code Seal No. 2,752. Running time, 65 minutes. "A." FOR SUPER-SPZEV USE AIR EXPRESS Nation-wide. Covers the continent com- pletely. Delivers day and night to 216 key cities and points between in the United States and Canada. MR EXPRESS DIVISION K X T> R ES S A.G E XCV "Old Louisiana (Derr-Crescent) Hollywood, March 23. — Merging fact and fiction, this romance action drama is a combination of elements that should stir popular interest. Well-produced, capably acted and directed, the picture moves smoothly. If should prove attractive in neighborhood and small town houses. Events leading up to the Louisiana purchase are the background. To hold the territory for Spain, Gov. Carlos De Valdez imposes confiscatory taxes on American traders. As his acts work hardships on the pioneers, Robert Fiske, wily trader, aided by his sinister gunman, Raphael Ben- nett, attempts to incite the settlers to rebellion and thus seize the terri- tory for himself. Into the picture comes Tom Keane. Detesting strife and bloodshed, his first duty is to calm the settlers and attempt to make an arrangement with De Valdez. The association leads to romance with the governor's daughter, Rita Cansino. Then, as Fiske's actions threaten open warfare, Keane proceeds to Washington to lay the plight of the settlers before President Jefferson (Allan Cavan). Commissioned to preserve order, Keane returns to the frontier. There he out- maneuvers Fiske, who has continued his efforts to stir up trouble and effects a deal with the governor which leads to the Louisiana purchase. Naturally there is a romantic finale for Keane and Miss Cansino. John T. Nevilles's original is logical and it has been adapted by Mary Ireland in an intelligent manner. I. V. Willat's direction is pointed to capture the interest of thrill action fans. Tom Keane handles his role in pleasing style and the quality of support presented by the cast is high grade. Production Code Seal No. 3,142. Running time, 60 minutes. "G." Short Subjects "Popular Science J6-4" {Paramount) Another issue of this series that should prove interesting. Shown are a few comic inventions, new kitchen aids, the development of the micro- scope, closeups of various baccilli and an exciting sequence showing the nitro glycerine technique in renewing the life of oil wells. Production Code Seal No. 2,882. Running time, 11 minutes. "G." "Bad Housekeeping" (Radio) Edgar Kennedy's exasperation again registers favorably. A few of the laughs are expected, but generally they are original. The story illustrates Kennedy's adeptness at keeping house while his wife goes to the office. The setup is required for his evasion of a process server. Franklin Pangborn, Vi vian Oakland, Harrison Green and Nell Roy are also involved in the farcical proceedings. Production Code Seal No. 2,674. Running time, 19 mins. "G." "Saratoga Summers" (Van Beuren-Radio) Bill Corum takes the audience on a delightful trip about the New York resort with this short. His itinerary covers the famous old hotels, former gambling houses, luxurious estates, i SDas, and finally winds up with exciting scenes of horse racing. It is beautifully filmed and well paced. Production Code Seal No. 01,196. Running time, 11 mins. "G." Quits NSS for Warners Boston, March 23. — Bert Rudnick, former booker for National Screen Service, has resigned to join War- ners. Herbert Rice has joined Na- tional Screen to replace George Levy, named to Rudnick's post. Dugan with New House Dave Dugan is now identified with the Grand Central Theatre, which will be opened shortly in the Grand Cen- tral Terminal. Wilkinson to Advance Hollywood, March 23. — Advance Pictures has signed Steve Wilkinson to supervise all production. Wilkin- son formerly was a Broadway pro- ducer. "Coronation Preview" (Henry Matson) A gossipy and informative film that should satisfy audience curiosity about preparations for the impending royal ceremonies. The camera dashes about London giving glimpses of the route of the procession, landmarks, stands, historical trivia, places and prices of observation posts, castles, the jewels in the Tower and a little comic relief. It is pleasant stuff. No production code seal. Running time, 9 mins. "G." "Manhattan Waterfront' (Van Beuren-Radio) The settings and movement in the waters surrounding Manhattan should be a novel change from routine travel fare. It is tastefully composed both in photography and narrative. The reel covers the many interesting places about the waterfront — bridges, shanty- town, luxurious yacht landings and outmoded craft and the fish market. Production Code Seal No. 01,486. Running time, 10 mins. "G." To Open Bronx House Leff-Meyers will open the Zenith, newest link in the circuit, on April 15. The theatre is situated at 170th St. and Jerome Ave., Bronx, and will seat 600. "Pathe Topics No. 5" (Radio) The four well selected items in this issue embrace comedy, travel, novelty and invention. In the order named there are shots of Raymond Knight doing a bit of English high jinks, fine compositions of Frisian Island scenes, a zoo in Florida where monkeys look in on caged humans, and various ap- pliances for the fingertips working in the arts, etc. Reviewed without pro- duction code seal. Running time, 9 mins. "G." Wednesday, March 24, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Loew's-Para. Set for Talk On Franchise (.Continued from page 1) with 1941-'42 films. A four-year deal would terminate at the same time of '.he 20th Century-Fox pact. Sitting in on the Paramount-Loew deal will be Schenck, C. C. Mosko- witz, Al Lichtman, Eugene Picker, for Loew's, and Neil F. Agnew, J. J. Unger and Milton M. Kusell for Paramount. This deal is for the Greater New York area. Several weeks ago, before George J. Schaefer left for the coast, United Artists sales executives held two ses- sions with Loew's on a deal for next season's lineup. Schaefer is understood to have de- manded an increase in percentage terms provided in the 10-year deal expiring in June. According to the term contract, it is said, Loew the- atres throughout the country were playing vaudeville in the majority of spots. In view of this, the percentage figure is said to have been 17 per cent of the gross. Loew's has dropped vaudeville in virtually all of its theatres, but, it is said, the percentage figure has not been boosted. Schaefer, it is said, is asking a substantial increase on next season's product. The company's general policy is not to sell franchises to any circuit and it is doubtful whether Loew's will get more than a one-year deal with U. A. Although United Artists has_ been unable to come to terms, a friendly feeling prevails. Another meeting is planned shortly after Schaefer and Schenck return from the west. Both Paramount and U. A. expect to have their Loew deals set by the time annual conventions are held. Powers-Hossfeld Head East Los Angeles, March 23. — William T. Powers and Milton Hossfeld of National Theatres left today for New York after ironing out final details with Herman Wobber on the 20th Century-Fox product deal for 420 the- atres in the circuit. The annual sales convention of 20th Century-Fox will be held at the Am- bassador here for four days starting May 31. A special car with the home office contingent and others who will board the train en route will leave New York on May 26. A number of executives of National Theatres will attend the 20th Century- Fox meet, including Spyros Skouras, who will come on from the east. Brown Heads W. E. Unit London, March 12. — D. L. Brown, of the Continental distributing organiza- tion of Western Electric, has been placed in charge of a new public rela- tions department established by W. A. Bach, managing director, as a con- solidation of the advertising and pub- licity departments. Harry Harris Joins Firm Pittsburgh, March 23. • — Harry Harris, a brother of John H. Harris, head of the Harris Amusement Co., is breaking in as a relief manager for the Pittsburgh houses. 48,200 Delawareans Plead Sunday Films (Continued from page 1) mington. The petitions were presented by John R. Fader, Speaker of the House; A. Joseph DeFiore of Wil- mington, president of M.P.T.O. of Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland; James T. Houghton of the State Federation of Labor, Frank Pappa, president of the Central Labor Union, and D. Hart, president of the State Federation of Labor. The bill was introduced in the leg- islature several weeks ago by John P. Hamill of Wilmington. It also prohibits any employe to be employed tor Sunday showings unless he has had at least 24 consecutive hours of rest during the preceding six days. A number of church organizations are continuing their fight to prevent the enactment of the bill. Reject Billboard Bill Boston, March 23. — The House of Representatives today by a four to one vote sidestepped action on the billboard regulation bill, referring it co the next annual session. The bill would have taken regula- tion of billboards from the State Dept. of Public Works and would have vested it in individual cities and towns. The Committee on Mercantile Affairs rejected the bill last week. The House refused to accept the adverse report at the time, but reversed itself today The bill has been a political football for several years. Postpone Nebraska Hearing Lincoln, March 23. — Heavy rains kept outstate exhibitors from appear- ing before the legislative committee today which was to hear testimony on a bill introduced by Senator Tracy Frost which calls for a 10 per cent tax on film rentals. Charles Williams, M.P.T.O. head, and Regina Molseed, secretary of the Omaha Film Board of Trade, asked for and were granted a postponement. Colorado Race Bill Up Denver, March 23. — A bill legaliz- ing pari-mutuel betting, horse and dog racing in the state, has been ordered printed by the Finance Ways and Means Committee of the Colorado house. The bill would limit meets to 60 days, not more than 120 at one track in a year, and limit the total for the state to 250 in a year. The state would tax meets $100 for a license, receive five per cent of the pool money and 10 per cent of admis- sions. Kansas Tax Bill Killed Kansas City, March 23. — The Kansas house of representatives has killed a social welfare bill containing provision for a two per cent tax on most retail sales, including admissions, all forms of advertising, trucks, tele- grams, and utility services. To Vote on Sunday Shows Meadow Grove, Neb., March 23.— Wearied of complaints that lack of Sunday films is driving trade away from here, the Business Men's Club has persuaded the Town Council to put the issue to vote April 6. Selznick Signs Howe Hollywood, March 23. — James Wong Howe, cameraman, has been signed to a long-term contract by Selznick International. ITOA to Fight New Albany Matron Bill (Continued from page 1) the measure before the Committee on Cities. The Rossi measure calls for local option by municipalities in the state on the admission of unaccompanied chil- dren between the ages of eight and 16 to theatres, but requires that one matron be employed for each 35 chil- dren admitted. The specific terms of the matron clause of the bill are the cause of the opposition of theatre men. Another similar measure, the Ehr- lich bill, which is couched in virtually the same terms, but refers to cities with population of less than 1,000,000, and requires only one matron to each theatre, would receive the support of exhibitors, it was said yesterday. The Ehrlich measure is similar in effect to the present Joseph law in New York City, which has been in successful operation here for some months. It is believed here that if the Rossi measure were to become law, it also would refer to New York City, and would have the effect of nullifying the Joseph law, since it makes no men- tion of population limitation on the municipalities included. Fined for Overcrowding Toronto, March 23. — The over- crowding problem has once more be- come a matter of consideration among neighborhood houses — so much so that the police took action against Harry Ginsler, proprietor of the Iola. Magis- trate Tinker found him guilty and im- posed a fine of $20 and $4 costs. Group to Work Up Equipment Show Is Urged (Continued from page 1) made the suggestion to Kuykendall, however, would be insistent about playing a greater part in the conven- tion agenda. They feel it would be essential to change procedure from a free-for-all meandering of delegates to exhibits in hit-and-miss fashion to a definite half or full day turned over exclusively to inspection and explana- tion of new developments in the equip- ment field. This, it so happens, is the identical idea advanced by Percy Phillipson, president of the General Register Corp., in his convention address. He explained the equipment display ar- ranged in connection with the meet- ings of the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Ass'n in England each year brought out anywhere from 100 to 125 booths which not only defrayed convention costs, but, in some instances, had re- turned a profit as well. Buy i Canadian Houses Vancouver, March 23. — Famous Players Canadian Corp., has pur- chased theatres in Kelowna, Kam- loops, Vernon and Chilliwack from R. E. Berry. The houses have been operated by Famous Players for the past eight years on leases. w DECENCY IN MOTION PICTURES by MARTIN QUIGLEY THE NEW YORK TIMES says: "Here is the story of the motion pictures' 'reform from within1 as modestly told by the man who had most to do with giving that reform its effective instrument . . . the film industry's production code. This little book contains much clear information on a subject of wide interest." ONE DOLLAR POSTPAID Published by the MACMILLAN COMPANY available at THE QUIGLEY BOOKSHOP Rockefeller Center, New York City A picture greater than words can tell! JAMES STEWART in SSV€/?m H€MV£T)' THE KEYSTONE OF YOUR FUTURE with JEAN HERSHOLT GREGORY RATOFF GALE SONDERGAARD • J. EDWARD BROMBERG • JOHN QUALEN * VICTOR KILIAN • THOMAS BECK • SIG RUMANN MADY CHRISTIANS Directed by Henry King Director of "Lloyds of London" Associate Producer Raymond Griffitk. Screen play by Melville Baker. Adapted from tke stage play " Seven tfe Heaven produced and directed fey Jofen Golden. Written fey Austin Strong. Darryl F. Zanuck In Cfearge of Production 12 RADIO MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, March 24, 1937 i Radio Personals ► PHILIP I. MERRYMAN, for the past 10 years operations supervisor for NBC in Washington, yesterday joined the New York station's re- lations department . . . Segar Ellis' orchestra and vocalist Irene Taylor signed to a Rockwell-O'Keefe con- tract . . . The Mills Brothers set for the WOR "9 O'clock Revue" this Sunday . . . Richard Crooks will not appear on the "Ford Sunday Evening Hour" this week, due to an attack of laryngitis. He will be replaced by Richard Bonelli . . . Stuart Erwin, Dale Carnegie and Alec Templeton set for the Joe Cook program Satur- day night . . . Shirley Ross will re- place Frances Langford on "Holly- wood Hotel" Friday, due to the lat- ter's illness . . . + Bob Allen, baritone, of Hal Kemp's band, cracked three ribs the other night. . . . Niela Goodelle opens at the Paramount today, and has signed for a guest spot on the Ed Wynn show. . . . Carl Hoff will relinquish the CBS "Hit Parade" baton to Mark Warnow Saturday, and will follow Horace Heidt into the Biltmore with a Mutual wire. . . . Eddie Dowhng and Ray Dooley will be Joe Cook's guests Saturday. . . . Carlton KaDell, announcer for Amos 'n' Andy, now narrating for film shorts. . . . Ted Lewis will be Kate Smith's starring guest April 1. . . . Lowell Thomas will step out of his role as commenta- tor to re-enact a few of his adven- tures on the "Moments You Never Forget" program over WOR Satur- day. ... Clayton Colyer, romantic interest on the "Pretty Kitty Kelly" series, is June Colyer's brother. . . . Duke Slohm of Buffalo radio visiting at WMCA to study the "High School Reporter" program. . . . Grace Moore will broadcast from Hollywood be- ginning April 17. . . . Charles Kull- man, Met tenor, will support Jessica Dragonette March 24. . . . "All Star Varieties," WOR, will have East and Dumpke as featured guests Saturday. Dorothy Knox is a new addition to the "Your Unseen Friend" cast on CBS. . . . Mary Boland set for the "Saturday Night Party." . . - Bob Hope and Tony Sarg added to the Vallee cast for tonight. . . . + Frank Healey, of the NBC press staff, will leave for Hollywood March 31 to join his wife, now under con- tract to 20th Century-Fox . . . Heatherton Gets Contract Ray Heatherton, who has been sing- ing on the WOR "9 O'clock Revue" on a week-to-week basis, has been signed to a run-of-the-program con- tract. Schaefer Beer sponsors; Bat- ten, Barton, Durstine and Osborn is the agency. Don't miss Vincent Richards' description of the tennis matches to- night on WHN at 9 P.M. DIAL 1010 M-G-M • LOEWS - New Shows on the Air "Mason and Dixon" Sweetly sentimental is the new WMCA sustaining opus, "Mason and Dixon," featuring Bob Mason in southern folksongs against an organ background supplied by George Dixon. Mason is the possessor of an ex- cellent baritone voice, and his Negro spirituals pull pleasantly on the heart- strings. The program easily would lend itself to sponsorship of a lim- ited type. An effective touch is ren- dered by the reading of a text, pre- sumably from the Bible, at the close of the broadcast. The series is heard over WMCA Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 10 :45 A. M., E.S.T. Banner "Deutsches Lied" Cincinnati, March 23. — "Deutsches Lied," a new 30-minute sustaining program over WCPO, Scripps-How- ard station, operated by the Cincin- nati Post, had its initial airing Mon- day at 7:45 P. M., E. S. T. It con- sisted of German folk songs and mu- sic by German artists directed by Robert Korst. The Teutonia Male Choir, founded in 1862, and celebrat- ing its 65th jubilee on the night of the broadcast, appeared as guest artists. The various numbers, rendered in style typical of the country of origin, appealed to the local German listeners. From the standpoint of harmony and melody the programs will be en- joyable for the average dialer with an appreciation of music, but to those not able to understand the language, much of the effect of the vocal num- bers will be lost. "The Deutsches Lied" series will be aired on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the same hour. Zora Layman, Vocalist Cincinnati, March 23. — Zora Lay- man, former NBC vocalist, latest ad- dition to the Crosley family, presents what is labeled a new type of pro- gram, consisting of songs of all varie- ties, ranging from modern blues num- bers to westerns and comedy tunes and sentimental ballads, each handled with equal facility. Her numbers are ar- ranged by Herbie Claar, who accom- panies her on the piano, and engages in brief chatter. Miss Layman has a clear, pleasing voice, free from af- fectation, in both her singing and talking routine, the latter being of the "intimate" type which is put over with considerable feeling and appeal. Her enunciation is above the average. The program throughout compares favorably with others in the same category. Heard locally over WSAI, Tues- days, Thursdays and Saturdays, at 7 P. M., E. S. T. A sustainer until a sponsor comes along. Many Air Programs Fading for Summer The summer exodus in radio is now underway. "Musical Camera," sponsored by In- ternational Silver, fades from the air April 18. The series is heard Sundays at 4:30 P. M., E.S.T. on NBC-Red. N. W. Ayer & Son is the agency. "Adventures of Captain Diamond," heard on the NBC-Blue web at 3 P. M., E.S.T. Sundays, will not be renewed beyond its present contract period, which ends April 18. Benton & Bowles is the agency. Diamond Salt is the sponsor. "Iodent Dress Rehearsal," sponsored by Iodent Toothpaste, heard Sundavs at 11 :30 A. M., E.S.T. leaves the NBC-Blue network April 25. Mason, Inc., is the agency. Other NBC programs which will fade shortly are the "Log Cabin Revue," sponsored by Log Cabin Syrup, the Edwin C. Hill program sponsored by the Real Silk Hosiery Mills, and the Warden Lawes pro- gram sponsored by Sloan's Liniment. The Helen Hayes program faded this week. Report WDSU Deal Off According to a report, the deal to bring WDSU. New Orleans station, into the NBC-Blue network has fallen through. Joseph H. Uhalt, president of the southern station, and P. K. Ewing, vice-president and general manager, who were here consulting with NBC officials, have returned to New Orleans. Beebe to Esquire Series According to a report last night, Lucius Beebe, Herald-Tribune colum- nist, has been signed as "em cee" for the forthcoming Esquire program on WOR. FCC Receives Three More Applications Washington, March 23.— The F. C.C. has received applications from KOY, Phoenix, Ariz., for increase of night power to 1,000 watts, and from Galesburg Broadcasting Co., Gales- burg, 111., for a new 1,500-kilocycle, 250-watt station. The commission also received an amended application from WWVA, Wheeling, W. Va., for authority to move its transmitter from that city to Richmond Town, O., and a change of frequency to 1,140 kilocycles. WMCA Adds Five Accounts Five new accounts have been signed for WMCA presentation. Continental Baking Co., through Benton & Bowles, set for 10 announce- ments, plugging Wonder Bread. Washington State Apnles, through J. Walter Thompson, 26 announce- ments, to be heard daily except Sun- days. Alkine Laboratories, through the Schillin Advertising- Corp., daily an- nouncements for "Flemolyn," a cough remedy, for a 52-week period. Also through Schillin. a dance marathon from the Brooklyn Ice Palace, to be- g-in either March 29 or April 15, un- til the end of the contest. Vapoo Products Co., for "Vapoo" Cleaner, sponsoring Kurt Haessler in "Home Talks" for 13 weeks. The contract was placed direct. Renew "Homemakers' Exchange" Eleanor Howe's "Homemakers' Ex- change," heard Tuesdavs and Thurs- days from 11:45 to 12 noon on the CBS network, has been renewed until June. Ice Industries is the sponsor. Donahue & Coe is the agency. Broadcasting Plans For Coronation Set Final arrangements for broadcasting the coronation of King George VI in London, May 12, have been com- pleted by CBS in arrangement with the BBC. During the actual ceremonies, CBS will have two exclusive microphones strategically placed outside Bucking- ham Palace and Westminster Abbey. Other commentators will be placed at points of vantage along the proces- sional route, and within the Abbey itself. The broadcast will begin at approx- imately 5:30 A. M., E.D.S.T. On the ride to the Abbey, microphones at the Victoria Memorial, at the Ceno- taph and outside the Abbey will bring a description of the scenes. Within the Abbey an announcer will describe the coronation, followed by a description of the procession back to the palace. This route will be cov- ered with microphones on the Em- bankment, in Trafalgar Square, at St. James's Palace, and in Piccadilly Circus. The climax will be reached when the King broadcasts official greetings from the palace balcony. This will be heard over CBS at ap- proximately 3 P. M., E.D.S.T. Renew "Five-Star Final" "Five Star Final," WMCA and Inter-City network dramatized news program, has been renewed for an- other year by Remington Rand. The contract is for five nightly broadcasts of 15 minutes each, and a Sunday broadcast of half an hour. In addi- tion to the Inter-City stations, WORK, York, Pa., will carry the program. WORK has been consider- ing joining Inter-City for some weeks. National Silver Signs Kaufman Confirming an earlier report here, Irving Kaufman was signed yester- day by the National Silver Co. for a new WOR series to begin March 28, from 11 :30 to 12 noon. Kaufman will be supported by Louis Wilcher, organist, and Pauline Alpert, pianist. The contract, for 52 weeks, was han- dled direct. Jesse Butcher Joins NBC Jesse Butcher, formerly head of the CBS publicity department, yesterday joined the station's public relations staff at NBC. Prior to assuming his present position, Butcher main- tained his own production and talent agency. "Jazzters" to Start Tonight A new vocal trio, "The Three Jazz- ters," will make their bow on WHN tonight, when they appear at midnight for a 15-minute broadcast. Thereafter they will be heard Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at the same time. Reveal More NBC Figures The latest piece of NBC promotion reveals that advertisers invested $5,- 452,890 in daytime hours, Sundays not included. In 1936 the daytime invest- ment by sponsors aggregated $7,695,- 482, an increase of more than 41 per- cent. Mary Garven to Taplinger Mary Garven, assistant to Paul Rickenbacker, manager of KNX, CBS west coast station, has resigned to assume management of the Bob Taplinger office in Hollywood. MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, March 24, 1937 RenewRequest For Air Probe By Congress (Continued from page 1) explaining that we have not elimi- nated private ownership or its equiva- lent in radio channels as well as the undesirable trafficking in radio licenses with all the possibilities with which we have been familiar in the past in other fields for the capitalization of earnings and profits to the detriment of the American people." Wigglesworth charged that stations have been transferred for considera- tions far in excess of their replacement cost. He declared that one of the most striking cases of this character was the transfer of KNX, Los An- geles, to CBS. The replacement value of the station was about $217,000 and, after the deduction of accounts re- ceivable, cash and good will, the value of the physical property, was about $63,000, but the consideration paid for the assignment was $1,250,000. He also cited the lease of a station with a replacement value of less than $500,- 000 for $219,000 a year for seven years. Cites Possibility of Scandal "These transactions, in the absence of further explanation, appear to in- dicate that we have failed thus far to bring about either the elimination of private ownership or its equivalent in radio channels or the undesirable trafficking in radio licenses," he said. "Unless this is accomplished the oppor- tunity remains for the capitalization of Government gratuities and for all the scandals of the past in other fields." "A thorough and impartial investi- gation into the entire situation should serve to establish the extent and ef- fects of monopoly in the broadcasting field. It should serve to determine the extent to which the elimination of pri- vate ownership and trafficking in li- censes have been accomplished. It should serve to throw light on the proper manner of program control. It should serve to determine the earn- ings of the industry, whether or not rates charged are reasonable, and what contribution, if any, the industry may fairly be asked to make to the Federal treasury. The industry today is dependent for its very existence on Federal license, yet it commands a gross income which has been esti- mated for 1937 as amounting to be- tween $125,000,000 and $135,000,000," Wigglesworth said in conclusion. Action on the resolution by the committee was postponed until a later meeting. Aid Safety Drive on Air Cincinnati, March 23. — Coopera- tion with the Cincinnati Safety Dept. campaign to end reckless driving is a feature of the "Taxicab Night" program, heard twice weekly over WCKY, and sponsored by Taxicabs of Cincinnati, Inc. The contract has just been renewed for 52 weeks. Mary Goodrich Quits Agency Mary Goodrich, formerly in charge of publicity for the Pendleton-Dudley agency, has resigned to assume super- vision of publicity for the Greater Texas and Pan American Exposition. Brandt Impressed "Allow me to congratulate you on the radio news you carry in Motion Picture Daily. Motion picture the- atres are so closely aligned with the radio industry that theatre owners must be kept up-to-date with what is hap- pening in that industry. Your paper is covering the radio field remarkably well." — Harry Brandt, president, In- dependent Theatre Owners Ass'n of New York City. Catchings Says New Unit Not for Radio Waddill Catchings, Warner direc- tor who has been given an option to acquire a 49 per cent interest in a Warner subsidiary for the exploita- tion of patents owned by the company, denies that the agreement was related in any way to radio, or to broadcasts of recordings from Warner pictures. "The importance of the agreement has been greatly over-rated," Catch- ings said. "It relates simply to a variety of patents developed by a former employe which have never been utilized commercially, but which might have value if properly explo- ited. Under the agreement, a subsidi- ary would be formed to exploit the patents. In the event that I spend $510,000 for this purpose during the next five years, I would receive an option to purchase for $490,000 a 49 per cent interest in the subsidiary. The company has not even been formed and there is only a vague possibility that it will be. In any event, it would have no relation to radio broadcast- ing." Catchings was asked specifically whether the agreement involved War- ners' reported plans for making ex- cerpts from its musicals and other pro- ductions available for radio broad- casts. Baker on KIRO Programs Seattle, March 23. — Gene Baker has been named program director of KIRO, which will become a CBS affiliate next fall. Baker's radio work began 11 years ago in Portland, and since that time he has written radio copy and shows, served as assistant musical director for CBS and NBC stations, and has appeared as vocalist on programs with Stoopnagle & Budd, Freddie Rich's band and Frank Black's orchestra. Bernie Back on Air April 13 Hollywood, March 23. — Ben Ber- nie, who left for Florida Tuesday, will return to Hollywood for his broadcasts on April 13. Eddie Cantor will be his guest on the first program. Murray Starts Rehearsals Hollywood, March 23. — Ken Mur- ray and Oswald have started re- hearsals for Murray's new air show which goes on the CBS network March 31. Campbell's Soup is sponsoring the series. Gregory Ratoff with Cantor Hollywood, March 23. — Gregory Ratoff has been penciled in for a guest starring spot on the Eddie Cantor show next Sunday. Roxy Needs Wizard, Accountant Asserts Charles A. Bennett, Roxy account- ant, testifying before Special Master Addison S. Pratt in the hearings on the Roxy Theatre plan of reorganiza- tion, yesterday said it would require a wizard to restore the theatre to its former earning capacity. Profits from the opening to the date of receiver- ship were placed at $1,862,598. Earn- ings for the reorganized corporation would have to be at least $500,000 annually before deduction for deprecia- tion, taxes and interest if a reasonable return on the common stock were to be realized, according to Bennett. Answering a contention of the Tip- ton bondholders' committee, Bennett declared that good pictures were far more important than good stage shows. The present management is now following the policy of the late S. L. Rothafel and building the stage show around the picture. Manage- ment charges should be between $50,- 000 and $75,000 a year, according to Bennett. Discusses Admission Prices The expense of the original $10,500,- 000 financing of the Roxy was placed at $936,298. First mortgage bonds amounting to $4,250,000 cost $488,- 750. Five year gold notes of $2,500,- 000 cost $272,548, 125,000 shares of Class A stock and 122,500 shares of common were sold for $3,750,000. A total of 202,500 shares of common and $175,000 in cash were given to Her- bert Lubin and 25,000 shares of com- mon to the Associated Holding Corp. for obtaining the first mortgage loan and the sale of the stock. Bennett said he believed admission prices could be raised after 6 P.M. but said it would be the height of folly un- less better pictures were obtained. RKO Signs First Big Deal for New Season (Continued from page 1) the independent circuit, attached their signatures to the pact. Approximately 80 theatres in New York, Ohio and Kentucky are included in the franchise, which calls for the circuit to play all features, news reels, shorts, March of Time and Life sub- jects. This is the first product deal for the circuit as the current season winds up. Some time ago franchises were set with Paramount and 20th Century- Fox. B'way Spurt Shown By Revenue Bureau (Continued from pacie 1) collections for February in the third New York district were $558,620 against $498,924 in January. The larger part of the increase was accounted for by collections at the box-office, which for February were $476,932 against $425,863 during the preceding month. Other collections were listed by the bureau as follows : Free or reduced- rate admissions, $7,551 against $10,- 374; tickets sold by brokers, $14,047, against $13,345 ; tickets sold at the box-office in excess of the established price, $5,052 against $2,898; perma- nent use of boxes and seats, $14 against $9, and admissions to roof gardens and cabarets, $55,023 against $46,435. 13 "Larceny" and Show Seattle Hit, $8,400 Seattle, March 23. — Larceny on the Air," with A. B. Marcus' "Fan- tasy D'Orient" on the stage of the Palomar, turned in a huge $8,400, over normal by $3,900, but every other house was below normal, except the Fifth Avenue. "Swing High, Swing Low" pulled $7,600 at the Fifth Avenue. Total first run business was $35,650. Average is $36,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 19 : "SEA DEVILS" (RKO) "ESPIONAGE" (M-G-M) BLUE MOUSE— (950), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week, extended run from Paramount. Gross: $3,400. (Average $4,000) "SWING HIGH, SWING LOW" (Para.) "THE MIGHTY TREVE" (Univ.) FIFTH AVENUE — (2,500), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $7,600. (Average, $7,000) "MEN ARE NOT GODS" (U.A.) "PAROLE RACKET" (Col.) LIBERTY — (1,800), 15c-25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $4,400. (Average. $5,000) •LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY" (M-G-M) "RACING LADY" (RKO) MUSIC BOX— (950), 25c-40c-55c, 7 day;, 2nd week, extended run from Fifth Avenue. Gross: $3,700. (Average, $4,000) "READY, WILLING AND ABLE" (W.B.) ORPHEUM— (2,450), 25c-35c-40c, 7 _ days. Vaudeville headed by Irene Vermillion & Co. Gross: $5,950. (Average, $6,000) "LARCENY ON THE AIR" (Republic) PALOMAR — (1,500), 25c-35e, 7 days. Stage: A. B. Marcus' "Fantasy D'Orient." Gross: $8,400 (Average, $4,500) "JOHN MEADE'S WOMAN" (Para.) "HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE" (G.B.) PARAMOUNT — (3.050), 25c-30c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,200. (Average, $6,000) "Swing High" Best Louisville Grosser Louisville, March 23. — "Swing High, Swing Low" and "Murder Goes to College" at the Rialto did top bus- iness with a take of $7,000. This was $2,500 over par. All other first runs felt the Lenten slump. Snow over the weekend left the streets slushy and made traffic conditions hazardous. Total first run business was $23,- 800. Average is $22,400. Estimated takings for the week ending March 18: "LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY" (M-G-M) BROWN— (1,500), 15c-25c-40c, 7 days, 2nd downtown week. Gross: $2,200. (Average, $2,500) "STOWAWAY" (20th-Fox) "CHARLIE CHAN AT THE OPERA" (20th-Fox) "ONE WAY PASSAGE" (W.B.) "GO WEST YOUNG MAN" (Para.) KENTUCKY— (900), 15c-25c, 7 days, split week. Gross: $2,100. (Average, $1,700) "WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE" (Col.) "MAN OF THE PEOPLE" (M-G-M) LOEWS STATE— (3.000), 15c-25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,300. (Average, $5,500) "THE GREAT O'MALLEY" (W.B.) MARY ANDERSON— (1,000), 15c-25c-40c. 7 days. Gross: $3,100. (Average, $3,500) "UNDER TWO FLAGS" (20th-Fox) "ROOFTOPS OF MANHATTAN" (W.B ) "REMEMBER LAST NIGHT" (Univ.) "SPLENDOR" (U.A.) OHIO— (900), 15c, 7 days, split week. Gross: $900. (Average, $1,200) "SWING HIGH, SWING LOW" (Para.) "MURDER GOES TO COLLEGE" (Para.) RIALTO— (3,000), 15c-25c-40c. 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $4,500) "WHEN'S YOUR BIRTHDAY" (RKO) "CRIMINAL LAWYER" (RKO) STRAND— (1,500), 15c-25c-40c, 7 days. Gross, $3,200. (Average, $3,500) MOTION PICTURE DAILY Out Hollywood Way 14 "John Meade," Show, $24,700 Hit, Chicago Chicago, March 23. — "John Meade's Woman," with the "Stars and Strips" featuring Ann Pennington, June St. Clair and Rosita Royce, was the out- standing attraction in the Loop last week. Playing to adults only, the Oriental grossed $24,700 for the week. Average is $15,000. "Lost Horizon" opened at the Er- langer for a three-week engagement and drew very well. The gross was $12,600, well over average. "Good Earth," in its fourth week at the Apollo, continued strong. The weather was fair most of the week. Business was off generally. Total first run business was $137,- 700. Average is $130,500. Estimated takings : Week Ending March 18: "GOOD EARTH" (M-G-M) APOLLO — (1,400), 50c-$1.50, 2 shows daily, 4th week, 7 days. Gross: $9,500. (Average, $9,000) "WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE" (Col.) CHICAGO — (4,000) , 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: "Best Cellars of 1937." Gross: $26,500. (Average, $32,000) "JOHN MEADE'S WOMAN" (Para.) ORIENTAL— (3,490), 35c-55c, 7 days. Stage: "Stars and Strips" Revue. Gross: $24,700. (Average, $15,000) "WHEN'S YOUR BIRTHDAY?" (RKO) PALACE— (2,509), 35c-55c-7Sc, 7 days. Stage: "World's Fairest" Revue. Gross: $17,000. (Average, $19,000) Week Ending March 19: "READY, WILLING AND ABLE" (W.B.) GARRICK— (900), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $7,700. (Average, $6,500) "THE LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY (M-G-M) ROOSEVELT— (1,591), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $12,900. (Average, $11,- 000) "UNDER COVER OF NIGHT" (M-G-M) STATE- LAKE— (2,776), 20c-35c-40c, 7 days. Stage: "Casino Continental" Revue. Gross: $13,800. (Average, $13,000) "ROMEO AND JULIET" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,700), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $15,000) Week Ending March 20: "LOST HORIZON" (Col.) ERLANGER— (1,200), 50c -$1.50, 7 days, 2 shows daily. Gross: $12,600. (Average, $10,000) Grace Moore Only New Haven Grosser New Haven, March 23. — The pre- Easter slump was felt more keenly last week. "When You're in Love" and "Find the Witness" at the Poli grossed $7,600, over par by $600. The College, with the aid of an ex- cellent weekend, hit $3,200, $400 over the line, with "The Plough and the Stars" and "Under Cover of Night." Total first run business was $18,500. Average is $19,300. Estimated takings for the week ending March 19 : "PLOUGH AND THE STARS" (RKO) "UNDER COVER OF NIGHT" (M-G-M) COLLEGE — (1,499), 25c-35c, 7 days. Gross: $3,200. (Average, $2,800) "TWO WISE MAIDS" (RepubUc) "THE WOMAN ALONE" (G.B.) PARAMOUNT— (2,348), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $4,800) "WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE" (Col.) "FIND THE WITNESS" (Col.) POLI— (3,040), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $7,600. (Average, $7,000) "MEN ARE NOT GODS" (U.A.) "BREEZING HOME" (Univ.) ROGER SHERMAN— (2,200), 35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $3,700. (Average, $4,700) Hollywood, March 23. — -Walter Wanger has started a talent school with Walter Clurman in charge and 12 models as pupils. Joe Caits, formerly of the Caits Brothers vaudeville act, signed by George Hirliman for "Looking for Trouble," George O'Brien's next. . . . M-G-M to start two musical shorts, "The Canary Comes Across" and "Carnival," April 1. . , . Jean Arthur due back on Paramount lot April 22 to start "Easy Living." . . . Charles Gorin calls off concert tour to meet schedule on "Broadway Melody of 1937," M-G-M. "On with the Dance" set for George Raft at Paramount. . . . Claudia Dell to play opposite Ken Maynard in "Boots of Destiny," Grand Nation- al. .. . 20th Century-Fox drops "Thin Ice" as next for Sonja Henie and substitutes "His Majesty's Car". . . Ray Hoadley joins Universal pub- licity department. Claude Rains receives second citi- zenship papers. . . . Ann Sothern back from Chicago visit. . . . Edward L. Alperson, Grand National presi- dent, signs Stuart Erwin to two- picture contract, first to be "Small Town Boy." + Casting — Grant Mitchell in "The Life of Emile Zola," Warners. . . . Spring Byington in "The Road Back," Universal. . . . Alan Mow- "Swing High," Show, $26,000 Tops Detroit Detroit, March 23. — "Swing High Swing Low," with a stage show, at the Michigan garnered $26,000 on the week, leaving par $6,000 astern. "Nancy Steele Is Missing," with Ethel Shutta heading a vaudeville bill, reached $25,500, over the line by $5,- 500, at the Fox. "Ecstacy" at the Downtown took a big $14,500. Sit-down strikes reduced grosses. Total first run business was $92,700. Average is $77,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 18: "ON THE AVENUE" (20th-Fox) (2nd week) "BREEZING HOME" (U) (1st week) ADAMS— (1,770), 10c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,800. (Average, $5,000) "NANCY STEELE IS MISSING" (20th-Fox) FOX— (5,100), 15c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Ethel Shutta. Burton Pierce, Four Trojans, Jeans & Gower. Gross: $25,500. (Average. $]0,000) "SWING HIGH, SWING LOW" (Para.) MICHIGAN— (4,100), 15c-75c, 7 days. Stage: Neila Goodelle, Rex Weber, Harris & Howell, 7 Royal Uyenos, Mattison's Rythmaniacs. Gross: $26,000. (Average, $20,000) "YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE" (U. A.) "PARK AVENUE LOGGER" (RKO) STATE— (3,000), 10c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,200. (Average, $5,000) "LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS— (2,070), 15c-65c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $11,200. (Aver- age, $10,000) "MICHAEL STROGOFF" (RKO) MADISON— (2,000), 15c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $7,500. (Average, $10,000) "ECSTASY" (Eureka) DOWNTOWN— (2,950), 40c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $14,500. (Average, $7,500) bray, Jerome Cowan and Alma Krueger in "Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1936" . . . John Carradine in "One Mile from Heaven," 20th Century- Fox. Montagu Love in "The Life of Emile Zola," Warners. . . . Raymond Massey in "Hurricane," Samuel Goldwyn. . . . Lee Patrick in "Stage Door," RKO. . . . Leroy Mason in "It Happened Out West," Principal. + Writers — At Radio, Irwin Shaw assigned to "Puzzle for Fools," Viola Brothers Shore to "Three on a Latchkey," and Ron Ferguson to "The Seeing Eye" . . . Joel Sayre, under contract to RKO, loaned to Columbia. . . . Ferdinand Rayher on screenplay of Willoughby Speyers' original, "Certified," RKO. . . . Ho- ward Lindsay and Russell Crouse on screenplay for "The Big Broad- cast of 1938," Paramount. . . . Monck- ton Hoffe, M-G-M writer, leaves to attend coronation. . . . George Op- penheimer assigned to "The Um- brella Man," M-G-M. . . . Virginia Faulkner to adapt "You Made a Bargain," M-G-M. + Story Buys — Virginia Kellogg's "Honeymoon in Reno" acquired by Samuel Goldwyn. . . . Frederick Stephani's "Moonstruck," purchased by 20th Century-Fox. "Swing High" Kansas City Top, $12,800 Kansas City, March 23.— "Swing High, Swing Low" ran the Main- street gross up to $12,800, over par by $4,100, and the picture, with "Out- cast," was moved to the Newman for a second week. Other first runs felt the competition of the Food Show, March 14-20, in the Municipal Auditorium, which drew over 100,000, with liberal sample giveaways and Irene Rich, Gene & Glenn, and Benny Meroff's band. "Off to the Races," with a stage show, gave the Tower $400 over its $7,000 par. "Love is News," in its second week at the Uptown, grossed $4,500, average for eight days. Total first run business was $38,- 200. Average is $38,700. Estimated takings : Week Ending March 18: "SWING HIGH, SWING LOW" (Para.) "OUTCAST" (Para.) MAINSTREET-(3,100), 25c -40c, 8 days. Gross: $12,800. (Average, 8 days, $8,700) "A FAMILY AFFAIR" (M-G-M) "PAROLE RACKET" (Col.) MIDLAND— (4,000), 25c -40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $11,500) "THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS" (Radio) "THEY WANTED TO MARRY" (Radio) NEWMAN— (1,900), 2Sc-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $7,000) "OFF TO THE RACES" (2FYOUR FUTURE Yes, gentlemen, it's Walter Winchell, himself, giving you the lowdown on 20th's latest great musical, "WAKE UP AND LIVE," with a flock of top names. Hold the wire till next week! MOTION PICTUR* DAILY Friday, March 26, 1937 46 99 Swing High Los Angeles' Hit, $24,750 Los Angeles, March 25. — "Swing High, Swing Low" was an outstanding draw at the Paramount, with a stage show headed by Rube Wolf and his orchestra. The $24,750 take was $6,- 750 above par. "Lost Horizon" continued its fast pace at the 4 Star by getting $11,000 in its second week $1.50 top. "Maytime" was in the money with $14,871 at the Chinese in its second week and also at Loew's State where it took $16,596, also in its second week. Total first run business was $110,- 167. Average is $107,950. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 24: "THE GOOD EARTH" (M-G-M) CARTHAY CIRCLE— (1,518), 50c-$1.50, 7 days, 8th week. Gross: $11,500. (Average, $17,000) "MAYTIME" (M-G-M) CHINESE— (2,500) , 30c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $14,871. (Average, $12,500) "LOST HORIZON" (Col.) 4 STAR— (900), 50c-$1.50, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $3,250) "LES MISERABLES" (French) GRAND INTERN AT'L — (750) , 35c-40c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $1,400. (Average, $1,200) "WHEN LOVE IS YOUNG" (Univ.) "PARK AVENUE LOGGER" (RKO) HILLSTREET— (2,700), 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $6,700. (Average, $8,000) "MAYTIME" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE— (2,500), 30c-55c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $16,596. (Average, $14,- 000) "WHEN LOVE IS YOUNG" (Univ.) "PARK AVENUE LOGGER" (RKO) PANTAGES— (3,000), 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average, $8,000) "SWING HIGH, SWING LOW" (Para.) PARAMOUNT — (3,595), 30c-55c, 7 days. Stage: Rube Wolf and his orchestra, F & M. revue. Gross: $24,750. (Average, $18,- 000) "THE GREAT O'MALLEY" (W. B.) "HER HUSBAND'S SECRETARY" (F.N.) WARNER BROS. (HOLLYWOOD)— (3,- 000), 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $7,900. (Av- erage, $14,000) "THE GREAT O'MALLEY" (W. B.) "HER HUSBAND'S SECRETARY" (F.N.) WARNER BROS. (DOWNTOWN) — (3,- «»), 30c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $8,950. (Av- ;rage, $12,000) "Swing High" Best Indianapolis Draw Indianapolis, March 25. — "Swing High, Swing Low" did smash business of $9,000 at the Circle, $5,000 over the line. It was held. Also $5,000 upstairs was "Her Hus- band's Secretary," billed with a stage show headed by Olsen and Johnson at the Lyric. The take was $12,000. "Wings of the Morning" nosedived for $2,200 at the Apollo and was pulled after six days. Total first run business was $27,000. Average is $21,000. Estimated takings : Week Ending March 18: "WINGS OF THE MORNING" (20th-Fox^ APOLLO— (1,100), 25c-40c, 6 days. Gross: $2,200. (Average, $4,000) Week Ending March 19: "SWING HIGH, SWING LOW" (Para.) CIRCLE — (2,800) , 25c -40c, 7 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average. $4,000) "A FAMILY AFFAIR" (M-G-M) "PAROLE RACKET" (Col.) LOEW'S — (2,800), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $3,800. (Average, $6,000) "HER HUSBAND'S SECRETARY" (F.N.) LYRIC— (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Stage- Oisen and Johnson. Gross: $12,000. (Average, $7,000) Swing High" Gets $17,000, Buffalo Buffalo, March 25. — "Swing High, Swing Low," at the Buffalo, was top draw. It grossed $17,000, •over the line by $5,000. "The Great O'Malley" and "Ac- cused" at the Century pulled $8,700, breaking par by $2,900. Another strong dual at the Lafayette, "Join the Marines" and "Two Wise Maids," took $7,000, up by $1,000. Other first run showings fell below average. Total first run business was $45,200. Average is $38,400. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 20 : "SWING HIGH, SWING LOW" (Para.) BUFFALO— (3,000), 30c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $17,000. (Average, $12,000) "THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS" (RKO) "ALONG CAME LOVE" (Para.) HIPPODROME— (2,500), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $6,800. (Average, $7,300) "WHEN'S YOUR BIRTHDAY?" (RKO) GREAT LAKES— (3,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,700. (Average, $7,300) "THE GREAT O'MALLEY" (W.B.) "ACCUSED" (U.A.) CENTURY— (3,000), 25c, 7 days. Gross: $8,700. (Average, $5,800) "JOIN THE MARINES" (Republic) "TWO WISE MAIDS" (Republic) LAFAYETTE— (3,300), 25c, 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $6,000) Spokane Uses SRO Signs on "Lloyds Spokane, March 25. — "Lloyds of London" brought out the S.R.O. sign at the State for the first time since last fall when it pulled $5,500 in seven days, $700 above par, and was held over. "Maid of Salem" and "The Holy Terror" took $5,400, over par by $200, on a dual in seven days at the Fox. "Black Legion," on a dual with "Rac- ing Lady," took $2,500 in four days over the weekend at the Orpheum, about $300 over par. Total first run business was $14,000. Average is $13,200. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 18: "LLOYDS OF LONDON" (HKh-Fox) STATE— (1,000), 30c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $4,800) "MAID OF SALEM" (Para.) "THE HOLY TERROR" (20th-Fox) FOX— (2,300), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $5,400. (Average, $5,200) "BLACK LEGION" (W.B.) "RACING LADY" (RKO) ORPHEUM— (1,200), 20c-30c, 4 days. Gross: $2,500. (Average, $2,200) "WOMAN ALONE" (G.B.) "MAMA STEPS OUT" (M-G-M) ORPHEUM— (1,200), 20c-30c, 3 days. Gross: $1,000. (Average, $1,000) "Love News" 2dWeekTop In Cleveland Cleveland, March 25. — "Love Is News," for a second week, held the local spotlight. After a big week at Warners' Hippodrome, it was moved to the Allen where it more than doubled average with a take of $8,200. Sally Rand, as the stage headliner at the RKO Palace, with "We're On the Jury," garnered $19,500, which was $4,500 better than par. "Sea Devils" at Warners' Hippo- drome made a plus showing, going $250 better than the average $10,000. The weather was stormy with snow. Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne in "Idiot's Delight" drew capacity busi- ness. Total first run business was $55,450. Average is $51,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 19 : "LOVE IS NEWS" (20th-Fox) ALLEN— (3,300), 30c-35c-42c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $8,200. (Average, $4,000) "SWING HIGH, SWING LOW" (Para.) LOEW'S STATE— (3,400), 30c-35c42c, 7 days. Gross: $14,500. (Average, $15,000) "OUTCAST" (Para.) LOEW'S STILLMAN — (1,900), 30c-35c- 42c, 7 days. Gross: $3,000. (Average. $6,- 000) "WE'RE ON THE JURY" (RKO) RKO PALACE— (3,100), 30c-42c-60c, 7 days. Stage: Sally Rand and "Texas Fair Follies." Gross: $19,500. (Average, $15,000) "SEA DEVILS" (RKO) WARNER'S HIPPODROME— (3,800), 30c- 35c-42c, 7 days. Gross: $10,250. (Average. $10,000) Rename 'Dead Yesterday' Hollywood, March 25. — The Great Hospital Mystery" has been selected as the release title of the film formerly known as "Dead Yes- terday," which was completed re- cently by 20th Century-Fox studios. "Jeeves" with Waring Leads In St. Louis St. Louis, March 25. — With "Step Lively, Jeeves" on the screen at the Ambassador and Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians on the stage last week the take soared to $18,000, over normal by $4,000. This ended the stage policy at the house. "Swing High, Swing Low" and "Don't Tell the Wife" at the Fox proved the best drawing card of the all-film programs with a gross of $15,500, which was $2,500 better than average. Total first run business was $60,- 450. Average is $59,000. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 18: "STEP LIVELY, JEEVES" (20th-Fox) AMBASSADOR— (3,018), 25c-40c-55c, 7 days. Stage: Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians. Gross: $18,000. (Aver- age, $14,000) "SWING HIGH, SWING LOW" (Para.) "DON'T TELL THE WIFE" (RKO) FOX— (5,038), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $15,500. (Average, $13,000) "A FAMILY AFFAIR" (M-G-M) "THE MAN WHO COULD WORK MIRACLES" (U. A) LOEW'S— (3,162), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $14,000) "OUTCAST" (Para.) "SHE'S DANGEROUS" (Univ.) MISSOURI— (3,514), 25c-35c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $9,250. (Average, $11,000) "THE PLAINSMAN" (Para.) ST. LOUIS— (4,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $7,700. (Average, $7,000) Lesser Heads Century Boston, March 25. — Louis Lesser, formerly with the Bay State Film Co., has been appointed sales head for Century Pictures by Marcel Mackel- berg, Boston manager for G. B., who still owns the Century franchise. Phy- sical distribution is being handled through Wholesome Film Service, Inc. 66 Swing High" Gets $17,000, Philadelphia Philadelphia, March 25. — Though the heaviest snow of the winter knocked off Sunday and Monday business, grosses were excellent. "Swing High, Swing Low" took a $17,000 and was held at the Stanley. "Fire Over England" grossed $11,000 at the Aldine and also was held. The two roadshow pictures held their own, with "Lost Horizon" taking $14,000 for its second week at the Chestnut and "The Good Earth" snar- ing $12,500 for its fourth week at the Locust. "Nancy Steele Is Missing," plus Shep Fields and his band, gave the Fox a better-than-average $16,000. "Romeo and Juliet" failed to click in eight days at the Boyd. It grossed $11,000. Total first run business was $106,- 600. Average, exclusive of the road- show pictures, is $83,160. Estimated takings for the week ending March 18: "FIRE OVER ENGLAND" (U.A.) ALDINE— (1,300), 40c-55c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $8,160) "MAN OF AFFAIRS" (G.B.) (2nd run) ARCADIA— (600), 25c-40c-50c, 5 days. Gross: $1,700. (Average, 7 days, $2,800) "ROMEO AND JULIET" (M-G-M) BOYD— (2,400), 40c -55c, 8 days. Gross r $11,000. (Average, 7 days, $14,000) "LOST HORIZON" (Col.) CHESTNUT— (1,350), 58c-86c-$1.14-$1.71, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $14,000. "FAIR WARNING" (20th-Fox) EARLE— (2,000), 40c-55c-65c, 7 days. Stage: "Folies Parisienne" unit. Gross; $13,000. (Average, $14,000) "NANCY STEELE IS MISSING" (20th-Fox) FOX— (3,000), 40c-55c-65c, 7 days. Stage: Shep Fields and band. Gross: $16,000. (Average, $14,000) "READY, WILLING AND ABLE" (W.B.) (2nd run) KARLTON— (1,000), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $2,700. (Average, $4,000) "GREEN LIGHT" (F.N.) (2nd run) KEITH'S— (2,000), 30c-40c-50c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $2,200. (Average, $4,000) "THE GOOD EARTH" (M-G-M) Locust— (1,300), 55c-86c-$1.14-$1.71, 7 days, 4th week. Gross: $12,500. "SWING HIGH, SWING LOW" (Para.) STANLEY — (3,700), 40c-55c, 7 days. Gross: $17,000. (Average, $14,000) "MIDNIGHT COURT" (W.B.) STANTON— (1,700), 30c-40c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $7,000) May Use Amateur Acts Scottsbluff, Neb., March 25. — Acts culled from weekly amateur nights held at the Gering (Neb.) Auditorium may be used on a circuit of Platte Valley theatres in Nebraska and Colorado, according: to W. H. Ostenberg of Gibraltar Theatres. Ostenberg will start the experiment shortly. Maurice C apian Better Detroit, March 25. — Maurice J. Caplan, president of Metropolitan M. P. Co. and former president of the local Variety Club, who has been seriously ill in Harper Hospital, is reported out of danger. Selznick Signs Sinclair Hollywood, March 25. — Selznick International Pictures has signed Rob- ert Sinclair, New York stage direc- tor, to direct an early production. STUDY IN SHOWMANSHIP! A subject that has made the nation's headlines is bound to make long lines at the nation's box-offices! It is already I FECIAL Hi Mi SERVANT of the PEOPLE The Story of the Constitution of the United States GIVE IT THE GUN— Book it Early— Bill it Big— Grab that Extra Gross READY FOR APRIL 9th RELEASE! MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, March 26, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY* HOLLYWOOD PREVIEW "Fifty Roads to Town" (20th Century-Fox) Hollywood, March 25. — Comedy and romance given farce treatment form the substance of this film. Much of it is very amusing. Other portions, which have the atmosphere of a high school amateur theatrical, are not. Consequently, the entertainment is slowed somewhat. How- ever, good dialogue and situations combine to offer general attractive- ness and appeal for average audiences. Featuring Don Ameche and Ann Sothern, the plot follows the mis- taken identity formula. In a speeding auto, Ameche is fleeing a divorce mess. Miss Sothern is also in flight — on the way to an elopement. Both come together in an isolated mountain cabin where the boy thinks that the girl is a process serving deputy and she thinks he is a gangster. Intimate but wholesome relations ensue and bring Spencer Charters, an innkeeper; Stepin Fetchit, his handy man; Slim Summervile, a trapper; Paul Hurst, motorcycle policeman, and John Qualen, sheriff, into the film for some hilarious comedy contrast. The appearance of Douglas Fowley, the real gangster, lends a dramatic note to the com- edy. As Miss Sothern and Ameche come to love each other real identi- ties are revealed. This is followed by a farce comedy situation which culminates in a roaring gun siege wherein Qualen's posse fires more bullets than ever were aimed at Dillinger. The violent situation is not to be taken seriously. The film is based on a novel by Louis Nebel which William Consel- man and George Marion, Jr., transcribed to the screen. Norman Taurog's direction accentuates comedy, but points for enough love in- terest to hold the story together. Production Code Seal No. 3,038. Running time, 80 minutes. "G." Looking 'Em Over Git Along Little Dogies (Republic) Here is western entertainment of the first order. There is community singing in which the audience is invited to participate, romance comedy by Smiley Burnette, who chases butterflies, and a modern, plausible story that is excitingly unfolded. Autry leads a group of ranchers who are opposed to the drilling of oil wells near streams where they water their cattle. Judith Allen and her father are backing the oil project. Miss Allen and Autry are friendly enemies, romantically inclined. She also operates a radio station. The story meanders through musical interludes, melodrama and finally arrives at its exciting conclusion after Autry uncovers Weldon Hey- burn's trickery and oil is struck to the great satisfaction of the cast in general. It is pleasantly diverting throughout. In its entirety the production has all sorts of musical variety. There is a stock-selling show, a performance by The Cabin Kids and cleverly injected comedy. The principals handle their roles convincingly. Autry sings in the manner his followers appreciate. The support includes Willie Fung, William Farnum, The Maple City Four, Carleton Young and Will and Gladys Ahern, a dancing team. Joseph Kane directed. Production Code Seal No. 3,141. Running time, 65 minutes. "G." (Additional Reviews on page 8) "Seventh Heaven" reviewed by wire from the coast on March 17, opened at the Radio City Music Hall yesterday morning. "The King and the Chorus Girl," slated to open tomorrow morning at the Strand, was reviewed by wire from Hollywood on Feb. 24. "History is Made at Night," another picture to open Saturday morning, but at the Rivoli, was reviewed on March 9. "Waikiki Wedding," now current at the Paramount, was previewed from Hollywood on March 22 by wire. 6 "Wings" Hits $19,500,Top Boston Gross Boston, March 25. — "Love Is News," with "Wings of the Morn- ing," hit the high spots at the RKO Memorial with a take of $19,500, above average by $7,500. "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney," with "Dangerous Number," took $15,000 at Loew's Orpheum, over the line by $3,- 000. The same program also did well at Loew's State with $13,000. Aver- age is -$11,000. Rainy weather and Lent affected grosses at the other houses. "Good Earth," roadshowing at the Colonial at $1.65 top, drew $12,000 in its first week. Total first run business was $112,- 000. Average is $88,500. Estimated takings for the week end- ing March 18: "MURDER GOES TO COLLEGE" (Para.) "CRACK-UP" (20th-Fox) FENWAY— (1,392), 30c-S0c, 7 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average, $4,500) "LOVE IS NEWS" (20th-Fox) "WINGS OF THE MORNING" (20th-Fox) RKO MEMORIAL— (2,907), 25c-50c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $19,500. (Average, $12,000) "LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY" (M-G-M) "DANGEROUS NUMBER" (M-G-M) LOEW'S ORPHEUM — (2,970) , 25c-45c- 65c, 7 days. Gross: $15,000. (Average, $12,- 000) "LAST OF MRS. CHEYNEY" (M-G-M) "DANGEROUS NUMBER" (M-G-M) LOEW'S STATE — (3,537) , 25c-45c-65c, 7 days. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $11,000) "GOOD EARTH" (M-G-M) COLONIAL — (1,643), 55c-85c-$1.10-$1.65, 7 days. Gross: $12,000. "SWING HIGH, SWING LOW" (Para.) METROPOLITAN — (4,332), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: "Rhapsody in Rhythm" with Grauman's Musical Stairs. Gross: $22,000. (Average, $22,000) "MURDER GOES TO COLLEGE" (Para.) "CRACK-UP" (20th-Fox) PARAMOUNT— (1,793), 25c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average, $7,000) "NIGHT WAITRESS" (RKO) RKO BOSTON— (3,246), 35c-55c-75c, 7 days. Stage: "World's Most Beautiful" with Edgar Kennedy. Gross: $20,000. (Av- erage, $21,000) "Swing High" Gets $8,000 in Denver Denver, March 25. — "Swing High, Swing Low" turned in the best show- ing of the week by getting $8,000 at the Denham, $2,000 to the good. "The Green Light" was strong at the Denver with a take of $10,000. "When's Your Birthday?" and "Criminal Lawyer" were strong on a take of $8,000 at the Orpheum. Total first run business was $35,000. Average is $27,000. Estimated takings for the week ending March 18: "WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE" (Col.) ALADDIN— (1,500), 25c-40c-50c, 7 days, folowing a week at the Denver. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $3,000) "ON THE AVENUE" (20th-Fox) BROADWAY— (1,500), 25c-40c, 7 days, following a week each at the Denver and Aladdin. Gross: $3,000. (Average, $2,000) "SWING HIGH, SWING LOW" (Para.) DENHAM— (1,500), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $5,000) "GREEN LIGHT" (F.N.) DENVER— (2,500), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Stage band. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $7,500) "WHEN'S YOUR BIRTHDAY" (RKO) "CRIMINAL LAWYER" (RKO) ORPHEUM— (2,600), 25c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average, $6,000) "GREAT O'MALLEY" (W.B.) "OFF TO THE RACES" (20th-Fox) PARAMOUNT— (2,000), 25c-40c, 7 days. Cross: $3,000. (Average, $3,500) White to Make Shorts Lew White, organist, is planning a series of song shorts under the gen- eral title, "Your Song Parade," in which radio, stage and screen players will appear. The first will go into work at the Reeves Sound Studios shortly. Delay Oberon Picture London, March 25. — Merle Ober- on's injuries, sustained in a motor' accident here last week will necessi- tate a delay in the production of "I, Claudius," it was learned today. Doc- tors said the actress will not be able to work for three or four months. Short Subjects "My Artistical Temperature" (Paramount) Popeye and Bluto "have at it" in their atelier when Olive Oyl arrives to have her likeness done by the pair. The regular preliminaries are taken care of in short order and the boys soon start battling. The fight is a grand display with hilarious in- vention. The animation takes in many clever angles, such as molded fists smacking Bluto and countless other humorous twists. It is a first rate Popeye. Production Code Seal No. 01,286. Running time, 7 mins. "G." "Screen Snapshots No. 7" (Columbia) The wandering camera visits the Hollywood location of a circus and the attendant doings by the film folk there. In another sequence it shows Chester Morris training his dogs. Then it takes the audience to a re- gatta at Long Beach and finally to Fred Stone's nickeodeon party. In its way it is pleasant. Production Code Seal No. 2,908. Running time, 9 mins. "G." " The Ice Man" (Van Beur en-Radio) Inside facts concerning hockey are revealed in this "Sports with Bill Corum" number. The spectacular as- pects of the game and many glimpses behind the scenes should serve to hold interest. It is vividly photographed. Production Code Seal No. 01,426. Running time, 10 mins. "G." "Puttin' Out the Kitten" (Columbia) There are some good effects in the animation of this Scrappy cartoon. In its light, entertaining way it has Scrappy suffering from a terrible nightmare after he puts the cat out on a cold, snowy night. Production Code Seal No. 3,005. Running time, 7. mins. "G." Wall Street Losses Dominate Board Net High Low Close Change 3334 33% 3354 - % 4% 4% 454 + % Consolidated, pfd. 15% 1556 15% -% Eastman Kodak . 161 160% 160% + % Gen. T. Equip... 30% 30 30 + % 77% 77 77 + % 23% 23% 23% Paramount 1 pfd. 163 163 163 -VA Paramount 2 pfd. 20% 20% m 20% — % Pathe Film 8% 8% - 'A RKO 8% 7% 7% -% 20th Century-Fox 37J4 36% 36% 20th Century, pfd. 46 46 46 Warner Bros. ... 14% 14% 14% - % Little Curb Movement Net High Low Close Change Grand National . 3 2% 2% 1% 1% 1% 22 21% 21% — % Trans -Lux 4% 4% 4% Fractional Bond Changes Net High Low Close Change Keith B. F. 6s '46 97% 97% 97% + % Loew's 3%s '46. ... 98% 98% 98% Paramount Pict. 6s '55 100 100 100 Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 95 94% 94% — % (Quotations at close of March 25) EVE RECIOU — and you'll experience many delicious moments when Mischa (in 6 hilar- ious disguises) mixes with Sally and Jimmy in the big laugh show of the Hour! ! SALLY EILERS JAMES DUNN MISCHA AUER // WE HAVE OUR MO Another good one from the NEW UNIVERSAL! CHARLES R. ROGERS IXtCUTIVt PftODUCfl ed by Alfred I. Werker G R A I N G MOTION PICTURE DAILY i Looking 'Em Over "White Gods" (Trekolog Films) To exhibitors who specialize in unusual exploitation films, "White Gods" is a natural for plenty of ballyhoo. The dress and mannerisms of the Avishiri Indians in the Oriente region of Ecuador are unique in that they smear their faces and bodies fantastically with paint and slick their hair to resemble grotesque head gear. It was produced by Andre Roosevelt and Cyril von Baumann on an expedition last year. Walter Blaske acted as guide, with Basil Ruysdael handling the narration. Approximately 26,000 feet of film were shot and later reduced to six reels. According to the producers, these Indians had never seen a white man before and no white man has penetrated the Oriente region. Roosevelt and Von Baumann have introduced a plot which finds them searching for Martin Greenleaf, an explorer, believed lost and alive in the jungle. The only clue they have to Greenleaf is a pipe found in the Indian camp and bearing the initials of M. G. They do not succeed in finding their man and leave the country after narrow escapes. Reviewed without a production code seal. Running time, 61 minutes. "G." "Navy Spy" (Condor-Grand National) A trite and unconvincing action yarn, this George Hirliman produc- tion offers little in story, cast or production, and appears suitable at best for the second spot on a dual bill. Conrad Nagel works hard to make something of his role of Federal officer tracking the foreign kidnappers of a naval lieutenant with an important secret, but his material is too much for him. Opposite him, in the role of a feminine agent who works with him on the case, is Eleanor Hunt, who contributes nothing to the picture. Judith Allen and Jack Doyle are cast in supporting roles. The screenplay of Crane Wilbur, who also directed, tells of the dis- appearance of Doyle, inventor of a secret formula of value to the Navy, which is sought by foreign interests. Other means failing, Doyle is kidnapped, the ruse being betrayal by Miss Allen, dancer with whom he is in love. Nagel is assigned to the case, and despite his stern refusals, Miss Hunt insists on working with him. The climax comes aboard a tramp steamer which is taking Doyle and Miss Allen to sea, as the disguised Nagel and Miss Hunt succeed in rescuing Doyle and effecting the capture of the gang with the aid of a destroyer. Production Code Seal No. 2,650. Running time, 57 minutes. "G." "Oh, Susanna!" (Republic) Western action is secondary to musical sequences in this Nat Levine production. The necessary action is present in a measure and comedy is offered by Smiley Burnette. Gene Autry, Frances Grant, Earle Hodg- son, Donald Kirke and Clara Kimball Young are featured. The film should have fair acceptance. Autry is waylaid on a train by an escaping murderer while on his way to visit friends. The criminal changes clothes and pushes the hero out of a Pullman window. At Autry's destination the culprit poses as the singer, who, meanwhile, is picked up by Smiley Burnette's traveling show. The plot from that point is mainly concerned with Autry's troubles with the law and with tracking down his assailant. This pro- cedure takes him to Miss Grant's dude ranch. While posing as an en- tertainer he gets a lead on the outlaw and shortly afterwards settles his account. The finish has a rousing chase in the approved fashion, though it is done with automobiles instead of horses. The musical interludes follow the outdoor theme. Joseph Kane directed. Production Code Seal No. 2,429. Running time, 60 minutes. "G." 8 New Operating Deal Is Signed for Roxy (Continued from page 1) of the gross of the Roxy and 25 per cent of the net. During the past six months the operating company re- ceived $60,000, it was stated. Cull- man pointed out, however, that the compensation for the past six months was not a fair representation of sums paid the operators for the entire re- ceivership period, during which the Roxy occasionally was in the red. The new agreement is subject to the approval of the Federal court. If the reorganization of the theatre is com- pleted this summer, the new agree- ment, presumably, would carry Artco over as operator of the house at least until the end of the year despite the fact that the reorganization plan con- templates acquisition of a controlling stock interest in the Roxy by 20th Century-Fox in consideration for $650,000 in cash and a 20-year film franchise. Leo Brecher, New York theatre op- erator, testified that he placed a value of $4,000,000 to $5,000,000 on the Roxy as a going concern. This con- trasted with realtors' appraisals of approximately $3,500,000 which were made earlier. Roxy stockholders are endeavoring to demonstrate that the theatre company is not insolvent and that the reorganization plan, in conse- quence, should make provision for the stockholders. A letter written by the late S. L. (Roxy) Rothafel which expressed dis- approval of long term film franchises was introduced in evidence at the hearing, which will be resumed next week. Stadium-KAO Pact Approved by Court (Continued from page 1) transfer to Stadium of $386,000 of Orpheum notes which it continues to hold and would also cancel claims against Orpheum aggregating more than $3,000,000. Bondy Approves Special Master An order providing for the appoint- ment of a special master by the Fed- eral Court to hear opposition to the RKO plan of reorganization was signed by Federal Judge William Bondy yesterday and indications are that the appointment will be made within the next week. The assignment of hearings on the plan to a special master is designed to speed up the RKO reorganization by leaving Judge Bondy free to hear and dispose of a large amount of re- lated litigation which has been monopolizing the court's time to the exclusion of hearings on the plan it- self. RKO Claim Reduced The claim of Cora Gregg for $17,109 against RKO was reduced yesterday to $14,549 by Federal Judge William Bondy and allowed in that amount. A hearing on the claim of the Crescent Advertising Co. against this company was set for April 26 before Judge Bondy. Roderick to Fairhaven Boston, March 25. — The Glickman circuit has named Leonard Roderick manager of Keith's in Fairhaven. Question Censor Action Toronto, March 23. — The action of the Ontario censor board in permit- ting the wives of a number of mem- bers of Parliament to attend a mid- night screening of "The Good Earth" has been questioned. It is considered improper in some quarters for the censor to invite spectators while the film was in the possession of the Government. Hockey Hits Theatres Regina, Sask., March 25.— When hockey and ice carnivals and shows reach their maturity in the United States they will provide tough com- petition for theatres, if the experiences of Canadian showmen provide a cri- terion. Larry Graburn, Metropolitan man- ager, declares grosses drop 50 per cent on championship hockey nights. Friday, March 26, 1937 Patterson Wins Stay On "Jungle" Picture Federal Judge Vincent L. Leibell yesterday granted an injunction to Frederick B. Patterson against the Century Prod., Inc., Samuel Cum- mins, Empire Laboratories, Inc., Richard Fidler and the Bob-Ed Thea- tre Corp., restraining further infringe- ment on Patterson's film and directing the defendants to deliver all negatives for destruction. The court also ruled that a special master should be ap- pointed to render an accounting of the profits and damages. An allowance for counsel fees also will be made. The court ruled that at least 1,000 feet of film from Patterson's picture "Shooting Big Game with a Camera" were "purloined" in the "Jungle Killer," which was produced by Cum- mins' company, Century Prod. On Feb. 19 last Judge Murray Hulbert also granted an injunction and order for an accounting against the same de- fendants because the . "Jungle Killer" infringed on the picture "Jengo" owned by the Danveport-Quigley Expeditions. Patterson made his film while in Africa in 1927 and has been renting it to religious and educational organiza- tions. The suit had been previously discontinued against Carveth Wells. Bill Permits Towns to Control Theatres Albany, March 25. — Under the provisions of a bill introduced in the Assembly by Harry A. Reoux, of Warrensburg and referred to the In- ternal Affairs Committee, the town law is amended generally among other things to permit towns to regulate film houses, shows, skating rinks and amusement parks. Krellberg Explains Belmont Lease Deal (Continued from page 1) Krellberg is president. Motion Pic- ture Daily said yesterday that Al Krellberg is the owner of the house. This was an error. He is the attorney for Paradise. Sam Krellberg declared yesterday that he has no control over the. pic- tures played in the theatre, that the matter was handled as a straight the- atre rental and that he was in Florida at the time the lease was signed. Dowling to Preside At Dinner to Zukor (Continued from page 1) stein, vice-president and treasurer of M-G-M, and William Brandt, chair- man in charge of the dinner, will speak. WOR-Mutual will air the affair from 11:30 P. M. to 12 midnight. About 3,000 theatre owners will at- tend. Airlines Cut Rates American Airlines yesterday an- nounced reduction in rates between all principal cities. Charles A. Rhein- strom, vice-president, stated that effec- tive May 1, the fare from New York to the coast will be reduced by $10.05, and from New York to Chicago by $3. There will be an $8 charge for berths between the two coasts. Meals will be continued on a complimentary basis, he said. I've got my share of good pictures . . . and National Screen Service to take care of my screen advertising with fresh, peppy, properly timed, up-to-the-minute screen broadcasts, flashing the big news and the best news of my coming attractions. * Why shouldn't I feel good ! . . . there's always a couple of good lines I can lift right out of the trailer copy to help build my selling campaign. * Give National Screen the names of your pictures and your playdates and they do the rest and do it swell. * Sure I feel good . . . and so do more than 10,000 showmen who have ^NATIONAL SCREEN SERVICE 10 RADIO MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, March 26, 1937 4 Radio Personals ► ANNA JAMISON'S contract on "Hollywood Hotel" has been re- newed for another 13 weeks. . . . An- nouncer George Hicks, and engineers Walter Brown and Marvin Adams leave for Enderburg Island early in April to do NBC's description of the eclipse of the sun June 8 from that tiny dot of land in the Pacific. . . . Pauline Frederick will be the featured guest on the Hammerstein "Music Hall of the Air" series March 30. "Naughty Marietta" will be the "Beauty Box" offering March 31, starring Jessica Dragonette. . . . Andre Kostelanetz yesterday signed a contract with the Brunswick Re- cording Co. . . . Ford Frick and Gert- rude Lawrence will be the principal guests on "Showboat" next Thursday. . . . Texas stations KTAT and WRR will join the Mutual network May 1, instead of on April 15, as originally announced. . . . Marion Melton will be heard singing with Irving Aaron- son's "Commanders" on WHN begin- ning next Thursday. . . . And Helen Yorks, WHN soprano, will begin a new series Sunday, from 1 :30 to 2 P.M. . . . Lois Bennett will be Frank Munn's guest star this Sunday. . . . "Johnnie Presents" will present Doris Rhodes tomorrow night. . . . Dermott Quinn will be interviewed by Gertrude of Hollywood on WHN Monday afternoon at 2 :30 P.M. . . . + Chicago Town Pump Chicago, March 28. — Truman Bradley, CBS-WBBM announcer, has been named one of the 10 best dressed men in Chicago. . . . Lucile Long, contralto on the NBC "Alka-Seltzer National Barn Dance," is vacationing in Florida. . . . The Kaye Brinker- Milton Charles program is making such a hit on WBBM-CBS that two network programs have been cancelled so that the program can be heard Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6:30 P. M., C. S. T. . . . Don Gordon is the newest announcer to join the CBS staff. He comes to Chicago from Milwaukee. . . . Stan Thomp- son of WBBM is back at work after having been ill with the flu for a week. . . . Edna Means, monologist, starts a series of broadcasts over WCFL beginning Wednesday at 9 P. M., C. S. T. . . . Dr. Orlando Scott demonstrated a lie detector over the Bowman show at WGN Wednes- day. Buddy Doyle was another fea- tured artist on the show. FCC Fixes Dates on Examiners' Hearings Washington, March 25. — The F. C. C. has ordered the holding of ex- aminers' hearings on the following applications : May 19: Watertown Broadcasting Corp. and Black River Valley Broad- casts, Inc., both of Watertown, N. Y., for a new 1,420-kilocycle station, 100 watts night and 250 watts day power; station WCAD, Canton, N. Y., for change of frequency from 1,- 220 to 1,270 kilocycles; KWTN, Watertown, South Dakota, for change of frequency from 1,340 to 1,220 kilo- cycles and increase of night power from 250 to 500 watts ; station KGDY, Huron, South Dakota, for change of frequency from 1,340 to 1,210 kilo- cycles. May 28: Station KCMO, Kansas City, Mo., for change of frequency from 1,370 to 1,450 kilocycles and in- crease of power from 100 to 1,000 watts ; West Virginia Newspaper Publishing Co., Clarksburg, W. Va., for new 1,250-kilocycle, 1,000- watt daytime station; station WBOW, Terre Haute, Ind., for change of fre- quency from 1,310 to 1,290 kilocycles and increase of power from 500 watts night, 1,000 watts day. June 1 : W. H. Hartman Co., Waterloo, la., for new 1,420-kilocycle 100-watt station; Vancouver Radio Corp., Vancouver, Wash., for new 880-kilocycle, 250-watt daytime sta- tion ; Petersburg Newspaper Corp., Petersburg, Va., for new 1,210-kilo- cycle, 100 watts night, 250 watts day station. Foran with Burns and" Allen Warners' earlier objections having been overcome, Dick Foran is now definitely set as the vocalist for the new Burns & Allen series, which will be inaugurated April 12 on the NBC-Red. ISO SAYS WHN is your station for the last - minute United Press news flashes! DIAL 1010 M-G-M • LOEW S Discuss Beauty Contest It has been reported here that the Junior Chamber of Commerce, with headquarters in Washington, has ten- tatively approved a plan to start a na- tionwide film talent hunt by conduct- ing beauty contests similar to Atlan- tic City's annual beauty pageant. The method is to replace the routine now employed for the Hollywood festivals. The structure calls for contests in various cities under the supervision of the local Chamber of Commerce offices. Heinz to Have Contest "Heinz Magazine of the Air," spon- sored by H. J. Heinz Co. on CBS, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 to 11:30 A.M., E.S.T., will announce news of a new contest on the April 7 broadcast. The prizes will total $3,500 in Heinz merchandise, 1,400 prizes in all, for original recipes. The contest will continue until May 22, at which time the winners will be announced. Maxon, Inc. handles the program and con ceived the contest. Wellman on Air Test Hollywood, March 25. — William A. Wellman, director for Selznick International, will officiate at radio's first air screen test from the studios of KFI today at 11 :45, P.S.T. The test will be made on the "Hollywood in Person" program, with Margaret Tallichet as the screen sub ject. Mary Astor and Raymond Mas sey will appear on the program. KHJ Clearing Channels Hollywood, March 25. — KHJ, Don Lee-Mutual affiliate here, is now clear- ing channels in an attempt to give Ed Lowry's "Sing Time" program a full coast-to-coast spot. Changes Subject Listeners who may have been tuned in on WOR, WMCA, or WINS, yesterday afternoon from 1:15 to 2 P. M., heard a remark never in- tended for the ears of dial tuners. The remark was made by Lieut. Col. Herman Bueckema, guest speaker at the weekly Advertising Club luncheon. The officer was not cut off the air. H. B. Le Quatte, president of the Advertising Club, let loose an amazed, unbelieving, and horrified "tsk! tsk!" which abruptly stopped the Army officer. He immediately changed his sub- ject. New Dramatic Series Planned for Bankers McCann-Erickson is now preparing a half-hour dramatic series entitled "You May Be Next" for sponsorship by an association of banks. The se- ries will be transcribed. A test platter was aired for the heads of 40 banks at a meeting last week. The banking representatives were from New York, New Jersey and New England. The platter was_ ap- proved, and will be further submitted at the state and national banking con- ventions in May. The series will consist of shock-type dramas, recounting the evils of keep- ing valuable papers and documents in the home, instead of depositing them in safe deposit vaults. Commissioner of Corrections Mc- Cormack, of New York, was featured as narrator on the test platter, and will probably act in a similar Capacity for the completed series. To Open WOWO, WGL Studios Fort Wayne, March 25. — Formal opening of new studios for WOWO and WGL, Westinghouse affiliates in Fort Wayne, will take place May 1. Several programs have been planned for the day, and nationally known radio artists will be in the city to take part. Efforts are being made to assemble NBC artists who started their careers here. Westinghouse took over the two Fort Wayne stations a year ago. Both were Columbia affiliates then, but WGL went on the NBC-Red network last November and WOWO will be- come a member of the basic blue net- work May 1. Ward W. Dorrell is manager of both. Shift "Spelling Bee" Time Beginning May 6, the NBC "Spell- ing Bee" program will be heard at a new time, Thursdays, 9 :30 to 10 :30 P.M., E.S.T., succeeding the "Town Meeting of the Air," which leaves the airways for the summer period. The "Spelling Bees" are currently heard Saturdays from 4 :30 to 5 :30 P.M. Extend "Parade" Time Confirming an earlier report here, the half-hour NBC "Hit Parade" series will add 15-minutes to its broad- cast period, effective next Wednesday. The series hereafter will be heard from 10 to 10:45 P.M., E.S.T., on the Red network. Lord and Thomas is the agency. Vallee to Have Two London Broadcasts Standard Brands, sponsors of the Rudy Vallee program, are sending Vallee to England to make two broad- casts from London, May 6 and 13. Vallee will broadcast from the BBC studios and will feature British musi- cians and guest artists. The programs will be short-waved to America and re-broadcast by NBC at the usual Vallee time, Thursday, 8 to 9 P. M., E.S.T., on the Red network. The move, of course, is motivated by the Coronation excitement that will center the eyes and ears of the world on London in May. WHN Adds Two Accounts Barney's Clothes, Inc., through the Schillin advertising agency, has added an additional hour each week to the WHN schedule, effective immediately. The new period, Sundays from 11 to 12 midnight, is a recorded dance hour. The contract is for nine months. Additionally at WHN, Washington State Apples, Inc., through J. Walter Thompson, yesterday contracted for a four-week sponsorship of the Ida Bailey Allen participating program. The periods are Mondays, Wednes- days and Fridays from 10:30 to 11:30 A. M. Renew Continental Series Continental Baking Co.'s "Pretty Kitty Kelly" series, heard Mondays through Fridays from 6:45 to 7 P. M., E. S. T. on CBS, has been renewed for 13 weeks, effective April 12. Beginning April 26, the program will be heard at a new time, from 1 :15 to 1 :30 P. M., E. S. T. Ben- ton and Bowles is the agency. Sablon Programs Arranged Jean Sablon, who recently arrived here from France, will begin a regular series of his own on the NBC-Red network, beginning Monday, from 9:30 to 10 P.M., E.S.T. Norman Cloutier's orchestra will accompany Sablon. "Morning Almanac" to Start "Morning Almanac," a new series featuring Phil Cook, Lou White and a variety cast, will begin April 5, and will be heard Mondays through Sat- urdays from 8 to 9 A.M. on WABC onlv. It will be a sustainer. Signed for Coronation Blevins Davis, Yale University pro- fessor and authority on English coro- nation history, yesterday signed a con- tract with NBC to act as broadcast commentator for the coronation for that network. "Farewell to Arms" on Air Clark Gable, Adolphe Menjou and Josephine Hutchinson will offer a radio version of "Farewell to Arms" on the Lux "Radio Theatre" April 5 over CBS. Dressman Says — "We are always interested from day to day in your very fine radio section." — Elmer H. Dressman, WCKY, Cincin- nati. Friday, March 26, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY ii Boston Unit Seeks Increase in Power Washington, March 25. — The F. C. C. has received an application from WAAB, Boston, for an increase in power from 500 to 1,000 watts. The commission also has received the following additional applications : WSFA, Montgomery, Ala., for a pow- er increase from 500 to 1,000 watts ; KCA, Seattle, for a power increase from 250 watts day and 500 watts night to 1,000 watts; Capitol Broad- i. casting Co., Inc., Raleigh, N. C, for a new daytime station on 1,210 kilo- cycles, 250 watts ; Metropolitan Radio Service, Inc., Chicago, new station on 1,570 kilocycles, 1,000 watts ; Warren . B. Worcester, San Diego, new sta- tion on 1,400 kilocycles, 250 watts night, 1,000 watts day. O'Brien One of KIRO Owners Seattle, March 25. — Col. Arthur O'Brien, U. S. Army retired, is a new principal stockholder in KIRO. according to Louis K. Lear, president of the Queen City Broadcasting Co. Colonel O'Brien will represent the station as attorney and contact man. KIRO, recently announced as the new CBS outlet here, will not take over the Columbia programs before January 1, 1938, it was stated this week. Until that time they will con- tinue to be released by KOL. Earhart for Kraft Hollywood, March 25. — Amelia Earhart will broad- cast a full account of her re- cent trip on the Kraft hour next Thursday. John Barry- more and June Travis will also be on the program. Initial Program Set In Paramount Series The introductory "Paramount on Parade" broadcast this Sunday at noon on the NBC-Red network will feature visits to two film sets, "Turn Off the Moon," and "Mountain Music," in addition to reenactments of scenes from "Waikiki Wedding," with Bob Burns, Shirley Ross and Martha Raye portraying their screen roles from the picture. "Paramount On Parade" is being produced by Boris Morros, head of the studio music department, under the supervision of C. J. Dunphy, studio publicity and advertising head. Westmores on Coast Network Hollywood, March 25. — Two series of beauty hint talks, one by Ern Westmore of 20th Century-Fox and the other by Wally Westmore of Par- amount, will be a weekly feature of "Hollywood in Person," the General Mills broadcast from studio stages over the NBC Pacific Coast red net- work. Ask Georgia Air Group Atlanta, March 25. — A bill, spon- sored by President Spivey of the Georgia Senate and three members, has been introduced calling for the creation of a seven-member Georgia radio commission to operate WGST at Georgia Tech and other stations the state might acquire. Three New Accounts at WKRC Cincinnati, March 25. — New ac- counts reported by WKRC include: Oneida, Ltd., 13 quarter-hours of Peggy Tudor, twice weekly, placed through Batten, Barton, Durstine and Osborn, Inc., New York; Chrysler Motors, 12 spot announcements, two each night, placed through Lee An- derson, Detroit, and Calco Chemical Co., 52 one-minute announcements starting May 3, plugging Little Duchess Laundry Blue, placed through Ferry-Hanly Co., New York. About 585 on New Season's Film Schedule Brown and Riegel Advanced Philadelphia, March 25. — Dee Carlton Brown and G. Frederic Rie- gel, members of the executive staff of the Geare-Marston advertising agency, have been promoted to vice- presidents. Brown will have charge of production and Riegel will be an account executive. G. E. Gets Steinberg-Gilman General Electric Corp. has retained Steinberg-Gilman Prod, to produce a series of foreign language spot an- nouncements. Four languages will be used on three stations as a test pro- gram. Vallee Buys "Points West" Los Angeles, March 25. — Rudy Vallee has purchased the screen rights to the song, "All Points West," It may be filmed by Warners. Ad Men to Dance April 17 "Monte Carlo" night and dance will be held by the Ass'n of Advertising Men of New York at the Hotel Penn- sylvania Roof Saturday evening, April 17. Radio stars will entertain. Sign for New WFIL Studios Philadelphia, March 25. — Con- tracts have been negotiated for the construction of WFIL's new $200,000 studios on the top floor of the Widener Bldg. Donald Withycomb,, general manager, said the studios will be ready by July 15. Firms whose bids were accepted include Frank G. Stewart Co., general contract ; Carrier Corp., air conditioning ; Johns - Manville Corp., soundproofing and acoustical treatment'. Horace Trumbauer is the architect. (.Continued from page 1) were outstanding several years ago. United Artists, 20th Century-Fox and Loew's reissued a few pictures this season. At least five distributors will hold annual sales meetings in Los Angeles within the next few months. According to present plans, Loew's will hold its convention at the Am- bassador, Los Angeles, for a week starting May 2. Twentieth Century- Fox has set its dates for the same hotel beginning May 31. RKO, Uni- versal and Grand National also in- tend to take their sales forces to the coast. Paramount probably will decide on two regional sessions. United Artists tentatively plans to gather its men in Chicago the first part of June. Monogram may call in franchise hold- ers for a New York meeting. War- ner and Columbia are undecided. Gradwell L. Sears, vice-president and general sales manager for War- ners, and Carl Leserman, his assist- ant, are now conferring with Jack L. Warner on production details for next season. It is expected that dates and a place for the Warner convention will be set before they leave the coast. S. Charles Einfeld, director of advertis- ing and publicity, also is sitting in on the studio meetings. Preliminary indications are that each company will announce a greater number of "A" pictures. Paramount already has several included in the first group of next season's 58. M-G-M Sets Coast Sales Meet May 2 (Continued from page 1) will include M-G-M executives and salesmen from 36 domestic exchanges and from 127 foreign offices located in 59 countries. The prime object of choosing this city as the convention site was to permit the sales organi- zation to preview the 1937-'38 product. W. R. Furgeson, New York man- ager of exploitation, is expected to- morrow to complete arrangements. Nicholas M. Schenck will leave Saturday by train for New York. Mutual to Expose Rackets "It's a Racket," a new dramatic series exposing rackets in business, will be presented over the Mutual net- work beginning tomorrow night from 8 to 9:15 P. M., E. S. T., and weekly thereafter. The National Better Busi- ness Bureau is cooperating with the author and network. Claude Stewart Hammock is handling the scripts. Jack Parr Joins WCAE Pittsburgh, March 25. — Jack Parr, formerly with WKBN in Youngstown, 0., has been added to WCAE's announcers staff here. Pre- vious to his association with WKBN, Par was with WIBM in Jackson, Mich., and WIRE, Indianapolis. Quebec to Get 2nd Chain Montreal, March 25. — A second Canadian Broadcasting Corp. network will be established in the Province of Quebec soon, Dr. Augustin Frigon, assistant manager, states. With two networks in operation, one will be devoted entirely to English programs and the other to French. Constance Bennett Sues G. B. on Pact (Continued from page 1) was contracted for two pictures, "Everything Is Thunder" and "The Hawk" ; that she completed the first, but that the second was made without notifying or calling her. The contract called for $5,000 for each picture, plus 10 per cent of the gross receipts from distribution in the United States with a proviso specifying an advance of $30,000 in anticipation of grossage payable at the rate of $3,750 weekly during the pictures' filming. The $65,000 which the actress asks is com- puted on this basis, with United States grossage estimated at $600,000. Increase Theatre Ads Increased advertising by all Broad- way theatres will boost the number of theatrical pages in local newspapers today from one to three and four pages. Theatre advertising depart- ments are tipping their budgets in view of Easter Week business, which is expected to jump from 15 to 20 per cent over last year. The ads are expected to be the largest in any given week during the past year. Greeting for G.B.'s First 2-a-Day Here (Continued from page 1) in. The theatre lobby was attractively dressed to resemble the Windsor Sta- tion in Montreal. The city was represented by Bor- ough President Samuel Levy. Among the players were Gloria Swanson, Constance Cummings and Mary Boland. Mark Hellinger, Ed Sullivan and Louis Sobel came in, columns and all ; and film and other guests included Neil F. Agnew, Herbert B. Swope, Charles Moskowitz, Nate Blumberg, John O'Connor, Louis Nizer, Arthur W. Kelly, Clayton Sheehan, Spyros Skouras, Edwin C. Hill, Colvin Brown, Paul Moss, license commis- sioner of New York; Sir Gerald Campbell, British consul in this city; Max Fellerman, William and Harry Brandt, Howard S. Cullman and others who ducked in too rapidly to catch the eye or were lost in the inevitable shuffle. "Silent Barriers" was reviewed in Motion Picture Daily on Feb. 16 from London under the original title, "The Great Barrier." Consolidated Staff Strikes at Fort Lee (Continued from page 1) the delivery of urgent work, such as newsreel prints. H. J. Yates, Sr., Consolidated pres- ident, plans to leave for the coast this week end to install new studio man- agement at Republic, with Nat Le- vine's resignation taking effect on April 3. Consolidated Film stockholders met yesterday and reelected five directors whose terms were expiring. Garrison Acquires Films Garrison Film Distributors, Inc., has acquired four new features and three shorts. The features are "The Wave" ("Redes"), a Mexican film; "Inspector General" and two French films. Pick Crawford's Next Hollywood, March 25. — Joan Crawford's next for M-G-M will be "Three Rooms in Heaven." The story is based on Katherine Brush's novel, "Mannequin." Frank Borzage will di- rect. G. N. Gets English Films Grand National will release two English-made films. The first will be "The Man in the Mirror," produced by Julius Hagen, and the second, "Woman Alone," with Anna Sten and produced by Eugene Frenke. Gale C. E. A. Treasurer London, March 16. — Major A. J. Gale of the London and Home Coun- ties Branch of the C. E. A. has been appointed honorary treasurer of the association, in place of the late Thomas Ormiston. This Week in 214 Key Theatres Achievement of the Prize-Winning Company THE KING AND THE CHORUS GIRL Starring FERNAND GRAVET JOAN BLONDELL EDWARD EVERETT HORTON • Alan Mowbray Mary Nash • Jane Wyman • Kenny Baker • Luis Alberni STORY BY GROUCHO MARX and Norman Krasna Songs by Werner R. Heymann and Ted Koehler A MERVYN IFRHV PROni IfTTIOM 'Certain for b. o. championship from keys to cross-roads!" — Motion Picture Daily 'Has what it takes to spell box office. It will profit plenty!" — Variety Daily 'A wow! Will be most talked about picture of the year!" — Hollywood Reporter 'All the elements exhibitors want! For the de luxe theatres as well as the most humble". — Motion Picture Herald 'WARNER BROS Won Nine Simultaneous Academy Awards This Year! Alert. Intelligent to thS Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY First in Film and VOL. 41. NO. 72 NEW YORK, SATURDAY, MARCH 27, 1937 TEN CENTS TLA. to Have 30 Features, Says Schaef er Shorts Lineup Not Set, Executive States United Artists will release approxi- mately 30 features next season, George J. Schaefer, vice-president and general manager, stated yesterday following his return from the coast. There is nothing to talk about on the short subject lineup at this time, he said. David O. Selznick is expected to produce eight, Walter Wanger, six; Samuel Goldwyn, eight, and Alexander Korda, from six to eight. Details of the Gordon-Goetz plans have not yet been completed, Schaefer stated. Dr. A. H. Giannini, chairman and president, is due from the coast in May en route to England to attend the Coronation and to look over the foreign field. He also may visit Italy. Nothing has been set in regard to the company's convention. Preliminary reports from the coast stated it might be held in Chicago, but Schaefer said nothing has been settled. Start Para., U.A. Talks with Loew Negotiations between Loew execu- tives and sales representatives of Par- amount and United Artists on new term franchises to replace the 10-year deals which expire this summer have started. Two meetings were held this week and a series of continued con- ferences will take place next week. C. C. Moskowitz, Joseph R. Vogel and Eugene Picker of Loew's held meetings Thursday and yesterday with Neil F. Agnew, general sales man- ager of Paramount ; J. J. Unger, east- ern and southern division manager, and Milton S. Kusell, New York state district manager. Other sessions are scheduled for next week. With George J. Schaefer, vice-pres- (Continued on page 2) 20th-Fox Heads to Attend Paris Meet Sidney R. Kent, Walter J. Hutch- inson, Truman H. Talley and Lowell Thomas will sail for Paris in two weeks to attend the European sales convention of 20th Century-Fox, scheduled to be held in Paris April 28-May 1. S. S. Crick, Australian head, also will attend. All are expected to at- tend the Coronation and return here (Continued on page 2) C.B. Paine Is Named Aide to R. H. Cochrane Machno vitch S ucceeding Him as Treasurer Charles B. Paine, treasurer of Uni- versal for many years, yesterday was appointed assistant to R. H. Cochrane at a meeting of the company's board of directors at which all other officers were reelected. Samuel Machnovitch, a former of- ficial of Standard Capital Co., was elected treasurer succeeding Paine. The reelected officers are Cochrane, president ; J. Cheever Cowdin, chair- man ; Charles R. Rogers, executive vice-president; Willard S. McKay, vice-president and secretary ; Eugene F. Walsh, assistant treasurer ; Helen E. Hughes, assistant secretary, and Edward Muhl, assistant secretary. Universal yesterday reported a con- solidated net loss after all charges and taxes of $403,966 for the first quarter of its fiscal year, ended Jan. 30. Following yesterday's board meeting (Continued on page 3) Casey Here to Begin Studio Labor Talks Pat Casey, studio labor representa- tive arrived from the coast yesterday to prepare for the annual negotiations with the studio internationals, which will open here on April 5. Considera- tion of wage increases and changes in hours and working conditions for the five studio unions embraced by the five-year basic agreement are on the agenda. An application from the Screen Actors' Guild for inclusion in the basic agreement probably will be pre- sented to the meeting by the heads of the five internationals, to whom the first application must be made. The applications then are either tabled (Continued on page 3) Wisconsin Assembly Kills Game Ban Bill Madison, Wise, March 26.— The Franzkowiak bill to ban Bank Night and similar games was killed by the state Assembly, 69 to 16. Amendments to prohibit drawings in taverns and to forbid theatres to hold over prizes in order to increase their value were rejected without a roll call. Exhibitors had opposed passage of the Franzkowiak bill on the grounds that it was discriminatory because it was indicated that it would be en- forced only against theatres. The state Senate has passed and (Continued on page 3) All's Bright Now Hollywood, March 26.— Everything is going to be all right as far as weather is concerned and there are to be no more production de- lays, according to the Cali- fornia Institute of Technol- ogy. A freak hail, snow, rain and wind storm early this week caused the technology experts to state that the "un- usual" weather which has lasted all winter is ended. Stress Propaganda In German Product Berlin, March 26. — The political value of screen product will hence- forth be the chief criterion by which Nazi films are to be judged, it was indicated in a revised system of grad- ing pictures made known here by Dr. Joseph Goebbels, Minister of Proga- ganda. Pictures "fulfilling with dis- tinction the National Socialist idea of films" will be graded as "politically and artistically especially valuable." Five lesser classifications are : "Po- litically and artistically valuable, po- litically valuable, artistically valuable, culturally valuable and instructive to the people." The attitude of the Nazi regime relative to the use of the screen as outright propaganda for the Hitler Government is clearly indicated in a statement from the Reich Film Cham- ber, which declared : "The film of present-day Germany must carry in it the ideology of pres- ent-day Germany, only this ideology must never be allowed to become ob- trusive bias. Bias which is detected (Continued on page 2) Set First Colored Cast on Radio Show For the first time in radio network history, a sponsored series featuring an all-colored cast has been scheduled for the airways, with Standard Brands sponsoring for Fleischmann. The series will feature the band of Duke Ellington and the entire Cotton Club revue, according to a reliable report. The Cotton Club show stars Ethel Waters, the Nicholas Brothers and George Dewey Washington, in addition to Ellington. Time for the new program has al- ready been contracted for at NBC. The initial offering will be aired April 9 from 9 to 9:30 P.M., E.S.T., on the Blue network. J. Walter Thomp- son is the agency. More Radio — Page 4 Expect Majors To End Fight On Sales Tax Decision Seen Following MPPDA Meeting Indications are that major distrib- utors will accept the ruling of the Court of Appeals holding film rentals collected within New York City sub- ject to the two per cent municipal sales tax, and will begin turning over the collections to the city. Legal representatives of the dis- tributors met yesterday at M.P.P.D.A. headquarters for the third time since the state's highest court upheld the city's sales tax assessment against the local United Artists exchange in what had been accepted by other distributors as a test case. Although attorneys attending yesterday's meeting declined to comment on the action taken, it was learned that the bulk of the sen- timent voiced at the meeting was op- posed to contesting the tax further either by applying for a rehearing by the Court of Appeals or petitioning a writ of certiorari from the U. S. Supreme Court. It was understood in advance of the meeting that these were the only alternatives considered. It is believed that the opinion of the meeting was guided largely by the fact that the Court of Appeals' de- cision was unanimous and, therefore, (Continued on pane 2) Educational Stock Plan Goes to SEC By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, March 26.— Plans for the raising of more than $3,500,000 were set before the Securities and Exchange Commission today with the filing by Educational Pictures of a registration statement to cover $1,- 215,000 in preferred stock and 499,000 shares of common, from which $2,- 300,000 is to be secured. While the issue exceeds $3,500,000, only the preferred stock is to be pub- licly offered, being an issue of 150,000 (Continued on page 3) Jack Miller Again Talks Theatre Sale Chicago, March 26. — Jack Miller, who recently entered the trucking business and shortly thereafter planned to sell his interest in the Simansky- Miller circuit only later to change his mind, may sell out after all. It is understood deals have been discussed both with B. & K. and Essaness. MOTION PICTURE DAILY Saturday, March 27, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 41 March 27, 1937 No. 72 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN. Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager n Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany, Inc., Martin Quigley, president; Colvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave- nue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York " All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc. Address all correspond- ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publi- cations- MOTION PICTURE HERALD. BETTER THEATRES, TEATRO AL DIA. INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Lite Building, Vine and Yucca Sts. ; Boone Mancall. Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave., C. B. O'Neill, Manager. • _ WASHINGTON: Albee Building, Bertram F. Linz, Representative. AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan 5; Philip de Schaap, Representative. BERLIN": Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest II: Endre Hevesi. Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientos 2495; N. Bruski, Representative. HELSINKI: Fredriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszio, Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square, W. 1; Bruce Allan, Representative. Cable address, Quigpubco, Lon- don. MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings. 191 Collins St. ; Cliff Holt, Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart. Representative. MONTEVIDEO: P. O. Box 664; Paul Bodo, Rep- resentative. MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern, Rep- resentative. PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre, Rep- resentative. PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2. Prague 1; Harry Knopf. Representative. RIO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 3358; A. Weiss- man, Representative. ROME: Viale Gorizia; Vittorio Malpassuti, Rep- resentative. SHANGHAI: Rooms 38-41, Capital Theatre Build- ing, 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler. Rep resentative. STOCKHOLM: Kungsgatan 36; Ragnar Allberg Representative. TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken H. Tominaga. Representative. VIENNA: Nuestiftgasse, 55; Vienna VII; Hans Lorant. Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Sillei, Representative. 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 $6 in the Americas and foreign §12. Single copies: 10 cents. 4 Purely Personal ► ADOLPH ZUKOR, who delayed his departure from Florida to oin other Paramount officials on Stanton Griffis' yacht in Florida waters, is now scheduled to leave there tonight in time to arrive in New York tomorrow. He will probably be accompanied north by Y. Frank Freeman, Austin Keough, Barney Balaban and Chris Dtjnphy. • Ben Rogers, Joe Kaliski, John Scully and Herb Given, G. B. branch managers from nearby cities, have returned to their offices follow- ing the opening of "Silent Barriers." Reg Wilson, central district manager, will remain around town for a few days. • Herman Rifkin and his son, Julian, arrived from Boston yester- day. Rifkin plans to stay over for the Adolph Zukor testimonial dinner to be held at the Waldorf Monday night. e J. P. O'Loghlin, Canadian district manager, has been appointed leader for the fifth S. R. Kent sales drive, which will get under way next sum- mer. # William Melniker, head of Loew's foreign theatre department, is getting over a bad case of laryngitis which kept him home for a few days. • Sam Burger of Loew's foreign de- partment arrived in Lima, Peru, yes terday, en route to New York. He is due here in a few weeks. • Carlos J. Bavetta, in charge of 20th Century-Fox activities in Brazil, Personnel Changes Made by Ricketson Denver, March 26. — Rick Ricket- son, division manager for Fox Inter mountain, has made several manage ment changes, following the sales of two Fox houses in Salt Lake City and the resignation of a manager. John Taylor of Salt Lake City has been moved to Sheridan, Wyo., as city manager, replacing William Fowers, who has gone to Sterling Col. Lee Crawford, from Sterling, is now managing the Hiawatha in Den ver. Clarence Gelder, city manager at Delta, Col., resigned to join the W. A. Simons Amusement Co. in Montana. Don Dungan, who has been at La Junta, Col., has taken over the Delta job, and has been replaced in La Junta by Lou Williams, from the Mayan in Denver. Roy Notheis, who has managed the Webber for nearly 18 years, has been promoted to man age the Mayan, succeeding Williams Roush Para. Shorts Head Leslie Roush has been named to succeed Fred Waller in charge of Paramount shorts production in the east, following Waller's resignation The appointment was made by Lou Diamond, head of Paramount's short subject department. Roush has been with the company for 10 years. Start Para., U.A. Talks with Loew (Continued from page 1) ident and general manager of United Artists, back from the coast, Loew executives expect to resume product talks with him next week. Two meet- ings were held with Schaefer before he left for Hollywood and the third is expected to take place early next week. No mention has been made of the period the franchises will run at the conferences ; it is expected the Para- mount and United Artists deals, when consummated, will be for three to five years. 20th-Fox Heads to Attend Paris Meet (Continued from page 1) for the international sales convention which is slated to start May 31 at the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles. John D. Clark, general sales man- ager, plans to show at least six of next season's pictures to the force at the Ambassador. leaves today for his headquarters after spending several months here. • Joe McConville and Louis Astor Columbia sales executives, have re- turned from vacations in Miami. • Judy Canova, signed by Paramount for 'Artists and Models," will leave for the coast on Monday. • George Skouras is due to return from Golden Beach, Fla., about the middle of next month. • Paul Lukas and Joseph Bernhard sail today on the Paris. Looking 'Em Over Expect Majors To End Fight On Sales Tax (Continued from page 1) discouraging to a move for a rehear- ing, and also that the Federal angles of the case were not sufficiently promi- nent to brighten the prospects for a Supreme Court review of the case. Nothing has been paid by the dis- tributors since the enactment of the sales tax at the beginning of 1935. The tax was collected from exhibitors last year and held in escrow. The full amount due to the city to date, with penalties and interest, is estimated at approximately $2,000,000. As soon as the exact amounts due from each com- pany are determined, the full pay- ments will probably be made by dis- tributors and efforts will be made to collect the 1935 levy from exhibitors. The total tax for the local industry will approximate $750,000 annually hereafter. "Top of the Town" {Universal) A melange of comedy, song and dance and a light romantic story threaded upon which the antics of the cast are strung make for generally entertaining fare of the popular variety in this musical show from Uni- versal, of which Lou Brock was associate producer. On occasion the scheme of the picture becomes a bit involved and its elements become a trifle jumbled in their apparent effort to show them- selves, but for the most part the film is well paced, spotted with nu- merous laugh-provoking moments, especially as developed by Hugh Herbert, Gregory Ratoff and Henry Armetta, while the extremely active cast otherwise includes George Murphy, band leader ; Doris Nolan as the girl with millions and ideas about night club entertainment ; Gertrude Niesen as the blues singing star, and Mischa Auer, as a pseudo tragic Hamlet. The screenplay of Brown Holmes and Charles Grayson from Lou Brock's original story tells of the ambition of Murphy to become the maestro of the new Moonbeam Room of the somewhat fantastically modern 100-story Borden Building, virtually owned by Miss Nolan. She returns from abroad with ideas about elevating night club entertainment, and through Ratoff, Murphy's manager, gets a job in the latter 's show. It looks like a step toward the coveted contract, but her uncles fail to become enthusiastic about the girl in show business. He gets rid of her by making her job impossible, then by playing on her sympathies. He gets the contract, but she takes charge of the club, insisting on a higher type of show. When the customers begin to walk out at the opening, Murphy jumps in with the jamboree number, the spectacle highlight of the film, which concludes with admission from her that he is the showman, as well as her future husband. Ralph Murphy directed capably. Production Code Seal No. 2,809. Running time, 86 minutes. "G." Stress Propaganda In German Product (Continued from page 1) always fails of its purpose." Indica- tive of the effort to strengthen re- lations with Japan and Italy was the warm press reception accorded to recent premieres, "The Daughter of a Samurai," and "Condottieri," made here in cooperation with Japan and Italy, respectively. The industry here continues to insist that home product can make money in this market only if the number released is reduced. It has been said that the 200 features offered on the German market this season was more than the market could profitably ab- sorb. Of the new films released or scheduled 147 are German and about 55 foreign, of which American firms offer 28 to 30, but not all of Ameri- can origin. Jewish Holidays Start Sundown yesterday inaugurated Passover, the high Jewish holidays which are observed by strict dietary laws. The holidays will end a week from tonight. Para. B'way Reports Loss Paramount Broadway Corp., realty company controlling the Paramount Bldg., yesterday reported a net loss for 1936, after amortization of bond discount, of $326,992. Postpone "Elephant Boy" The New York premiere of "Ele- phant Boy," which was scheduled for Monday at the Rialto, has been post- poned until next Thursday. Street Closed Friday The Stock Exchange and the Curb and Bond markets suspended trading activities yesterday in observance of Good Friday. "Howdy Stranger" Off "Howdy Stranger," stage play which opened Jan. 14 at the Longacre, will not reopen Monday as planned. MOTION PICTURE DAILY Saturday, March 27, 1937 C.B. Paine Is Named Aide to R. H. Cochrane {Continued from page 1) Cowdin and Machnovitch left by plane for >the coast where they will remain through next week on production con- ferences. Hollywood, March 26. — A new Universal trademark will be used on the company's films beginning with "Top of the Town." The new design replaces the plane circling the globe which preceded the main title hereto- fore. Challenge Earle on ' Spain Flames" Ban Harrisburg, March 26. — Governor Earle has been notified by the Ameri- can Civil Liberties Union that it may carry to court its fight to have "Spain in Flames" shown in Pennsylvania. The state board of censors barred the film as Communist propaganda and its decision was upheld by the Governor after viewing the picture. The North American Committee for Spanish Democracy, backed by the Civil Liberties Union, has arranged for a showing of the picture next Tuesday night at the Ethical Culture Auditorium in Philadelphia before 250 witnesses. The committee picked 200 and asked the Governor to name the remaining 50 in order to determine whether the picture is "propaganda." Governor Earle agreed to send out letters to 50 prospective witnesses and ask them to inform him what they thought of the picture after the show- ing. The executive's letter says : "As you may know, I concurred in the decision of the Pennsylvania State Board of Censors which barred from Pennsylvania the picture, "Spain in Flames." The picture to me was a reminder of the days before the World War when every foreign cause deluged our people with propaganda to enlist our sympathies in their conflict. We want to keep our adventurous, cour- ageous youth in America and not en- courage them to enlist in and sacrifice themselves on European battlefields. For this reason I took the action I did. Please see this picture and on the enclosed return postcard let me know whether or not you agree with the stand that I have taken." RKO Closes Balkan Deal RKO has closed a deal with Liet- filmas, at Kaunas, Lithuania, for the 1936-37 product. The deal includes Latvia and Esthonia. The company has opened a second Polish branch, at Katowice, second largest city in the country. The other is at Warsaw. Paul Henning has been named pub- licity director of the RKO Austrian branch at Vienna, replacing Hans Gold, resigned. U.A. Signs for Mexican Rights Mexican releasing rights for seven one-reel and two-reel shorts produced by J. H. Hoffberg have been ac- quired by United Artists. The films are : "Danube," "Spanish Interlude," "Africa Squawks," "World's Champi- on," "It's a Bird," "International Vari- eties No. 1" and "Symphony of the Seasons." Educational Stock Plan Goes to SEC (Continued from pane 1) shares of 60-cent dividend $5 par cu- mulative convertible. The common stock is all reserved, 150,000 shares for the conversion of the $5 preferred ; 89,730 shares for ex- change on the basis of five shares for one of preferred; 5,000 shares as part payment for acquisition of the capital stock of Skibo Prod., Inc., and the bal- ance in satisfaction of warrants to be issued to stockholders, the underwrit- er, Herrick, Heinzelmann and Ripley, and E. W. Hammons, president. The proceeds from the sale of the preferred will be used to pay indebted- ness and for part payment of the stock of Skibo Prod., as well as for Edu- cational's production costs. The un- derwriter has agreed to purchase the preferred stock at $8.10 per share, but the public offering price has not been revealed. The underwriter also is to have the right to purchase through warrants 64,000 shares of common at prices ranging from $10.50 to $20 per share. Hammons indicated at the time the recapitalization plan was presented to stockholders of the company that a part of the new financing would be applied to 16mm. production activities in the event the market for that prod- uct improved. New Haven Allied to Talk Insurance Deal Boston, March 26. — The Lloyd's- Allied insurance tieup will be given an important spot in the discussion program of the eastern regional Al- lied meeting at the Hotel Garde in New Haven April 5. Arthur K. Howard, business manager for Allied in New England and originator of the Lloyd's deal, will address the group on the subject. National and local legislation, deferred buying, theatre-producer divorcements, and other subjects in which Allied is interested will be dis- cussed. Casey Here to Begin Studio Labor Talks (Continued from page 1) by the international heads or proposed by them for consideration by the meet- ing. Unions included in the basic agree- ment are the I.A.T.S.E., I.B.E.W., A. F. of M., Carpenters and Joiners, and Teamsters and Chauffeurs. Major company heads or their representatives also participate in the sessions. Rites for C. J. Thien St. Louis, March 26. — Funeral ser- vices for Conrad J. Thien, owner and operator of the Palm, were held yes- terday at the Blessed Sacrament Church. Thien died Monday from a stroke. Thien came to St. Louis as an ex- hibitor 27 years ago. Four sons, Vic- tor, George C, Edward and Joseph, survive. Markey Gets New Pact Hollywood, March 26.— Darryl F. Zanuck has given new long term con- tracts to Gene Markey, associate pro- ducer at 20th Century-Fox, Alice Faye and Claire Trevor. Art Has a Problem Winnipeg, March 26. — Any art sin-ee-mah seen by the high brows hereabouts will be in theatres and will be ob- tained through the regular exchanges. The Manitoba Brawnch of the National Film Society of Canada got all set for a bit of film culture when it dis- covered there was a law lim- iting the handling of film to the regular exchanges. Wisconsin Assembly Kills Game Ban Bill (Continued from page 1) forwarded to the Assembly the Cash- man bill, calling for a 25 per cent tax on the gross receipts of music brokers from copyrighted music. Original composers are exempted from the tax. The measure also assesses investiga- tors of copyrighted music a $25 an- nual license fee. Public establishments, including theatres, would be prohibited from discriminating against any person be- cause of race, color or creed under the provisions of the Rubin bill, in- troduced in the Assembly. The meas- ure contains a clause for double pen- alty in cases of violation. New Tax Bill in Kansas Kansas City, March 26. — A two per cent "compensating tax" is pro- vided in a Senate bill in Kansas, on the privilege "of using within this state any article of tangible property value." It is another of several vari- eties of sales tax which the Kansas legislature has brought out of the hat for consideration. Missouri would tax the gross re- ceipts from professional games of all sorts under terms of a bill introduced this week and already recommended by the House Taxation and Revenue Committee. California Has Contract Bill Sacramento, March 26. — State As- sembly Bill No. 1,116, which seeks to reduce to three years the contracting maximum for personal services, is said to have the backing of the Screen Actors' Guild and its labor affiliates. Hearings are scheduled for next week. Assemblymen sympathetic to labor are reported planning to amend the bill to forbid the inclusion of optional provisions in contracts on the ground that this is a ruse employed to keep salaries down. Iowa Ticket Levy Defeated Des Moines, March 26. — An at- tempt has been made in the Iowa House to add an amendment to the amusement section of the sales tax bill that would permit a levy of a one- cent tax on theatre tickets of from 10 to 15 cents. The amendment lost by four votes. Grade Fields to Return Hollywood, March 26. — Gracie Fields, who has been here for the past three weeks conferring with 20th Century-Fox officials, will leave soon for England to attend the Corona- tion. She returns after the royal ceremonies to start work on her first American musical. Eureka Prepares Its Appeal on "Ecstacy" Eureka Prod, filed its record on appeal in U. S. District Court yester- day preparatory to a hearing in the May term of the U. S. Supreme Court. Eureka, producer of "Ecstacy," is su- ing Gov. Herbert H. Lehman ; John J. Bennett, Jr., Frank P. Graves and Erwin Esmond for an injunction to restrain them from interfering with the exhibition of "Ecstacy" in New York State. They contend that censorship of foreign films by New York state is unconstitutional because Congress has exclusive jurisdiction over foreign trade. The Circuit Court of Appeals recently affirmed the judgment in favor of the defendants. Delay Fox Examination Atlantic City, March 26. — The resumption of the William Fox bank- ruptcy examinations here, which was scheduled for next Wednesday, has been postponed, with a tentative date set at April 20. The postponement was revealed by Federal Referee Rob- ert E. Steedle, who has been conduct- ing the proceedings under the Bank- ruptcy Act. He explained that con- tinued delay in decisions on Federal Court matters which involve Fox and affect the scope of the questioning here made the postponement necessary. Meyers Sues 20th-Fox Seattle, March 26. — Suit was filed here today against 20th Century-Fox by Lieutenant Governor Victor Aloy- sius Meyers for $250,000 damages, based on a line allegedly spoken by Fred Allen in "Thanks a Million." The line of dialogue was : "Up in Washington they elected a jazz band leader to lieutenant governor, and if the people will vote for a jazz band leader they'll vote for anybody." Lieutenant Governor Meyers is a former orchestra leader. Reserves Roxy Decision Federal Judge Francis G. Caffey reserved decision yesterday on the application of Samuel Kramer, counsel for the Class A stockholders' protec- tive committee of the Roxy for per- mission to solicit power of attorney from stockholders. Kramer asked permission to do this at the expense of the trustee of the Roxy, but Howard S. Cullman, trustee, objected on the ground that expense should be paid by the committee. Settle Bank Night Suits Boston, March 26. — Two suits brought by Affiliated Enterprises, Inc., for alleged delinquent royalty payments against Richard Rubin and George Markell, Massachusetts ex- hibitors, have been settled out of court for the full amount of the back payments due, according to R. E. Heffner, Bank Night distributor. Joins National Screen Kansas City, March 26. — Morton Truog, local Warner booker, has re- signed effective April 1, to join Na- tional Screen Service here as sales- man. Howard Gould also has joined National Screen as a salesman. Howard for "Stand-In" Hollywood, March 26. — Leslie Howard will have the role of the banker in "Stand-In," Saturday Even- ing Post story to be produced by Walter Wanger. RADIO MOTION PICTURE DAILY 4 Radio Personals ► Changes in Time Are Near For Eight NBC Air Shows TITO GUIZAR has been booked to appear at the Detroit-Michigan Exposition during the week of April 2 . . . Durelle Alexander has affixed her signature to a two-year CBS Ar- tists Bureau management contract . . . Virginia Bruce was yesterday pre- sented with the Award of Merit of the Modern Musicians Society. The award was made on the basis of her singing in the Universal picture, "When Love Is Young" . . . Tobe, continental fashion expert, will broad- cast a style talk on Mutual the night before the Coronation . . . + Announcers to replace Tiny Ruffner on the Benton & Bowles programs have been set. Andrew Stanton will handle the commercial talks on "Pret- ty Kitty Kelly" ; Howard Claney will perform similarly on the "Captain Diamond" airings . . . Dussolini Gi- annini wil be featured soloist on the Ford Symphony Hour April 4 . . . Vincent Travers, French Casino maes- tro, has purchased a half interest in a summer theatre at Lake Skobarghe, Conn. . . . Sam Hammer, formerly of WHN and now with General Electric, is the father of an eight-pound, 11 ounce boy, Douglas Ira. + Philadelphia Town Pump Philadelphia, March 26. — Pat Stanton, WDAS general manager and announcer, marks his ninth year be- fore the microphone without missing a single program except during regu- lar vacations. . . . Ray Turner script- ing a "Happiness Hotel" series for WHAT. ... Jim O'Neil, character actor, turns to radio, and is heard over WCAU. . . . Norris West, who announces the Philadelphia Orches- tra radio series, is expected to ac- company the orchestra on its concert tour next month with weekly broad- casts from cities en route. . . . Bon Bon, former member of the Three Keys and vocalist with the KYW Top-Hatters over the NBC-Red, is making records for the new Mills firm. . . . Benny Goodman has been engaged for the Ivy Ball at the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania. Paper Sponsors News Program Philadelphia, March 26. — Taking advantage of a line for time deal with WIP, the Philadelphia Record, morn- ing paper, is assuming sponsorship of the "Philadelphia Parade of Events," a weekly half-hour series dramatizing highlights in the local news. The pro- gram is produced by Ed Wallace and has been heard sustaining over WIP during the past two months. The first sponsorship is scheduled to be heard tomorrow. WCKY Adds New Accounts Cincinnati, March 26.— WCKY has placed the following new national accounts : Procter & Gamble, 20 one- minute spot announcements, through Pedlar & Ryan ; General Foods, 52 one-minute spots, through Benton & Bowles ; Longines-Wittnauer Watch Co., 300 one-minute spots, through Arthur Rosenberg ; Climax Cleaner, 13 spot announcements, through Krichbaum Co. Time changes affecting eight spon- sored NBC shows will be inaugurated during the next few weeks. A total of 12 programs have made time changes since March 1. Three of the 12 have changed networks as well. The eight future changes scheduled are : General Motors concerts, to be heard over the Blue from 8 to 9 P.M. beginning April 4. The series is now heard Sundays from 10 to 11 on the Red. Gladys Swarthout, to be heard Sun- days on the Red from 10 to 10:30 P.M. beginning April 4; now heard Wednesdays on the Red from 10:30 to 11 P.M. National Ice Advertising sponsors. "Husbands and Wives," to be heard Tuesdays on the Blue from 8 to 8 :30 P.M. beginning April 6 ; now heard Tuesdays on the Blue from 9:30 to 10 P.M. Sponsored by Pond's Cream. "Universal Rhythm," to be heard Saturdays on the Red from 7 to 7 :30 P.M., beginning April 10 ; now heard Fridays on the Blue from 9 to 9 :30 P.M. Sponsored by Ford dealers. Fibber McGee and Molly, to be heard Mondays on the Red from 9 to 9 :30 P.M. beginning April 12 ; now heard Mondays on the Red from 8 to 8:30 P.M. Sponsored by S. C. Johnson & Son. "Hour of Charm," to be heard Mon- New Mutual Series To Start March 30 A new Mutual program will begin March 30, from 7:45 to 8 P. M., E.S.T., and will feature Kay St. Ger- maine, supported by the "Dixie De- mons," an instrumental quartette. The program will be sponsored by the Air Conditioning and Refrigerat- ing Institute. The shows will origin- ate in the studios of WGN, Chicago, and will be carried over WOR, New York ; CKLW, Detroit-Windsor ; WCAE, Pittsburgh; and WGAR, Cleveland. The contract is for 26 weeks. NBC Signs Howard Marshall Howard Marshall, British com- mentator and journalist, has been signed by NBC to present a series of news broadcasts on the Blue network, beginning April 18 from 3 :30 to 3 :45 P.M., E.S.T., and weekly thereafter. Coronation details and history will be highlighted. Also on the Coronation, the Mutual network will present a weekly series, "Origin of the Coronation Service," beginning this Tuesday at 9 P.M., E.S.T. The programs will be fed to Mutual by the CBS, from Toronto. Shift Mutual Program "Poe's Tales," Mutual sustainer, will move to a new time, effective this week, due to its popularity with listen- ers. Beginning Monday, the program moves into the 9 P.M. spot now occu- pied by "For Men Only." The latter program fades permanently. Lease in Crosby Building The entire top floor of Bing Crosby's building in Hollywood, now under construction, has been leased by Rockwell-O'Keefe. "Praiseworthy" "Radio is so important a part of the amusement busi- ness and in many ways re- lated to the motion picture industry that I think your effort to keep us well in- formed is praiseworthy and should, in a short time, en- hance greatly the value of your paper" — Joe Vogel, ex- ecutive, Loew's, Inc. days on the Red from 9 :30 to 10 P.M. beginning April 26 ; now heard Mon- days on the Red from 4 to 4:30 P.M. Sponsored by General Electric Co. Adventures of Dari Dan, to be heard Mondays, Wednesdays and Fri- days on the Red from 5:15 to 5:30 P.M. beginning April 26 ; now heard on the same afternoons as above on the Red, from 5 to 5:15 P.M. Spon- sored by Bowery's, Inc. Henry Busse's orchestra, to be heard Wednesdays on the Red from 4:15 to 4:30 P.M. beginning April 28 ; now heard on the same day and network as above, from 4 to 4:15 P.M. All times listed above are E. S. T. up to and including April 25 ; others are E. D. S. T. Prepare New Series To Combat Rackets Burt McMurtrie and Geraldine Gar- rick of the WMCA staff have written and produced a new series, "Warning Signals," based on rackets in business and aimed at wiping them out. The series will be presented Tuesdays at 9 P.M., beginning April 1. The program, however, will have a preview airing Tuesday at the above time. This is the first time that a radio series has been introduced with a preview, it is believed. The series will be heard over the full Inter-City network. To Air Children's Show Pittsburgh, March 26. — The week- ly children's show Saturday mornings at the Enright, which has been under the supervision of the Federation of Women's Clubs for three years, will go commercial over station WWSW next week under the joint sponsorship of the Haller Baking Co. and the Aieadowgold Dairy. For an hour and a half, the chil- dren will be shown pictures, as usual, but the customary songfest and amateur show will henceforth be broadcast for a half hour at 11:30 A. M., E.S.T. "Maytime" Scenes to Be Aired "Hollywood Hotel" will offer re- enactments of scenes from "Maytime" April 2. Jeanette MacDonald, co- featured in the film, will be starred in the radio production. Hunt Strom- berg, who produced the picture, will also be on the program. WICC Takes "Stoopnagle" Bridgeport, March 26. — WICC joins NBC to carry the Stoopnagle and Budd program starting April 4. Saturday, March 27, 1937 FCC Dates Hearings First Week in April Washington, March 26.- — The F. C.C. has set its calendar of hearings for the coming week as follows : March 29, before an examiner : ap- plications of Juan Piza, San Juan, P. R., for a new 1,500-kilocycle station, 100 watts night and 250 watts day power ; Robert R. McCulla, Oak Park, 111., for a new 1,500-kilocycle, 100- watt daytime station ; West Texas Broadcasting Co., Wichita Falls, Tex., for a new 1,380-kilocycle, 1,000-watt station ; Wichita Broadcasting Co., Wichita Falls, Tex., for a new 620- kilocycle station, 250 watts night, 1,000 watts day power ; Faith Broadcasting Co., Inc., Wichita Falls, Tex., for change of frequency from 1,310 to 1,500 kilocycles. March 31, before an examiner : ap- plication of William Ottoway, Port Huron, Mich., for a new 1,370-kilo- cycle, 250-watt daytime station ; WCAZ, Carthage, 111., for increase of power from 100 to 250 watts. April 1, before an examiner : ap- plication of the Pacific Acceptance Corp., San Diego, for a new 1,200- kilocycle station, 100 watts daytime power. Before the broadcast division : argument on the applications of John S. Allen and G. W. Covington, Jr., Montgomery, Ala., for a new 1,210- kilocycle, 100-watt daytime station ; Clarence C. Dill, Washington, D. C, for a new 1,390- kilocycle, 1,000-watt station. Will Consider Albany Plea April 2, before an examiner : appli- cations of Charles Porter and Edward T. Eversole, Festus, Mo., for a new 1,420-kilocycle, 100-watt daytime sta- tion; WABY, Albany, N. Y., for in- crease of power from 100 to 250 watts ; WSOC, Charlotte, for change of fre- quency from 1,210 to 600 kilocycles and increase of power from 100 watts night, 250 watts day, to 250 watts night and 1,000 watts day. April 3, before an examiner: appli- cations of KDON, Del Monte, Cal, for change of frequency from 1,210 to 1,400 kilocycles and increase of power from 100 to 250 watts night, and 1,000 watts day; Salinas News- papers Inc., Salinas, Cal., for a new 1,390-kilocycle, 250-watt daytime sta- tion. Rothenstein Fined In Injunction Case Federal Judge John C. Knox yes- terday fined Al Rothenstein $2,000 for criminal and civil contempt of court for violation of an injunction granted to RCA, General Electric, A. T. & T. and the Vreeland Electric Co., in their suit to restrain him from manufactur- ing radio receiving sets without a license. Rothenstein admitted that he vio- lated the injunction but said it was because a request for a license was refused. Judge Knox imposed a $250 fine for the criminal contempt and $1,750 for damages and expenses in- curred by the plaintiffs. The sets manufactured by Rothenstein were so marked as to indicate that license had actually been obtained, it was charged. To Broadcast Legislature Hollywood, March 26. — Fox Case, CBS executive, has gone to Sacra- mento to arrange a new series of broadcasts with the State Legislature. Alert. Intelligent MOTION PICTURE DAILY First in Film and VOL. 41. NO. 73 NEW YORK, MONDAY, MARCH 29, 1937 TEN CENTS U.A. to Widen Its Selling of Foreign Films Closes for Six Indian Films, British Short Acquisition of foreign pictures for distribution in countries speaking the language is now being furthered by United Artists as a result of success- ful experiments along these lines. Arthur W. Kelly has just closed two deals which will bring six Indian- made pictures and one British short subject under the company's foreign distribution end. The six features to be made in India will be handled by U. A. in the Far East and the West Indies. The English-made short, "Coronation Preview," was produced by Henry Matson in London. It will be distributed in the Far East and all countries except the United States. Recently, the company signed for one Javanese film with Balinese girls for distribution in Java only. Kelly also has acquired a number of French films. Walter Gould about six months ago completed arrangements for the distribution of six Spanish films to be made in Mexico. One has been fin- (Continued on page 7) Siegel to Keep Post At Republic Studio Moe Siegel will continue as execu- tive head of the Republic studio fol- lowing the departure of Nat Levine at the end of this week, states H. J. Yates. Yates said that the unit production system would continue in effect at Republic and commented that the sys- tem had been working "very success- fully" for some time now and that there was no reason for making a change. He said that an additional producer to replace Levine's unit would be selected as soon as the right man could be found. Yates will leave for the coast early in April to con- fer with Republic producers on the 1937-38 schedule. Legion Approves All Of 13 New Pictures All of the 13 new pictures reviewed and classified by the National Legion of Decency for the current week were approved either for general patronage or children. Seven were approved for general audiences, and six for adults. The new films and their classi- fication follow. Class A-l, Unobjectionable for Gen- eral Patronage — "The Cherokee (Continued on page 7) 1 ' Lent Cuts Key City Takes To a Total of $1,626,240 Lent slowed key city grosses during the first three weeks of March, but totals, in spite of this, were above the low points reached in late January and early February, and the number of first run theatres in operation showed a gain to 171. Grosses in the 29 key cities report- ing to Motion Picture Daily reached $1,626,240 for the week end- ing March 19-20. This was $47,759 below the previous week, but that week's total of $1,673,999 was surpris- ingly strong in view of the fact that the first week of March showed only $1,596,679. At the end of February there were 168 first run theatres open in the 29 keys. (Comparative tabulation on page 8.) Production Shows Gain; 38 in Work Hollywood, March 26. — A total of 38 features were in work last week, comparing with 37 in the previous week. Nine features were finished as against eight in the earlier period, and eight were started, comparing with 10. The 22 in preparation topped by two the previous total, and 56 were being edited, as against 53 before. One less short was completed, one more started, one was in work, equaling the previous figure, four were in prepara- tion against last week's five, and the editing total was the same as the earlier week, 17. Starting this week were Radio's "Tomorrow's Headlines," "Missus America" and "There Goes My Girl" ; Hal Roach's "Topper," Paramount's "Angel," Republic's "Dangerous Holi- day," 20th Century-Fox's "Escape From Love," Warner's Ever Since Eve" and Columbia's "Shooting Show- down." Warner's total of seven features (Continued on page 7) Loew's 16-Week Net Figured at New High Loew's earnings for the 16-week period ended about March 13 were the second largest for any similar period in the company's history and are es- timated at $3 a share on the 1,512,985 shares of common outstanding, the Wall Street Journal said on Saturday. The estimate would give Loew's a net income for the first half of the company's current year equal to more than $5 a share on the common, as earnings for the 12 weeks ended last Nov. 19 amounted to $2.14 a share. This compares with a net of $5,033,- 038, or $3.05 a share, earned on 1,497,- 595 shares during the same period of the preceding year. Third quarter earnings, based on the films scheduled for release, are estimated at more than $2 a share. Yates Denies Film Tieup from Strike No delay in the delivery of prints by Consolidated Film's Fort Lee plant has occurred or is expected as a re- sule of the employes' strike which started last Thursday, H. J. Yates, Consolidated head, asserts. Reports that prints of six features and two newsreels had been held up as a result of suspension of work at the plant, which were published in metropolitan newspapers on Saturday, were emphatically denied by Yates who pointed out that Consolidated does not even handle the print work for Loew's "The Good Earth," one of the pictures named in the published re- ports. The other pictures named, which included two Universal features and two issues of the newsreel, one RKO feature and two Republic fea- tures, were delivered on schedule, Yates said. His statement was substantiated by a check of the distribution companies whose pictures were mentioned. Each (Continued on page 7) Censor Advice Stirs Courtland Smith Ire Columbus, March 28. — When Roy Reichelderfer, supervisor of the Ohio state board of education, rejected "Spain in Flames" and added the gratuitous suggestion to newsreels that narrators' remarks be kept "neutral," he probably wasn't prepared for this : "The Constitution guarantees free- dom of speech," began a wire which Reichelderfer received from Courtland Smith of Pathe News. "You have gone far beyond any authority when you presume to tell us what we may or may not say on any subject. You have no right to give such advice, or any advice. We certainly don't in- tend to consider your ideas of what may or may not be neutral. "Censor pictures as you please," (Continued on page 7) Developments in Radio on Pages 6 and ? Little Hope For Singles Is Seen Here Question of Clearance, Admissions Involved Little hope is seen by exhibitors for a widespread return to single features in the Greater New York territory. One or two of the independents have decided to experiment with the plan, but according to sources close to the circuits involved there is no intention to extend the policy. Skouras Theatres inaugurated the lone feature booking for the opening of the Manhassett, Manhassett, L. I., several months ago with Century Cir- cuit. The latter circuit built the the- atre, Skouras bought an interest and took over operation. The circuit is continuing the single feature arrange- ment at the Scarsdale, Scarsdale, and Bronxville, Bronxville, since these houses were taken over from Nick Paley and Jack Rosenthal. The Brandt circuit has one theatre in Brooklyn on this policy. Shorter protection periods and a wide differential in prices between runs are necessary before any wholesale movement for a return to single fea- tures can get under way, exhibitors hold. However, where exhibitors have no competition in their towns the elim- ination of dual features can be accom- plished. But, exhibitors add, the qual- ity of product must be improved if one (Continued on page 7) Expect Record Crowd At Dinner for Zukor Virtually all the principal execu- tives of the industry in New York will attend the testimonial dinner to Adolph Zukor at the Waldorf-As- toria tonight, which is sponsored by the I.T.O.A. William Brandt, chair- man of the arrangements committee, has arranged an elaborate entertain- ment program following the dinner, and dancing will be part of the show. The affair will be broadcast over (Continued on page 7) Managers Reported Forming CIO Union Local theatre managers are reported forming a union as a unit of the C.I.O. Several meetings have been held at the Hotel Lincoln, but nothing definite has come out of them. Circuit operators and independent exhibitors are showing no interest in the reported plans of the union, it was stated over the weekend. MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, March 29, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Insiders' Outlook Vol. 41 March 29, 1937 No. 73 Martin Quigley Editor-in-Chief and Publisher MAURICE KANN, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Com- pany. Inc., Martin Quigley. president; Cotvin Brown, vice-president and treasurer. Publication Office: 1270 Sixth Ave nue at .Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York " All contents copyrighted 1937 by Quigley Publishing Company. Inc. Address all correspond ence to the New York Office. Other Quigley pubh cations: MOTION PICTURE HERALD. BETTER THEATRES. TEATRO AL D1A. INTERNA- TIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Buildin Vine and Yucca Sts. ; Boone Mancall, Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave.. C. B. O'Neill Manager. „. . WASHINGTON: Albee Building, Bertram F Linz, Representative. „ AMSTERDAM: Zuider Amstellaan 5: Philip de Schaap, Representative. BERLIN. Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 35: Joachim K. Rutenberg. Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 Kiplar-u, Budapest II: Endre He\esi, Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Corrientos 2495: N. Bruski Representative. HELSINKI : Fredriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszio, Representative. , , LONDON: 4 Golden Square, W. 1; Bruce Allan Representative. Cable address, Quigpubco. Lon don. MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins St. ; Cliff Holt, Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart Representative. MONTEVIDEO: P. O. Box 664: Paul Bodo. Rep- resentative. MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern. Rep resentative. PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan: Pierre Autre. Rep resentative. PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2, Prague 1; Harry Knopf Rcpr6 sent stive. RIO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 3358; A. Weiss man. Representative. ROME: Viale Gorizia; Vittorio Malpassuti. Rep resentative. SHANGHAI: Rooms 38-41. Capital Theatre Build ing, 142 Museum Road: J. P. Koehler, Rep resentative. STOCKHOLM: Kungsgatan 36; Ragnar Allberg, Representative. TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka, Ichikawa-shi. Chiba-Ken H Tominaga. Representative. VIENNA: Neustiftgasse, 55; Vienna VII; Han Lorant. Representative. WARSAW: Sienna 32; R. Sillei, Representative 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 $6 in the Americas and foreign $12. Single conies: 10 cents. Name First Division In Contract Action First Division Exchanges, Inc., is named as defendant in a $5,000 breach of contract suit filed in N. Y. Su preme Court by Lina Pictures Corp., which will appeal to Justice Ernest E. L. Hammer today to strike out the defendant's answer to the suit and to grant a summary judgment. The complaint states that on Sept 11, 1933, Principal Distributing Corp and First Division signed an agree- ment whereby the defendant was to lease and have sole distribution rights for one year on short subjects pro- duced by Principal. At the expiration of the year the subjects were to be returned to Principal or the defend ant was to furnish an accounting. On April 30, last, Lina Pictures took over Principal's contract on assignment. By RED KANN Hays Annual Meet Today A preliminary session of the annual meeting of the board of M. P. P. D. A. will be held today, as required by the corporation charter of the organ- ization. An early adjournment will be taken, however, until Friday, when the principal business session will be held. The annual reports of Will H. Hays and other officers of the organ- ization will be submitted at Friday's meeting. B Garnet, Calif., March 28 USINESS is so good these days of dimmed and dim- ming depression memories that probably nobody will pay much attention to the warnings which emanated from Washington in the last few days. The President, in broadcasting his recent "fire- side chat" on the Supreme Court among other observations, said this : "The dangers of 1929 are again becoming possible, not this week or month, perhaps, but within a year or two." Secre- taries Roper and Wallace took up the theme subsequently. Roper : "We must not, however, let over optimism cloud vision and obscure danger signals. More than a year ago I began sounding cautions against un- guarded business booms." Wal- lace : "All of us [in the admin- istration] are afraid of a repeti- tion of the 1929 boom. We don't like this flash-in-the-pan thing and wherever we are in govern- ment we are in favor of stabil- ity" .... T If the honorable secretaries don't mind, we should like to re- call that months ago in this very space a note of such warning was touched off. It was appar- ent then, as it is now, that what- ever the lessons of 1929 they were receding too rapidly into the background. Business is good and theatre grosses pros- perous. Exhibitors, notoriously reluctant to sound off on their takes and always looking over their shoulders to make quite cer- tain no distributor or his repre- sentative is within earshot, admit it. The Paramount partners, assembled in Miami, made no- secret of a condition they could not very well deny anyway. But much was heard about the dangers of inflation and an oc- casional, if not more frequent, note of caution struck . . . We would be an extremely surprised observer if anybody paid attention to this morning's comment. Short memories are apt to be pleasant memories espe- cially when the present finds the sun shining brightly and the cabanas at the Roney so pleasant. It is true, of course, that costs are rising. They are always rising in the Hollywood toward which we are pointing our nose, it seems. Nobody does much about holding them at bay and out on the Gold Coast we shall be told blandly that it has to be. The labor drive will add to theatre operating overhead, and the cost of— living, - whet e -it- has- not already, will compel employ- ers to do something about fatter salary checks for the rank and file of employes. These latter circumstances appear unavoid- able, but conservatism as it ap- plies to headlong expansion can- not be amiss . . . Operating increases had the Paramount men worried. It was only with a general reluctance the majority sentiment at the Miami meetings determined ad- missions must go forward. Even now, some of the partners do not like the idea, not because they are averse to the added revenue, but because they are fearful they cannot get it from the pub- lic. Yet, to the answer of "How else?", no adequate reply was forthcoming. It was realized a general stepping up would not be easy, neither could it be effected by the partners alone. In many situations, the other national cir- cuits operate in competition, but on admission levels which are equalized for all concerned. If these other circuits do not see their way clear — and this seems remote — to hike prices, the Para- mount men may find themselves to some extent stymied . . . It goes further. Where the partners have no control over subsequent runs, increases in the the former's houses without a comparable jump in the neigh- borhoods would result in a price differential which might turn the flood of business from the first and second runs to the subse- quents. With virtually no stage shows luring the public into the first runs first, the entertainment quotient, all on film now, is iden- tical in all types of theatres. It is surprising to observe how many of the public are wise to the fact that, for example, an attraction closing at the Capitol in New York on Thursday can be seen at Loew's State down Broadway the following morning at less money. While in most cities, the protection period be- tween close of run at the first run and the start of the same attraction at the next theatre in line does give the former some headway, the public generally knows that, by waiting, it will see the same emoting at a lower admission ... ▼ ▼ An inside story of the Para- mount conclaves probably hits the printed page for the first time now. Several months back, E. V. Richards, who years ago -could—have occupied several top spots in New York had he wanted to forsake his home city of New Orleans, hit upon an idea to give aura and dash to double features which he thought they do not now possess. This was it : He spoke to Paramount about the release once a month, and more frequently if the idea caught on, of a prepared show composed of an "A" feature, as well as a "B", and several shorts, the entire show held to- gether by a thematic music score. The plan, which smacks reminis- cently of the Roxy unit shows in the days of Frank Hall and Hall- mark which is a lot of days ago, was predicated on program building. "Rich" realized that, in a double feature market, the two features and the shorts, if any, rarely made much sense, that dramatic and, therefore, entertainment, cohesion was lack- ing .. . ▼ He further calculated proper planning would find a ready welcome from the public, since apparently double features are here to stay until they wash themselves out of exhibition. The idea was discussed with Para- mount and the studio and was to be announced with fanfare and trumpet at last week's meetings. The story handed out to the press was to stress "a new day" in entertainment and the impres- sion was the yarn would hit with a smack and two bangs. How- ever, it did not happen, as of course, is known. It failed to happen because Adolph Zukor informed the scheme was not workable. The directors of the proposed "A" pictures objected to definite linking with the "B"; the shorts, it is said, presented problems of their own and so it went down the line. Richards, however, believes the idea is workable. Which means one of these days it may yet happen. . . . M-G-M Special Will Start West April 29 Office managers and head bookers of M-G-M will attend the annual sales convention, in addition to branch managers, division managers, district managers and salesmen. The meetings will open May 2 at the Ambassador, Los Angeles. A special convention train will leave New York on April 29, and leave the coast, returning east, on May 7. This will be the first sales session to be held in California in 10 years. Kuykendall Going Abroad Washington, March 28. — Ed Kuy- kendall, M. P. T. O. A. president, may address the summer meeting of the C. E. A. in England in the course of a three-month European trip on which he plans to start in June. The British exhibitor organization has queried Kuykendall on his willingness to address its annual meeting and, it is understood, will extend a formal invitation soon, Kuykendall plans to visit England, France, Germany and Italy. SU R P/f/.R TWO Wl MAIDS Wlth HOPE MANNING • DONALD COOK • MARCIA MAE JONES • JACKIE SEARL ■ LILA LEE • LUIS ALBERNI Directed by PHIL ROSEN • Produced by NAT LEVINE A REPUBLIC PICTURE REPUBLIC ptcjuRes m1 ' 4 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, March 29, 1937 Overseas Previews "Pepe Le Moko" (Paris Film Prod.) Paris, March 17. — This outstanding French picture, which has been highly praised by all critics, may be considered one of the finest achievements of the French studios for 1936. It was directed by Julien Duvivier, a leading French director. It is the story of a French gangster, Pepe le Moko, who, pursued by international police, takes refuge in the old Arabian district of Algiers, where it is practically impossible to arrest him because of the hundreds of narrow and tangled streets, and because of the many people of the underworld with whom Pepe is connected. The only way to catch him is to make him leave the "Casbah" and go down into the European quarter of Algiers. This happens when Pepe meets a French girl who is sightseeing in Casbah, and with whom he falls in love. Pepe is at last arrested and kills himself, while, ignoring the tragedy she has caused, the girl sails back to France. The story has been turned into an excellent film with fast action, good dialogue, scenes with original ideas, and outstanding technical work. Jean Gabin as Pepe and Lucas Gridoux as an Arabian detective are the best of the cast. In the other parts Mireille Ballin, Charpin, Line Moro and Saturnin Fabre are good. The film should attract foreign as well as French patronage. Running time, 100 minutes. "A." Autre "The Street Singer" (British National-A.B.P.) London, March 18. — First of the British National pictures to be dis- tributed by Associated British Pictures, this is a really entertaining and well made musical comedy, with a pleasing vein of fantasy. It should find acceptance in the States. Directed by Jean de Marguenat, who made "La Robe Rouge," it has something of the whimsicality in atmosphere of the Rene Clair films, with the addition of established English language values in Arthur Tracy and others, and some cracker jack playing by the pianists Rawicz and Landauer. The vocal numbers are all good, Tracy being at his best. Arthur Riscoe and Margaret Lockwood also are well cast and do their work admirably. The high spot in originality is a house-top birthday party, with a stage star, temporarily posing as a down-and-out, as the guest of a bohemian party. The story, of the star's walk-out and "discovery" in his new character, is a good one. Out of the rut, cleverly done, the film is always amusing. Running time, 80 minutes. "G." "Jump For Glory" (Criterion-U.A) London, March 18. — Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. follows in his father's footsteps, in his "cat burglar" role in this picture, with a spectacular balcony leap which plays an important part in the story. It is otherwise a somewhat rambling affair, not too convincingly set, but with sufficient popular appeal to get by with most audiences. Fairbanks is one of the type of screen crook who, with the States too warm for him, transfers his activities to England. In London he falls for Glory Fane, golddigger, who marries an old flame to protect Fair- banks from the latter. When the husband is killed Fairbanks does the balcony Jump to fix the guilt on himself. Events point to suicide and the ending is more or less as expected. Valerie Hobson as the girl and Alan Hale as the villain are the chief supports. British court procedure is accurately and interestingly shown in a somewhat scrappy production. Running time, 75 minutes. "G." Allan Australia Matinees Face Copyright Tax Melbourne, March 8. (By Air Mail Via London) — Reports persist that the Australian Performing Rights Ass'n proposes to make levies for matinee performances on theatres pay- ing copyright under the six-nights-a- week scale. Such . a move will be hotly contested by exhibitors. Also exciting trade discussion is the suggestion that the A.P.R.A. may take the view that only those theatres and associations which were an actual party to the proceedings are entitled to benefit under the reductions re- cently instituted by the arbitrator. This would cost managements which were not directly connected with the discussions substantial sums, since it would mean a continuance at the higher rate. The Exhibitors' Ass'n of N.S.W. has advised exhibitors not to meet any demands for levies on matinees. The association states that if the A.P.R.A. makes such demands it will be making an erroneous interpretation of the arbitrator's decision. S. W. Edwards, secretary of the A.P.R.A., has sailed for New Zealand where performing right fees are re- ceiving some spirited attention from theatre owners. In its annual report, the N. Z. Exhibitors' Ass'n "antici- pates" that the A.P.R.A. will make a reduction in the present rate of one penny on the pound on gross receipts, and frame its charges in accordance with those established in the Austra- lian arbitration case. Swedish Production Cost Seen Too High By RAGNAR ALLBERG Stockholm, March 16. — The cost of production has risen considerably in Sweden during the past year. Even average pictures cost about 200,000 crowns, and all indications are that costs will go even higher. Star sal- aries are going up proportionately, running as high as 40,000 to 50,000 crowns per picture. The figures are not high in comparison with British or American star salaries, but are considered too high for this market. Box-office receipts during 1936 for the entire country, with its popula- tion of about 6,500,000, amounted to 38,000,000 crowns, of which about 12,000,000 went to the producers. Pro- duction costs totaled 6,000,000 crowns. May Use Hag en Plant On Quota Production London, March 18. — Acquisition of the J. H. Studios at Elstree, re- cently used by the Julius Hagen en- terprise, by interests associated with Joseph Bamberger, is believed to in- dicate the development of the plant as a center of production of quota pictures on economical lines. With a £100,000 capitalization, the new company is backed by Lord Grimthorpe, Eustace Watkins, auto- mobile magnate, A. H. Maxwell, C. A O. Berner and W. B. Anderson. Shift Hanson Manager Toronto, March 28. — Hanson The- atres Corp. has appointed Cecil Smith, manager of the Granada at Orillia, to the management of the Granada at St. Thomas, Ont., in suc- cession to Lloyd M. Mills. N. Z. Exhibitors Meet Wellington, N. Z., March 6. (By Air Mail Via London) — The eleventh annual conference of the Exhibitors' Ass'n of New Zealand held here at- tracted delegates from all parts of the Dominion. Chief topics on the agenda were existing and future legislation for the protection and control of the industry, theatre licensing and labor conditions within the industry. W. Burton was elected president for the next year. Demand Wage Increase _ Toronto, March 28. — There are signs of trouble on the local pro- jection front for 60 independent the- atre owners. Following a meeting of the I. A. T. S. E. local at the Labor Temple, announcement was made by W. P. Covert, International vice-president, that a wage increase from $1.20 to $1.40 per hour would be demanded when agreements with in- dependent exhibitors are to be re- newed. V .. MM if -31.;* Theatres Must Pay Fees in Argentina By N. BRUSKI Buenos Aires, March 14. — A sig- nificant decision has been rendered by Dr. Tomas Pitt, a justice of the peace, who declared that exhibitors are liable for the payment of the so- called "small right" or the assessment by a composer for the public rendi- tion of his work in sound pictures. The decision, if it is approved by higher courts, is seen as finally clari- fying a situation which has been troublesome to the industry for some time. The Pitt decision was rather by indirection, since in an action brought against Warners, who distributed the film which was the cause of action by a composer. The court held that Warners was not liable for the pay- ment of the composer's fee for ren- dition, and it was therefore assumed that the exhibitor would be liable. This fee is apart from that paid by the producer for the right of inclu- sion of a composition in a picture. * * * The majority of the distributors here have finally set their release schedules, just prior to the opening of the new season, which starts here in March. All major American and British distributors have set their schedules, leaving virtually only Ra- diolux, which recently completed ar- rangements to handle Grand National product here. Canada to Release Vimy Ridge Picture Ottawa, March 28. — The official Canadian Government film of the pil- grimage last year to Vimy Ridge, battlefield of France, for the unveiling of the Canadian war memorial by the then King Edward, will be released after all, it is officially announced, although the picture has been delayed a considerable time. It had pre- viously been reported that the film would not be seen by the general pub- lic because of the possibility of em- barrassment, in a political sense, to the present incumbent of the British throne. The announcement of the release of the film under the title of "Salute to Valour" contains the following state- ment: "The film contains a record of the last personal contact between the former King and the Canadian vet- erans who were his comrades in arms during the great war." Dutch Indies Import Of Films Up in 1936 By PHILIP DE SCHAAP Amsterdam, March 17. — During 1936 a total of 1,312,692 meters of film were imported into the Dutch Indies, of which 1,280,136 meters were sound film and 32,556 meters silent. These figures compare with a total import of 1,128,627 meters imported during 1935. The United States accounted for the greater part of the total im- port during both years, the percentage reaching 67. The total of German im- ports has decreased. A gold plaque has been awarded to Loet C. Barnstijn's Filmproductie for the production of "Merijentje Gijzen's Juegd," judged the best film produced in Holland in 1936. MOTION PICTURE DAILY 6 RADIO FCC Permits Gain in Power On 3 Stations By CLARENCE LINZ Washington, March 28. — The F. C. C. yesterday authorized WBBZ, Ponca City, Okla. ; KSJS, Salina, Kan., and WNBF, Binghamton, . N. Y., to increase their day power to 250 watts, and granted a license to KFRO, Longview, Tex., for the con- struction of a 1,370-kilocycle, 250- watt daytime station. At its weekly meeting, the com- mission ordered hearings on applica- tions, as follows : Gallatin Radio Forum, Bozeman, Mont., 1,420 kilo- cycles, 250 watts daytime; Leon M. Eisfeld, Burlington, la., 1,310 kilo- cycles, 100 watts; Glen E. Webster, Decatur, 111., 1,290 kilocycles, 250 watts ; Harold L. Cross, Lansing, Mich., 580 kilocycles, 500 watts night, 1,000 watts day; Robert E. Clements, Huntington Park, Ga., 1,160 kilo- cycles, 250 watts daytime; John S. Bryan, Petersburg, Va., 1,210 kilo- cycles, 100 watts night, 250 watts day ; Gerald A. Travis, Laporte, Ind., 1,5'00-kilocycle station, 100 watts night, 250 watts day; L. L. Coryell and Son, Lincoln, Neb., 1,450-kilocycle station, 250 watts night, 1,000 watts day; Citizens' Broadcasting Corp., Schenectady, 1,240-kilocycle station, 1,000 watts night, 5,000 watts day; Standard Life Insurance Co. of the South, Jackson, Miss., 1,420-kilocycle station, 100 watts night, 250 watts day ; B. H. Hopson, Birmingham, 1,310-kilocycle station, 100 watts night, 250 watts day; Birmingham News Co., Birmingham. 590-kilo- cycle, 1,000-watt station; Southern Broadcasting Corp., New Orleans, 1,200-kilocycle station, 100 watts night, 250 watts day; Arlington Radio Service, Arlington, Va., 1,510- kilocycle, 250-watt station; Phillip Jackson, Brunswick, Ga., 1,420-kilo- cycle, 100-watt station; Enterprise Co., Beaumont, Tex., 1,400-kilocycle, 500-watt station, and WGL, Fort Wayne, for increase of day power to 250 watts; WMMN, Fairmont, W. Va., for increase of power to 1,000 watts night, 5,000 watts day; WWL, New Orleans, for increase of power to 50,000 watts. Refusals Listed The commission either denied or dismissed applications for new stations by C. P. Sudweeks, Spokane; Howard A. Miller, Galesburg, 111. ; Staunton Broadcasting Co., Staunton, Va. ; Peryatel Bros, and Richard K. Beau- champ, Raton, N. M., and Galesburg Printing and Publishing Co., Gales- burg, 111., as well as applications from KUOA, Siloam Springs, Ark., for 620 kilocycles, 500 watts night, 1,000 watts day; KGBX, Springfield, Mo., 1,230 kilocycles, 1,000 watts ; KVOO, Tulsa, 1,140 kilocycles, 50,000 watts; WBNY, Buffalo, 1,270 kilocycles, 100 watts night, 250 watts day, and WHK, Cleveland, 1,390 kilocycles, 1,000 watts night, 5,000 watts day. Examiners' reports recommending approval of applications have been re- ceived during the past 10 days as fol- lows : H. W. Wilson and Ben Farmer, Wilson, N. C, for a 1,310- kilocycle, 100 watts daytime station; Redlands Broadcasting Ass'n., Lufkin, i Radio Personals ► ALOIS HAVRILLA has won the announcing assignment on the forthcoming NBC Cycle Trades of America program. . . . Nino Martini will sing "au revoir" on the Chester- field program April 7. Martini will leave for an extended concert imme- diately thereafter, to be succeeded on the program by Lily Pons. . . . Phil Regan has been set for a guest spot on Ed Wynn's program May 1. . . . Morton Bowe has relinquished his po- sition in the "Cavaliers" quartet to devote his full time to his five current commercials. ... NBC will carry the opening baseball games from Wash- ington April 19, and from the Yankee Stadium April 20. . . . Rubinoff's band leaves today for a concert at Bristol, Conn. + Lily Pons will inaugurate the Gen- eral Motors spring series April 4. . . . Katherine Locke and Jules Garfield of the "Having a Wonderful Time" cast, and Ryan and Lee will be guest headliners on the Vallee program Thursday night. . . . Woman's Na- tional Exposition of Arts and Indus- tries will present Kate Smith the or- ganization's annual award for out- standing radio service on her "Band- wagon" program April 1. . . . John Barrymore, June Travis, Charley Grimm and Amelia Earhart will ap- pear on Bing Crosby's show April 1. + Hollywood Town Pump Hollywood, March 28. — Ken Mur- ray will throw a cocktail party for the press backstage following his ini- tial Campbell Soup broadcast from the coast over CBS March 31. . . . Hedda Hopper talks about Easter fashions on the Lux show tomorrow. . . . Noel Corbett has been transferred from NBC's San Francisco publicity department to the local office under Hal Boch. Simultaneously Boch pro- moted Frances Scully to the fan mag- azine desk. Re-Sign Weems Orchestra Armin-Varady, Inc., through Bag- galey-Horton & Hoyt, has re-signed Ted Weems's orchestra for another 13-week period, effective as of April 11. The series is heard Sundays from 12:30 to 1 P. M., E.S.T., on the Mu- tual network. The stations are WOR, WGN, WLW, CKLW, WAAB, WGR, WGAR, WCAE, WBAL and WMCA. Set New Transcription Dr. Ellis Sales Corp., through Walker & Downing, begins sponsor- ship of a new electrically transcribed program on WOR today at 1 :35 P. M. The program will be heard Mon- days, Wednesdays and Fridays. Tex., for 1,310-kilocycle, 100 watts daytime station, and WELI, New Haven, for change of frequency to 930 kilocycles and change of power to 250 watts night, 500 watts day. Denial of applications was received with respect to the Falls City Broad- casting Corp., Falls City, Neb. ; Law- rence K. Miller, Pittsfield, Mass.; H. O. Davis, Mobile; Harold Thomas, Pittsfield ; Radio Enterprises, Lufkin, Tex., and Virgil V. Evans, Gastonia, N. C, for new stations. In Accord "Radio is here, is going to be here in spite of us or on account of us. You can't stop progress. If that is true, it certainly behooves the motion picture industry to utilize this valuable industry as much as possible. So in the last analysis, the value of radio depends on what we make of it and certainly we can make no better use of it than cooperating with them to the fullest, if, in turn, we can receive the di- rect benefits that are avail- able. I believe that you have been carrying on through your paper on this theory, so naturally I am in accord with what you are doing." — M. A. Lightman, president, Malco Theatres, Inc., Memphis. Exhibitor's Station Plan Blocked by FCC Falls City, Neb., March 28. — Ad- verse ruling by Examiner Ralph L. Walker of the F. C. C. on his appli- cation for a permit blocks the plans of Oscar Johnson, owner of three the- atres here, to become the first Ne- braska exhibitor to operate a radio station. Although Johnson did not ask for time at night, Walker said that the station operating on a daytime only schedule would not have sufficient ad- vertising revenue or program mate- rial to render desirable service. If given time at night, Walker said, the station would interfere with a St. J oseph, Mo., station. Johnson planned to house studios in one of his theatres. For backing in his request he had a petition signed by Falls City residents. Start New Omaha Station Omaha, March 28. — Construction has started on KOIL's new building in South Omaha, which will house the new 5,000-volt high fidelity RCA transmitter. General Manager John Henry of Central States Broadcasting has said the work will be completed within 90 days. The building will be completely air conditioned both sum- mer and winter to guard against the dust, which is rapidly becoming an all-season hazard in the midwest. The studios will remain in Omaha. "Women's Magazine" to P. & G. "Women's Magazine of the Air," NBC Pacific coast feature, has been signed by Procter and Gamble in be- half of Crisco. P. and G. will assume sponsorship April 5. Compton Adver- tising, Inc., is the agency. The program is heard on the Pa- cific Red, Mondays through Fridays from 3:30 to 3:45 P. "M., P. S. T. Beginning April 26, the program will be set back one hour, from 2 :30 to 2:45 P. M., P. S. T. Newsreel Starts Third Year Des Moines, March 28. — The Newsreel of the Air, heard daily at 8:45 A.M. over KRNT and spon- sored by the Sears Roebuck Co., started its third year on the air last week. Arthur J. Smith is announcer and Wayne Ackley is commentator. Monday, March 29. 1937 Rubinoff Revue Cast Who's Who of Radio The completed guest talent list for the forthcoming "Rubinoff Musical Moments Revue," transcribed series for the Chevrolet Motor Co. which bows in on 401 stations beginning April 4, reads like a "Who's Who" of radio. The list is as follows : Irene Beasley, W. S. Perry, Ralph Kirberry, Patti Chapin, Gogo DeLys, Fray & Braggiotti, Phil Duey, Shirley Howard, Reed Kennedy, Virginia Verrill, Ruth Garhardt, Ray Heather- ton, Jerry Cooper, Honey Dean, Mary Eastman, Buddy Clark, Mortin Bowe, Connie Gates, Edward Nell, Willie Morris, Terri Franconi, Benay Venuta, Art Jarrett, Arlene Jackson, Robert Simons. Patti Pickins, Tess Gardella, Reed Kennedy, Johnny Hauser, Helene Daniles, Jerry Cooper, Barry McKin- ley, Louis Bennett, Shirley Howard, Donald Novis, Mary Small, Virginia Verrill, Arden & Arden, Ray Heather- ton, Clark Dennis. Each transcription will have two artists — a masculine and feminine vocalist — in addition to Rubinoff. The "Songsmiths Quartette" will perform on each platter. Seeks Examination In Suit on Program Knickerbocker Broadcasting Co., Inc., defendant in a $10,000 damage suit brought in the N. Y. Supreme Court by Damskov, Inc., manufac- turers of a reducing formula, will ask Justice Timothy A. Leary today for an order requiring Dorothea Dams- kov, president of the plaintiff corpo- ration, to submit to an examination before trial. Damskov alleges that Knicker- bocker violated an agreement of Feb. 20, 1935, whereby it was to grant the plaintiff three programs a week over WMCA. On May 17, 1935, Knicker- bocker refused to continue on the ground that it was out of line with the rules of the F. C. C. Move Program to Hollywood Hollywood, March 28. — The Owl Drug Co. has brought its "Treasure Island" program from San Francisco to Hollywood for three broadcasts. The first was held yesterday and the other two will be on April 4 and April 10. The commercial is not for Owl, but a plug for the World's Fair scheduled for 1939 in San Francisco. The program goes out over NBC's Pacific Coast red. Cliff Engle is the commentator. Levitt Offers Prizes Levitt & Sons, sponsors of the Sunday "Strathmore Serenades" on WOR, will offer listeners prizes of $250, $100 and $50 for best letters on new home features. The contest, beginning immediately, will close May 1 ; winners will be announced on May 16. Household Finance on WABC Household Finance Corp. has signed for an early morning news program on WABC only, featuring Jean Paul King as commentator. Beginning April 5, the program will be heard Mondays through Fridays from 7 :45 to 8 A. M., E. S. T. Batten, Barton, Durstine and Osborn is the agency. Monday, March 29, 1937 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Mutual Series Takes Silent Screen Stars , Stars of the silent screen days will I be featured in a new Mutual network , series, beginning April 3. Former film greats whose voice will be heard include Clara Kimball Young, Mau- rice Costello, William Farnum, Lio- nell Atwell, William Desmond, Joseph De Grasse, Minta Durfee Arbuckle, Rosemarie Thebe, Wilford Lucas, Leo D. Cordova, Dorothy Farley and May Mclvar. The program will emanate from the . studios of KHJ in Los Angeles. The ''programs will alternate each Saturday with the Chicago Symphony broad- casts until April 24, after which it will be heard weekly. The time is 9 :30 to 10 P. M., E. S. T. The initial "drama" will be "Curfew Shall Not Ring Tonight." Subse- quent offerings will be "The Villain Still Pursued Her," "East Lynn," "Ten Nights in a Barroom," "Work- ings Girls' Wrongs," "The Million- aire's Revenge," ""Sidewalks of New York" and "Nellie, the Beautiful Cloak Model." According to report, the series is being offered to sponsors for $1,500 per broadcast, exclusive of the time. Producer Gets Part Hollywood, March 28. — As a ges- ture of appreciation to the producer of "Twin Stars," featuring Helen Broderick and Victor Moore, next Friday Marvin Young, who produces the show, will be starred in a comedy skit. Young is so busy with his regu- lar duties that NBC is arranging for a stand-in to substitute in the pro- ducer spot while Young is on the air. Weidenhammer to WOR New Haven, March 28. — Carlton Weidenhammer, WICC studio super visor for the past four years, has be come affiliated with WOR as staff announcer, effective April 4. He has been replaced in New Haven by Mai colm Parker, program director of WELL Charlie Wright, WELI an- nouncer, has been promoted to Parker's position. Ben Bernie Is Renewed Ben Bernie and "all the lads" have been renewed for an additional 13- week period by the American Can Co., sponsors of the Bernie Tuesday, 9 to 9:30 P. M., NBC-Blue network period. The renewal will take effect April 27. Fuller and Smith and Ross is the agency. Issue Iowa Barn Dance Book Des Moines, March 28. — The sec- ond annual Iowa Barn Dance and Frolic souvenir picture book is off the press. The book contains 30 pages of pictures and descriptive information about the Frolic performers, and sta tion WHO. The station is offering the book to Barn Dance listeners. Dismiss Station Plea Springfield, O., March 28. — Appli cation of Springfield Newspapers, Inc., for a new station to be operated on 1,120 kilocycles, with 250 watts, has been dismissed by the F. C. C. at the applicant's request. Mutual Reverses Lines _ Definite reversal of lines, permitting simultaneous. two-way program switches, will be effected May 15 on the Mutual network. Tries Bicycling When is bicycling legal? Harry H. Buxbaum, sales head of the local 20th Cen- tury-Fox, has the answer. With only 50 prints of "On the Avenue" on hand and 80 bookings this week from practically every important independent circuit, Bux- baum solved the problem by giving official sanction to the circuits to switch prints around from one house to another. Little Hope For Singles Is Seen Here Yates Denies Film Tieup from Strike (Continued from page 1) said that to the best of their knowl- edge their print work was being com pleted according to schedule. Uni- versal denied that the Friday release of the newsreel had been delayed. Yates said that laboratory officials had not even been approached by rep- resentatives of the striking employes with either a request for negotiation of demands or a program of alleged grievances. He said that only about 25 per cent, or about 70 of the plant's 400 employes had walked out, as con- trasted with published reports that 225 of a total of 300 employes were on strike. Stating that only the routine of the plant had been interfered with, Yates said that the strikers included only the least important classes of employes, such as "fillers" and shipping room workers, and that none of the plant's technicians or engineers was involved. Schedules had been maintained, he said, by a voluntary increase in work ing hours adopted by the employes who remained at work. He said that inasmuch as the strik ers had not identified themselves or presented their demands to officials of the company, no negotiations were contemplated and the places vacated by the strikers would be filled as rap idly as possible. Legion Approves All Of 13 New Pictures {Continued from page 1) Strip," "Familienparade" (German) "Git Along Little Dogies," "Silent Barriers," "Too Many Wives,'" "Waikiki Wedding," "23*4 Hours Leave." Class A-2, Unobjectionable for Adults— "Bill Cracks Down," "History Is Made at Night," "Moun- tain Justice," "Personal Property," "Seventh Heaven," "White Bondage." Para. Promotes Sharpe William Sharpe, formerly ad sales manager for Paramount in St. Louis has been promoted to supervisor with 19 eastern exchanges under his super vision. He succeeds Weldon Waters who goes to the sales department Charles Schleffler, assistant to Sharpe is now in charge of ad sales in St Louis. Sharpe is now making his head quarters at the company's home office Ad Salesmen to Attend Thirty-one ad sales managers, and possibly seven Canadian ad sales heads, will attend the 20th Century- Fox annual sales meeting to be held at the Ambassador, Los Angeles starting May 31. (Continued from page 1) of the two pictures is to be lopped off the program. An increase of five and 10 cents be- tween first and second runs is not enough, theatremen declare. If, and when, major and large unaffiliated cir- cuits boost admissions substantially and cut protection periods, there will be a chance of reviving single book- ings, but not sooner, independents say. Before sailing for France Saturday on the Paris, Joseph Bernhard, gen- eral manager of the Warner circuit, decried dual bills. He said "the dual feature can never advance the industry it can only retard it." Bernhard will meet Harry M. War- ner and Sam E. Morris in Paris and all three will return about May 1. "Quantity never takes the place of quality in entertainment," he added. "When I return from abroad I'll give serious attention to constructive pro- posals for eliminating double features. "In the beginning, the double feature may be a shot in the arm for some theatres, but it eventually loses its power to improve box-office. And then theatre grosses fall back to the single feature level. You can make it a rule that quantity never takes the place of quality in entertainment. Warners Always Reluctant "The Warner circuit has never been the first to start double features in any territory and has always been the last to use them in any competitive sit- uation. In Chicago, it was not until several months after the big circuits adopted double features that the War- ner theatres followed suit. "The studios blame this double fea- ture condition on the exhibitors, and the exhibitors blame it on the studios. Meanwhile, we know there is a large body of public opinion which finds double features distasteful. The vol- ume of telephone calls coming in to double feature houses and asking what time the main feature goes on, shows that the public understands that the second feature is no bargain. "The only sure protection of this great industry is constant upward progress in the quality and class of entertainment. We can't slide back to the days of the medicine show, and bargain merchandising, without injur- ing our prestige with the public, and in the long run, our profits. "It seems to me that one of the steps toward abolishing this evil might be to create a new film form between the feature and the short. Say, for instance, a class of three or four- reel features, using popular poems, famous short stories and historical characters." U.A. to Widen Its Selling of Foreign Films (Continued from page 1) ished and the second is nearing com- pletion. These subjects will be re- leased by U. A. in the Argentine and all Spanish speaking countries. Under consideration now are pic- tures being made in the Philippines and in China. In addition, U. A.'s exchanges out- side of the United States will handle all of the features being made by James A. FitzPatrick in London. The company is partially financing the pro- ductions. "Woman Alone," recently produced by Eugene Frenke, is another film that will be handled by the company in all countries but the United States. Grand National has it for this coun- try. Harry Thomas has the Fitz- Patrick features. Gould sailed Saturday on the Paris on a two-month trip on the Conti- nent. He may look into foreign pro- duction with a view to acquiring more pictures for the European market. Kelly recently returned from a six- month trip around the world. Expect Record Crowd At Dinner for Zukor (Continued from page 1) the Mutual network for one hour beginning at 11 :15 P. M. The attend- ance is expected to include numerous important figures in political and social circles, as well as the Para- mount theatre partners. There is every indication that it will be the film year's outstanding social event Production Shows Gain; 38 in Work (Continued from page 1) shooting headed the list, with M-G-M, Paramount and 20th Century-Fox tied with five each ; Republic and Radio had four each, Universal had three and Columbia, Goldwyn, Roach, Selz- nick and Wanger one each. Para- mount had eight in preparation, Co- lumbia, four ; Radio, three ; 20th Cen- tury-Fox and Republic, two each, and M-G-M, Goldwyn and Warners, one each. In the editing category Warn- ers had 16, 20th Century-Fox, nine ; Columbia and Paramount, eight each ; M-G-M and Universal, four each ; Roach, two, and Republic and Selz- nick, one each. Of the finished features, Paramount and Universal were tied with two each and Warners, 20th Century-Fox, Radio, Republic and M-G-M had one each. Of the shorts Columbia, Radio and Roach had one each ; Columbia and Warners each started one; Warners had one in work; Radio two and Columbia and Roach one each in prep- aration, and M-G-M seven, Columbia four, Radio three, Roach two and Warners one, in the editing stage. Censor Advice Stirs Courtland Smith Ire (Continued from page 1) Smith's message concluded, "but never again try to tell us what we may or may not say in newsreels." Smith said yesterday that he had nothing to add to the message quoted above. Consolidated-M-G-M Sign Consolidated has signed a deal for M-G-M's 1936-37 product after weeks of negotiations. Several pictures al- ready have been dated. MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, March 29. 1937 4 Purely Personal JERRY COOPER of the 20th Cen tury-Fox department on the coast flew back to Hollywood with Tyrone Power, Jr., over the week end. Via American Airlines. • Fred McConnell left the coast over the weekend and will visit Co- lumbia exchanges while en route here. He is expected in New York in about two weeks. • Harry Warren and Al Dubin, Warner song writers, arrive today from the coast for a vacation. Roy H. Haines, eastern sales head for Warners, spent the weekend in Atlantic City. • Gradwell L. Sears and Carl Leserman are due back from the coast on April 5. • Jack Bowen, local Loew exchange manager, left Saturday for Bermuda and a vacation. . . . Denver Ben Perlman, formerly manager of the National Display office here, left for New York following the clos- ing of the Denver branch. C. G. Doty now handling publicity for J. H. Cooper Enterprises in Lin- coln. Formerly city manager in Santa Fe for Gibraltar Enterprises. Rick Ricketson back in town fol- lowing a business trip to the coast and Salt Lake City. Beryl Wallrich, State cashier, and Martin Austin, ad sales clerk in the Warner exchange, were mar- ried recently. John Taylor now city manager in Sheridan, Wyo., for Fox Intermoun- tain, following the sale of the Or- pheum and Studio in Salt Lake City. He succeeds William Fowers, who goes to Sterling, Col. Denies Roxy Stock Plea Federal Judge Francis G. Caffey on Saturday denied a petition by Samuel Kramer, attorney for the Class A stockholders protective committee of the Roxy, for leave to solicit powers of attorney from stockholders at the expense of the Roxy trustee. Judge Caffey held that the solicitation could be made only at the expense of the stockholders. Rites for Mrs. Sirica Waterbury, March 28. — Funeral .services were held yesterday for Mrs. Lena Sirica, operator of the Lido for the past 20 years. Mrs. Sirica, aged 58, died of heart failure. Zabel Joins Sterling Seattle, March 28. — Arthur Zabel, son of Ed Zabel, exhibitor at Olym- pia, Wash., has been named assistant to William Forman, executive of Sterling Theatres here. Evergreen Takes Houses Portland, March 28. — Evergreen State has taken over the-D. & R. Theatres at Aberdeen, Wash,, and the Weir at Hoquiam. - Lent Cuts Key City Takes To a Total of $1,626,240 Comparative grosses for the latest available periods Week Ending March 19-20 No. Theatres Gross Boston 8 $113,000 Buffalo 5 45,200 Chicago 9 137,700 Cincinnati 8 52,950 Cleveland 5 55,450 Denver 6 35,000 Detroit 7 92,700 Houston 4 28,900 Indianapolis 4 27,000 Kansas City 5 38,200 Lincoln 5 10,700 Los Angeles 9 106,540 Louisville 7 23,800 Milwaukee 5 25,900 Minneapolis • 5 22,000 Montreal 5 42,500 New Haven 4 18,500 New York 10 233,800 Oklahoma City 3 11,000 Omaha 3 19,600 Philadelphia 10 104,900 Pittsburgh 4 51,000 Portland 5 29,200 Providence 5 33,800 San Francisco 9 98,100 St. Louis 5 60,450 St. Paul 4 11,800 Seattle 7 38,650 Washington 5 57,900 171 $1,626,240 Week Ending March 12-13 No. Theatres Gross 5 6 6 4 4 5 5 8 6 5 5 5 4 10 3 3 10 5 4 5 9 5 4 7 7 168 §110.800 44,600 146.200 58,450 55.250 34.450 87.600 28.150 24,800 36,400 9,400 96.499 25,100 25,800 23,500 39.500 19,700 278.100 22.300 12.600 117,500 35,500 24,700 38.400 105.500 57.000 14.900 34.700 67,600 $1,673,999 Key city grosses from September to the week ending March 19-20 No. Theatres Sept. 4-5 163 Sept. 11-12 173 Sept. 18-19 176 Sept. 25-26 177 Oct. 2- 3 .... 177 Oct. 9-10 175 Oct. 16-17 - 174 Oct. 23-24 175 Oct. 30-31 177 Nov. 6- 7 173 Nov. 13-14 180 Nov. 20-21 180 Nov. 27-28 176 Dec. 4-5 176 Dec. 11-12 172 Dec. 18-19 176 Dec. 25-26 173 Jan. 1-2 178 Jan. 8-9 175 Jan. 15-16 174 Jan. 22-23 \jq Jan. 29-30 151 Feb. 5-6 154 Feb. 12-13 166 Feb. 19-20 159 Feb. 26-27 igg Mar. 5-6 169 Mar. 12-13 \(.o Mar. 19-20 171 {Copyright, 1937, Quigley Publications, Inc.) Gross 1,747,748 2,090,144 1,806,350 1,744,332 1,705,308 1,625,287 1,780,168 1,690,044 1,625,216 1,629,560 1,711,209 1,654,312 1,568,247 1,946,078 1,613,087 1,568,151 1,316,371 2,037,040 2,262,950 1,674,774 1,793.041 1,554,610 1,598,645 1,621,731 1,621,495 1,849,622 1,596,679 1,673,999 1,626,240 Club Quarters Opened Denver, March 28. — The new club rooms of the Rocky Mountain Screen Club in the Cosmopolitan Hotel were opened here with approximately 500 in attendance. Mayor Ben Stapleton of Denver was honor guest. G. N. Changes Title "Trailing Trouble" is the release title for the Grand National film for- merly known as "Alias Blackie Burke." RKO Refuses Union Plea Major Leslie Thompson of RKO has informed officials of Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians that he would not consider the union's demand for the restoration of musi- cians in houses of the circuit locally. The union recently decided to with- draw pickets from numerous theatres, and to concentrate on one circuit] RKO. The conference with Major Thompson was supposed to precede possible concentrated picketing action by the union, in the event the RKO answer was unsatisfactory. 'Maytime" Is Second Week Frisco Lead _ San Francisco, March 28.— "May- time" led the town again in its sec- ond week at the Paramount. The $17,500 take was $4,500 above normal. "Park Avenue Logger," with a vaudeville bill, was the only other attraction to make a showing. It grossed $18,200, up by $2,200, at the Golden Gate. "The Good Earth" held up to $9,000 in its fourth week at the St. Francis and "Lost Horizon" garnered $9,800 in its third week at the Geary. Total first run business was $89,080. Average is $86,000. Estimated takings : Week Ending March 23: "MODERN MOTHERHOOD" (Roadshow) EMBASSY — (1.40C), 15c-30c-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average, $4,500) "LOST HORIZON" (Col.) GEARY — (1,400), 55c-88c-$1.10-$1.6S, 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $9,800. (Average $10,000) s ' "PA.AK AVENUE LOGGER" (RKO) GOLDEN GATE — (2,850), 15c-30c-35c-40c- 55c, 7 days. Stage, vaudeville. Gross: $18,200. (Average, $16,000) Week Ending March 24: "SWING HIGH. SWING LOW" (Para) "TIME OUT FOR ROMANCE" (20th-Fox) FOX— (5.000), 15c-30c-35c-40c-55c-75c, 7 &7™„2nd week- Gross: $15.«0- (Average. "WOMAN OF GLAMOUR" (Col.) "PAROLE RACKET" (Col.) ORPHEUM-(2.440), 15c-3Qc-35c-40c, 7 days. Gross: $9,200. (Average, $9,500) • "MAYTIME" (M-G-M) .-P^MOUNT - (2,740), 15c-30c-35c-40c- 55c-/5c, 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $17,500 (Average, $13,000) "GOOD EARTH" (M-G-MV 7 F?ANCIS-(1.400), 55c-88c-$l.i0,$1.65. $10 ooo) " S9'000' (Av6raSe- Week Ending March 26: "TALES OF VIENNA WOODS" (Vienna Films) Gr0^AJ™m}\ 15C-35C' 7 dayS' 2nd Week- Cross: $1,380. (Average. Sl.COC) 32™ OF HER OWN" (Para.) UMTED ARTISTS-(1,200), 15c-30c-35c- $6000)°' $4'600- in white.'l Internes cantl, < take money §4 ' "irrod Sont«|| . « 0 "••'OSS t„|,. m„„.,i aron""",",i«„r<1 Ld,9„„, These ads ARAM PRESS BOOK help you sell one of the most dynamic pictures to be released this year. Get the Press Book, give it a critical once-over . . . and then go to town ! INTERNES CAN'T TAKE MONEY LLOYD NOLAN ■ STANLEY RIDGES INTERNES CAN'T TAKE MONEY" r aramount adds another to the record-breaking series of Silver Jubilee pictures ... a hard-hitting, front-page story with a heart punch in every sequence... starring BARBARA STANWYCK and JOEL McCREA, with an ace sup- porting cast led by Lloyd Nolan and Stanley Ridges. Directed by Alfred Santell. \ i I t